Jealousy - Or Perhaps Just Desire (Open)

[cptkickercutleg]

Graal nods back to Drexyll and Mascamora stepping to lead the way back to the border as Drexyll asked.
"There's nobody there, just shadows and voices. I apologize for the irrationality that follows my own, it is part of my curse." he lies, fervently wishing the winged wolf had not followed them both.
"I knew what I was getting into when I came here, if she followed me, then she is my responsibility and I will do all I can to save her from harm..." he thinks to himself, ending in a muttered "I am the shield that keeps them from harm, I am the blade that parries the blow, I am the wall that cannot be knocked down..."

He looks back at Thunder, and says quite simply, "Follow." his amber eyes shining with strength and command as he strides towards the border. After a few steps, he turns back to check if Drexyll and Mascamora are escorting them to the border, or whether they are still at a stalemate with Thunder. Glancing towards Drexyll, he smiles, "If you had been through what I have, boy, you would know why I am the way I am. As for what I will be in a day or a year, who is to say, but I would still learn from you as you could from me. What do you say to a trade of knowledge, of tales and stories, of history and customs. It has always been my way to know all I can about a foreign land, and I have yet to ask the Shinkou pack about their beliefs, I would learn what I could from you, if you would teach me..." he says, glancing between the two Druin, "I ask you, as the only Giaku I know other than the princess, and I do not think it is fair that I take up any of her time." he glances between the again, then nods, "It need not be here or now, perhaps another time, another place, somewhere on the border another day perhaps, I wouldn't want you to feel as if you may be being lured into an ambush in the Free Lands, so you may designate the time and place at your discretion if you decide to accept my offer." he says, already walking slowly to the border, giving them time to talk and still keep an eye on him, but still fast enough so that he is walking at a fair pace for them when they decide to catch up.

[Midnight]

Midnight decided to wait out the little group until they were out of site. Then, she would follow them to the border. Not even moving a muscle other that her lips, she let out a call identical to a dove's. She didn't have a good feeling that it would work. She almost wished one of them would try to pull her out of her tree. Oho a surprise they would get from the small femm if they even tried.

[thunder]

Thunder quietly walked over to the princess. Her ear twitched at Graal's command but clearly she did not really wish to respond. She did'nt feel defeted or punished as she stood ready to walk this outas her mind raced around seemingly an odd strange obstical cource and her eyes ears and nose picked up all the data availible for her.

[Relairah]

She was glad when Thunder and Graal followed suit and they began their journey to the borders. She wasn't completely satisfied at the silence which followed her command to whatever was hiding in the trees and Graal's next response... that there was nothing there. She hardly believed him, but she supposed she would let it go for now. Still, there was something strange about it.

In any case, she was moving toward the border now and Drexyll was talking to her. Her ears turned to catch his words and she smiled at his first comment. This had not been the first time she had encountered loners, or loners in the Giaku packlands for that matter... but it was the first time it had almost come to a fight. Still, the encounter had left her much more solemn, wary, and ready to get this over with. It was nice that he returned to joking so easily. It would be easy to let his next words go to her head, and in truth, she supposed they did somewhat. She felt herself grow warm at his compliments. He seemed to think so highly of her... she definitely wasn't used to that. And she liked it. Wasn't this what she had been so upset about just a short while ago?

"Hnygv oui... Drexyll...Hnyh caygd y zuh hu ca... adkaqeyzzo wejnh gup." A pause followed. She hardly noticed the love-struck look on Drexyll's face, as she was keeping her eyes mostly on Graal and Thunder. Ybcehhabzo... Lnywug ed hna uga pnu hwyegab ca eg diqn cyhhawd... uw ygo cyhhawd E jiadd. Hned edg'h hna fewdh heca E'la bayzh pehn zugawd hnuijn. E buimh eh pezz ma hna zydh. Mih ighez hnag... E cejnh yjwaa pehn guh pyghegj hu agquighaw uga." She chuckled at her last statement, and once more became silent. In that time, it seemed Graal was talking to Drexyll, offering him knowledge and the like. She wondered if he would accept. Personally, she wouldn't, but that was only because she had a mission in mind already and felt she wouldn't have the devotion to it or time. At least right now... although she had to admit she did have a thirst for learning to some degree. Anyway, it hadn't been offered to her so it didn't matter.

