The Not-So-Timid One

[Thomassen]

ENDEEM

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Endeem opened his eyes to find himself in a dark cave. Around him were Sklavins of all shapes and sizes. Some were lithe and small, others large and muscular. The whole place stank. It reeked of urine, excrement, and fear. Endeem hated that feeling, but he had been born with it, had dealt with it everyday. He had already been here at Auktion Rock several times. He guessed that this was not his last visit.

Endeem barely remembered what had happened. He had been doing his usual work, certainly not very well for he had been beaten heavily the day before. One of the Dominor's overseers, or maybe even the Dominor himself, had snuck up to him and slammed him to the ground, then shoving the knock-out drug down his throat. The next thing he knew, he was here at Auktion Rock again.

A shadow suddenly fell through the doorway. Endeem looked up and immediately saw it was a guard: large, muscular, and tail raised high. He quickly assumed a tail down position. This guard stalked forward and without hesitating, shoved Endeem into the dirt to show dominance. Endeem felt himself being picked up by the scruff and dragged out the cave. The guard smacked Endeem's muzzle several times with maximum strength. "Better keep your muzzle shut, Sklavin," she snarled. "And know where you are, heh?" She aimed a blow for his eyes, which he dodged. Immediately, Endeem knew he had done wrong. The guard slammed him to the ground and bit his nose. Endeem was then dragged by the scruff to the slave auction line.

The line was moving quickly. Lots of Dominors here today, Endeem thought. He heard a voice in his ear, "Stand tall for once in your life, Sklavin. Show yourself off." After a moment, he found himself being shoved forward onto the display. Endeem found himself looking at a wide crowd. They laughed at his filthy unkept coat, covered with dust. His scars from the heavy beating a few days before still had not healed. The Dominors looked him up and down, poking him in undesired spots. Endeem whimpered, but accepted what the voice said. Stand tall.

[Sphuul]

Elektra

Elektra hated this place. The stench had her grimacing, but she quickly regained her composure. No one could see how disgusted she was here. She was the Queen, therefore she should seem as if this was natural, normal. The place was a nightmare, a graveyard for the sklavins who weren't good enough to be claimed. Many wolves here were dirty, emaciated, and utterly heartbreaking to look at. So she simply didn't look. Her gaze remained straight, until she realized she would have to look.

Koravelle was void of members, and they needed to gain ranks as quickly as possible. It would be useless to take the starved, weak ones, as they would hold no purpose for them, so she tried to hold back her humanity, looking at them as if they were pieces of meat. Too thin, too dry, too dirty.. It was awful. The noise and smell assaulted her senses, turning her around and getting her quite lost in the midst of Dominors and Sklavins, yelling and yelping and breathing.

The snow had melted, turning the dust into a grimy muck that was stuck to most of the wolves around. She tried to dodge many of the dirtiest wolves, keeping her dark coat mostly clean. Her paws sadly weren't the same case. She felt the mud squelching under her feet, and she had to fight to keep her composure, to not grimace again. She sighed softly, looking around carefully for any wolves that would be of use to them.

The hustle and bustle cleared in a large circle in front of Elektra, which turned out to be an auction ring. The Sklavin there looked to be in poor shape, beaten and dirty, with Dominors poking and prodding him as they contemplated taking him. The wolf's frame was beaten, but he stood tall, despite being laughed at and ridiculed. Wounds could heal, but spirits could not, and his had not been broken yet. She pushed past the other wolves, snarling and snapping at them when they challenged her, head and tail being held high in the air. You're in charge, here. As she approached the slave, she narrowed her eyes at the Dominors who remained. A growl flew through her teeth, and she snapped at them. "You will back away if you know what's good for you."

No one else could have said that without being attacked by the mass of wolves. But recognition showed in their eyes, and they backed down respectfully. Elektra gave a soft huff, and lowered her lips to cover her teeth once more. She looked at the male with curious, kind eyes. "What is your name?"

[Thomassen]

ENDEEM

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Endeem let his mind empty while he stood up on the stage. It had become a habit for him to tune himself out when he was being scrutinized. He was still aware of the taps and pokes being applied to his body, but his mind was so out of it that they only felt like grass brushing his body. He focused his mind on his paws, feeling the slime of melted snow seep into his soft pads. The wind picked up gently and barely ruffled his matted fur. His mind suddenly snapped back in when he heard the dominors snarling and barking at something. He opened his eyes to see an ivory colored female heading her way down toward him. There were certain parts of her pelt shaded with black and brown marks. How wonderful! Endeem thought.

