The Never-Ending Shade

[Zeek]

Shadowfang entered the forest at a slow and off-tempo trot. He had come far on unresponsive muscles and he was exhausted.

He had trained to be able to face days like these with no trouble at all...but this put him down. He wasn't able to keep up the steady pace that he had had in training. He was panting hard and he was nearly going to drop to the ground.

He had managed to make it far enough into the forest so that he could no longer see the end of the wood around him.

Throwing all caution to the wind in exchange for a brief moment of rest, he slumped down next to a tall oak and closed his eyes.

His wounds were not looking good. He had traded discomfort for safety in getting here to where danger wasn't so imminent. He still had some small bleeding puncture wounds on his left shoulder and the same on his right side, not to mention the little cuts and bruises every now and again that were covered by his once beautiful pelt.

The black pelt now had stains of red painted across it at parts from the mementos he had received from the dogs.

He was too exhausted to think about that right now though. And he was too tired to notice any others in the wood with him...

[Chronicler]

.::The next morning....::.

OOC: thought I would be nice and give shadow a night of rest.

It was now just breaking daylight over the mountains that were in the distance. Streams of shattered light could now be seen coming between the folds of green and winter colors. Evergreens streched in all directions as the rays of light hit the lengths of solid water that still clung to the trees branches from the night before. The air texture was crisp and cold, slowly melting into a semi warmer day. The snow around lay still and untouched in most areas. Birds were starting to chirp softly knowing that the day has begun. A flock of sparrows take flight from a dropping of snow that hit there nesting area and spooked them. Below the birds on the forest floor two figures made there way along, unbeknowced of any company that may be nearby.

"Ha, ha, ha! Zylus you are such a hoot sometimes! I still can't believe that you fell for one of the oldest tricks in the book yesterday. You know the one with the snowbank...." Aromis said as he watched the birds go by. His movements were casual and swift as he trundled through the snow. He wasn't in a hurry to go anywhere.

"Yes how the bloody hell could I forget." Zylus said back sarcastically with a mumble in his voice. "Now if you don't shut your yap pup we won't be able to get any food."

"Ah don't get your fur in a bundle. You'll catch something today I'm sure of it." Aromis encouraged.

"Thats what you said yesterday...and we still ended up empty handed." Zylus commented sourly. His muzzle showed no emotion what so ever. His stride was more purposeful than Aromis', that is until he stopped dead in his tracks with Aromis almost running into him.

"Hey! Why did ya stop?!" Aromis threw out. Not seeing what Zylus saw.

"Apparently someone's had a rougher night than us." Zylus commented looking at the wolf that lay out cold on the ground.

"You think we should wake them?" Aromis said as he made his way to his brothers side, also assessing the situation at hand.

"Might as well before a bear gets him or something." zylus said lowly. His deep voice being very authoritative. He went over to the wolf and began to prod him awake in an area he knew wasn't injured. "Hey you wake up." He would continue to repeat it until the wolf responded or knew that it was already dead. Aromis watched on intently.

[Zeek]

Shadowfang had been sort of 'sleeping on the job' in a sense. He had laid there for the entire night and a part of the next morning...not really sleeping. He was in sort of a sleeping-waking that he couldn't get up from. He was just too tired.

That was, until Zylus came along and prodded him. Shadowfang might have been weak from the previous day, but his senses were still very much alive as was his temper.

He open his eyes at about the second prod and jumped to his feet backing away from the other wolves, a snarl framed on his muzzle.

He did not care for other wolves, and he would prove that. Although... He seemed to related to one of them... But only a little. Shadowfang was unique in his own right... He had chosen to walk alone, and that put him outside of everyone else's' world.

His eyes flickered between the two wolves, his fur bristled and his demeanor a little astonished and defensive. Normally he would be cool and hard to read, but with his injuries and a rough night, he couldn't keep such a facade up at the moment.