Once Drexyll had spoken with Graal concerning the matter, she would say, "Perhaps a good idea." She didn't add it on but she was thinking if the two did this whole knowledge exchange she hoped Graal showed as much respect as he might demand based on his brains and experiences. He might know a lot, but that didn't mean Drexyll was any less of a wolf. At least in her opinion. Well, that is, being quite proud of her Druin heritage. She knew there were countless Druins who deserved nothing but pain and death for their wrongs, but Drexyll seemed far from those. So far... she pushed the thoughts aside.

She glanced at Thunder once more, wondering what the wolf was thinking. She didn't ask... if she wanted to speak her mind she was free to say whatever she wanted. She wasn't going to prod.

[cptkickercutleg]

(( it is important to note here that Graal is not actually older in terms of years, but biologically, as a human he would be around 46, getting on in his years, and due to both his physical hardships and his emotional deprivation, he feels every minute of it. He is 5 and a half years old, and was 3 when his whole family burned alive, this left him wondering alone for 2 years, with nobody to talk to and no attachment to keep him socialised and teach him right from wrong. In short, Graal is emotionally and mentally unstable, which is why he formed an immediate attachment with Thunder, the first wolf he met that was willing to talk to him without threatening to kill him in 2 years. As a result of this, he is overly protective of his friends, and would rather die than see them hurt. ))

[Oki]

Well, at least finally they were moving, most peacefully at that ever since they've known each other. He supposed deep down that each pair wanted the other away so all four of them are just cooperating because their adrenaline rush was wearing off...or at least, his was. The odd feeling from before he just ignored and brushed it off as everyone else did. There were higher priorities right now.

Eyes narrowed at the male wolf, Graal, as he started to speak, not wanting to really talk to either of the two. Though, he listened and looked ahead here and there then back at him when he finished. Drexyll wasn't so sure of an answer, but right now, he didn't want to have anything to do with either Thunder or him. Forcing an exhale through his nose as they walked, he gave a neutral response, "It is an offer I can't decide on at this moment...A good idea, yes, perhaps...but I shall tell you my answer when we reach the borders. The distance should give me enough time to think about it." It at least bought him some time and he really did want to think about it and consider the consequenses. Sky blue eyes glanced at the suddenly quiet female before looking over at Mascamora.

Dexyll was surprised a little at how Mascamora responded to him. She seemed a more friendly towards him, much more so than before. It almost made his heart skip a beat with just the fact she responded to him. Now that he was talking to her, his first thought was that he wanted to tell her so many things about her. Well, right now, he probably couldn't say much, besides what he thought about her looks and personality, though he pretty much summed it up the latter with his previous statement. Deciding to stay quiet about that specific topic for moment, his demeanor changed subtly as he felt giddy inside. "Oui'wa lawo ciqn pazquca, Kwegqadd...E quizb daa y fap uf hnuda hnegjd yh fewdh jzygqa" "...Ygb quikza uhnaw hnegjd E quizb hazz fwuc fewdh jzygqa yd pazz...", Drexyll grinned to himself as he thought the last bit of the sentance. Then, he got curious of who Charon exactly was. "'Lnywug?' Hna gyca wegjd y mazz...na'd y cacmaw uf ouiw fycezo, gu? Uw yh zaydh y kywh uf hna gumza quigqez, kawnykd yd ouiw egdhwiqhuw?", Drexyll wasn't too sure of who she was talking about, but it seemed he was right that this wasn't her first time, "E buimh eh pezz ma hna zydh fuw aehnaw uf id...fuw yd zugj yd hnawa ywa uhnawd uihdeba uiw kyqvzygbd hnyh jah qiweuid ygb pa ywa nawa...duugaw uw zyhaw, pa dnyzz agquighaw hnac." The fact she agreed with him made his ears flush, along with his cheeks. This sudden infatuation with her has him experiencing things that never really happen and Drexyll wanted them to stop on the grounds of embarrassment...but at the same time, he never wanted the feelings to stop. 'Tis why he insisted on the following, "Kawnykd yfhaw hnao'wa juga, E qyg nigh oui yguhnaw vezz...E guheqab oui bebg'h jah hu agruo eh ciqn." He looked over at the Princess, hoping for a yes and a glimpse of her eyes. He didn't really know what they looked like and had this urge to see them and since they were this close, the male kept casually looking at her face hoping she would turn to look at him. A part of him questioned his desires and the other fueled them.