He thought of his own coat: tangled, matted, filthy, covered with grime. He always looked like any kind of wind, gentle or gale, would blow him over. His pelt was the usual red wolf pelt with short hair. The true color of his pelt was hidden with negligence, lack of nutrition, and the heavy coat of grime he almost always wore. He shivered as the chilly wind blew around him.

Back away if you know what's good for you.

Endeem wondered if that was directed at him. It obviously was not with the other wolves backing down and lowering their eyes. He watched anxiously and nervously as she approached him, eyes strangely calm and kind.

What is your name? she asked.

Endeem shivered, for hardly any dominor asked for his name. They had simply called him by Sklavin. He struggled to remember, as it had been seasons since anyone had called him by his true name. After a few moment's hesitation, he stuttered out. "I-I-I'm Ende-de-deem." He paused. "Ma'am." Instinctively, he shrunk into the crouching position, ears flat, tail tucked, and eyes solemn.

[Sphuul]

Elektra

Lekk kept her back and neck straight, her eyes cutting into any wolf that dared look at her. None had the courage to come any closer, but she didn't let her guard down. No, this place was full of terrible wolves, who were not afraid to draw blood to get what they desired. A light shudder rippled through the females body, and she turned her attention back on the sklavin, her ears pricked for the sound of another approach. She would not take chances with this. He was the first she had seen that looked reasonably decent.

He seemed nervous, and she tried to convey her emotions through her eyes. Showing open kindness here would have her mocked, but this male was the only one who could see her eyes. She waited patiently and expectedly for him to speak, noting his slight stutter but nodding in acknowledgment at his name. "Greetings, Endeem. I am Elektra, Alphess of Koravelle and Queen of this land." Her words were projected around the land, stilling the wolves as they looked up in alarm. Elektra was a royal, and respect would be given. As the whispers began, she flicked her ears irritatedly, turning back to Endeem. "I would like to speak with you privately. I have some things to ask you." Without another word, she primly turned, pushing her way through the horde of wolves, growling and snarling when they didn't move quickly enough. "Let him through, don't block his way." She'd be damned if he was harmed because he had been seen speaking with the Queen. She would rip apart anyone who tried.

[Thomassen]

Endeem's eyes flicked back and forth, obviously exposing his anxiety and stress. He was already scared enough with the prods he had been given. But this fae seemed to be different from the others. Her eyes only shown kindness and curiousity. He still held his crouch, afraid that perhaps this great Alpha might punish him for not showing the proper respect a Sklavin should give. He had already been punished multiple times simply for not crouching respectfully.

"Greetings, Endeem. I am Elektra, Alphess of Koravelle and Queen of this land."

Endeem's eyes widened at the rank this wolfess held. Alphess of Koravelle? This only made him sink down even lower. "I-i-it's an-an honor to m-meet you, ma'am."

"I would like to speak with you privately. I have some things to ask you."

Endeem was surprised. He was claimed just like that? But then, this alphess was queen of the land. Who would object to her? He walked down from the display cautiously, trembling with the thought that maybe some wolf would jump on him. There were barks and sneers, but nothing truly violent. Only one wolf dared to poke him tauntingly. Endeem jumped in the opposite direction in surprise, only to collide with the wolves on the other side of the pathway they made. They shoved him away, and he quickly ran and scrabbled to catch up with the waiting female.

"That's fine, ma'am." Endeem mumbled as he caught up. Forgetting that he was not supposed to express his opinion, being a slave of course, he spoke up, "Better than having all those D-d-dominors poking around." His posture completely submissive, Endeem waited for the Alphess to begin her conference with him.

[Sphuul]

Elektra

The sound of a small scrabble had Elektra turning, her eyes narrowing. The surrounding wolves had sneered and growled at the male, and she felt a snarl of her own rumbling in her throat. One wolf had roughly poked him, sending Endeem flying, and her maw opened in anger, letting her growl come into the air. The crowd went still once more and she continued walking, ears pricked to make sure the brute was still following.

