..come and go (open)

[⋆Ravɛn]

M A D D O X



Autumn boasted smugly of her arrival with the sudden bursts of chilly wind and the soft rustle of golden-orange leaves, with the occasional reds and pinks. Summer was gone now, taking her oppressive heat and dry days with her. With winter still slumbering far away, fall was in its prime, bubbling with chattering squirrels and cooing birds. The forest had never seemed less haunted, in Maddox's humble opinion. Perhaps some people would get intimidated by the places where the trees grew uncomfortably close together. Or perhaps it was the way sometimes it was so quiet and peaceful when suddenly a hare would burst from its hiding spot, and the forest would come alive all over again before falling silent moments later. But Maddox found it all so...charming.

Had it not been for his stark white face, the brute might have blended in with the background as he weaved between trees and through the underbrush, golden eyes flashing. Here and there one would see flashes of his muzzle or a glimpse of his mask. His gait was quick and smooth, almost gliding, almost silent were it not for the occasional crackle of a branch beneath his paws. He was a ghost in these woods, breathtakingly handsome when the sun caught his slender face and glimmering eyes just right. His muscles flexed and bunched beneath his multi-colored pelt as he moved, and his ears constantly twitched and swiveled, attentive to every noise. His nose twitched, searching determinedly for something larger and more appetizing than a measly hare.

There was something almost enchanting about the early morning, and this put a slight spring in the brute's step as he prowled. Several times he stumbled upon a plump squirrel or a startled rabbit, but he passed each of these without so much as a glance in their direction. He was on the scent of a stag, satisfyingly fresh...and judging by the splotches of red that appeared among the fallen leaves, the creature was injured. Maddox's stomach turned and growled treacherously, making it painfully obvious that he hadn't eaten in two days. It had been so difficult to brush past the dumb little critters before, but now with the mouth-watering scent of the stag on his tongue, it was all worthwhile. Once again the forest had fallen suddenly silent. Ahead of him he could hear soft footsteps tramping through the leaves; he was close.

Maddox dropped into a crouch, practically crawling forward. Ahead of him the footsteps had stopped. His ears strained to detect any hint of noise as he inched forward, praying to Iudex that his paws encountered neither twig nor branch.

Just before of him was a flash of chestnut fur. Sliding further down into the underbrush, Maddox peered through the cover of the bushes, his belly brushing against the dirt. The stag wasn't a particularly plump thing, but he was large and meaty enough. His antlers were impressive crowns upon his head, intimidating and foreboding. Normally Maddox would have never dreamed of taking on a stag alone, but this one was injured. His left hind leg was partially lifted so that his hoof rested gingerly on the tip, and he was frozen, gazing in the opposite direction with wide, black eyes. For a long time, neither predator nor prey moved. Then, obviously ignorant to his stalker, the stag turned and pranced forward.

The noise the stag had made in the leaves as a cover for his own footsteps, Maddox sprang forward with a savage snarl, snapping at his hind legs. At the last moment the stag jerked forward, bursting into a panicked run that was half limp. It was easy for Maddox to overtake the beast and circle him, wheeling around to face him as the proud creature jerked to a stop. Quick as lightening Maddox sprang, snapping at the beast's foreleg in an attempt to injure him further. Faced with little choice but to fight, the stag reared and jabbed his antlers angrily in the wolf's direction, but the brute had already danced out of harms way.

So it'll have to be a game of wits, then, Maddox thought to himself. The stag lowered his head threateningly, and Maddox bared his teeth in return before striking. He feinted to the left of the beast, taking full advantage of the situation when the stag jabbed in that direction. Slinging his body to the right, Maddox quickly gained his footing and lunged, his teeth sinking deep into the stag's throat. The muscled body jerked but Maddox held tight, pulling the stag to it's knees with a ferocious growl. In it's weakened state, the stag's eyes lost their light swiftly as it's body went limp.

Finally Maddox released his hold on the corpse, dancing backwards, his eyes ablaze with fierce satisfaction. Smugly, he lifted his head and barked out a short exclamation of victory before digging into his meal.

It wasn't long before the brute was full, and with over half of the stag left, Maddox couldn't help but feel a bit wasteful. He backed away from the carnage, licking his lips as he considered the body. He could leave it here for another fortunate animal to stumble upon, likely a crow or a vulture. His mind was already wandering, dreaming up visions of cool springs that he knew ran throughout the forest. Eager to sate his thirst, he turned away from the body, ears flicking.

Ah well. At least he'd left a feast for the scavengers.

