Sometimes Alone

[lorki]

Bright pale blue eyes stared blankly into the shallow water washing up onto the sand. He watched as the water rose up to meet him where he knelt at its edge, his knees pushed grooves into the sand and his paws laid in front of him, stained red and sopping blood into the dark wet sand. The rushing tide waters had wet to reach him, he would wait patiently while a few drops of blood dropped from his muzzle and the fringes of fur about his face onto the damn sand.

It was the calm after the storm, the blank exhaustion, the come back from a shot of adrenaline that often took him after a long hunt. It was a grotesque peace, the only sort he could ever find. There were small pin prick-like marks that oozed small amounts of blood- they had been the only wound he'd acquired during the tussle, claw marks from a much smaller, unfortunate creature.

A large wave crashed out at sea, taking the wildcat's attention from the sand and his paws. He watched as the remnants of the impressive wave streaked towards him, crawling along the sand at an impressive pace. It reached him and washed over his paws, he stared downwards as red swirled into the water and began to flow backwards into the sea. He shifted his weight backwards and cupped his paws, the water was already cloudy with blood when he brought it up to slash across his reddened face.

A few more strong waves and Estlin had nearly washed all of the blood from himself. The lightest bits of his face, under his chin and along his jaw, were still tinted pink and no amount of washing would get the blood from the crevasses of his claws. He didn't mind. The freezing water also brought the hunter out of his blank state, returned him to reality... or at least, his reality.

Estlin knelt in the sand until a particularly large wave rushed water that reached a few inches above his planted knees. He staggered up to stand, as regal looking as ever, he seemed to declare a defiance against the sea with his position- chest puffed out, paws clenched sternly at his side, chin jutted out and daunting blue eyes sharply staring. His soaked tail twitched, shaking off droplets of sea. He was alone there... well, safe for that unlucky squirrel who's mauled body lay hidden in the saw grass up the beach... nothing could get near him.

(I so looked forward to introducing Estlin ^^)

[Glavon]

((I want to post with Glavon but he's not done! D=))

Arawolf Rainclaw the vermin hunter was out in Mossflower.

Well, not anymore; the warrior otter had made her way through the woodlands, and was slowly approaching the coast. Gradually, the green leafy foliage of the trees was giving way to ferns, sparse weeds, dune grass as well as regular grass, and sand, which stretched down all the way to the clear blue sea, where waves were lapping hungrily on the shore. Closing her eyes, she drew in a big breath of the salty sea air...

And felt her paw step in something wet and rather squishy.

She let out a hiss and looked down, biting back a curse as she saw her paw stained with red and perched in the innards of a squirrel.

She pulled back her footpaw with such haste she almost tripped, and wiped her paw on the grass, attempting to get the blood off. Finally, abandoning the attempt, she drew her wavy edged flamberge and inched it close to the squirrel's body. Poking it with the blade, she determined that it was definately dead; not that she'd really suspected otherwise.

There were marks that looked suspiciously like claws across the front of the squirrel's body, digging through the skin into the flesh and exposing glistening raw bone to the air. Arawolf looked up, scanning the coast, and saw the form of a wildcat kneeling in the surf. A particularly big wave washed up and the wildcat stood. The vermin slayer grinned in anticipation and walked up to it.

She was very quiet in the approach; the wildcat probably wouldn't have heard her. As soon as she got close enough, she prodded the wildcat in the back with the tip of her blade and spoke.

"Nice day to kill somebeast, eh?"

[lorki]

The swell of the waves and constant crash and roar of the sea would have drowned out the noises beyond him, were he any less trained a fighter. Estlins sharp ears, laid back in a sort of relaxation, pointed sharply towards the saw grass and sparse forest that dotted the upper beach. The soft shifting of sand, the brush of legs, he heard it but danger didn't prick at his senses just yet, he had time.

Pressure tapped again his back, he imagined somewhere along the large black diamond shape tattooed into it. Funny thing about the tattoos (and his general tolerance for pain) was they seemed to even lessen the response of his nerves. It'd never been a problem, the occasional bleed out was dangerous, but Estlin wouldn't die of blood loss. No, that wasn't the way they died.

"Nice day to kill somebeast, eh?"

