Straight from your eyes, it's barely me. [Open]

[Snowy]

IMIK.

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Weaving between the darkened trunks and through the surrounding area, the waves of air flowing without an aim to their path. The breeze danced through her ebony pelt, first running up her back and then along the sides of her shoulders and neck. It hit the backs of her legs as well as she stood, and the black she-wolf took a sturdy stance with closed eyes as she inhaled deeply scents that followed the current. Though her fur prickled, she retained a calm facade upon her frame -- for a facade it really was, most of the time. An ear flicked, and her lips rose from their relaxed position; her teeth, surprisingly unstained, presented themselves partially. As those yellow eyes opened, Imik scanned along the horizon with a solemn air about her. An abrupt flick of her tail; a blink of her eyes; a low rumble from the belly of the beast. She could smell it: hare. Somewhere, even in the mountains she currently was on, there was the scent of the rodent; a fresh scent.

A smirk crawled along her features, and the she-wolf shook her neck out roughly before relieving an itch in her throat with a swift hack. The prowler's pose -- one would know it from anywhere, and she displayed perfect conformation in the stance. Her haunches bunched and her belly lowly hanging from the ground as she stalked forward with long legs and alert, piercing eyes, Imik quickly slunk forward in her hunt. She knew it was around, and only moments later the rustling of leaves confirmed her suspicions. C'mere, little hare. The smirk grew into a demon's smile, and her eyes gleamed in excitement. Small prey? Perhaps, but she always valued prey with speed -- it worked her muscles in less time than normal running did. Its earthened coat came into view, a flash of it through the bushes. She crept onward, and its head shot up. Imik froze, eyes locked on the rodent. A wrinkling nose inhaled the scents around it, for the hare could somewhat sense danger. After another rmoment, it was back to the ground, sorting through leaves as it searched for morsels to eat. Another few paces, and she was but a couple of feet from the prey.

A pause.
With a huff, Imik thrust herself into the bushes after the hare, her eyes keen and her teeth bared; with fast precision, she shot after the darting rodent. Weaving through the trees and bushes, Imik easily kept up with the rodent; she could have quickly caught and killed the thing, but what would be the use in that? Well, aside from a meal to eat, nothing. Now, letting it run and chasing after it for extended periods of time? Now that was useful. Again, she was thinking of the training moreso than the food; Imik could easily take down a boar somewhere else, or an elk or sheep if she was willing -- she was more than capable. But as she weaved and darted, her mouth salivating internally from the thrill, she built and toned the already-sturdy muscles upon her frame. However, soon the beast grew tired of the game and thrust herself at a quicker pace, toppling over the hare and killing it as she did so, a flawlessly-aimed snap to the neck ending its life without much pain. Imik was sent forward (for the thrust was a bit too strong) and landed on the ground, rolling a couple of lengths and stopping on her side, the hare still clenched in her jaw. A smile remained on her face as she panted heavily, for she was still hung up in the thrill of the chase. After a moment, she came to a normal position and quickly tore at the little creature, devouring it -- fur and all.

Nearly half an hour passed, and the she-wolf was satisfied with the small meal. Flicking her ears as she cleansed her paws and lips, the she-wolf continuously flicked her eyes back up to the horizon to scan along the land. Always alert, you know. A snort, and she raised her head to lazily look around more matter-of-factly. Such a mundane existance; even the bouts of pure rage bore me anymore. A sigh, and the black she-wolf gave another huff before lowering her head to her paws. Strange for a wolf such as she to be so... calm.

ooc; open to any and all! Beware; this calmness won't last long, I can assure you. :'D

[Njack]

Snow. Lots of it. Ligua briefly thought about it, thought maybe there was a name the packs had given it, a name that would seem appropriate for the weather. For the surroundings. Couldn't think of it; the name escaped his mental grasp.