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Hunger. It wracked her body from nose to tail and to the tip of her toes. Pure, raw hunger it was. And the exhaustion accompanying it did little to help. Adali couldn't recall the last time she had run so hard. She couldn't recall ever feeling such heat lick at her paws as she fled. And she definitely couldn't recall ever being so lost. The female hadn't been very smart in her escape. She hadn't planned on where she would go. All she knew was that she had to get out of there when the fire consumed everything behind her. And so she had ran, long legs carrying her faster than she ever thought psychically possible for her unremarkable self. She had ran until she couldn't run anymore. And when feeling had finally returned to her tired limbs, she had continued on.

It had been a while since then, though she couldn't recall if it had been weeks or merely days. Time had blended together as the white wolf had wandered the unknown landscape that she had found herself in. An injured rabbit and a few clueless squirrels had sated her lately, but the female's luck had quickly ran out when it came to finding food.

Adali had never been extremely skilled in any aspect of her life as far as she was concerned. She made a good chew toy for those above her, but that was about it. Yes, she could hunt. Small game, at least. But more often than not she came up empty. And it didn't help that both her body and mind were in a panic over the twisting of her growling stomach. The volume of the sound actually scared her a few times and only furthered her search for subsistence in this unfamiliar land.

Being on her own was almost otherworldly. And she didn't like such a world. It left her without purpose. Purpose was her driving force in life, even if it did land her in spots most considered undesirable.

It was her nose that first picked up the signs of a kill. The scent of blood tickled her senses as her stomach groaned once again in it's ever growing greed. She was so desperate and unaccustomed to surviving by herself, that she rushed to the scene without much thought on if there would be any strangers or dangers there. As soon as her slender legs had carried her over a thick patch of bushes, though, she was met with the sight of another. Not expecting this, she scurried back as soon as her sore paws had touched the crunchy leaves beneath her. It wasn't until her side met a tree that she was forced to stop.

Experience and instinct took over, and Adali found herself sliding to the ground to appear as small as possible, ears flattening. With wide eyes, she searched the grounds around the other to spot the kill that had brought her so close. All hope of a meal dwindled inside of her as if someone had blown out a candle flame. She had always been the last one allowed to eat, if allowed at all. And she expected no difference here. But the question rose in her throat none the less, her voice quivering in her obvious fear. "Are... are you done with that?"

[⋆Ravɛn]

M A D D O X



Maddox was lost in his own world, one that consisted of shady spots on the banks of refreshing streams. He was so eager to see if such a place existed in these woods that he nearly stumbled when a diminutive voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Are... are you done with that?"

Maddox wheeled, the fur along his spine instantly rising as his irritation spiked, loathe to be caught off guard. His golden eyes easily found the speaker, noticing first that her entire body was as white as his own face. Her body was obviously slender to begin with, but it seemed as if hunger had made her even more gaunt, yet somehow still...dainty. She was crouched low to the ground, every inch of her posture screaming submission. She was clearly no threat.

The change in the brute was almost instant. The fur along his back smoothed as his eyes met hers, finding hunger even in her gaze. Making a split second decision on how to handle the situation, he trotted back towards her, stopping on the other side of the corpse, clearly giving her a wide berth. "What, this?" He asked as he glanced down at the body of the stag, although he expected no answer. He was quiet then, as if considering, although in truth his mind had been made up long ago. He would have been downright cruel to chase her away when he'd been seconds away from leaving the body. But perhaps he could use it to his advantage to learn a little more about why a she-wolf like her, obviously a Sklavin judging by her posture, was wandering alone in the forest.

He moved around to the other side of the corpse, his gait so confident that it was practically a strut. Golden eyes glittering with amusement, he stopped several feet away from her, examining her body and tilting his head to one side. "Well, you certainly look like you need it more than I do," he commented, casting another glance at the stag over his shoulder. He could remember clearly how his stomach had cramped and ached with hunger so many times before when he could find food nowhere. How long had it been since this stranger had eaten? Two days? Three?

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Maddox turned his attention back to the she-wolf. In a movement that was clearly familiar to him, Maddox's lips twisted into a smile that was half grin, half smirk.

"I'll make you a deal. I'll give you the rest of my breakfast if you give me something, too. Like..." He paused, twitching one ear in the direction of a distant chatter as he eyed her mischievously, his unfinished sentence hanging in the air. It had been a while since he'd ran into another wolf, and now with all dreams of a stream forgotten, he had all the time in the world to play.

"...your name?" he finally finished, tossing in his most dazzling smile just for effect as he blinked at her, head still cocked to the side.

Maybe today will end up being interesting.