His mind snapped back to the situation at hand. He didn't move for a moment, staring out at the sea as if he were thinking hard of a response. He felt no need to snap around and grab the blade, he ought to put his carefully crafted gloves on before he did that anyhow... he could knock it away with a gauntlet surely, but the motivation had yet to take hold.

Finally he moved his head to the side so that his pale eyes could catch the otter behind him, his mouth twitched upward is a sort of half smile, half smirk. Flecks of blood were still noticeable along his neck and chest, if one were to look closely. "Aye, it was. Heh, might ge' a bit worse now, eh?"

[Glavon]

The wildcat finally deigned to look over at the otter, mouth shaped in a half-smile, half-smirk; his reply came only a moment later.

Aye, it was. Heh, might ge' a bit worse now, eh?

"Perhaps." the otter agreed, her tone carefully neutral as the wildcat's eerie pale eyes fixed unblinkingly on her. She smiled, showing her pointed teeth, and flicked her blade.

"As I was walking down here, I saw something. The body of a squirrel. Perhaps you would deign to tell me what that was about?"

(OMG, horrible, horrible post. I have to go. D=)

[lorki]

"As I was walking down here, I saw something. The body of a squirrel. Perhaps you would deign to tell me what that was about?"

Estlin had never been fond of this emotionally charged small talk. It came about now and then, usually from he more skilled beasts. They thought they were being witty or something, sarcastically humorous- asking him simple questions as if he were a child, acting as if they didn't care. Of course the hard gaze, smile or no smile, gave away every true intention this otter might have.

The wildcat let his gaze fall back to the sand and his smile crept further up his face, hinting at the white gleam of his fangs. His tail curled slowly around from one side to the next, the sopping red strips that adorned it were dragged along.

"Neh," one of his paws crossed his chest to rest gingerly on the pink scars that marred his tattooed shoulder. "Can't say I wanna much, t'be honest with yah." He wondered airily how long it would take for the otters cool to break.

[greenfang]

Maleficus Greenfang sniffed the salty air of the seashore. He loved the new smell which he had lacked in the north. In the north-lands there were no beaches, just snowy wastes. He looked over his shoulder at the sunset behind him. The sky was lit up red and yellow in west. Greenfang took in the beauty of the scene, then checked himself. He must have going going mad! Him, appreciating nature! His sister must be affecting him. Greenfang slapped himself in the head to regain his thoughts.

Behind him, his siblings followed at a slower pace. Neither of them had ever been to the sea before either. Every shell and plant fascinated Brenna. Even Mortis was interested, though he tried not to show it. He just nodded as Brenna waved her collection of objects in his face, talking constantly.

Mortis sped up his walk a little to catch up with Maleficus. "She is acting like dibbun," he said with the fainest hint of a smile.

"But you can't blame her," replied Maleficus, "she has never seen the sea before. None of us have." Greenfang stopped suddenly, halting the others with a raised fore-paw. "Wait," he said, "look ahead." The three ferrets watched Estlin and Arawolf talk about 20' away.

"Its a wildcat!" said Brenna with amazement in her voice. Wildcats were respected and feared by northlanders, who saw them more often than southern beasts.

"We don't want to get on its bad side," said Maleficus, "let me do the talking." The other two nodded knowingly. The terrible trio began their approach of the two talking beasts, not to fast, not to slow. When they had gotten within about 5', they stopped. "Hello friends," said Greenfang calmly, "is their an argument between you?" He spoke neutrally, not to show favor for either beast or the other.

[Glavon]

(Sorry for the lateness...I've been really busy with exams and all. I just realized, Arawolf acts a ton like I do. XD I'm putting my personality into her, basically.)

Neh, can't say I wanna much, t'be honest with yah.

"So you weren't being honest before?" she asked, heavy on the sarcasm. In her capable mind, there was no doubt about it; this wildcat was the killer. But she would play it cool. The wildcat would admit to it sooner or later, she figured. She opened her mouth to say something else...

Hello friends, is their an argument between you?

"No, I'm just talking to a murderous wildcat for fun," she sneered, turning to the ferrets. "Now, scurry on back to the hole you came from. You're not fooling me, vermin. I've met too many of your kind."