"Who are you?" He asked coldly, the snarl never leaving his hatred-imbued features.

[Chronicler]

Zylus was not phased by the wolfs snarls and bad tempered manners. Instead a face of placidness greated the other wolves. Zylus knew rough times, and so facing another one was nothing to him at all. He looked at the wolf just only the briefest of moments longer and then looked to his brother Aromis who seemed to be still in a good mood and too neither phased by the other wolfs cold demeanor.

"I am Zylus. And this is my brother Aromis. We were just passing when we saw you. And now that your awake we have no problem leaving. Heaven knows wouldn't want to bother you any further. We just thought that it would be better to wake you before some large bear or large cat came along and decided you might make a good snack. Wouldn't do too well for my hunting thank you." Zylus said gruffly in a sort of bad mood voice himself. Neither Zylus nor Aromis had eaten for the past couple of days. So naturally it made Zylus irratable.

"Zylus!" Aromis said softly to Zylus with an appauled sort of sound. "Now theres no need to be rude."

"Yes well..." he softly retorted back letting his voice trail off into a mumble. He gave Aromis a look of minor defeat mixed with grouchyness.

Man two that woke up on the wrong side of the rock this morning! Thats really pathetic, Aromis thought to himself quietly.

"So wanderer if you don't have really anything nice to say we can be on our way and you can find some other way to heal your wounds." Zylus commented. Aromis said nothing and just followed Zylus' lead on this one.

[Zeek]

Shadowfang could only stare at the other wolf. He dared...? The other wolf had obviously never seen Shadowfang before...but somehow he thought that the other wolf wouldn't care even if he did.

Zylus seemed similar to even himself...and Shadowfang did not like relating to others. It made him sick...

So he wanted Vash to be nice or just stay out of the way? Why would he do either?

His hatred funneled away from his appearance and he switched into his normal passive mood. It took some effort on Vash's part, but he managed it.

"And my name is..." What would he say? "Shadowfang...," he cooed a brief second later.

Shadowfang's eyes flickered to Aromis, reading him as if he were reading a book. It seemed an odd pair there...they were brothers...but...well...it seemed opposites DID attract.

"And don't worry about me...if you really have somewhere you want to go... something to do that you think would be successful. Then go ahead and move on. I hope your hunts are fruitfull..."

And as for Shadowfang's wounds...

He sat down on his haunches and glanced down at his shoulder, his head tilted back a little. He licked his slightly bloodstained fur in the front.

It still stung a little, but he ignored the pain. His sore muscles worried him more.

[Asia]

Hellfyre slowly padded in to the giant forest. His cinder muzzle was expressionless. Dark rust colored paws padded a long the dirt path.

His paws were stinging from walking so far, he felt so much relief when he laid down under the shade of a tree. The wolf pricked his ears as he heard the chattering of three other males in the distance. A small growl rumbled in his throat. "I guess I shouldn't have come here if I wanted peace and quiet." He sighed under his breath.

Hellfyre laid his head softly on his paws and started to clean them quietly. His tail softly swinged from side to side. He stared on toward the group of wolves. He heard growling and some other voices apparently trying to calm it down though.

Rouge's don't have packs so we need allies. He thought to himself as he watched the group from under the tree. I should introduce myself or let them find me myself. I just don't want to get into that argument or conversation they were having. He sat there and decided he was going to mind his own business. He wanted quiet and if they find him, oh well, but for now he was going to enjoy the silence of forest.

[Eric]

Pyro ran straight into the forest. He smelled more wolves ahead and was curious to see who they were. He ran with incredible speed covering huge distance in a matter of minutes. Pyro arrived where the wolves were and examined them.

Pyro saw three wolves together and another wolf that looked like it was hiding from them. The first one he saw was solid black with ruby eyes. Next there was one with that was also black but with a sort of blue highlight in his fur. The last in the small group was pure white with gold highlights. The one that was hiding was many colors mainly an ash gray and a rusty color. Interesting.