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His first response sent a small shiver of fear down Adali's spine. The raised hackles and overall language he was giving off terrified her. At first she thought she was in for an attack for speaking when not spoken to. Adali had been attacked before, but not in a way that would permanently damage her. Her first master had been less than gentle and she could still feel his teeth on her when she really thought about it. And while the damage was never really severe, it still hurt. The look that flashed across this stranger's face momentarily reminded her of it. It made her want to sink into the tree behind her. However, that moment didn't last very long and before she knew it, he'd transformed into a very relaxed wolf indeed.

"What, this?"

A nod as she looked between his face and the partially consumed buck. The pangs in her stomach grew stronger, making her want to just launch at it already and tear away a piece of flesh. Maybe she would be able to make off with a morsel of it before he could react? Adali shook her had as soon as the thought entered her mind. What was she thinking? Of course she couldn't make it. Stealing had never been her forte anyway. She wasn't exactly on the brave side of the spectrum.

The sudden movement of the other caused her eyes to to snap back to him, pressing her side harder against the trunk of the tree until she could feel the rough bark dig into her skin a little. He got within feet, and she didn't like it. If he had been her alpha, she probably would of just stayed completely still. She had always been a good sklavin to get one's anger out on. And as messed up as it was, she had convinced herself she didn't mind it. But this was not her current alpha. This was not Kasimira or Tortuga.

"I'll make you a deal. I'll give you the rest of my breakfast if you give me something, too. Like..."

The words went unfinished at first, leaving Adali confused and wondering what it could be that she could possibly give him. She was a sklavin. A very hungry and lost one indeed. She had nothing of value. Her racing thoughts were cut off though, leaving her even more bewildered than before. "...your name?" Was all that came, and she looked at the smug, smiling wolf before her for a long moment. What did her name have to do with anything? It was just a name, after all. But she was so hungry and so desperate to eat that she didn't allow herself to think any more on it. "Adali" came her answer. "What is yours?" she added quietly, just to be polite. Her first alpha had hated when she wasn't polite.

A realization suddenly hit her then; he hadn't attacked her. It puzzled her and made her feel useless at the same time, even if she was grateful not to feel the pinch of teeth. Not really thinking much of her actions, she slowly and cautiously moved away from the tree and towards the corpse whilst still keeping her body low. A questioning glance was thrown the male's way, as if asking if she could take a bite yet.

[⋆Ravɛn]

M A D D O X


The suspicion written all over her face when the she-wolf processed his request might have been insulting if it weren't so...comical. Maddox waited patiently while she seemed to process that he was no threat, before reluctantly offering what he had asked for. "Adali," came her response, with a follow-up question close behind. "What is yours?" Her voice was polite, if not slightly puzzled. Maddox got the impression that she wasn't used to being spoken to in such a...normal manor.

Smiling a little when he noticed the questioning glance Adali shot in his direction as she inched towards the corpse, he stepped backwards and inclined his head slightly. "Please, don't let me stop you," he said with a little chuckle. "Eat."

Maddox fell silent, glancing to the side as a noisy robin landed in the tree to his left. He flicked his ears back and forth several times as his thoughts roamed. Was she a Sklavin who had escaped her Dominor? Or was she lost? Either way, it wasn't like Maddox was going to interfere with whatever she had planned, since it didn't involve him one way or the other. Curiosity still gnawed at his gut, however, so he lowered his rump to the ground, sitting back on his haunches.

"Pleasure to meet you, Adali," he said as he curled his tail around his paws, staring at the white she-wolf for a long moment. Maybe there was something he could do to help her. Or maybe getting involved would be stupid. Maybe he should have walked away from both Adali and the carcass. But that seemed like such a sleazy way out. What if she really needed help? With a little sigh, he finally answered her question, sitting straight and still. "I'm Maddox."

It had been a while since Maddox had taken the time to stop and converse with someone. The formal name swap that came with every first encounter seemed foreign and a little awkward, although the male did a good enough job of appearing relaxed and at ease. He was quiet and patient with Adali, politely giving her time to eat as he puzzled over his own thoughts. His mind was a tangled mess of questions and assumptions, working over the events of the past hour. It took him a moment to decide on which question to ask first, and when his mind was made up he glanced over to Adali with half-lidded eyes. There was no smile on his muzzle now, but his voice was nothing short of polite when he spoke.

"Where are you from, Adali?" Her name felt foreign and new on his tongue, but he pressed on. "And why are you here?" He cut straight to the point, flat out asking instead of beating around the bush. He hadn't seen anyone else since he had entered the forest; Adali was the first. The situation at hand inevitably provoked his curiosity, and he wasn't ashamed to admit it. He cocked his head to the side as he appraised the she-wolf, awaiting her response with seemingly endless patience.