She was going to end it there, but felt a compulsion to say something else; she watched the ferrets for a moment. "And don't think I don't know you want to join up with that little kitten there. I never knew wildcats treated followers well. Now get lost."

She took a deep breath to calm herself, but it didn't really work. She stared into the lead ferret, Greenfang's eyes, and, letting her anger take the better of her, shot out a paw.

She was lightning fast as she attempted to punch the ferret as hard as she could in the jaw.

[lorki]

(Totally understandable, I'm there too. I want Arawolf to meet Sleet sometime, it would make for an interesting confrontation.)

"Its a wildcat!"

His ears twitched down the beach, followed by a quick flick of his eyes. The word were spoken in surprise, awe, he liked that. No streak of aggression ran through him, that voice was one of respect, one smart enough to know he could turn them inside out and swallow their heart- still beating.

His mind tipped away from his gruesome ego trip.

"Hello friends, is their an argument between you?"

"No, I'm just talking to a murderous wildcat for fun,"

He chuckled then and finally moved his footpaws enough to turn and face the gathering beasts, as he did the otter continued snapping at the group of ferrets. He slowly reached to his belt and tugged out the pair on heavy gloves that had been set there. Dark metal plates were fashioned to the gloves on the back and the palm, along with small curved claws that fit between his own claws when he made a fist. He could grip a blade in a seemingly impossible movement. Something told him that he may need to soon.

"'Allo," he spoke over Arawolf's voice, his loud growling tone intensified with the effort to drown her out. She paused and so did he, considering what to say in regard to her (true) accusations against him. However, before he could moment struck at his reflexes.

The first words he could ever remember spoken, the first he'd been taught to speak- if it moved, a Kalsa cat could kill it. He stepped back, his body lowered and his tail lashed around to curve at his side. He was prepared for her to attempt the same violence against him. His ears pinned back, mouth pulling back in a slight snarl- what a disrespectful move, a punch to the face with no real intention beside to calm the anger in the otter.

A low growl rumbled in his chest accompanied by the low words, "wha' reason d'yah 'ave t'be 'ere, otta? Hehe... yah jus' want yer body in th'sea? Jus' want yer blood 'ere, otta?" Estlin didn't honestly want to fight this otter, he was full from the latest kill and otters were fanged beasts- mostly muscle and really just wasted energy. He'd rather frighten her off, or better yet, get this ferret to take care of her instead.

[greenfang]

(Because my ferrets are northern beasts I have decided to have them speak in a northern draw from now on. I hope you can understand it.)

"No, I'm just talking to a murderous wildcat for fun,"

"And don't think I don't know you want to join up with that little kitten there. I never knew wildcats treated followers well. Now get lost."


Greenfang knew from Arawolf's angry tone to get ready for an attack. Every muscle in his body was tensed, but outwardly he still appeared lazy and off guard. As the punch flew at his jaw he leaned back, narrowly avoiding the powerful strike.

"Now now riverdog," said Greenfang reproachfully, "dan't be mean to yer elders." He guessed that Arawolf was still a adolescent by her build. Maleficus winked at Mortis and Brenna and drew his sword. Mortis backed away from the encounter, removing his bow from his back and loading an arrow into it. Brenna drew both her twin swords and twirled them expertly.

"If yer want trouble mate," said Brenna, "yew got it!" She charged at Arawolf, bringing down both her swords in an over-head swing. Mortis fired his bow at Arawolf's side, careful not to hit his sister. Greenfang stood back, a wicked smile on his face.

[Glavon]

Wha' reason d'yah 'ave t'be 'ere, otta? Hehe... yah jus' want yer body in th'sea? Jus' want yer blood 'ere, otta?

Arawolf rolled her eyes. "I'm here because I want to be here. Is that too complicated for your stupid brain to work around? And, as a matter of fact, I don't want my body in the sea. That would be a great inconvinence. And my blood is here. It's in me, where I'm standing."

She smirked, satisfied with the insult even if the wildcat insulted it back. She knew her punch had missed the lead ferret, but she couldn't have cared less; then she heard the ferret she had attempted to punch speak.

Now now riverdog, dan't be mean to yer elders.

"My elders, huh?" she snickered. "Could you possibly have come up with something stupider than that?"

If yer want trouble mate, yew got it!

