_bat_country_ [private: Bain+Guards]

[.Rabid Lycan.]

He who makes a beast out of himself
Gets rid of the pain of being a man

Muffled cries. The painful throb of a racing pulse. The scent of fear. The thrill of the hunt. All unparalleled experiences, and all serving to amuse the wolf behind the mask. The brackish taste of blood and its unique, accompanying scent overwhelmed Bain’s senses, yet he gave no indication of discomfort. In fact, despite the skull that concealed his features, he was openly pleased with the sensations. The clearing, now vacant aside from a blood splatter or two, reeked of misery, yet it felt like home. The battle with the Hellfirians was over, but it had set a whole new series of events in motion.
I have found our allies.
But the demon had not come alone, no. The hind leg of another occupied his fangs, and the rest of its body was dragged along with it. It was a male packwolf, disorientated. Only semiconscious at best. The graying on its muzzle indicated that it was very old, and a combination of old and fresh wounds told the story of a fighter. But Bain had not snatched your typical packwolf, no; this wolf was highly ranked. It was Toss, the Destinian Beta, and Bain could not believe his good fortune when he ran the old wolf down on the Destinian border.
A perfect sacrifice for the cause.
Pausing in the center of the clearing, the demonic lupine thrust his victim onto the ground, shrugging off twinges of discomfort when Toss uttered a low groan of pain. Angling his body to face the forest, Bain stared into the trees, concentrating fiercely.
Whether they realize it or not, they will come to me… I am their savior. They will return to me, my children.[/i]
He offered a ghostly howl to the skies, one distorted by the rotting skull that framed his head. While most wolfsongs held the quality of a soothing, rhythmic lullaby, Bain was mimicking the screams of a dying animal, and was not unnerved by it in the least. Meanwhile, Toss continued to moan, and even with his optimistic view on life, he could only assume that much pain was about to follow, and hoped to some higher power that this was all one big nightmare.

[♫Flisk♫]

Raffa heard the howl from the Destinian camp. No other wolves woke, for only he knew the distinct sound of his leader. Eyes darting back and forth through the dark, the neophyte silently pushed himself up, blinking the sleep from his eyes. This was the first time in a week that he had gotten sleep, and his eyes were bloodshot and red, insane. He was sure that Fireflight knew something was up because of his sunken eyes and slow reflexes. He had missed more prey than he had when he was a pup, but the wolf had to make sure he was trained enough to kill even the strongest packwolf. Plus, he was insane.

Shaking his head, he bolted out a secret way and into the forest. With a slight snuffle, he followed the sound of the howl. His eyes gleamed with fresh eagerness, the need to please Bain while still keeping his distance. He knew he would try his best to be the greatest out of all of the wolves. Swallowing, he found himself in the clearing, stars shining ahead. An old wolf was groaning. Raffa rolled his eyes, not bothering to scent him. Instead he dipped his head respectfully.

"Bain."

He muttered quietly. Heading closer, he realized who the wolf was. Toss! His heart lept and he felt it beating rapidly. Swallowing, he hid his fear scent and waited for the orders from his master.

[Njack]

"What's going on?" Blink padded into sight slowly, her eyes passing over Toss and the rest of the scene.

She had just managed to get out of the Siverian camp, having heard the odd howling. Blink had had an odd urge to ignore it, actually, but here she was anyway, so the urge didn't really matter.

Blink made a slight coughing noise. "Who is the... guest?"

Unlike Raffa and Bain, she was not quite insane. All that mattered, so far, was that she seemed to ask a lot of questions.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

A single word, a single syllable. The delicate weaving of sound that glided into Bain’s dulled sense of awareness. While he had been entranced by the suffering of Toss moments before, the abnormal face swerved toward the arriving wolves. The demon withdrew a husky breath, his lungs expelling a sound that resembled sandpaper rubbing against sandpaper. Shaded eyes, gleaming maroon in the spatter of moonlight that reached through the woodland canopy above, stared first at Flisk, and then at Blink.
[glow=red,2,300]“Welcome, my children. Welcome. I have a surprise for you both. I am sure you will be ecstatic when you see it.”[/glow]He swung his head toward Toss, the skull dipping in reaction to the quick movements. The Destinian stirred, but lacked the strength to rise and flee. Instead, the ancient wolf shifted before lapsing into further semi-consciousness. A small, giddy chuckle spilled from Bain’s maw, and a gleeful grin curled beneath his grotesque mask.
[glow=red,2,300]“Wonderful, is it not? Oh, and as for who, I think Raffa would be better suited to answer that particular inquiry.”[/glow]