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This was unbelievable. Nobody was ever so polite to her, no matter how much she tried to be to them. She stared at the corpse in front of her for several long moments, not recalling ever being so close to one before. At least, not one with so much meat left on it. She'd always been the bone picker, nibbling away at any scraps left over from large kills. And if the kill wasn't large, there was rarely ever enough left over for the sklavin and she would be forced to pick off a squirrel or two. It worked. She was alive, after all. Appearing skinnier than what would normally be considered healthy, especially after so many days without food. But she'd lasted all these years in a similar fashion.

Adali was half expecting someone to jump out of the trees and bushes and chase her away. Maybe even laugh in her face for being so foolish as to think she would get any of this food. But even after a cautious glance around her, nothing happened. And, with a sudden burst of joy that she kept contained, she dug into the leftover stag.

The she-wolf was so engrossed in her long awaited meal that she barely registered the exchange of his name, something her first master would of punished her for without a doubt. But he wasn't here and neither were her current dominors. And it was only when her stomach was full and crying for her not to take another bite that she finally acknowledged the other's presence again, a sheepish look on her bloodstained face.

"Where are you from, Adali? And why are you here?"

It all came back to her in that moment. She was not supposed to be here. She was supposed to be finding her way back to Irrsin. She was suddenly ashamed that she'd taken the time to stop and eat, even if it was necessary. With quick steps, the female backed away from the remains as if it burned her and sat herself down a good ten or so feet away. "I don't know where I'm from" she admitted. It's not like she was born into her current pack. And she couldn't remember her fist pack's location or even it's name. But Adali doubted that's what he was asking for in the first place. "I'm supposed to be in Irrsin. I wasn't supposed to leave. But... there was a fire. I had to run away." It was almost like she was defending herself, afraid she would fall into trouble if someone knew she had left, life and death situation or not. A pang of fear swept through the she-wolf as she remembered the flames licking at her tail. Hopefully the rest of them had gotten out safely.

Adali looked up at him then, not realizing that she had been staring at the forest floor in deep thought. She had run for so long and so hard that she hadn't kept track of the direction she had been fleeing in or how far she had actually gone from her most recent home. Before she knew it, the female had found herself in this dark and foreboding place. She suddenly remembered she was still very much lost. "Where am I?"

[⋆Ravɛn]

M A D D O X

When Adali finally lifted her head from her meal and admitted that she was lost, it came as no surprise to Maddox. Most wolves that he stumbled upon admitted to being wanderers, himself included. While he had slightly familiarized himself with the area, there were moments where he had to stop and think about how he had gotten to where he was, and where he intended to go. It made no difference to him where he ended up, but one look at Adali proved that she was a different story. Her words only confirmed his assumption.

"I'm supposed to be in Irrsin. I wasn't supposed to leave. But... there was a fire. I had to run away."

Vaguely he remembered hearing of a fire that had raged through one of the larger pack's territory. At the time, it hadn't phased him much; Maddox tended to stray away from the dramatic follies of packs. But after hearing that Adali had been present for the inferno, Maddox racked his mind, struggling to remember what he had heard. Try as he might, however, nothing came to him. It did explain her thin exterior and frightened disposition, though.

"Where am I?"

"I believe they call it Schreien Forest, or something of the sort. Apparently it's haunted." He flashed her his teeth, his lips forming a grin. "Don't worry, I don't believe in ghosts and ghouls. I'll protect you." Getting to his feet, Maddox shook his fur clean, before glancing towards Adali considerately. She truly was a pretty thing, but maybe that was just because he'd always admired that radiant, snow white fur that she sported. And for some reason, her skittish, cautious personality only made him want to help her more. It wasn't often that Maddox got to play the part of hero, and it was even less often that he wanted to. Snorting, he peered up through the canopy of golden-orange leaves. The sun was still high in the sky, and what else did he have to do?

"I was on my way to find a nice stream or something of the sort when you came along. Irrsin is a bit of a walk, but if you'd like, I could try to help you find your way there. You'd be safer that way. Or you could go on your own, I won't bother you if you do." The forest had the potential to intimidate even the toughest of creatures with the way it tended to confuse the senses, but at the same time, he couldn't blame her if she refused to wander a shady forest with a male stranger. Caution was something that every mother taught their pups from the moment they could comprehend.

"If you don't feel like going back just yet, however..." He turned his mischievous eyes on her, swishing his tail back and forth. Maybe she wasn't the type to linger too long without her Dominor, but it was always worth a try. He needed someone to get into trouble with sometimes, after all. "You could come with me to find water. Relaxing on the shady banks of a stream with me couldn't be too bad, right?"

