Thud... ... ...thud thudthudthudthudthudthud Filth's eyes snapped open with a gasp. Precious air filled his lungs, rushing through his blood with the steadily increasing beat of his heart. He leapt to his paws, eyes perked, eyes widened. Phantom pain flared up around his throat and he tucked his chin against it, ready to feel the oncoming rush of heated blood. But there was no blood, just thin, greasy fur and flesh. He was fine. He was alive. Filth's ears flattened against his skull and he tucked his tail between his legs, eyes narrowed. Where was he? What was this place? All around him were tall, black trees, their needles glistening in the darkness, illuminated by the soft sprigs of snow that covered the branches of the evergreens. The sky was dark, covered with a pattern of stars Filth had never seen before. Foreign skies. Filth averted his eyes quickly, but blocking out the sights did nothing to rid his senses of the alieness of this strange place. The winds whispered all around him, cooing melodies that almost sounded like voices, pleasant whispers in his ears...telling him he was safe, he was beautiful, this was life and love and utopia. The forest was unusually quiet with the exception of the wind, blowing softly, seductively, through the snow ridden trees. Not a single bird cheeped, nor a rat scramble against the broken twigs. There was not so much as a single scent of another animal amid the vastness of this dark, new place. A noise broke the silence beside him, crude and rough. He snapped his neck around, squinting through the darkness to make out the jet black form of a raven. The bird let out a cacophony of caws, fixing its oil-spot eyes onto him before taking flight. He hadn't smelled it. Filth let out a short growl and backed away. A fruitless attempt to preserve himself, there was no where to go, nothing to back into, just an endless wood devoid of smell and sound. Where was he? Why was he still alive? "My, my, my, you're a pretty one, aren't you?" Filth jumped and leapt around, fur bristled and teeth bared. A second shape presented itself from the shadows, this one not much smaller than himself. Distinctly wolf like, but Filth would never call the creature a true wolf, it was smaller, larger eared, and thinner furred. Much like himself, actually, but his traits were certainly not as exaggerated as his own. The wolf-thing, almost jet black in color but for white and reddish marks on his feet, approached him with a swagger, his thin lips curled in a smile,” Welcome to Venial, stranger. How'd you meet your end?" "Meet my-" had he died? Filth's ears lowered further. "Don't tell me you don't know, everyone knows,” his grin widened further and he leapt a bit closer until he was nearly nose-to-nose with Filth. Filth noted rather quickly that he had bi-colored eyes...very bright bi-colored eyes that most certainly could not be natural. "I-." "But look at me!" he let out a bark of laughter and danced away, tail wagging,” Trying to get information out of you without even offering a proper introduction!" He lowered his front quarters to the ground and perked his ears,” Redemption’s the name, love, Ready for short, if you will,” he smirked,” What about you?" Filth paused, lip curled. He didn't want to inform this whelp of his name! Or his...unfortunate end, if that's what... Filth's eyes widened. Of course! He may not be interested in this strange, young creature, but he would be a perfect opportunity to find out where he was and what had happened to him. Filth dipped his head in a quick bow,” Filth." "Filth?" Redemption looked quizzical. He shook his head, laughing again,” Suits you." He turned and hurried back into the shadows,” Come along then, Filth. You're probably right confused, aren't you? Need someone to show you around?" Filth paused, but after a moment gave quiescent nod and trotted off after the young whelp. .:.:.::.:.:.:. "Not long now,” said Ready, bounding tirelessly through the paths. The skies grew from black to grey the further they trekked across the land, the snow going from bright, beautiful white to a muted, ugly color. They were getting close. Venial always lost its color near the Lord's lands. Gods, the Lord would be happy with him for this one, wouldn't he? Not much too him, a scraggly, greasy thing, but the Lord didn't like pretty people. They made him nervous. Redemption made him nervous on more than one occasion, but he had enough problems from his tag-along female for that. But this...strange looking hybrid with his tail constantly tucked beneath or beside his legs, ears resting against his head, shadows growing beneath his watery eyes. Gaunt and reeking. The Lord would simply love him. He didn't ask questions and he only offered answers when Redemption prompted him to. It was perfect. They crossed a stream, not yet frozen by the winter cold, but black and hard, the waters freezing to the touch. Redemption leapt over them, disappearing down a moor of grey snow. He perked his ears, listening for the sound of Filth to follow him. It didn't come. Turning he bounded back up the little hill, pausing at the very top of it with his head cocked and ears perked,” Come on now, I can smell Him. We're nearly there and