Elemental Battles: Rage Ch. III: Rebirth » Places

         

Blue

Originally, she had wanted to wait until they were closer to the designated HQ, but Blue got bored. Why wait? She saw no harm in ditching her newly found patrol buddies, as that is what she is choosing to think of them as and not what they truly were. Was she going insane? Maybe... It was a question she kept asking herself when she looked down at the puddle.
The puddle was red and instead of "ditching" her captors like she had been thinking about, she had already killed them. What she was standing in was a puddle of blood. "Hmm."
Blue shook her head and pushed back the memories she had of killing these wolves. There was blood on her muzzle and her eyes were now entirely black. She looked like a hell bent Kamarian.
"I have..." Blue had started to talk, acting as if those wolves were still alive when she glimpsed a reflection of herself in the pool of blood. Her thoughts went silent and all she could hear was a ringing sound. A horrible feeling was beginning to fill her. "Somewhere... to be."
A sudden realization hit her. "I don't have to be somewhere."

**********

Blue was watching the group of wolves trying so hard to hide themselves. If she had been some dumb Tenneth, maybe she wouldn't have noticed them. Alas, she was a kamarian half breed and finding them in the shadows was all too easy.
From this distance in the shadows, she could see Khan and the other burly wolves most likely in the background. She almost sighed, almost dropped her disguise and almost walked up to them, but she didn't. Almost. It was a word Blue was beginning to hate, as it summed up her whole life.
She had almost escaped the tunnels. She had almost completed her first mission. She had almost become one of Khan's true friends....
Blue watched the group.
I want to see Nova's face before I go, she thought, suprising herself. Maybe the dirt colored wolf had grown on her more than she thought. She remembered how he was always being... She
tried to think of something positive and couldn't really find anything. Okay, maybe she had just liked him and wasn't realizing it until now....
Blue waited but minutes passed and she could hear the group of Rebels getting nervous. Maybe, it's best to just leave it at this. Seeing his face would have just made her feel guilty anyways.
Blue slunk away, unnoticed by the Rebels and patroling Prometheans. She had become a ghost, and was moving in a suprising direction...
Blue began to hum, suprising herself once again as she was not a wolf with any artistic or creative talent. Maybe it's because she knew her end was near, or it was the sadness in her chest... maybe it had become too much and now it was showing itself as this tune. It was calming and soothing, but to Blue, she found it to be a mournful sound. It didn't stop until she was far outside the Tenneth capitol.
No one had seen her leave the premises as she was a master at stealth when she wanted to be. Not that anyone in the Rebel group had known...
Blue looked back and saw only smoke.
She let out a sigh and wondered how long she would be free for.
Soon her pack would know she was no longer with the Rebels, and they would mobilize to track her down and kill her...

The wind picked up, sweeping dust and ash into the air, becoming a dust devil. It swayed from side to side growing ever bigger as it moved along the barren landscape... Blue was gasping for breath and instead got a lungful of dirt, making her cough.
Behind her, there was no sound of pawpads hitting the ground, but she knew they were behind her. She sped up, sprinting for her life, jumping over a crevice only to be tackled. She yelped, immediately feeling teeth sink into her hide and whatever sounds She had been about to make were silenced once she and her pursuer hit the ground.
Everything became a mad scramble and Blue was thrown quite a distance.
Breathe, Blue thought to herself, willing herself to get up.
Slowly, she got up and looked at the wolf chasing her. "I never thought it would be you... to kill me."
The tall wolf looked at her, baring it's teeth in a grimace.
Blue kept talking, "I thought you preferred to look after Riko... far from the bloodshed... safe in the tunnels." She stepped backwards, hopping over a small crack in the ground.
The wolf in front of her followed. "Riko is missing, she left the tunnels to find you and now she is lost."
Blue panted, not finding any words to respond to that.
"And they sent me after you...." The wolf advanced and Blue stumbled. She had just almost backed into one of the larger crevices....
"If only we could go back in time," The wolf inhaled and the temperature dropped quickly.
Blue smiled and laughed, "I wouldn't, because I never had this freedom."
There was the sound of breaking glass followed by the dull thud of something sharp hitting a target.
Blue let out a shaky breathe and immediately started to shake.
There was a large spear of ice imbedded in her chest. Dark blood was running out of her nose with every breathe. At the back of mind, she knew the ice had went straight through her lungs. A fatal wound. She only had a few more seconds here in this world.
Blue staggered backwards, "I wish...." Her words final words were lost to the wind as she fell into the abyss behind her.

         

Prometheus and Vesta

Prometheus sat upon his throne as he listened to Vesta's affirming words. She spoke candidly but truthfully with vigor and spirit. The very thing Prometheus had hoped for in the daughter of Augue. Her heart and mind belong to the Tenneth and to him. Prometheus smiled as Vesta gave her declarations.

