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[Maya]

Vernado

Do you recognize the face in the [ m i r r o r ] looking back at you?[/center]

He felt a bit strange as he trudged on through the forest that led to his home. It was odd to have someone behind him in tow, and that was something he wasn’t used to. He was used to hearing the birds take flight above his head, the squirrels leaping from one treetop to the next with a loud rustle of leaves, and the breeze moving the leaves around him, yet all he was zeroed in on was the shuffle of paws behind him. There was no bliss in listening to Mother Nature’s creations as he led her towards Regen and possibly the place where she too would call home. He had said nothing to Merona, the recently acquired ‘slave.’ He was debating on what he should say but all that came was him looking at her with a blank expression and his mouth slightly agape as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words to express them with. He just opted for silence, which was what he was mainly used to anyhow.

He couldn’t help but feel as if she were a bit uneasy, wondering as to what potential the burly male in front of her could do. Soon, Vernado hoped, was that she would come to know him as a wolf of very few words and with a pure heart. With an exhale, he finally broke through the thicker part of the forest to a point where the trees were not so tightly knit together. The lands were alive with activity he noticed, staring at a group of prey further away but close enough. He never understood as to why they felt so comfortable with him around. He stopped at the base of the mountain, gazing around him cautiously. He tested the air silently, drawing in the scents around him to ensure that his home had been left alone and untouched. To his pleasure, no wolf had crossed through his land and everything was pristine as it had been since he left to visit the Rock.

Vernado turned to Merona and observed her for a moment. It was a bit of a shock to have her following him still. He often didn’t look back to check if she was still there, but then again, he didn’t need to. Still, he hadn’t introduced himself and was still a rather big mystery at this point in time but perhaps a few questions would soon be answered. He inhaled briskly and opened his mouth before he could even stop himself. ”I apologize for not having introduced myself earlier, Merona, I am Vernado and this land is Regen.” His mocha gaze swept away from her form to the lush land around her, taking in its vastness as well as stunning beauty. Vernado was always keen of nature itself for in a world of such turmoil and the various things he’s seen, nature and silence had been his constant companion and accepted him for who he now was.

He was silent once again as he lost himself, permitting his eyes to peruse through the land around him. He was content if not visibly so but he had to adjust now for there was someone else but himself to look out for. He turned towards Merona again, lips parted slightly but he shook his head firmly. He looked away, gathering his thoughts before staring at her with more decisiveness. ”I will not beat you or harm you in any possible way. You may not believe me now but I assure you that no one else will inflict bodily harm upon you any longer,” Vernado spoke and his voice was rather sincere, swelling with more emotion than his solemn face let on. He sat down slowly and gazed to the left of her before deciding to stare at her once more. ”My goal is to give you back your freedom and later on you will have the opportunity to choose whether to stay or to go.” He gave a tight nod for every word that poured from his mouth he meant wholeheartedly and without a doubt, he wouldn’t go back on it, and hopefully, she believed him.

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MERONA

As the two wolves made their way back from the auktion rock, silence was in their company. The tan she-wolf had made not a peep the whole way back--and not simply because she was unable. If she hadthe ability to speak what would she have said? The male before her was her new owner, her new master. The thoughts lingered in the female's head and she spat inwardly, angry with the way she'd gotten caught up in this crazed world. She was the same as everyone else! Why had Eperna allowed her to be beaten, abused, made her bow down to her own kind?

The she-wolf's thoughts ran wildly through her mind as the male slowed, Merona following suit. He turned towards her as she realized they must have reached their destination. Silently she gazed in wonder around her; the land was indeed beautiful. The woods were thick yet very clear in air and sound, somewhat tranquil in these depths that surrounded them. The she-wolf hardened her gaze at this new master. This scum. So now she would discover why he had brought her here...

"I apologize for not having introduced myself earlier, Merona, I am Vernado and this land is Regen.”

I should say so.

Merona shot him an icy glare before softening, listening with intensity to his words that lifted through the air.