Pyro dashed to the group and introduced himself. Hello. My name is Pyro Daemon. May I ask you yours?

[/i][/center]

[Chronicler]

zylus smelled another wolf on the wind. Two actually and both were strongly nearby. Then he noticed one of the two almost right on top of Aromis and him. "Um, hi." Zylus said with a bit of bewildered shock on his face. However Aromis only laughed, which was cut short by Zylus' look to him. He looked over and saw the second wolf laying alone in the snow just a distance away from them. "Well you might as well come over here too." zylus gave a sigh.

"I'm Aromis and this is my brother Zylus. Don't mind him he's just a grumpy goose when he doesn't get any food in a while." Aromis said to the newcomers. His energy still hadn't faded away at all. In fact it only made him more happy and hyper. Zylus rolled his eyes at him and then ckuck some snow in Aromis' face for his comment. That made him smirk a little.

[Zeek]

Shadowfang wanted to scream. There were way too many wolves for his liking... After facing that pack of dogs...now he had even harder opponents. They were oppenets because that is what he called anyone else who wasn't Shadowfang.

He could try to run...and so he did. He edged backwards from the beginning two wolves as they were distracted, a nervous and tense look about him that suggested that he was liable to snap at any moment. Either to attack or to flee...what did it matter?

Vash thought that they would both end up the same way anyway...

[Eric]

Pyro looked to see that shadow black wolf was backing away. He wondered why for a second. Does he really think he can get away from us that easily without any of us noticing? Or does he just not care if we notice and is going to take his chances with being able to run faster? Well both choices werent that smart. If he thinks that four wolves wont notice that he is leaving then he isnt that smart. But I dont think that is the case. There is more of a chance for him to think he can outrun us which isnt going to happen either. I for one have incredible speed but perhaps this other wolf does to. He does look a little like me, built for speed and all. But I wonder who is faster? Interesting. All of these thoughts raced through his head as he still wondered what this wolf was trying to do.

"Hey you," Pyro called out. "Where do you think your going?"

[Asia]

He picked his head up as he saw the wolf Zylus, he had overheard, tell him to come over and introduce himself. He sighed and got up stretched his legs before starting to walk over to the group. A surprised grunt escaped his throat as he realized that another wolf had come again. He walked up to the group and cleared his throat to introduce himself. "My name is Hellfyre. What are yours?" The dingy wolf tried to act as if he actually wanted to talk and get to know them.

As he looked over the group he watched, curious, as the shadowed wolf started to back away from the group. He perked his ears as he heard the other new wolf asking where he was going. Hellfyre raised his eyebrows in a confused and interested stare.

[Chronicler]

Zylus almost didn't want to bother to ask where the dark omen came from. He felt that the stranger had been very rude and such to him. Which this had made his semi long black well kept fur to rise all over. His dark eyes narrowed though when he did see the wolf back up. Some rogue loner, was Zylus' thought. It was a semi sour thought at that. The wolf looked like it could do better than that. Though he could see that the wolf had many bruises, cuts, and such all over, Zylus could know better. He was good and judging things in his mind. And this was one of them. He knew that the wolf was just as much if not more of a sour puss than him. and he didn't like being smart mouthed back at in any respect. Shadowfang was only getting lucky because he was wounded. And only for that reason alone. But if the wolf didn't want to stick around he didn't have too, but Zylus knew that if Shadowfang went out into the unknown without any attention or care, he would end up some tiny bit of insignificant foof for some other wild carniverous animal. His blood scent would make that very clear. "Let him go if he wants, but Shadowfang I will warn you with this there are worse things out there other than us or other wolves." he said matter of factly.

aromis couldn't believe how heartless his brother was being for the day. "Zylus don't be the way you are. The only wolf here right now that is looking more like a big fury butt more than anyone is you right now. Shadowfang I think it would be wise for you to stick around until you heal. We..." he said directing his attention to Zylus. "Can hunt in a bit. What is a few more seconds, minutes, or maybe even longer."