He chuckled, edging a bit closer, although not so close as to crowd her. If she turned him down, he would simply go on his own way, although he couldn't say he wouldn't be a bit disappointed.

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Schreien Forest sounded somewhat familiar to Adali. However, the same could not be said for his claim that it may be haunted by those from beyond the dead. The very thought of such horrors caused her to gulp, eyes darting around to make sure such monsters weren't after her. The forest seemed just that much darker now. The female wasn't sure if she believed in such things, but she also wasn't the type to rule something like that out, either. It was better to be safe than sorry, was it not? She found herself wishing she could simply sink into the ground and hide from it all. Unfortunately for her, no such thing happened.

"I was on my way to find a nice stream or something of the sort when you came along. Irrsin is a bit of a walk, but if you'd like, I could try to help you find your way there. You'd be safer that way. Or you could go on your own, I won't bother you if you do."

Light, golden-brown eyes returned to this stranger called Maddox. She wasn't sure if she'd ever grow used to anyone being so kind to her. Sure, her current dominor's weren't all that bad. But she had never experienced any sort of profound respect by anyone before. She almost felt like an equal to someone for once, which was a strange feeling she wasn't sure she wanted to let go of.

The thought of walking through this forest alone wasn't very appealing to the she-wolf. Especially not after the subject of ghosts had come up. And then there was the fact that she didn't know the way out, anyway. And so, she quickly decided that she would accept the help he had offered. But he beat her with another offer before she could say a word.

"You could come with me to find water. Relaxing on the shady banks of a stream with me couldn't be too bad, right?"

Not go back to Irrsin right away? The thought was a troubling one to the sklavin. She doubted her leaders would approve if they ever learned she'd put her duties on the back-burner. But she was feeling parched. And what could it hurt to get a sip to wash down the food? Surely they would understand if the conversation ever came up on why it took her so long to get back. Everyone needed water, after all. Yet Adali couldn't help but feel she was just making up excuses to stay a little longer, if just for the kindness.

It took her a minute to come to a final decision, and she instantly felt she would regret it. "Water sounds wonderful" came her answer. She got to her feet, tail tucked and head still low as she waited to follow this stranger.

[⋆Ravɛn]

M A D D O X

"Water sounds wonderful"

Well, color him surprised.

Maddox grinned, making a show of seeming surprised. He honestly hadn't expected her to say yes, but now that she had, he was free to poke fun at her.

"And here I was expecting you to tuck tail and run home," he said, chuckling to take the sting from his words. Hopefully she doesn't take anything I say seriously. She already looks a little. . .shaken.

Turning his back to her, he took several steps forward, peering through the trees. He wasn't entirely sure where the closest stream was, but if he admitted that, Adali might go running. Besides, where was the harm in a little adventure? If he had been an escaped slave, he would have welcomed a distraction. Especially if said distraction kept him away from his Dominor for a few hours. Turning back to face Adali, he tilted his head in the direction that he had been going when she'd stumbled upon him.

"This way, then. And stick close, I swear I'm harmless."

He set off at a trot, kicking up dirt and fallen leaves as he went. The forest was just as beautiful as ever, bursting with life once again. In certain places, the sun rays peeked through the tangle of branches above, illuminating the path the wolves walked. From time to time a squirrel would burst from the underbrush, chattering angrily as it darted up the nearest tree. Several times Maddox caught the scent of a vixen, but he had eaten not long ago, and couldn't be bothered with the pesky fox. He could only hope that the presence of so many flourishing critters meant that water was near.

When he came across a tiny trickle of water beneath the leaves, he turned towards his companion triumphantly, muttering his first words since they had left the stag carcass. "It may not look like much," he said, referring to the puddle underneath his paws. "But it means we're on the right track. It'll take us to a stream, I'm hoping." Without waiting for an answer, he turned and continued, following the small trail of water.

After some time of walking in silence, Maddox glanced over his shoulder, golden eyes twinkling mischievously as he slowed his gait, giving Adali time to catch up. Somewhere above a bird squawked, but he ignored it as he addressed the she-wolf.

"So how do you like Irrsin?" He asked, somewhat gently. Upsetting her was something he truly didn't intend on doing, not when she was likely already stressed enough. He was unsure of how she would take his probing; some wolves kept more to themselves, while others were fond of sharing. As for Adali. . .she seemed as tightly closed as a clam shell, not that she could be blamed. Caution saved lives more often than not.

"I haven't heard very much of the packs here," he admitted reluctantly, "So forgive me if I seem nosy. Do they at least treat you fairly?"

If a slave could ever be treated fairly. . .

