Nekti // Male // 6 years, 4 months // Mentions: Callidora, Choenyi, Peony, Acesco, Yalina, Sylphrena, Neziton (ind.), Ophir (ind.)

Nekti gave Callidora another small nod as she brought up the subject of the weather. He had all but made up his mind that going around was the best course, but he would rather Callidora come to that decision on her own. Besides allowing her the respect of letting her think for herself, it also meant that Yalina would have more time to recover herself. Nekti had counted on Callidora to think his question through, and though in a way it felt wrong to use such an admirable quality against her, it seemed a small price to pay to give Yalina some respite for a few moments. “It should take us about three days to get around the mountains, I think,” he said to Callidora, and at that moment Choenyi mentioned the hunt and Callidora broke eye contact with him. As Nekti turned as well, he noticed that Acesco too had disappeared. Hopefully not after Yalina, Nekti thought to himself, though he had a feeling that was indeed the case. It seemed impossible to have any alone time with these wolves swarming about. Remembering that grating feeling when he used to try to have some time to himself and Udara would go calling all around the forest for him, Nekti felt a small sting of irritation. He flicked his ear as Choenyi talked about hunting, and took the opportunity to tear himself a small strip of flesh off of the carcass as he listened to Choenyi. He wasn’t so hungry that he couldn’t have kept up with the hunt, but he would afford himself a small piece. She asked if the loners would be allowed to join the hunt, and Callidora was quick to offer her opinion on the matter. As she finished speaking, Nekti added, “We have no need for these loners, so if they want to join us, they will make themselves useful.” Although this comment could be construed as being directed at both of the loners, Nekti glanced at Peony as he said this, making it clear which loner he doubted the usefulness of.

As Choenyi brought up the missing wolves, and Ophir specifically, Nekti shifted irritably. He didn’t say anything, and gave no other indication of being displeased with Ophir, but his gaze flickered towards the woods. If he was worried about the idea of Ophir dying, he didn’t show it, and he didn’t seem worried about finding his son - it would be easy enough to howl for him, anyway. He was distracted by Callidora’s reaction to the mention of Yalina being missing. She looked like she was starting to panic, and she looked at Nekti with worry in her eyes. Nekti was prepared to distract her, soothe her, anything to give Yalina some more time, but Callidor’s attention was quite suddenly occupied by something else. Nekti followed her gaze and saw that - no surprises there - it was the loner Peony who was about to get chewed out by a very angry Callidora. It took Nekti only a split second to realize what Peony had done. Did this wolf have any redeeming personality traits? He was arrogant, rude, snarky, and, as had just been made clear, a glutton and a thief. Nekti stood behind Callidora, ready to jump in if it came to blows, but his look was more imperious than glowering. Even the coldest of wolves wouldn’t have thought they could get away with mocking and then stealing from a wolf as very good-natured and very sick as Yalina.

Although it seemed that Callidora could take care of it herself, Nekti couldn’t stand disrespectful, sarcastic, wild, smarmy wolves like this - like someone else Nekti knew - and he wasn’t going to stay quiet over this. It wasn’t so bad that he would lose his temper, but he felt that Peony had gone too far. It was one thing to say things like he did, but stealing from them and then taunting them about it? Given the choice, Nekti would have ignored Peony as long as he could, but this wolf seemed desperate for attention. “He’s not worth your anger, Callidora,” said Nekti, not even bothering to look at Peony. “He’ll give back the food he stole, because he has every reason to fear what would happen if he didn’t. He’s young, and he’s either very desperate or very stupid. Either way, he doesn’t pose anything more than an irritation, as I doubt he ever has. He’s more like a small, sticking thorn - an undesirable pain, but nothing to get angry at. The best thing to do is to brush the thorn away and move on.” Having made this statement and trusting Callidora to take care of the rest, Nekti turned away, still not sparing a glance at Peony. He scanned the forest and smelled the scents of Yalina and - of course - Acesco, and he moved towards them, his body language relaxed. It seemed as though he had forgotten Peony was there already, though of course it was apparent that he had chosen to ignore the wolf.

Nekti started to make his way towards Yalina and Peony, to intercept them before they arrived and tell them what was happening so they didn’t jump in and complicate the situation. Before he could reach them, though, he heard the drumming of paws and snap of jaws. For a split second he thought it was Ophir, and he wore a scowl as his head snapped up to glare at his wayward son. But it wasn’t Ophir at all. It was a white she-wolf he had never seen before, and for a moment he thought she was sprinting towards the group to try and attack them. He tensed, but relaxed slightly as she took down a squirrel in front of her. So she had just been hunting. She was downwind, so he couldn’t smell her from here. Torn between moving towards Yalina and Acesco and confronting the white wolf, Nekti decided to wait for the two to catch up with him and keep an eye on the white she-wolf from here. He wouldn’t go chasing after her, not now, but he stepped back and shifted slightly so that he could make her out better through the trees. She was eating the squirrel she had just killed, and for now she didn’t look like any threat to the pack - in fact, she looked distinctly underfed. Trusting Callidora, Choenyi, and Neziton to take care of Peony, and keeping his ears perked in case they did need his help, Nekti trained his mossy green eyes on her. Nekti waited to see which direction Yalina and Acesco would go. If they went after the white she-wolf, he would accompany them. If they chose to meet him, they could decide if the white wolf was worth it - and, of course, if the confrontation between Callidora and Peony got out of hand, they’d have no choice but to get involved.