"Matters to me..."Zylus said in a very low mumbled tone, his voice trailing off. He looked down a bit his ears pinning to his head in minor shame. His tail was down and unresponsive, neither moving left or right.

"Have you forgotten the rogue code. You know care for one's brotheren for it could mean the balance betwee allie or foe." Aromis commented. A slight cold breeze blew through the trees making them dance and sing as it gently weeved through there many branches down onto Aromis. His solf fur ruffled just a bit as the wind past over him, however he did not shiver amazingly.

"Yes I remember...and Shadowfang Aromis is right....about everything....at least I hope anyway." Zylus said in his low voice. He didn't want to admit fully that his brother was right. He hoped though that his brother was right. When the wind passed him however he did shiver. Just only a little though. Funny enough one would think that it would be the other way areound. Both knew that they couldn't stop him from leaving to easily. They could chase him down of course if the other two were willing to chase with them, but Aromis and Zylus knew that he did have an exit.

"Please Shadowfang I know you may not like us at all. But could you possibly do it for your own sake." Aromis asked with concern. Aromis was one to have sometimes too much heart, but at least he tried to have his heart in the right direction.

[Zeek]

Shadowfang's mind burned with hatred. It drowned out everything else. What did he care what they thought? What did he care that they wanted to stay? He ignored the one who asked him where he was going...it was none of their business. Those lesser wolves weren't worth his time.

He may have been injured...but that did not make him weak. So, who really cared what was out there? Shadowfang certainly didn't. He didn't think that anything would be life threatening for him. Injure him more, yes, but nothing out there could take him down in his eyes.

So he ignored the brothers...he ignored the annoying wolf that asked where he was going and he ignored the last wolf that he hadn't quite placed in his mind yet. He would do as he wished, and if that carried him into death's jaws, what did he care? He had never cared about anyone his whole life, why should he start now? He was the main importance of every second that he was alive, not anyone else, and he saw himself as fit to go places, despite the wounds that he still carried. Some might have called him insane...but he didn't care, he was gone...even before he had an incentive. He did not like other wolves... And he would not stick around talking to them like some blasted human tea party. It was time to leave.

He rolled his eyes at the brothers and snarled, turning quickly and taking off full-speed away from them, or at least the full-speed that his injuries would allow. His jaw was clenched against the pain as he ran through the cold morning air.

Don't follow me fools....

[Asia]

Hellfyre just stared on with bored eyes as he heard the speech Aromis had given. He was only thinking about himself at the moment. He completely ignored my question, that jerk...

The blank stare was continuing as the speech went. Aromis is right about something. We rouges need to stick together, we only have each other. His perked at the sound of the growl of Shadowfang. As the injured wolf ran off he turned to the others. He can see what was about to happen and he didn't like it.

After contemplating if he should talk he sighed and turned his head to the side in a questioning way. "You want us to chase after him don't you? It's the way of the rouges and all that right?" He asked with an annoyed tone.

[Eric]

I wonder why he would run off like that. It wasnt very polite not say goodbye. He smirked at his own thoughts. Well if he wanted to run and be grumpy then so be it. I will only chase him if these other rogues do. But he was pretty beaten up. Maybe he did need some caring for. But if he feels he is in danger then he can go. I would do the same thing. But still, he does need help, even if he doesnt want it. But if I chase him he might put up a fight and then what. He seemed to have alot of spirit but he was beat up pretty bad making him weaker. And if I dont chase him, he will likely end up winding into another situation of trouble he couldnt escape from. That definetly would not turn out well. And yet he still apparently doesnt want me to be by him if he is just going to growl angrily and turn and run. His good and evil sides kept fighting with eachother trying to find the best solution. Well my only conclusion is to follow these other rogues here. I needed allies. So he waited for the rest to react, still thinking on what was best to do.