This was the female speaking. After that, she charged at Arawolf, but her move was easy to pinpoint; the river otter jumped out of the way and the ferret's swords met only empty air. Right after this, she noticed the arrow speeding at her from the side; she was too late to really do anything about it, but the arrow didn't go very deep into her, luckily enough; she supposed that was because of her rather thick fur. With an annoyed grunt, she pulled the arrow out and snapped it in half.

With lightning fast speed, she struck at Brenna's leg, then Mortis' paw, attempting to injure it enough that the ferret wouldn't be able to shoot anymore arrows. Then she headed for Greenfang, an insane laugh echoing from her bared teeth.

She lifted her sword.

[lorki]

"I'm here because I want to be here. Is that too complicated for your stupid brain to work around? And, as a matter of fact, I don't want my body in the sea. That would be a great inconvenience. And my blood is here. It's in me, where I'm standing."

Estlin cocked his head, in all honesty a bit confused by the otters response.. perhaps she hadn't understood the threat? Oh well, that couldn't be helped.

One of the ferrets stepped forward angrily, and spoke before the otter lashed out again, wordily calling those beasts stupid as well. She like to throw that word around, it seemed. Estlin wondered how scholarly the otter must be as he crossed his arms over his chest and straightened up.

One ferret rushed forward and a 'battle' seemed to start up between the four smaller beasts. The wildcat let his tail twitch to and fro behind him, somewhat annoyed that he'd been confronted only to get stuck watching this fight that would probably drag on and on. He had no real interest in helping out either party and considered only for a moment the idea of dismembering each one. The thought passed quickly- that really was wasteful killing.

Estlin watched the fight, all the weapons threw off his observations. Flexing his claws the cat smirked, too many blades, he'd stick with what his bloodlines had blessed him with.

[greenfang]

Mortis Darkfang gave victorious hiss as his arrow hit its mark. Soon it turned to a hiss of surprise as the otter seemed mostly unharmed by the arrow.

Brenna let out a very unladylike curse as her leg got caught by the edge of Arawolfs blade despite her attempt to jump aside. Mortis Moved his paw so the blade hit his bow instead of his forepaw. It left a notch next to the others he made for beasts he had killed. "Tis a sign," he said, his eyes shining, "dis otter vill die today." Like most northlanders the three ferrets very superstitious. They believed that almost every event held hidden meaning.

Maleficus drew his sword and met Arawolf' charge head on. He swung his blade upwards, hoping to hit Arawolf in the chest. Mortis placed his bow on his back and drew his falchon. He move towards Arawolf's undefended side with evil intent. Brenna charged Arawolf from behind swinging both her swords horizontally from opposite sides. "Never turn yer back on an enemy!" she screeched happily.

[Glavon]

Tis a sign, dis otter vill die today.

"Superstition..." Arawolf sighed with a short shake of her head. "That never did anybeast good."

The next thing she knew, all three ferrets were charging at her with blades drawn. The one female who's leg Arawolf had cut with her blade was charging at her with a happy scream, Never turn yer back on an enemy!

Arawolf snarled with rage and attempted to punch the one who she had shot an arrow at in the jaw. Then she ducked. Every single blade missed her by inches. She lashed out with her sword at the paws of her foes and slipped through their legs. She then stood up, watching the ferrets from a safe distance.

(Not a very good post. Oh well.)

[Vikenti Whitedeath]

(Ducking always works lol )

[Glavon]

(That's what I did. XD)

[lorki]

Estlin's pale eyes followed the movements, the fight didn't seem very fair but thus far the otter had miraculously managed to dodge each blade, losing only perhaps a few shreds of fur. She was quick, that was something. But the ferrets had numbers on their side and Estlin assumed it would only be a matter of time... but honestly it was just taking to long. He'd make one more attempt at ending things without more of a mess.

Taking a quick step forward Estlin struck his arm out in front of the charging female. Her blades crashed onto the gauntlet that adorned and guarded his arm, a quick twitch of his whiskers acknowledged the pain that struck up his arms with the tough hit but it passed quickly. By the time his eyes flicked back to the otter she up and standing a safe distance away. He scowled at her and pulled his arm away and flicking his wrist. "I gotta say dis don't look like to fair a'fight, eh?"