Pink tongue flicked from between a pair of pearl-colored fangs, mimicking that of a snake. A jagged breath escaped in a cloud of hot fog, delivered upon the male who remained before her. She had never felt such malice before, had never wished such ill will upon another. Surely this hatred would come back to her in the form of karma, but in the moment, she didn't care. "You're a nobody," was all she sneered from the depths of her jowls, eyes leering at him as she shot forward, teeth clicking together in the form of a warning.

Had Nekti not approached the situation, she feared she may have spoken worse. Alas, she merely glowered a moment longer, ears turned to the older wolf's words. Her stance remained still until Nekti had finished his speech. Then, and only then, did she turn in silence, only to advance but a few feet before halting. The familiar, annoying vocalization she had heard only moments earlier reappeared. It taunted her, mocked, insulted. Like a mosquito it buzzed in her ear- No, it was worse. It was like a voice trapped inside of her head, never leaving her be. It was eternal.. maddening.

"You wish to be upon the receiving end of my anger? So be it," she had sibilated, stepping back to her previous position, her gaze redirecting. "I am not sure what rules you grew up with, but around here, we do not play games when it comes to survival. I am no hoarder, and my sister may very well feed herself, but she is sickly, and so if I find the opportunity to make her life even slightly easier, then I will." A pause. "Most here know that I take my sister's health very seriously, and I won't have parasites such as yourself making it harder on both of our parts."

No longer did anger shake through Callidora's core. Rather, she took a calmer approach. Even her words were drawn out slower, as if hoping they would sink into Peony's scrambled mind easier. "Look around. Do you think anybody here will miss your presence?" She sudden vocalized, taking a step forward until she was but a few millimeters from his face. "Do you truly think you matter?" A quiet tsk was pushed out from between her teeth. "You're simply a number, Peony. Nobody here truly needs you. In the end, you're just another mouth to feed. Without you, our days would remain the same. We do not benefit off of you." Tilting her head, Callidora's gaze hardened. "You wish to remain here and earn respect, you adjust your behavior and stop meddling."

The female took a moment to reflect on the situation before her muzzle twitched. Without a further word, she, too, had gyrated like Nekti had done earlier, but she did not wander far. No, she had seated herself but meters away, eyes fixated upon Peony's form. She would wait for him as he dragged his figure across the ground. Such a sluggish form it was, and whilst Callidora felt utter joy that her demands were being met, she did not smile nor rub it in. She would simply stand by and await for his return.

And when his form had hauled itself before her, the rations dropping from his maw, she paid him no attention. Not even a thank you escaped her throat, he wasn't deserving of it. "It's enough," was all she replied. As his physique began to turn away, Callidora had raised her ears, her tongue lapping over her muzzle. "Oh, and Peony?" Delivering her words in monotone, she continued. "At the end of the day, you must realize that we don't need you, you need us." Without anything further, she averted her gaze, no longer needing to watch him; she had gotten what she desired.

Inspecting the shreds of flesh, she breathed in the scent before snorting, dirt having dusted her nostrils. Regardless, Callidora was happy. It would be enough. Slowly, she licked a smaller fragment, sweeping it up with her tongue and allowing herself a singular piece. The rest would be for Yalina. Of course, she was still eager to know where her sister was, but given Nekti and Acesco's disappearance, she had assumed that the two had gone to find her. She trusted them enough, besides, she refused to leave the pile of food. She had learned her lesson.

So, Callidora was content for the time being, that is, until that same, annoying voice shrilled through the air.

"What's that goddamn smell."

Gaze narrowing, she raised her head. "Oh, I meant to bring that up earlier, you should truly take a bath," she scoffed in reply. Knowing Peony, it was nothing, so, she turned. However, to her surprise, a foreign scent soon wafted towards her, her nose picking it up almost instantaneously. Ears erect and cranium held high, Callidora gazed around the vicinity wearily. They were close, whomever this individual was, and she was sure it was a somebody. Of course, this had caused the female's heart to pound against her chest, not for herself, but for her sister who still remained out of sight.

Now, Acesco and Nekti should be close to her, but what were the chances that they weren't? What if Yalina, her sister, was alone? There was always that possibility. Such words flew around her mind that she found herself standing, eyes glued on the last location she had seen her sibling. If she didn't return in a few minutes, Callidora would have to find her. She would have no other choice, but for now? Now, she needed to focus on this new presence.

"Choenyi, Avis, you smell that too, don't you?"