Lekk walked until she was no longer surrounded by other canines. Turning, she waited patiently for him to come to her, smiling gently at him. Now that they were alone, some kindness could be shown. As he spoke she chuckled softly, nodding her head in agreement. "You are right about that, Endeem. Dominor's can be quite rude." She chuckled once more before sobering. She had work to do. If this brute rejected her offer, she would have to leave him and find another. This could take time, depending on his decision. Taking a deep breath, the fae looked at Endeem.

"I have a proposition for you." She cocked her head at her words, checking to see if they sounded right. They were formal, which they were meant to be. Would they give the right impression? "My pack, Koravelle, is lacking members." The fae found her voice lowering as she spoke. Koravelle was a secretive place, and others should not know information about it, unless they were in it. "I am offering you a position in the pack. You will no longer be a sklavin. You will be put into our messenger or warrior position, based upon your choice and skill set." Another smile lit Elektra's face, her eyes glinting enthusiastically. "You will have the chance to advance in ranking if you prove yourself. You will not be a sklavin, and you will not be treated as such. You will be respected as any Koravelle member would." The fae began to look around, watching the hustle and bustle not far from them. God she hoped he would come with her. It would make things so much easier. I wonder what Stolz will think of this.. Shaking off her thoughts, Elektra turned her gaze back on the male. "Stolz and I will be your leaders, and as long as you respect us you shall find life quite enjoyable. So, Endeem, what do you say?"

[Thomassen]

ENDEEM

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Endeem looked up when he heard this Alphess laugh. His eyes widened as he realized she wasn't laughing at him, but at agreeing with him. He wagged his tail a little ways and let his tongue hang out a few centimeters before withdrawing back into his habitual position. Dominors rude? That just made his day. He still wasn't entirely sure about what Elektra wanted of him; he only hoped it wasn't too bad. But her next words completely shocked him to the point he completely forgot his instincts.

"I am offering you a position in my pack. You will no longer be a sklavin."

Endeem's jaw literally dropped to the ground when he heard her speak. Join a pack? No longer a sklavin? Was this fae crazy? He had never heard of the idea. He had always thought 'once a slave, always a slave'. Now this Alphess was actually offering him a position. But what did she want from him? He wasn't all that skilled, and he was still heavily weak and scarred from that harsh beating two days ago.

"Y-y-you want me to j-join?" Endeem was shaking tremendously under all the pressure. He had never been given a choice, after all, what kind of sklavin did have choices? It was either do this or do that, and the results were the same in the end. But Koravelle? The highest pack of all? It was too much of an honor!

He made his decision. It was now or never. Sure, he would be dealing with a mountainload of stress, but it would all be worth it. He would no longer be laughed at, no longer tormented. He raised his head and looked steadily at the Alphess.

"Sure! I'd like to accept." He wagged his tail and gave a small dip of his head in respect.

[Sphuul]

Elektra

Elektra wanted to laugh and cry at the same time when she saw the shock on his face. Laugh, because his expression was funny and comical, utterly stunned in his silence. And cry, because she knew he had never been offered anything, never been given a choice. The emotions seeped through her nerves, and a soft sigh choked its way out of her maw. A chuckle and a sob seemed to bring itself out along with that sound, hopefully too subtle for the male to notice. She became slightly worried then. What if he heard that? Lekk didn't want to show herself as a weak link. She needed to get over herself, quickly.

She was able to when Endeem spoke once more. She nodded, a smile set deep in her face. "It would be a pleasure having you in our ranks." Elektra watched as the male seemed to quake under the burden of choice. He simply didn't know how to handle it, as he had never had experience with it. She waited patiently, knowing an answer would come to him soon enough. She didn't have to wait long. The strength of decision gave a glint to his eye, and he stopped shaking, and he lifted his head to look at her. The expression on his face gave her respect for him. He had taken something so foreign and strange to him and turned it into strength. She liked him instantly. He was strong, and the trip here was worth it. He opened his maw again, and she nodded as he spoke. "That's very good to hear." She looked at him once more, looking over his fur and his beaten body, a small frown taking charge of her face. "I will lead you to our land, where you can wash up and rest. Your wounds are not too severe, and they will heal with time. You won't have to attend any meetings until I give you word, so you can rest undisturbed." As she finished speaking, Lekk stood, shaking her fur lightly. "If Stolz gives you any trouble simply tell him you are under my wing. Feel free to come to me for anything." She smiled softly, a gentle gleam to her eyes. "Welcome to Koravelle, Endeem."