"You are my father. You are the only family I have left. Yes, this pack is home but you are my family. One of my own and if you'll have me... I would like you to take me as your daughter. Make me part of your family. Let me stand proudly at your side as only family can. Let us usher our pack into this new glorious future as father and daughter. A symbol to our pack that no matter what we face, we will always find a way. That we are stronger together than any who would oppose us. Together with our allies, we will bring all in line." She said with renewed pride and enthusiasm. "For Augue. For the Tenneth. For you father and Alpha of the Tenneth and the world. For you mighty and wise Prometheus."

Prometheus gave applause as he tapped his claws against the legs of his throne. "Well said my child, well said. While I do accept you, there are those among us who would not greet such news with enthusiasm. You'll need to prove yourself first, not to me, but to the cause." Prometheus then stood up from his throne. He lumbers down the steps and as he approaches Vesta he stares intently into her eyes. "A demonstration is required before I can make your adoption official. As I am sure that you are aware, we currently have a 'certain' prisoner in our dungeons that have direct ties to the Insurgency." Prometheus speaks as he moves past his soon-to-be daughter. "It's also come to my awareness that you have traveled with this 'certain' prisoner to my territory in order to depose me," Prometheus speaks, the subject matter of his words would chill anyone. Anyone would be forgiven for thinking that this is the lead-up to a doomed fate. Prometheus turns to face Vesta, "Don't worry, I have not mentioned this connection to anyone else, and the spies that have presented me with this information have been secretly disposed of." Prometheus then gives his best 'reassuring' smile.

"When the time comes, and it will, we will send this 'certain' prisoner to the fathoms of the Abyss and it will be you who metes out Justice in my name. Then and only then will the world know of this connection and they will know that you are my true daughter! Because you chose family over these radicals." Prometheus then raises a great, big paw and places it on Vesta's shoulder. "Will you do this for me, my daughter?"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Summanus

Deep in the dungeon came the ringing sound of the dinner bell. "Alright, you filth! It's chow time!" A guard barked. He preceded a chubby wolf dressed in a tattered apron. He pushed the cart against his flabby chest as it carried a pot of some questionably odorous gruel. "Oh no." A prisoner muttered. Others turned their snouts down into the hay. "That's right you miserable sacks of fur! It's someone's big day tomorrow, and you know what that means?" The guard sneers. "Drop Dead Stew!" The guard cruelly laughs. "Serve'em up Jumbo!" He calls out to the chubby wolf. The wolf growls as he tilts the pot into wooden bowls. The slop spills over the bowls and out onto the floor. Each bowl was doused in the smelly stuff. He lifted the pot back over and then worked to serve each prisoner. The Guard then took the keys that hung around his neck to open and close each cell they visit.

Normally this would be dangerous to do, but thanks to not regularly feeding their prisoners each wolf's prana were severely depleted. Not to mention the chains that hold them back from approaching the door. As Jumbo fed each prisoner he did so unceremoniously. He would often plop the bowl down and kick it over to the prisoners. A process that would see much of the unappetizing meal splattered about the floor rather than sloshing around inside the bowl. "You all better eat every drop! You know how the Alpha hates wasting resources on prisoners and traitors." The Guard barked. Each of the prisoners stared despondently at the miserable gruel. Yet slowly they crawl to lap it all up. While a regular wolf would grimace, the prisoners ate it without many reactions. The only one to have a reaction is Ezra, as he scoffs in disgust. "I'm sorry your lordship. Is the stew not to your standards?" The guard laughs. "Will you choke it down this time or will you go hungry again?!" He laughs some more.

Finally, they arrive at Summanus's cell. The guard opens the door as Jumbo lumbers in with the bowl of stew. Before he could serve it, however, the Guard swipes it from Jumbo. "Hold on, let me do this one." He chuckles cruelly. He then tosses the bowl as it hits Summanus's head dumping the stew all over him. The pair of Tenneth laugh at the sight. "You see someone likes your cooking! He loves it so much he'll wear it!" The pair burst out in riotous laughter. Jumbo then suddenly realizes, "Hey." He said rather lamely. "Come on let's get out of here! Can't stand the sight of them eating." The Guard says as he shoves Jumbo aside. They lock the door behind them and then exit down the aisle. "Enjoy your dinner filth!" He laughs as the pair leave.

Summanus slowly rouses from his slumber, which was entirely unrestful. Minus the warm stew dripping down his snout, he felt chilly lying there on the cold, stone floor. Summanus wiped the goop from his eyes as he looks about. It would seem the guards just fed them. Then came a skittering noise. Summanus looked upwards to see rats crawling around the rafters. There was an unusually high number of them. Typically maybe one or two can be seen running at any given time. Yet there must've been dozens! Their bodies seemed to cover the entire wooden beam as if the rafter was made of fur! What's even stranger is that they all seem to be carrying something. Summanus squints to better ascertain the clearly peculiar situation before him. He notices that all of the rats are carrying bits of food! What's more, is that they are all heading in the same direction!