Lots of things had been escaping his mental grasp lately. He had left the Yozorans - he didn't know if they knew he was gone. They probably did. Probably found out when they looked around the camp, noticed he was missing. Not that he really had anyone left, now. They were all gone. Neveria, Saskia, Crow... He could barely even remember anymore. He needed to remember. It would be horrible to forget them.

Upon leaving the Eclipsed Woods, he had wandered the outsider lands, without any real cause, looking for himself but never finding what he sought. He thought he heard news of a lost battle for the packs, of Yozoran indifference. Didn't know what to think of it. Perhaps it was selfish of him, to leave the pack... But he was one wolf. They wouldn't miss him, now or later.

Was there any hope for him ever finding himself, whatever that meant? Finding his sister, who was probably forever lost?

Maybe not.

But he wandered, and so it was that Ligua found himself in these mountains, watching a wolf chase a hare. She toyed with the hare, finally killing it.

He stepped out into plain sight. "I wouldn't play with your food. Dangerous out here, where it's every wolf for themselves." Who was he to tell her what to do? He couldn't even take care of himself. He didn't really care though, just kept talking. "You can take my advice or leave it."

[Snowy]

IMIK.

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Flip, flop. Flip. Flop. The she-wolf toyed with the limb of the hare, her eyes dull and thick with boredom. However, only minutes later a wolf came into view, and Imik looked upon him with slight interest; his words, so boring though -- so uneeded; a waste of breath. Huffing lightly, the black she-wolf shook her neck out and brought herself to a sitting position, looking to the stranger with a bit of a gleam to her piercing eyes.

"Hah -- I can only hope that 'danger' meets me; 'bout time I had a little fun. Life around here has grown so mundane... I need a little excitement -- a little fear in my life to remain sane. Though, fear is not an emotion that has hit me in so long a time... and that fear was but a flicker." Lackadaisical in tone, the she-wolf looked around instead of looking straight at the other's eyes, though she met them sometimes. What use was there to look another in the eyes? Who did she have to respect in any fashion? No one. Never had; never would. After a moment's pause, the she-wolf looked to the other and blinked lightly. "There's no such thing as danger to the ones who are such." A light flick of her dark tail, and a quick shake of her head; those eerily-yellow eyes raked along his face, searching for something that could unravel the wolf. After a moment, she was bored. What was the point of finding something out about another, if you simply don't care?

[Njack]

Ligua raised a single eyebrow. The left one, not the right one, not that it mattered.

"You're looking for fear, are you? You look dangerous enough, I'll give you that, but when a whole pack of killers decides to pick on you, it won't be fear for long."

He could have gone on, said something about there being strength in numbers. Irony, to leave the packs and then say that. So he didn't.

He didn't even really know if the other wolf knew about Blood Mist. Hadn't ever seen her before, that was for sure. She wasn't even looking at him, probably didn't care what he had to say. He didn't know why he was warning her.

But he kept talking.

"Boredom's better than death, unless you're looking for that, too."

[Snowy]

IMIK.

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As the other spoke more, something caught her attention and she she-wolf quickly jerked her head, her ears darting upward and a gleam piercing her eyes. It was scary, honestly; she appeared almost happy; enthusiastic. An eerie chuckle escaped her lips, and her chest rattled in the effort. "Ah!" Looking to the skies, the she-wolf exhaled excitedly. "I've taken on a pack before; cannot remember how long ago that was. Now that -- that was fun; exhilerating!" A terrifying gleam grew now upon her expression, and she remembered back to the first time she had met the new world of Freedom.

A toothy smile greeted her lips now; not a snarl, though it was essentially one in the shape of a smile -- odd, and creepy to look at; she was eerily happy, and it was rather.. odd.. and creepy. Imik was glad he had said what he had though, and already she was liking this one. Imik tilted her head inwardly, looking at the other with an angle so that her eyes appeared larger than they really were, the pupils near the ridges of her brows. "You -- yes, I guess I quite like you; you reminded me of the past... made me remember somethig that brought happiness. You -- who are you? What is your name?" There was such a light, happy tone in her voice, and a wolf who had known her would have been thoroughly chilled and creeped out; they would have thought she was soon to go mad, and they would have figured their lives were soon to be in danger. But, was she on the verge of madness? How could happiness translate into madness; insanity? But perhaps it was because it was such an odd emotion for the she-wolf -- maybe that was what made it seem as though she was treading along the path to madness. Whatever the case, Imik was happy where others would be terrified; Imik was happy, in tone; happy; creepy.