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"And here I was expecting you to tuck tail and run home,"

Truth be told, the she-wolf would of done just that had she known where the heck she was. But considering she was completely lost and with the terrible luck that seemed to follow her around, she most likely would of ended up going in the completely wrong direction. If only she hadn't mindlessly fled the flames as she had. If only she had regained enough sense to track her steps. If only, if only. But even so, she was fairly happy to have someones company. The snowy white female had never been one that liked solitude, which may of been surprising to anyone that bothered to figure her out. With how quiet and submissive she was, one might think she'd rather hide from everyone. Sometimes, when scared and faced with a particularly nasty individual, she would wish for this. But the she-wolf craved the attention of others, if only just to feel useful to someone. It would be safe to say Adali's greatest fear was being a burden and a complete waste of space; someone nobody cared to have around. It would mean she was failing her job as a sklavin. If she could not help another in any way possible, then what use was she? Then again, Adali was having a hard time figuring out what her presence could possibly do for the male. He didn't seem the angry type so far, which meant she couldn't do her usual part as a living chew-toy. And they had already eaten so certainly he didn't want her to fetch a squirrel or two.

Following the male in complete silence, she stuck as close to him as possible without actually running him over. Perhaps she enjoyed the company, but the forest was still a frightening place. Adali wasn't sure why anyone would dwell here willingly. The shadows felt like they were creeping in on her, even when the light shone through the canopy. And then there was the never-ending sea of bushes and shrubs on either side of the narrow path they tred, their branches threatening. She was so distracted by the terrifying sights and sounds around them that she nearly ran right into the male when he slowed.

"So how do you like Irrsin? I haven't heard very much of the packs here, he admitted reluctantly, So forgive me if I seem nosy. Do they at least treat you fairly?"

With narrowed and concentrated eyes, she thought on this, never fully walking alongside him. She was always behind or to the side and back a little. She did so subconsciously now, for most of the wolves she'd been around felt it was only right for someone as lowly as her to stay back. "Well.." she hesitated, not sure what to say about Irrsin and it's members. Truth be told, Adali had never thought too much on fairness. Sure, she felt it deep down just like anyone would. It's one of the reasons she agreed to this quest to find water with this seemingly kind stranger. But she was a slave, did she deserve to be treated fairly? And what if she said something wrong? What if it got back to her leaders somehow? What if they punished her? While Adali would take punishment in stride, as it gave her some kind of sick fulfillment of usefulness, the thought still scared her. With a gulp, she spoke, "I love it there. My Dominors are very fair" she was not sure if she spoke the truth or not, and it showed in her voice. Maybe when she got back she would start paying more attention. Never had the she-wolf questioned her treatment or her home.

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M A D D O X

The doubt in Adali's voice when she answered was almost painfully blatant.

Snorting, Maddox glanced over his shoulder, swishing his tail back and forth in a manor that was almost playfully playfully teasing. She sounded so uniform, yet so uncertain. It was almost heart-breaking, or might have been if Maddox was just a tad bit softer.

"You sure about that?" He asked, cocking his head to one side. He had never been a slave before, and had rarely even encountered them, now that he started to think about it. The whole Dominor and Sklavin thing had never really interested him, although he supposed he should have been grateful that he wasn't in the position of a slave. If I was, would I be as tame as her?

His thoughts were a whirlwind as he pushed and shoved through the underbrush, his nose practically squished against the ground as he followed the trickle of water. Jus when he was beginning to doubt himself, the little trickle began to widen, and with a grin and a glance at Adali, he leaped forward, bursting through a cluster of trees into a clearing. There, exactly where he had hoped it would be, was a wide stream.

Grinning triumphantly, Maddox moved to the edge of the water, flicking a glance over his shoulder at Adali. "See?" He asked. "At least I didn't get us lost or something." Dipping his head down, he lightly brushed his lips against the cool water before beginning to lap at it eagerly. There was a large oak to his left that would provide him with his beloved shade, and for a moment, he was content. Lifting his head, he shook droplets of water from his mouth before casting a devious grin over his shoulder. Without a word he waded into the stream, letting the water wash over his paws as he shuffled back and forth. And then, with no warning, he leaped towards the shore, landing hard and sending water spraying in Adali's direction.

"You're not scared of a little water, right?" He asked teasingly, swishing his tail back and forth as he danced backwards into the stream. Rarely was Maddox in the mood for playful folly, but today he was almost, almost, cheerful. His golden eyes twinkled with an amused gleam as he bowed, staring at Adali almost as if he were stalking her. She would either give in and loosen up, or she would be too rigid and cautious to. Either way, Maddox was absolutely determined to at least get a laugh out of her before they parted ways. She was so solemn and docile, and it made him wonder if she had even an ounce of fire in her. If she did, he was certainly going to get her to show it.