[♫Flisk♫]

Raffa froze as Bain began to speak. There was something almost hypnotic about his voice that made Raffa feel as if their evil plans had come together all at once, making them invincible. It made him want to please, to destroy the packs and take over the territory, starting a whole new generation of wolves whom were trained to be evil, to laugh at the weak, to submit to nobody. His eyes were wild at the thought of what was to happen. Toss was the surprise. Toss was the Destinian Beta, one Raffa had not bothered because of his age. Licking his lips, the black wolf listened more.

When Bain said his name, Raffa again froze. His heart began to beat rapidly. He was sure Toss had heard his name. Toss had to be destroyed now. There was no other options. No setting him free. Stepping forward, Raffa snuffled to Bain and looked up, fangs gleaming.

"Death or Torture?"

[Njack]

Blink sniffed the air. "Yes, it smells like a Destinian..."

"You still haven't answered who it is, though." She glanced over at Raffa, who was already thinking about killing or torturing the... er... guest.

Strange, perhaps. I seem to remember the first time I came upon Bain, he had killed a senior... I wonder if he has some sort of... thing... for old wolves?

Her eyes remained on Toss, wondering what Bain had in store for him. For all of them, really.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Bain studied Raffa’s reaction, more interested in the bloodthirsty Destinian than the stirrings of the Beta at his paws. A sickening display of fangs, the upward crescent of teeth expressing unguarded delight, was imprinted on his features, unfaltering even as he shifted his attention to Blink.
[glow=red,2,300]“Good, you can tell. I am so happy. Do you not recognize the Beta? Maybe it is the blood… but I digress. Everyone, meet Toss. Toss, say ‘hello’. Come on, speak up.”[/glow]Even as he claimed happiness, Bain maintained a robotic and eerily unwavering tone of voice. At his last sentence, he nudged the battered Destinian, the rotting outer shell of his skull prodding the Beta’s ear.
There was a low groan in response, Toss pulling his head away from Bain. His vision was unfocused at first, but after a few minutes of concentration, his senses sharpened. And when his sight had at last settled, bile churned and rose into his throat.
“Raffa,” he growled weakly. “You… you had something to do with this…?”
Before any threats could pass from Toss’ maw, three rows of fangs slammed into his shoulder, and Toss cried out in shock. Bain stared past his victim with a blank expression, digging his fangs a little deeper before quickly removing himself from the Destinian.
[glow=red,2,300]“I asked you to introduce yourself, Toss. It is a very simple and reasonable request, I would think.”[/glow]Panting and taking time to recover from the blow, Toss slowly managed to reply. “…I am Toss, the Destinian Beta.”
[glow=red,2,300]“Now that’s a good wolf. Now, as for Raffa’s question… well, before I get to that, I want to ask you all something. Any ideas as to why I decided to bring this wolf here today?”[/glow]

[♫Flisk♫]

Raffa swallowed, the pit of his stomach cold and churning. He felt like he was going to vomit, yet couldn't, and inwardly choked. His breathing began to grow ragged, for Toss, as old as he was, was somebody Raffa actually kind of...liked. So old, but still going. Still hoping. Shaking his head outwardly, Raffa pawed at the ground, digging his claws into the squishy soil. There was nothing he could do now but wait for Bain to order something. Keeping his tail low and ears pricked, Raffa listened to Bain asking Toss to introduce himself.

When Toss spoke his name, a stake of pain was driven through him. Though he was evil, this was the wolf who had given him a little squirt of inspiration, the squirt to be a high rank, working, clawing his way up to be the highest rank! Now, watched, almost sickened, by the way Bain plunged his fangs into Toss. Did it HAVE to be somebody that Raffa knew? Blinking slowly, Raffa bared his teeth, readying himself to strike a blow that would damage his soul. His first...killing. But first...Bain had asked a question. Raffa knew the answer, and he cleared his throat before trying to speak bravely.

"You...brought him here, to test our loyalty? Especially mine? Because of course, I know him well, and you must have found out somewhere that I didn't treat him as badly as everybody else, for now, here I am, standing in front of an old wolf, bleeding and twitching, one that I know."