The she-wolf shook out her neck once more (a habit in the midst of growth, perhaps?), and again looked to the stranger with eyes agleam. Ah yes, the past; that pack, only around five or so strong -- she was so young... could she handle more now, with age? They had been a challenge, all of them, but her swift movements kept her usually ahead of the others, though one managed to clip her on the shoulder and leave a bleeding wound. That was the only blood Imik would witness fall that was her own. She had defeated them; sent them running, a fatally-injured one in tow. Yes, then she was clearly embracing madness; embracing rage and insanity, and the art of being a killer. But that was then; now she was a skilled wolf in a mundane world.. where was the adventure? Where were the thrills? Where were these packs this one spoke of? The she-wolf's pelt prickled in anticipation; or excitement. Who knew.

[Njack]

She took on a pack? She found it exhilarating? He was startled, for a moment, by the information, but he didn't let it show on his face. Not wise to show weakness, in front of a wolf who professed herself dangerous. Self-confident wolves, like her, could be bluffing, or merely have overinflated views of their own competence. It was still best to be safe.

Then logic kicked in. His eyes narrowed slightly, but not enough so that it would be interpreted as hostility, he hoped. Narrowing in suspicion. "How big was the pack?" he started, then stopped as the wolf smiled, asking his name.

His name. That smile.

He didn't trust her.

Who was he, now? Ligua? A wanderer? Wander... Was that a name? Then he rearranged the letters in his mind, a futile exercise, perhaps, in name changing. It didn't matter. He'd go by it from now on. "You may know me by Warden." He didn't say it was his name; it wasn't. But it would be his name for now, until he returned to the packs. When, not if. That's what he told himself. Maybe he'd change it a few more times, later. More lies.

"But names matter little." Ligua blinked, unsure how to answer that most... unique of smiles. "I might, perhaps, ask your own. But I will not wait for the answer. As for the pack, I doubt you could take on such a pack - I've said it is a pack of trained killers." He lifted his front right paw and jabbed it into the dirt, as if to accentuate the point.

He was slightly regretting getting into this conversation, to tell the truth, to warn a wolf who seemed to be itching to get into a fight. A part of him almost told him to leave it alone, to let the wolf go fight the Blood Mists. He didn't know how he felt about that.

[Snowy]

IMIK.

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The female yawned now; a wide yawn, likely overextensive; her jaw stretched wide and her teeth were shown -- nearly all of them. With a small shake rumbling through her body and ending at her tail, the she-wolf's eyes continued to gleam as she extended her front paws and went into a lying position, one paw criss-crossed over the other. This wolf was no threat; she could take him easily, and part of her hoped he would grow hostile so she could take him. But it seemed not the case, though a flicker of hostility flared in his eyes -- she disregarded it, which was likely the best of luck for the stranger. Imik sighed lightly before looking off to the distance. "The size? Another yawn. Had the wave of happiness passed? Such a quick alteration of emotions. "Well let's see... I had just been forced out of my pack; about a year and a half? Something like that -- I was young. But.. I was a monster then," A serious look fell upon her glittering yellow eyes and she cast a look to the stranger. "I'd say it was around five at the time. Not a considerably large pack, but I was only one wolf too -- no wolf could take on a pack thirty-strong on their own.. not even I, at that age. Now though... who knows. Not like I am as... dark as I was then. But I have age on my side now, and experience; who knows how many I can take on now."