He glanced back at the ferrets, "apologies fer stoppin' yew there. I was curious 'bout who ye were and..." he trailed of at glanced at the otter as well, "curious bout yew too, an' what ye want."

[Skipper of Sea Otters]

((wonders if he can join this thread))

[greenfang]

(Sure you can join Skipper! I think Arawolf needs help right now.)

Brenna sprang back angrily as her blades bounced off of metal. At first she thought it was Arawolf who had blocked the swing and got ready to attack again. She stopped in surprise when she saw it was Estlin who had stopped her. Brenna lowered her swords and backed away in fear. Maleficus halted her retreat with an outstretched paw.

"I gotta say dis don't look like to fair a'fight, eh?"

"No, it tan't fair," admitted Greenfang with a shrug, "but dat river-dog is a fair fighter ta be sure!"

"apologies fer stoppin' yew there. I was curious 'bout who ye were and... curious bout yew too, an' what ye want."

"Well, I mest be forgetting my manners," said Greenfang. He sheathed his sword with a flourish before continuing, "I am Maleficus Greenfang, former ruler of theer north, and," he indicated his siblings with a fore-paw, "this is my brother Mortis Darkfang, and my sister Brenna Redfang." The ferrets each gave a stiff bow when their name was mentioned, more out of custom than real courtesy. "So, who are yer two," asked Greenfang when he was done.

[Glavon]

I gotta say dis don't look like to fair a'fight, eh?

Arawolf scowled. It wouldn't look good if she said the fight was unfair, so she kept her mouth shut and whirled her flamberge in a glimmer of bright steel and growled at the ferrets. "What are you doing, giving the fight up? I could have gotten rid of all of you. I would have done the world a favor!" she smirked. Suddenly, she realized the ferret leader speaking.

No, it tan't fair, but dat river-dog is a fair fighter ta be sure.

She frowned at Greenfang. "Empty words from a gang of scum whose only purpose is to kill. Do you want me to die of shame, or something? That would save you from having to fight with that horrible skill, I suppose. Three of you attacking at once and you all missed!"

Apologies fer stoppin' yew there. I was curious 'bout who ye were and...curious bout yew too, an' what ye want.

Well, I mest be forgetting my manners, I am Maleficus Greenfang, former ruler of theer north, and this is my brother Mortis Darkfang, and my sister Brenna Redfang. So, who are yer two?

By the time the ferret had finished speaking, Arawolf was off again. "Yeah, that's exactly what I do! Wander around and give my name to any vermin who asks for it! I'm not that stupid."

[lorki]

Estlin inclined his head just slightly as the female ferret glanced up and backed away. He liked these creatures. His ears tilted forward, ready to hear a response, but were distracted by another voice.

"What are you doing, giving the fight up? I could have gotten rid of all of you. I would have done the world a favor!"

Estlin's ears turned backwards, annoyed for a moment before he focused back on the ferrets to listen to them. As soon as his mouth opened to respond a voice spoke yet again "Empty words from a gang of scum whose only purpose is to kill. Do you want me to die of shame, or something? That would save you from having to fight with that horrible skill, I suppose. Three of you attacking at once and you all missed!"

He turned his head around sharply, ears pinned back, lips curled in a snarl, "d'yew eva jus' keep yer mouth shut?" It was a rhetorical question, but annoyance had flexed his claws and he made an effort to relax his body. A wasted kill, he reminded himself, a waste... well in all but ridding the forest of another crazy obnoxious beast... but there were too many of those for Estlin to worry about. He smirked at the thought.

He turned back to the ferrets, "Northern beasts, eh? Neva been to far north meself." He said honestly, it was an oddly communicative side of the wildcat most beasts would never see. Estlin liked the reaction these three had to him, it calmed his quick anger. "An m'name is Estlin. Estlin Armon Vinsing-"

"Yeah, that's exactly what I do! Wander around and give my name to any vermin who asks for it! I'm not that stupid."

His head swung around again, scowling. "Y'know, yer right. Might be'a'bit more stupid than tha', yeah... I can see tha'. If that's how y'feel, I suppose yew might as well g'back 'bout it, ye smart otta'." He gestured a paw back to the ferrets and stepped back a bit, his footpaws dipping into the ocean again.