we'll get you all settled in, love. This place if perfect for you." Filth didn't reply to him. He had backed away from the ravine, looking just as miserable as he had since Ready had first laid eyes on him. But he was shaking, his eyes wide and pupils dilated. The poor fellow looked frightened out of his wits. "Filth?" Ready trotted down the hill, touched his paws of the edge of the bank, dampening the very ends of his fur, and jumped across again. It wasn't a particularly wide stream, which made the crossing of it simple, but it was cold and deep. Swimming it, even the short length that it was, would not be a tolerably well thought out idea. "Filth?" Ready urged again, trotting to the hybrid's side. "Hm?" Filth's head snapped up, eyes yanking themselves away from the stream to lock on Ready's. He flicked his gaze down again, quickly. Ready gave a little laugh and sprang toward the stream,” Come along, Filth. No dilly-dallying,” The Lord didn't like it when his minions dawdled. Filth stayed put, the muscles in his legs quivering as they stiffened, trembling. From the cold, probably, or.... Ready glanced back at the stream. With a chuckle he turned back to Filth,” Did you drown, then, is that it?" Filth tore his gaze from the water for a second time, letting it rest on a point to his left,” What?" "Did you drown? For Lord's sake, love, you've yet to tell me how you died? Me? Lost my footing and took a tumble, broke all my legs and sat about the prairies starving to death. Not terribly pleasant, I'll tell you. So, how'd you die?" Filth shook his head and stepped forward,” I didn't drown." "Redemption!" The voice was deep and booming, a fathomless tone that seemed to engulf the area, making the air heavier, harder, sharper. Ready leapt around, brows shot toward his ears and eyes widened. A shape pulled itself from the darkness, slow and fluidly. A third wolf, many times the size of either Redemption or Filth, with a coat so dully black he looked as if he'd been etched from charcoal. Beside the creature was a smaller wolf, yellowed white in hue and flawless. Redemption had never seen the likes of him before. "My Lord!" exclaimed Ready, bowing deeply until his nose touched the cold surface of the snow. "Not like this,” said the white wolf,” I’d like to see them all properly, if I may." The Lord gave the white wolf a nod. Raising his head a little he allowed his body to quivery and shake. In moments his limbs stretched out, his paws turned to hands, his ears shriveling to little shells of pink against his head. He brushed himself off and stood, clad in little more than a long, black, fur robe, covering him from chin to foot. Filth sucked in a breath and stepped back. Ready shot him a smirk over his shoulder and, in a moment, took on the form of a human as well, his bright eyes glittering against the warm tones of his skin and hair. His fur, too, became a long robe that covered his skin. The white wolf bobbed his head appraisingly before locking eyes on Filth,” Him as well, my Lord." The Lord shifted, narrowing his gaze at Filth,” I don't know this one,” he turned to Redemption,” Explain." "He's a new comer, my Lord. I thought you'd like him. Name of Filth. He's yet to inform me of how he died." "So he doesn't know then, does he?" said the white wolf, trotting toward Filth,” Very well then." He puffed out his chest, pressing cold, dark nose against cold, dark nose. Filth looked as if he wanted to run, but he stayed put, head and tail lowered significantly. Ready praised him mentally for the good sense of staying submissive. Ready didn't know who this new wolf was, but if he had the gal to order The Lord to do something, he was obviously a person of importance. Filth quivered uncontrollably and shot from the ground. His form twisted and shook, convulsing. His shift took longer than either of the others, and when it was finished he collapsed into the snow, gasping for breath. Redemption remembered his first experience as a human. Not a terribly pleasant one. Filth, as a human, was pale skinned and long limbed, visibly gaunt even beneath his fine, grey robe. His hair was black and stringy, his skin wet with sweat, his face hollow and thin. He looked very unhealthy. The white wolf seemed pleased with the transformation,” I believe I'd like this one, Lord." "Very well,” said the Lord. He flicked his gaze over the shivering form of Filth, brow furrowed. He seemed...skeptical, which confused Redemption, as the Lord was usually more than happy to except the scrawny, filthy looking ones,” Take him." Filth clutched his robe to form, shivering,” Take me?" "Ah! So he does speak. Very good, I doubt a mute would serve me well." Filth looked as if he wanted to speak, or reject the thought of being taken, but he didn't. He merely bowed his head, forcing the corner of his lips to curl upward, and mumbled a soft,” Very well, my liege. Where shall I be taken?" "Clan Akelara, my dear...what's your name?" "Filth, my liege." "Filth,” the wolf's lips curled at the word,” Yes, very good. We'll leave immediately, of course. Can't keep the dragon's waiting." "No,” said the Lord simply, frowning. "Dragons, my liege?" "Yes,” said the white wolf,” Quite." Back - Home - Next