The ebony female extended her nose, rubbing the right side of it on her forearm; the white splotch between her lips was moved -- such a strange marking. Between the lips; she was not solely black. Yet another shake of her neck, and the she-wolf steadied her gaze upon the other, who had just given her a name. "Warden. Imik looked away, to the skies again, the dull look returning to her eyes. "A dull name, but I don't think I've met a 'Warden' before. I'm Imik. The pleasure's all mine, as you've nearly made my day." A light huff, and her eyes returned to him. He spoke again; man, that male had a knack of saying the right things, it seemed!

Her eyes widened and that smile returned, and her eeriness followed. Quickly bringing herself to her paws, the she-wolf forgot all of the hare and walked towards the other wolf, the smile turning light and almost.. gentle. "'Trained killers', you say? Really, then; tell me of them, would you?" Her tail lifted, for he was again thoroughly interested in his words. An entire pack of trained killers! Oh! What the treat to enlighten an otherwise-mundane life! I'll wager they could put up quite the battle... exciting!

[Njack]

He inclined his head in greeting.

All the same, Ligua almost had to suppress a sigh. Imik, was it? Imik wanted to fight with Blood Mist, is what it sounded like.

Well, he wasn't going to forcibly stop her.

"A pack of five? On your own, you say." He paused. "I won't say I'm not impressed, because that would be a lie." Good. Telling the truth, but feeding her ego at the same time. What kind of a wolf have you become now, 'Warden'?

"But you're not interested in my opinion," he continued. "You want to hear about the trained killers I've presented to you? Well... They fought against three other packs at the same time, and won." He kept his face perfectly bland, perfectly informational. No need to show where his allegiances lay. On some level, admitting the strength of Blood Mist really got him, though. Really punched in the fact that he should have never left the packs. Maybe every wolf did count, could tip the balance between the packs and Blood Mist. But he pushed it aside, kept talking. "I'd say they're twenty, thirty strong. Now, a single wolf against those chances..."

He shrugged. Let her interpret it as she may.

[Snowy]

IMIK.

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"...would be up against a lot; a challenge." She finished his words.

The she-wolf blinked, thoughts of this pack racing through her mind. Her paws itched to find one of them -- not all, not right now; just one would suffice. A practice, run, to sharpen herself -- she was rusty now, after all. If Imik took on the pack of thirty-strong now, she certainly would have paid with her life. Sure, she would have made a nice dent in the numbers, but thirty against a rusty killer? Now, even she had the sense to know that that was not worth the effort.

The she-wolf tossed her head lightly, coming around to look at 'Warden' with a new gleam in her eyes. "Well Warden, I certainly must say.. I'm surprised you haven't tried recruiting me into your pack so that I would aid them in defeating or defending against these wolves. You're actually the only one who hasn't tried to get me on their side.. another thing I can like about you." The she-wolf blinked, looking away again towards the horizon. "How do you think I'd fare? Well, you've not seen me in action, but perhaps you do have an opinion?"

[Njack]

A challenge wasn't how Ligua would have put it. More like impossible odds. Suicide. But he let it pass. No use challenging her, on little more than semantics.

Then, danger. She mentioned the packs, seemed to guess his allegiances with them, in the past, maybe in the present. "You assume too much," he said, a low rumble in his throat. "Who says I am on the side of the packs against this menace? Let us just say for the time being that I am... avoiding the death that they will gladly provide for those who stray too closely to their feeding grounds."

Imik kept mentioning that she liked him; he really didn't know how to feel about that. The compliment was less of a problem than the source. Then she asked his opinion.

Ligua nodded slightly, looking her over. He didn't need a reason anymore to do what he was doing; he was just going along with what life threw at him. "You look strong enough for a fighter. Unless you can catch them one-on-one, though, I wouldn't bet for your survival. Combat isn't a numbers game, but thirty against one isn't going to turn out well for the one. Might be able to get a few down before they take you, but I wouldn't count on it."