”I will not beat you or harm you in any possible way. You may not believe me now but I assure you that no one else will inflict bodily harm upon you any longer,”

She hadn't heard him right. Her ears had somehow deceived her. He was making a crazy joke or pulling her ears. It was simply too good to be true. Merona stepped forward, hostility caught in her eyes. How dare he mock her! The sandy fur rippled menacingly, her raised lips showing pearly whites. An invisible growl rolled out of her, silent as the death that had chased her for so long.

”My goal is to give you back your freedom and later on you will have the opportunity to choose whether to stay or to go.”

At this the she-wolf slowed her aggression, mind whirling. Maybe what he said was true. His voice was clam, reserved, pointed to make her believe. Merona was dumbfounded. What would make this male want to help her lost cause, let alone free her? Not just a male--she stood corrected--for his name was Vernado. Vernado. The name resounded within her mind, a sweet, respect growing.

It seemed to confuse the she-wolf, this new sense of pride, of life. Merona stared stupidly around her, orbs focused on everything and yet distant. This was to be her home... her real home. Surely life had somehow transcended into a dream? The leaves were the brightest green, the sparkling sky a vivid cerulean. The world faded into a dazzling array of color. Eperna had not left her. Her prayers that had hung in the cold winter's air for so long had finally been accepted and answered, thrown back at her in summer's dancing melody of freedom. Freedom. Again, Merona tried a word on her mind's canvas. It rang through her, blood churning with a new liveliness. The feeling called to her, pulled her into being. She was in charge of her future, her destiny.

Merona paused in her revelation to stare wonderingly back at Vernado. Why? It lingered on her tongue, unwilling to be spoke, unable in all forms. The she-wolf tilted her tawny head as if speaking.

Why, Alpha?

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[Maya]

Vernado

Do you recognize the face in the [ m i r r o r ] looking back at you?[/center]

Vernado let his thoughts run wild as he stood before the she wolf. He did not own her at all and would never address her as his property. He was kind if he did not seem to be as such. He may be stoic but underneath the stiff muscles and solemn façade, his inner workings were just as identical to anyone else’s. Where he differed was the release of emotion. He was not an open book but a closed one, eager and waiting for someone to browse through his pages to understand him as a whole and what he had endured to be standing right here. Few had tried but had never understood him, labeling him a murderer, beast, and inhuman. The words had stung him; swarm around in his mind to a point where sleep would never come because there was one thing that was for certain, they were right. It was something he had learned to cope with and harbor as a burden for he could not turn back the hands of time to refuse his former pack’s demands and maybe, if luck decided to be on his side just once, his parents would be breathing the air and nothing would have changed.

’If only.’ Those two words had been something Vernado was accustomed to along with the ‘what ifs’ of his life which usually left him reeling and wishing that his life was somehow better than it was now. There was no use in wishing for doing so; none of it came true anyhow. Vernado shifted, reminding himself that it was very impolite to be drifting in through his analytical thoughts while holding a conversation, whether it is one sided or not, was massively rude. He knew that Merona could not speak and numerous questions blossomed inside of him but there was a downfall, he would not get an appropriate answer to smooth his curiosity. After all he had spoken was out into the air, it seemed that there was a slight bit of tension building. To his dismay, Merona had took his words to mean something else, as if he were taunting her and rubbing it in her face that her freedom would never be in reach as long as she was his slave.

Mocha colored eyes swiveled to gaze at her, remaining steady and withdrawn as usual as he watched her step forwards, a silent snarl pressed to her face. He watched as the emotion contorted her once smooth face into one that intended violence. Vernado remained still, watching as the malice dwindled and soon all the anger was beginning to dissipate from her face in a flourish. He found it enviable then that she could express any emotion without even a second thought. She was his opposite who could let her emotions speak for her even if her voice was failing her and remained disobedient. He could not reveal his emotions as easily as she had which was something he had tried to achieve but to no avail. Merona did not have a voice but Vernado did, though he used it infrequently, letting such a sense go to waste but even if he spoke it grew with a slight undertone of emotion, betraying him in a sense. He had a bit to learn from the female, something that piqued his interest.