Somehow.

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[Ὀδύσσεια♐]

"You sure about that?"

His question caused something in Adali to flare up, but she did not immediately recognize the feeling. It took her a moment to realize she was actually irked by it, irritated that he questioned something like this. Her dominors treated her fairly... right? Of course I'm sure... she told herself, though she could taste the uncertainty on her own tongue. She began to remind herself that it didn't matter either way. She was a slave and they were her leaders. Whether they treated her fairly or not didn't matter, did it? She was alive and well for the most part and of some use to someone and that's all that mattered to the sklavin. And so his question went unanswered as the she-wolf let silence fall until the stream appeared with one last shove through the thick underbrush.

"See? At least I didn't get us lost or something."

She flashed him a a look. "We were already lost" she was quick to remind him. Or at least she was lost. She still wasn't certain about Maddox's circumstances and she didn't ask. Instead, she sat a good couple of yards or so from the stream. Her throat was parched, her mouth feeling like sandpaper yet she stayed put. She was always the last one to drink when with others. Maybe a pecking order did not matter here in this situation with him, but it was so engraved in Adali's mind she didn't think twice on waiting her turn.

As her companion drank, Adali let her nervous mind wander for a minute. She could not help but wonder where her sister was or how she was fairing or even if she was still alive and breathing. Though Arabel had always been the tougher of the two, this unforgiving world could beat down even the strongest souls. If Arabel was still with Adali's former dominor, it did not bode well for her. But Adali remained hopeful, just as she often did.

The she-wolf was pulled out of her pondering by sudden movement, It frightened Adali when Maddox suddenly lurched towards her, flashes of previous attacks dancing before her eyes. She squeezed them shut, but she did not run. She cringed back, but she did not run. She prayed to the gods, but she did not run. It took her a second or two before she dared to take a peek. Instead of jaws flying at her as she expected, she was met with a shower of water greeting her face and chest.

The look on the female's face must of been priceless. She stared at him for a long moment, dumbfounded. She wasn't sure if she should laugh or cry about her soaked coat. And in the face of this indecision, she remained stoic and rigid. But the male looked so harmless and joyful that it began to tug her out of the shell she'd scurried back into at his lunge. Was he trying to play with her? Adali could only take a guess, as most 'play' she had experienced was another chasing her terrified self down as they laughed sadistically. But this was different. Her fear of an attack was slowly evaporating and he wasn't snapping his teeth at her. As this realization dawned on her, she couldn't help the tiny hint of a smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth.

The she-wolf took a few cautious steps forward until her snow white legs were submerged a few inches. Her first priority was to quench her thirst and the second would be to enact her revenge. As soon she could drink no more, she turned towards the male, bringing her forelegs down with a force in the stream, sending a large splash of water in his direction before she found herself scurrying back in case he decided to retaliate. There was a twinge of fear when she did this, not sure if she had done the right thing or not. Was this how others played?

[⋆Ravɛn]

M A D D O X


The retaliation splash that sprayed across Maddox's face stunned him. He had nearly expected Adali to remain as still and submissive as she had been since he had stumbled upon her; the fact that she was willing to play with him was pleasantly baffling.

With a bark that was both determined and playful, Maddox leapt forwards, sending a wave of water in her direction. Then, he took off across the stream, splashing and growling good-naturedly as he went. Despite the fact that he was behaving like a pup, it had been so long since he had played. It had a way of making the world seem a little more bearable. Even when he had been small, his littermates had not been big on playing. The ever-serious Ren had simply doted on their father like he was a hero, and the others had never taken much interest in Maddox. Such was the way of the world.

Now safely on the other side of the water, he turned to face Adali, smirking as he strutted back and forth. His golden eyes twinkled challengingly, daring her to come closer. His tail wagged back and forth merrily, everything about his posture screaming “play”. He could tell that Adali was unused to such behavior, it shone clear as day in her eyes, and in a way, he felt bad for her. What would it be like, to not even know how to play? The cruelty of it seemed staggering in that light. To be forced into a life that you had not asked for a life that consisted of undying loyalty and obedience no matter the circumstance… Damn my soft heart, but no one deserves that. I’ll make her smile as much as I can before she has to go back.

Briefly he wondered what his mother and brothers would think if they could see him now, splashing around with a lost sklavin. Where were they? Ren had probably found a pack to lead somewhere; he had always been the most domineering of the pups. As for the others…Maddox found that he had not thought about his family in weeks. It was better that way, and far easier. When he had first left home, he had constantly wondered what his parents would want him to be. Now, however…now he would rather act a fool with a pretty, skittish sklavin any day.