Chinook || Male || M: Syl, Open

"Just give me some time, Syl. If we can find a good territory -- or even better, two territories -- we'll have all the food we want. The prey is gone here; no wolf will last long."

The white female looked at him, hurt, and retorted, "I am one of those wolves, Chinook. We are those wolves. If you find a territory, you'd have to walk all the way back here regardless. Even a days' trip will drain your strength and you know it!"

Chinook sighed, studying the frustrated creature in front of him. A once powerful, sleek frame was quickly becoming furry bones; neither of them had eaten well in... who knew how long at this point? Stronger wolves who had had better luck in life, or who were immune to whatever was going around, had made even scavenging difficult. It was obvious that this lifestyle was taking a heavy toll on Chinook's young cousin. He had to find them a new home. One without sickness spreading like wildfires, and one with, preferably, no neighbors.

"Look. I'm stronger, okay? I've got a better chance of getting somewhere faster, and I can run circles around you right now. Sorry, but a days' trip for me alone would triple with you. You're getting over a pretty bad illness and you need to rest as much as possible. I promise I'll come right back."

Syl's features switched from frustration to irritated resignation at his statement. She sighed and turned her head away from the darker wolf, bony shoulders slumping before she plopped down on the ground with a short growl. "Fine."

"I promise," Chinook re-emphasized.

I promise.

I promise...

Chinook turned his weary eyes to the horizon. He had promised to return to his cousin, and he had said he'd be back a day later. It was four days after he had initially set out on his mini mission, and it had been to no avail. The territories to the north had been ravaged by fire, while those to the east and west were littered with the bodies of the previous occupants. Whatever had been going around, not everyone had gotten off as lucky as Chinook and Sylphrena had. The lands had been absolutely desolate; trees and shrubs and the like still grew and flourished, but there were no birds, no current scent markers, no churned up earth to suggest buried prey. It was eerie.

The large male rolled sore shoulders and closed his yellow eyes, trying to recall which way he had come from when he had left his cousin. His nose was still quite stuffy from his bout with the sickness. Chinook had recovered more quickly than his cousin and was, at this point, nearly whole once more -- a month and a half after having fallen ill in the first place. He pinned his ears at the very thought of having been so weak, so vulnerable, for any amount of time. The fact that he had practically been an invalid for that long only fed the flames of his grimace.

With a plugged nose, he could not even track himself. Any scent over a few hours old was lost to him; Chinook was trying to navigate on memory alone, and that had been hazy with low quality of life. With very few choices left, and desperate to return to the frail white wolf, the brute took a deep breath and released a strong, albeit hoarse, howl. He could only hope Sylphrena was still alive to hear it.

Chinook had attempted to stock up a nice food pile for her before he had left, but all he had managed to find were a nest of mice and a practically mummified gopher. Those would not have lasted even a day. She would not have starved though, surely; it would have been malnutrition, or perhaps another rogue or loner had come across her. Under prime circumstances, Sylphrena was a force to be reckoned with. Quick in wit and wile, she had a fighting chance even with larger opponents. But weak, sick, and half delerious--

No.

She was not dead. Chinook refused to even consider the possibility of such a dark and dismal morbidity. No, Sylphrena was alive and, if not well, at least still kicking. Still howling.

Oh, ancestors, still howling!

The faintest reply, barely a whisper to his call, drifted to his ears on the wind. What strength Chinook had left tripled and he felt more energized in that moment than he had in so long. He pinpointed the general direction it had come from and began loping towards it, careful to watch his step. He'd be no use with a broken leg.

A doggy grin broke across his tired, emaciated face. Chinook felt like he crossed the distance in no time, though it was several miles before he finally crossed a faint border marker. Now he could smell his cousin along with other wolves, though her scent was separate, and he followed it. It grew stronger, stronger, stronger--

"You lousy son of a bi--"

The white female's snappy insult was cut off as Chinook barrelled into her, tackling the smaller wolf and releasing her with a relieved growl. Through his pants, the male huffed, "Oh, thank the ancestors. Syl, you look awful."

Her fur was matted now, with a few patches missing here and there. Her ribs showed through her once-luscious coat and her eyes had a hollow look to them. They were not so hollow as to withhold a spark of absolute indignation. Sylphrena shook herself out and grumbled, "I thought you died. Actually, you may be dead. Have you seen yourself recently?"

"I'll just skip the formalities. I didn't find anything anywhere north, east, or west of us now. We might need to head back south again, but I have a feeling new wolves have already taken up what residencies would have been cleared by the sickness already," he said, sitting down next to her as she began grooming him. Syl paused, tongue hanging partways out of her mouth, and offered, "There's wolves around here still. They had a deer- I don't know if they killed it or not, though."

Chinook furrowed his brows in uncertainty. "I smelled them. Another pack? We left our pack for a reason... I'd be partial to stay away from groups that large."

He raised his nose to test the air, grimacing at how close they were. Their scents were strong enough that even he could detect them with an out-of-whack nose. What kind of wolves were they? Was it a pack? What would they think of two loners trespassing back and forth on their lands?