He watched her in a resigned manner as she observed the surroundings with a new outlook on life. This was all new to her, he wagered, to finally be granted freedom and have it so close within her grasp. He wondered for a moment if the colors of the world looked brighter and crisp, and that maybe, everything seemed to be working for her instead of against her. Vernado’s face briefly softened but to a slight degree before it was dragged beneath the surface once more as she turned to him, an inquiry hanging on her face as her head tilted to the side as if wondering as to why he would offer her such a thing. He exhaled deeply, face turning away from her as he seemed to understand that she wanted to know more than the little scratch on the surface. The regal way he held himself with his back straight and his head gazing straight ahead to face danger head on now had changed. His body slumped a little as he re-lived his past, imagery flickering past him with a snapshot of blood, still bodies, and lifeless eyes glazed over with fear and horror.

Vernado shuddered a moment before turning back to gaze at Merona, though his eyes looked a little different, they appeared far off and distant as he tried to piece together his response in a way that would possibly not arise any more questions. It wasn’t that he was trying to deny her the ability to understand him more but for the fact that his nightmare was once more reminding him of what he had become and how easily he let other wolves manipulate his life to their pleasure. ”I know what it is like to receive pain and being pushed around, beaten until death seems so close but yet so far away.” His voice exposed more raw emotion, trembling slightly. ”My name is tainted with the blood of others, innocent bystanders caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, though I assure you, I have changed. I want nothing more than for you to be free from the chains of fear and torture,” he paused as he closed his eyes to let them open slowly once more. ”When that male had struck out at you, it brought back memories because I had been put through similar circumstances in my past that I am not proud of. I decided then that it was best to take you away from all that you knew as normal to introduce you to what life should be.” He shrugged, hoping this was enough as he allowed his face to sober up again, becoming unreadable and solemn once more.

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MERONA

It was strange, this new feeling. Freedom. Merona vaguely began to wonder what it really felt like, to run free as the wind, free as the birds that swiveled and danced in the sky... The she-wolf tore her eyes away from the milky, sweeping clouds that floated above her, poising blue eyes on Vernado as he spoke to her.

”I know what it is like to receive pain and being pushed around, beaten until death seems so close but yet so far away.”

As his speech continued her audits pricked; was that sorrow she heard in his normally tight, sheltered voice she heard?

”My name is tainted with the blood of others, innocent bystanders caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, though I assure you, I have changed. I want nothing more than for you to be free from the chains of fear and torture,”

It was like she was feeling his pain, the way the emotions crackled between them, rippled through her fur, tore into her heart. Merona waited for him to clear his thoughts, the patience she had been beaten to learn shining through.

”When that male had struck out at you, it brought back memories because I had been put through similar circumstances in my past that I am not proud of. I decided then that it was best to take you away from all that you knew as normal to introduce you to what life should be.”

So he did understand her, what she had been through. What life had been like for her since day one. Merona stepped forward, coming to sit beside him, her tawny and white muzzle nudging him. It was a gesture of thanks, a gesture that meant little of actual words. Vernado needed to forgive himself for whatever it was that had occurred. It was, after all in the past. There was no changing it now. Merona remained in that position for a while, her body inhaling his sweet pine scent. It smelled of the mountains and long winter nights, long nights of both tragedy and uncontrolled excitement. The she-wolf didn't know if this contact with her master--her Alpha--was allowed, but she figured he wouldn't mind. Even if he did, she highly doubted he would tell her so.

Thank you, Eperna.

It was a silent praise for the goddess. She had not left her little she-wolf to die. Merona knew that all too well now. She had been graced with a kind, considerate master who wanted nothing other than her happiness, her blessing, and her well-being. The vix took a second look at Vernado, her eyes searching. He seemed the heart-strung type. The emotional, the searching, the helpful, accommodating type. Merona's heart went out to him. For the first time in her life she felt a surge of gratitude for a dominor.