He padded in place. "Unless you'd care to show me how you intend to beat those odds?" It was an invitation - to what?

This was crazy. She was crazy. He wasn't sure he himself wasn't crazy as well.

[Snowy]

IMIK.

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He spoke more, and though some words caught more of her attention than others, only the last bit really got her going. Imik's eyes gleamed in a wide fashion, and the she-wolf's lips parted to reveal a snarl-smirk (remember the snarl in the appearance of a smile? Essentially the same, though she often referred to this particular expression as such) and her black tail twitched quickly. "Ooooh, are you inviting a sparring match upon yourself with the likes of me? Please forgive me, but that's the intention I'm getting... I must admit though: I'm but only around half as strong when I'm not angered or completely thrilled in the battle... and a sparring match is something that I don't need to get angered in. I don't want to hurt you -- fond of you, so I can only expect that you can hold your own. Besides," The she-wolf was fully standing now, her legs spaced accordingly and a low growl emmerging from her throat. Lunging into the air to meet quickly shoulder-to-shoulder with 'Warden', the she-wolf finished her words. "It's been so long since I last battled in any manner.. a bit rusty, you could say; always wanted to know how I fared against the average wolf with the passage of time... then again, you don't really strike me the average type."

A quick clamp into the open air, aimed directly above his neck (for affect) signaled that she was engaging him as a sparring partner -- she would try her best to hold herself well-enough so she would not become... blinded in a manner where she could possibly kill him. A bright snarl met her face, and the she-wolf rocketed her chest into his ribcage, her eyes glimmering with pleasure at just the slight amount of quick-paced movements. Both he and the she-wolf were now engaging in a game of chance, and of danger; push her too far, and the old nature will resurface and both of them could be in trouble. When angered, Imik would fight until either she or the other were dead, or both; a way to survive? Manage to tangle her up and place her imobile... if you could get close enough without losing blood. But thankfully the 'game' began as a sparring match, and somewhere in the far depths of the she-wolf's heart, she hoped that it would remain a simple sparring match. "Now, I'll just start with the basic techniques, and work from there.. sound alright?" She felt truly happy the more she weaved and dodged with the male, fierce bites being clamped into the air by both of them.

Imik dug her back paws into the snow, and glowed in enthusiasm. With a light huff, the she-wolf struck a blow with her teeth -- making sure the bite, if landed, would not be hard enough to pierce skin -- toward's the male's nape of the neck, curious if he would be able to dodge it or not.

[Njack]

Ligua readied himself. A sparring match - had that been his intention? Perhaps not. Perhaps so. Maybe he could find himself in this activity, somehow. Or just forget, for a little while, about everything else.

All other thoughts disappeared when Imik collided into his ribcage, sending him skidding backwards, but still stable on his paws. He paced as she paced, watching her moves. Hopefully he'd be able to counter if it got too dangerous - if she was really as dangerous as she claimed she was.

Then she lunged at him, her teeth reflecting the snow. Ligua weaved slightly, just managing to avoid the bite. If he'd been a trifle slower, the attack would have connected, but speed was one of his only advantages. He would take what he could get.

"Close," he grunted. Couldn't spare much time to talk in a sparring match, much less in a real battle, could he? "But can you defend?" He launched his body forward, aiming to knock Imik over, or at least stun her. Ligua was light - he probably wouldn't have much effect even if he connected. But if she couldn't dodge or block something like this in a real battle, especially one where she faced multiple enemies, she might be in trouble.

[Snowy]

IMIK.

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The sparring match was rather.. entertaining -- it definitely stretched out her muscles better than chasing small prey; though that was still fun to do, just for the heck of it. This Warden fellow, he wasn't that bad; quite a fun match for a rusty warrior. What excited her most though, was when he spoke and lunged for her; defense, huh?