Shaking his head quickly to clear his thoughts, Maddox reminded himself of his task at hand. ”Come on, then,” he called to Adali, grinning deviously as he splashed water in her general direction. ”You’re not scared or anything, right?”

His taunting, daring tone was meant to provoke, making him wonder how she would approach the situation. Just because she had rarely played before didn’t mean she was to be taken lightly; in their little game, she was still an opponent. Carefully he watched her, play-bowing as he waited for her move. Today certainly would be interesting, it seemed.

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[Ὀδύσσεια♐]

Adali

Again, she had water flying towards her. But this time the she-wolf did not cower back, more assured that he had no interest in attacking. The tiniest hint of a smile played on her features. Having so little fear felt peculiar to Adali, for she had spent her entire life cowering at the paws of anyone and everyone that came into it. And while there was no regret and no wishes that she had lived another life present in her mind, it was almost refreshing to know she might not be reprimanded for every move she made. She was free to do this strange little thing called play.

”Come on, then. You’re not scared or anything, right?”

The brute taunted her from the other side of the stream in his good-natured way. She knew it was meant in a teasing manner, and yet he had been right. No, I'm not. With that thought, she bounded with a spring in her steps towards her newfound companion, crossing the stream in two easy steps. Adali was not sure what she planned on doing once she reached him, for this was all a very new experience for her. Play had never been a part of her life until today. Her only option was to rely on instinct to guide her and learn by his example.

Her teeth acted on their own accord as she went for his tail, tugging gently yet firmly on the end before releasing her hold and darting out of reach in case he turned. She spun around then, facing him with a playful bow she had witnessed him perform just seconds earlier. However, it did not last as she was off again, splashing into the the cool water, long legs carrying her a good few yards up the stream and away before she came to a an ungraceful halt. An image of her sister flashed through her mind as she turned to look back at the brute. A wave of sadness washed over the she-wolf for a split second, wishing nothing more than to have the only family she remembered here on this otherwise joyful day.

It took her a few seconds to push the thought from her mind as she again focused on Maddox, letting the small smile return to her face as she let the memories slip away for now, afraid it may ruin this new-found feeling of happiness. And was that confidence she felt hiding beneath the surface? "Why so slow? You're not scared, are you?" She called to him from her position up the stream, teasing him as he had done to her.

[⋆Ravɛn]

M A D D O X


The light sting that sent shivers up his tail had Maddox thinking one thing: game on.

Whirling, he clacked his jaws together as he sprinted away from her, kicking up water and wet dirt as he went. Several times he stopped to bow or bark at her, before rocketing off again, darting back and forth in an attempt to catch her off guard. It was almost like hunting, in an extremely less serious way. His eyes shone and glittered with amused, his tongue lolling as he came to a stumbling halt. Sides heaving with each breath, he watched her for a long moment as she stood across from him.

Something passed over her face then, something that had him pausing to examine her expression for just a moment longer. Before he could register it, however, it was gone and she was happy again. Trying his hardest to clear his head, he charged towards her, gaining speed as he leaped through the stream. A burst of rough laughter escaped from his muzzle as he attempted to barrel into her before sprinting away, coming to a quick stop just a few feet away from her. Panting harder now, he grinned, shaking water out of his scruff.

”You’re a lot tougher than I thought. I haven’t ran this hard since I was a pup,” he laughed, his tail wagging back and forth. For the first time in ages, he felt carefree and relaxed. He was always getting into trouble these days, always running away from situations, or straight into them. But here, he didn’t have to try to impress anyone. He could just play and be happy. Oddly, he found that he didn’t mind if Adali saw him acting like a fool, either. She seemed to be loosening up around him, gaining confidence, and that made Maddox feel almost…accomplished.

Moving slowly towards her, he shook his head back and forth as he murmured, ”Truce!” Briefly pausing to touch his lips to the water for a long drink, he sat back on his rump in the water, enjoying the coolness of it against his warm fur. Lifting his head slightly to bask in the sunlight, he let a loud, content sigh escape his lips. He was almost sad that Adali would have to return to Irrsin. She was good company, and the thought of her going back to a cruel life of slavery was terribly unfair. It wasn’t as if he could ask her to run away from her duties or leave, however. She would think he was insane if he suggested that. Instead he simply rolled onto his side, bumping into her and grinning up at her with a silly expression.

”So, miss Adali, did I at least brighten your day up a tad? Don’t break my heart and say no.” His tone was light and airy as he blinked his golden eyes at her in a way that tried but failed to look innocent. Was anything about Maddox ever really innocent, after all?

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