[Njack]

Blink watched Bain carefully as he asked that question, then watched Raffa equally as carefully as he answered that question.

Then, Blink spoke. "Does this have to do with your... interest in skulls?" She blinked. "Even if it is, I'm sure that's not all..."

She thought Raffa may have had a point, but saw no reason in repeating his sentiments.

In her heart, she almost felt for Toss, as he was old and apparently a high rank. Old wolves don't deserve to die this way. But she saw it logically. Even if he was to escape, he would be hunted down again anyway, along with anyone who tried to free him. Death would only be a quick release to him...

Her eyes narrowed, waiting for Bain to respond to Raffa.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

The pink of a tongue swiveled around the corners of Bain’s mouth, his eyes narrowing at the responses that he received. A delighted gleam fleeted across his features, and a low chuckle crackled in the depths of his chest.
[glow=red,2,300]“Excellent. You are intelligent, Raffa. I admire that quality. As for you, Miss… well, not quite. But you will see soon enough.”[/glow]He retreated a few steps, his gaze dipping down to observe the captive Destinian. Toss was now awake—highly disoriented, but awake, with his grasp on reality gradually returning.
[glow=red,2,300]“Well, you both may have already noticed, but Toss is an old wolf. He is kind, so I have heard, and is among the least threatening of creatures in this forest. But he now knows your faces. He can scent your packs. He can no longer be allowed to leave this clearing alive. However, there are certain measures to be taken in this case… why waste a body, correct? But you both must learn the truth… you both must know from experience the price of sacrifice.”[/glow]The skull tilted toward the sky, the darkened maroon orbs hidden within the darkness of the sockets staring at Raffa like crosshairs focusing on a target.
[glow=red,2,300]“I would like you, Raffa, to be the first to demonstrate… show me that you are unafraid of taking a life if you are to do what is necessary. But do not finish him off… I just want you to bring true pain to his eyes. Do what you must to make him break, but if you back down, expect consequences.”[/glow]

[♫Flisk♫]

Raffa had never tortured...never killed. He wanted to, but he never thought it would be him, singled out, to hurt another wolf. I have to get over this. I must or I won't get anywhere. Swallowing, Raffa stepped foward a little more, staring into Toss's old eyes. Licking his lips, he nodded towards Bain and began to think of a way to do this. I have to think of something he has done to me. Anything. Um...Oh! I know! Toss...he...he probably liked Fireflight! Liked her! Ugh! He backed her up on that one punishment...to me. Oh...now I remember. I don't like Toss. I don't like Toss! I. Don't. Like. Toss!

The rage filled Raffa as his eyes became fearsome. He circled Toss, smiling evilly. Now that he had found something to punish Toss for, he could easily do it. The smell of fear was fresh in the air, or at least Raffa imagined it. His tail wagged ruggedly, purposely, showing Toss that he was more powerful, happy, and evil. His hot breath blew on Toss's face as he bared his fangs. They glistened softly under the night sky, their ivory color soon to be stained. Raffa spoke to Bain before anything.

"Alright...I've never tortured before...so I don't really know how...but I'll try."

With another circle, Raffa stopped. He smiled lightly and with that, let out a snarl as he aimed to plunge his fangs into Toss's inner thigh. Bloodlust was slowly coming upon him.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

The exquisite explosion of pain ricocheted up the nerves of Toss’ leg, through his spine, and into his brain. The automatic reflex of attempting to evade the source of attack—in this case, by pulling away from Raffa—was immediate, but unsuccessful. His quarrel with Bain had left Toss weak and unable to flee under the pressure of battle.
Stand and fight, old man… don’t sit here like a coward!
Determined to stay strong for both the sake of Destinian pride and the sake of his own life, Toss bit back a wince, and snarled at Raffa.
“That the best you can give me, you pansy?”
He struggled to shift and stand, but his muscles denied him the luxury, so he remained on his stomach, glowering at Raffa. “You want to be a traitor? Fine, to Hellfire with you! I’m not gonna lie belly-up for a bunch of lowlifes like yourselves! Especially you, with the skull—I bet you wear that thing because you look stinking ugly underneath, am I right?”
Bain watched in silence, a smile curved under the contours of his second face as he observed Toss’ defiant outburst. Keep going, my child… you have much work to do if you want this one to break.