Night had begun to fall onto the land and with it whipped a chilly breeze that crept through the trees, faintly at first before it descended on the land raging fierce and vocal to all that would hear it. Merona was quick to jerk her head around her; these were new woods, new territories and she would not be caught off guard in her Alpha's companionship. It was growing darker with the sun's lazy setting and for a brief moment Merona wondered where the sleeping dens were. Her legs ached with weariness and her head was beginning to slump in the makings of a nocturnal trance.

I'm getting a little tired, M'lord...

Her facade was plainly expressive of her feelings, straight to the core. However appreciative she was of this lovely male her energy was lacking her; the nights at the Auktion Rock had taken their toll. Still, this place was not completely her home yet; she didn't know every nook and cranny of hiding, of unplanned attack. I'm not sure I want to be left alone out here... Maybe he had already found a den for them to curl up in. A thought occurred to her, striking her. Will he sleep apart from me? He is the Alpha after all... Merona's thoughts raged wildly as she waited for some dictation, some direction to follow.

ooc- crappy, but there you go. Maybe a small romance? I was thinking they could sleep in a den together, ooo. Dramatic.

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[Maya]

Vernado

Do you recognize the face in the [ m i r r o r ] looking back at you?[/center]

Never had Vernado allowed his guard to falter, exposing the raw inner workings of his mind, releasing the burden of his past to someone who was supposed to be underneath him. It was a bit like therapy, speaking the history that had made him whole and then broke his spirit beyond recognition. Throughout his explanation, she was truly listening, comprehending his words and bringing them into her heart, holding them there as if to cradle a wailing child. It was an odd experience for him, allowing someone to fully see him for who he was without tackling him to the ground, spewing out words of hatred and anger. His eyes settled on her, observing her silently as she harbored his words within her mind. No emotion of malevolence or malice flickered across her expressive face and Vernado felt relieved. He needn’t have his only pack member mad at him.

The tan female moved then, crossing the invisible boundary between Alpha and pack member, stepping lightly into his personal space. Vernado’s eyes conveyed confusion as Merona moved closer to him still, the gap between them almost nonexistent. She sat beside him before nudging him. The touch was unexpected, confusion soon switching to bewilderment. He almost shied away from the touch as it had been too long to have any sort of contact from other wolves. He met her gaze, held it for a moment, and understood. He nodded his response, thanking her in return for allowing him to break free from the chains that rendered him immobile in its grasp, tightening their steely links upon him but slowly those links were transforming. The dull gray was beginning to shift into gold, shining and bright but still held a bland sheen to them.

It was progress but Vernado wasn’t sure as to why he had told Merona his past. She deserved an explanation and it made him feel as if just talking through his problems could make them easier to deal with. It was hard to cope with that, letting it just sink in as if it were the easiest way and all his questions had been answered; it wasn’t supposed to be this easy. He exhaled, turning his head to the side to better observe Merona as she was still positioned comfortably beside him. He never had someone within such close proximity and feel at ease beside him. Most were afraid, hesitant as if with one wrong move the gray coated male would lunge for their throat and be the cause of their last breath.

Night was creeping upon his lands and although, Vernado usually persevered through the night to stay awake, it was time that all those nights of being awake were catching up to him. He felt sleepy, which was foreign to him but none the less he glanced over at Merona again. Her eyes and face expressed her exhaustion and Vernado nodded. He hauled himself to his paws, glancing towards the shadows of the forest before resting his eyes back on Merona. ”There’s a den this way,” he spoke, briefly shaking out his moderately thick coat. He gave a yawn, his large mouth parted in a show of his weariness. His legs began to move over the land at a leisurely pace, almost sure that Merona would follow hastily in order to sleep and regain her strength. ”I’m afraid we’ll have to sleep in the same den, but if you object, I will sleep outside.” He reclined upon his haunches, gazing at her face in order to capture the silent answer of her wishes.




Ooc: Sounds great to me! =: ) So sorry I haven't replied straightaway; I've been actively searching for a job but my replies will come faster this time around.

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