For now, he awaited her responses. It was going to be a while yet til they reach the borders of Giaku and wondered what was going to become fo it.

[cptkickercutleg]

(( I'm gonna go ahead and skip my turn, as Graal is going to do nothing but walk silently for the moment ))

[Midnight]

Midnight followed them, jumping from tree to tree. She could have followed them on foot, but it was more fun this way.
That desision was the reason she didn't stay hidden longer.
Jumping a particularly long way, she put weight on a branch that was too small for her. It snapped, but she managed to grab a larger limb with her front paws. The snap was loud enough for them to hear, and if they turned, they would see her hanging by her front paws, back paws jerking in the air. If they looked at her, she would pause and return their gaze for a minute, then start scrabbling more desperately. After a few seconds, she will fall heavily with an "oof", then scramble to her paws, looking at the group with calm certainty that she will be able to defend herself.

[Relairah]

The female albino druin faced forward, though her long ears caught every word as she listened to Drexyll's own response to Graal. So, he pretty much turned him down... although, admittedly, the opportunity still lay there. She wondered if he'd really think about it so much on their way to the border or if that was just his excuse to buy more time. She had a feeling he'd spend most of the walk to the border talking. It didn't really concern her though as he main concern was crossing the guards. She wondered that they hadn't already, although on the same note, perhaps they saw it wasn't to worry since she herself was with the group. Certainly they trusted she could handle it. Though no doubt Charon would ask her about it later. He always had spies located here and there to tell him every little nit-picky thing going on in the lands.

She brushed the thought aside. Yes, Charon. Drexyll was talking to her again. First he said he had noticed some things when he had first seen her. She wondered what these other things were, exactly, but didn't ask. At least right then. She smiled slightly, and then he was asking her about who Charon was, in lieu of her previous statements, no doubt. He didn't know? That caught her a little off-guard and she looked at him, raising a slight brow, though soon resuming her normal face when he said the rest of it. At first, she might have thought he was a little off if as a member of Giaku he didn't know who Charon was. But then, she realized he did. He just didn't recognize the specific connection. Well, that was all fine and dandy. Some didn't, and it gave her the opportunity to say more.

"Oad. Charon ed co igqza. Na wizab Keyvi fuw y mweaf kaweub mafuwa co dedhaw huuv hna hnwuga yd Ackwadd," she explained. He went on again about others outside the pack and their curiosity. Well yes, Giaku was infamous around here. Well, actually much farther than the stretches of just these lands. She briefly glanced at him, in time to see the flush of his ears and cheeks. The urge to tease him arose but she pushed it aside. How odd of her to do so. She was notorious around Giaku for her abilities to make fun. "Fazz, zah'd ridh nuka hnawa'd y geqa mwayv heca mafuwa hna gath quca..." she said with a laugh, her voice light. It was no sooner after she said those very words that she heard the crack of a tree-limb and she turned, eyes narrowing. Well, she had spoken too soon. How ironic. She watched as the wolf seemed to be hanging on for her life and finally collapsed on the ground, rising in defense.

She raised a brow. This wolf didn't seem very dangerous. Although granted, she wondered what the heck she had been doing in the trees. She knew she had seen something before, dammit. Well, she supposed it would do no good to fly off the handle. She had just had one too many loners come waltzing in thinking they could get away with it today! Still, she had offered safe passage to the borders and she supposed it would be bad to not offer this one the same. Briefly, the idea of turning these loners into public examples of what happens to those who think Giaku is all fun and games crossed her mind, and she couldn't help a smug smirk to herself at the thought. Oh, how she would prove herself then. She would earn Giaku's respect.

But then, she thought of how these loners, so far, hadn't proved a real threat to Giaku and she didn't want to start another war. Then she'd be hated and outcast, the opposite of what she was going for.

Frustration was in her now, but she had to just get this over with.