Any normal wolf would have dodged the attack and swung a retaliation, but no.. Imik was far from normal in that sense; in any sense really, but she didn't know it. As the male was in midair, the she-wolf flashed a dangerous grin and thrust herself forward as well, meeting 'Warden' halfway quickly, her chest and shoulders crashing into his own, a fierce look in her eyes; the gleam of pleasure remaining still, however. She would have then delievered the blow to the neck that would have killed him, but thankfully she was still clear-minded (for the most part) in her thoughts. When they collided, Imik sent the wolf back into the air from whence he had some, and she landed quickly and steadily to her paws. Not an injury to her pelt; not a bruise to her skin; not a morsal of pain in her eyes; pure excitement; happiness; a dangerous look growing on her eyes. But it was all still play, right? She could control herself -- unwind her muscles and sharpen her skills.

Yes, a normal wolf would have dodged and countered. Imik, being strange as she was, always came up with techniques rarely known by others (unless they had fought with her and managed to live). She gave him a couple of her own excited inhalations before streaking across the distance between the two, again crashing into his side like a boulder to a rabbit. Sparring matches; no teeth -- she would make sure (or try her best to) not to taste his blood. No use of teeth meant that things would remain a sparring match. He could use teeth, but Imik would try her hardest not to use her own. After all, this wolf was different, and she liked something about him. Another couple of breaths, and she was lunging into the air again, this time sailing over the wolf and skidding in a round twist, snow flying into the air, the gleam still thick in her eyes. A snapping growl and bared teeth, and she shot off again towards him with paws extended. No teeth; claws, they were fair game. She aimed for his shoulders and again wondered of his reactions.

[Njack]

Ligua took the rebound gracefully enough, landing on his paws, at least. He hadn't expected to knock her over, but he certainly hadn't expected her to leap at him. "Careful," he growled. "Not such a good idea when they're heavier than you."

Too much time talking; he snarled slightly as Imik crashed into his side. Wasn't time for distractions.

So he was alert when he watched her sail over his head, alert when she landed behind him, already turning to see her. And when she lunged for him, claws outstretched, he...

took it, her claws raking across his exposed shoulders. First blood. He would have winced from the pain, if he wasn't already moving. Towards her. She'd have to reload from the assault. His body hurtled through the air, aiming for her legs. Knock her down, upset her center of gravity.

[Snowy]

IMIK.

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He was a good dodger, she could give him that much; talked enough, but a good dodger. She could tear him to shreds though, she was nearly certain. Thankfully her will was strongly in favor of morality; for his sake? Possibly. The she-wolf, while she had been in midair, responded to him -- perhaps that was why he got her by the hind leg. It was nothing, really; mere bite and tear, but no dripping blood. Perhaps the snow kept it from welling up and draining on the white ground.

"Yes, but when I fight them, I will use my teeth. Or others, for that matter; when I fight, I am much deadlier." The she-wolf came crashing to the soft and icy ground, but the gleam remained on her eyes. She did not leap back up as she could have, but instead paused to speak. "But we are sparring, which is why you're not crippled already... or dead. That leap -- I could have easily killed you." Imik snarled lightly, and jolted back to four feet; part of her coat was laden in white now -- she appeared split into two sides... the dark, and the light; eerie. Imik extended hersef again, covering the ground quickly as she circled him with a smile. Another lunge into the air, and a hissing growl with her claws aiming at him; Imik took almost a fox's pose as she aimed squarely for his shoulders, a smirk on her face.

Upon landing again to the ground, she shook herself quickly before coming in close again. That creepy smile, and an equally-creepy look in her eyes. She thrust her head up in a high fashion, and hissed as her black head crashed into the other's own, her body weight being thrown into it; that's it, give him a nice headache. In the same instant, she jabbed his throat quickly with a paw and -- for the first time -- snatched his neck-fur with her teeth and threw her weight out so that she spun him off of his feet one or two rotations before releasing her grip and sending him flying. Without a moment's pause this time, the monster darted after him with another intended attack of her shoulders aiming for his own. As this went on, something was growing within her, and it wasn't fatigue.