"I don't know who you are, or what you think you're doing, but if you know what's good for you, I suggest you come and join this little group to the borders. Otherwise, get the hell out of here before I slit your pretty little throat."

She hoped this wolfess didn't try to spring an attack or anything, because she would not hesitate to react accordingly. She also hoped they didn't have any other interruptions on the way to the borderline. If Midnight did join them, she would turn once more and continue the walk, this time holding her head a little higher, her tail flicking behind her and her movements fluid. It seemed she was entirely alert to anything and everything.

She wouldn't look at Drexyll, rather straight forward, only glancing at the loners now and then. To his last suggestion she would say, "Maybe, Drexyll. For now, I'd like to get this over with. Any other bridges can be crossed once we get there." Her appetite was somewhat gone now anyway. "Thank you, though," she said more softly, not wanting him to feel like any of her frustration was toward him.

If Midnight didn't.... well, it just depended on that then didn't it?

[thunder]

Thunder's ear flicked at the sound and conversation going on around her. In the meantime she was trying to find a way to peice together a puzzle with only the pieces she had and she had not very many. Then her mind wandered to an old riddle that had confused so many people yet she could say the answer very quickly. She ignored Midnight and Mascaramosa's interaction and instead focused on reading everyone's emotions which she was quite good at. She stared straight at Drexyll trying tol pick up any emotion as she walked.

[Oki]

They've been walking for a good while now and Drexyll partially wanted to get there so the loners would be out of their fur. The other part of him enjoyed the talk he was having with Mascamora, which made the trip seem to go quicker than what it was.

Though, fast forwarding their trip, he was sure they would run into a guard or two...that is, if they were actually doing their duty as a patroller of Giaku's borders. Drexyll really didn't want to have to confront them, especially when both him and Mascamora are around loners. Though, he would hope they would understand the situation and that they were escorting them back to the borders. Heh, in fact, if the guards were to be difficult, they could say its their fault they allowed them to pass in the first place and especially with one of the Princess' right here, she could threaten to have them executed. Rationalizing it a little, Drexyll convinced himself that nothing should bad happen to himself or Mascamora...for at least as far as he knows. Meanwhile, he made eye contact with the female wolf Thunder and stared straight back, narrowing them at her, trying to get her to look away.

"Un Charon ed ouiw igqza? Ygb hna qiwwagh Ackwadd ed ouiw dedhaw?", he spoke like a child learning something new and interesting, "E ykuzujexa fuw co ejguwygqa...E vgup cudh uf hna Wuoyzd ygb pnu'd pnu, E ridh jah cetab ik eg nup oui yzz ywa quggaqhab. Co kywaghd ugzo hayqn ca pnyh hnao vgup ygb hnao bug'h vgup ciqn cuwa hnyh pnyh E bu....Kawnykd oui qyg hayqn ca ducaheca?" He hesitated on asking because he didn't know if she would accept or not. Finishing with a small charismatic smile, it widened a little when she was considering his former request. He chuckled lightly along with her as she seemed enjoying herself some as the tone in her voice was softer than before.

A cracking sound broke the air and made shivers shoot up Drexylls spine. A tree behind them sounded as if one of its limbs tore off from a heavy animal perching on it. Whipping his head back, yet another wolf was standing there, as if it were going to fight them. Clenching his teeth, he scoffed lightly with a 'Tch'. It didn't look very dangerous, but Drexyll didn't want to deal with the third one, whether if it was strong or not. Also, just occurring to him, he knew he felt something earlier. His eyes narrowed at the winged wolf, body standing perpendicular to the intruder, Drexyll's water-skin bobbing against his chest as his tail twitched in an aggitated manner.

Mascamora took care of what Drexyll was thinking and wanting. He stood, staring down the third one, daring it to move. Of course he wanted it to join the group so the three of them can be extracted quickly, but for once, he was prepared to fight.

If the wolfess were to join their little group, Drexyll would then slowly watch her pass by then continue walking, behind the three of them so both him and Mascamora knew their every move. He was fed up with these intrusions and hoped they didn't run into anymore along the way. Focused upon the three, Mascamora began to speak to him. He would respond softly in return, "You're welcome, he would then look back forward, "Shouldn't be too long now", he referred to the borders.

[cptkickercutleg]

Graal glares at Midnight, his gaze straying to Drexyll and Mascamora, daring them to make an aggressive move.
"Midnight. I thought I told you it was dangerous. he growls, making it audible so that everyone present can hear both his familiarity and his disapproval.
"When I ask you to stay back because it's dangerous, I don't expect you to follow me, do I make myself clear?" he continues, staring at her with his tail raised, arching above his body.
"Do you not understand that you could have been hurt!? Do you not THINK before you put yourself at Death's door? At the mercy of those that would hurt you merely because you are not one of them!? Come here and walk in front of me, I'm not letting you out of my sight until you are safe!" he snarls, too stressed by the situation to give much thought to her or anyone elses emotions.
"I just want them to get out alive..." he thinks to himself,
"Foolish pup..." he mutters, barely loud enough for Thunder to hear, perhaps the Druin if they were listening specifically to him, but too far off for Midnight.

[Midnight]

Midnight raises her tail, the ultimate form of dominance, lifts her chin, and says calmly, "I don't want to." Snotty little princess...

Growling at Graals' words, "I'm no longer a pup I can care for myself!!!" she snarls.

She looked at Thunder and nodded, the only greeting she can give for now. Then she looked at Drexyll, and smirked.
"Go ahead, lover-boy. Defend your little princess."

'Why the hell and I here and what the hell am I doing.'

She really didn't know why or have any motivation for provoking them like that. It probably stemmed from boredom, or her new-founded independence. She had started to become a teenager; that might have had some reason for it, but one can never tell......

[thunder]

Thunder grinned at him as he tried to get her to turn away. She turned her attention to the interaction and was now somewhat on Graal's side. "Merda. This is bad..." Her voice held no emotion. But the way she was speaking made it so only Graal would hear as she walked up to him. "Graal, don't do anything please." She whispered urgently.

Thunder popped her neck and stood taller walking forwards so she was in the middle of it all. "Midnight, by the authority invested in all Gnaw wolves by the first Alpha of the Volpe-Lupo Pack I draw upon the First Pact of Pace and order you to stand down. This is not your land, and neither is it where your blood stems from, you have no good reason to fight them." She turned her head to the rest of the group, "I am done speaking." Her voice was accented and powerful as it resonated through the earth. She sat there and mentally dared anyone to challenge her reasoning.

[Relairah]

Mascamora couldn't help her feeling of flutters as Drexyll talked of how she could teach him more sometime concerning her family and all that. Honestly, it wasn't her favorite topic, but the idea of getting to know each other better was inviting. She looked forward at the prospect of a Druin friend outside family relations. "Oad," she said simply in response to his first statement. As she had previously stated... it seemed he said it only to confirm it in his own mind. At his next words the hint of a smile touched her lips. "Gu gaab hu ykuzujexa. Kawnykd eh ed deckzo guh yd quccug vgupzabja yd E nyb hnuijnh. Hwia, E yddicab hnyh yd y cacmaw uf Keyvi oui dnuizb vgup diqn hnegjd, mih mahhaw zyha hnyg galaw hu zaywg." She paused, and then gave a brief nod. Uf quiwda E quizb. E zuuv fuwpywb hu eh eg hna gayw fihiwa."

After their conversation was interrupted, and Midnight so clearly indicated her lack of respect as well as her refusal to do anything Mascamora might ask of her, the female druin's eyes flashed. Oh she had had it. This bitch was going down. But before she could issue her attack, it seemed the other two loners were speaking to this Midnight, telling her to stand down. Oh, so they were all friends and such. How nice... it seemed they wanted to have a Giaku invasion party day. Big mistake.

This Midnight seemed to have a will of her own and wanted to do her own thing. Still, her friends were pleading with her.... for her sake? They obviously were more concerned with her than themselves. Irritation laced Masca's face and she was somewhat surprised at Thunder's step forward and command over the young she-wolf, not that it meant anything to Mascamora, only that she wondered how this new arrival would react.

She just wanted to get this whole thing over with. But, for only a moment longer, she would wait to see what Midnight did. If she did as Thunder ordered, well, the better for her and all of them. But if she didn't, Mascamora was more than happy to engage in combat.