"What is causing this kind of behavior?" He thought. Although it pained his body he nevertheless lifted himself up. He then slowly turned his upper body with his shoulders as he noticed that the rats suddenly fanned out at the intersection located above the aisle. Each beam held a line of rats as they ran single-file into each cell that contained a prisoner. Summanus watched as the rats piled up the bits of food they carried. In each cell, the piles grew larger and larger as rats came carrying food everywhere! Soon Summanus noticed rats have started to visit his cell. The first rat came with a crumb of something unidentifiable. Then came another and another! The rats placed each piece together and soon it became clear what they had carried. Sure the obvious thing was bread and that was indeed there but so were other things. There was also fruit, nuts, cheese, and even meat! This both surprised and confused Summanus. More was at work here.

"Hello, dear boy!" Ezra called to Summanus. "I'm sorry for the rather rude awakening! But besides the manner of waking, I'm sure you're quite pleased to be awake to see our friends deliver this feast!" He smiled. Summanus looked over to see the rather cheerful Wolf. "Why is this happening? What's causing the rats to behave like this?" He decided to ask the Wolf. "Why that would be the wonderful work of one Jivanta." Ezra turns his head next door. "Why don't you introduce yourself to our fellow inmate?" Ezra asked. Sitting very stilly was a medium-sized Wolf with a fluffy brown coat and a yellow underbelly. He opened his eyes, exiting a trance-like state. He then looked over to Summanus. "Oh of course! My name is Chaim. I'm the one who asked the rats if they could help to bring us some food." He spoke.

"So, what they say about the Jivanta is true? Your Pack can communicate with other animals?" Summanus probed. "Absolutely!" Chaim responded enthusiastically. "I can't really imagine a rat having anything interesting to say," Summanus spoke as he looked towards the rats continuing to gather the food into his cell. "Oh, not true! Rats, just like any other creature, have a whole wealth of things to speak about! Every animal has some unique personality or behavior to them!" Some of the rats run up to Chaim and offer him food straight from their paws. Chaim smiles as he politely takes the food from them. "They can teach a Wolf a lot if they're receptive of course," Chaim says as he eyes Summanus from his cell.

"Not sure of what use a rat's knowledge is in this instance. We're still prisoners here." Summanus conjects. "I have to disagree with you once more my friend. A rat's knowledge is especially invaluable to a prisoner. After all, who else knows better the ins and outs of a prison than the rats that live hidden within its very walls?" Chaim poses. Summanus perks up. "You don't mean to tell you actually plan to use these rats to-," Summanus is suddenly caught off, "Escape? Yes." Chaim answers him. "I and Ezra have been planning this for a while. We just missed one key factor." Chaim looks to Ezra. "Protection," Ezra spoke. "While we could make our escape there was never any guarantee our lives will be protected during this endeavor. While I have some skill with my Element, neither I nor Chaim are warriors. I'm a diplomat and he's a trader." Ezra says as Summanus listens. "So? Are you expecting me to guard your lives? I can't even protect my head from a bowl of bad stew." He emphasizes this by pointing his snout at the overturned bowl of stew. "What makes you believe protecting your lives will be any easier?" He questions.

"Why do you think the rats are bringing us food? To help us restore our connection to the Prana." Chaim begins. "Prana does more than just power our Elemental abilities, it replenishes us spiritually and physically. Some packs have used this ability to its fullest such as the Aven. Yet, they are not the only Pack to practice the art of healing! I am a Jivanta, not only can my Prana allow me to communicate with unenlightened creatures, but it can also enrich the Pranas of other Wolves. In other words, I will use my restored Prana to boost your Prana's natural healing ability. It may not be as swift as the Prana-rich medicines of the Aven but it will work faster than a three-day rest would!" Chaim claims with enthusiasm. "Still that doesn't mean the process wouldn't be greatly expedited if you were to eat as well." Ezra chimes in. "After all a more restored connection on your end will help to alleviate some of Chaim's efforts." "In fact, it might make it more effective!" Chaim quickly adds. Both of the Wolves look to Summanus. Summanus wasn't sure about this escape plan of theirs. It sounded like the plan is heavily dependent on the information-gathering skills of rodents. Not exactly an encouraging thought. While Summanus does feel bad for their wrongful imprisonments, he, however, is unconvinced of the fact that he doesn't deserve this. A lifetime of killing other Wolves and for what? Mostly for profit, but also, out of desire. For better or for worse, Summanus had the desire to kill.

It may be the very nature of Wolves to kill, and yet; he sees these Wolves who, despite their naturalistic instinct to kill, instead choose to prioritize the preservation of life. Even when it would be more convenient to kill those that stand in your way. They would even be justified since they are escaping wrongful internment! Yet their carefully veiled words communicated one thing to Summanus. These two can't bring themselves to kill their captors and tormentors! Summanus can smell the scent of pacifism reeking from them both! It reminded him of the scent of the Kita Pack. Even when their entire Pack was robbed of their freedom the desire to kill was not present in any of them! This scent has haunted Summanus ever since that day, the day he quit the Yellow Demons and left behind the world of mercenaries. His life has never been the same since! He has encountered even more Wolves who bear the scent of pacifism, those who desire peace and harmony above all else! How can any Wolf hold on to such desires during a time when there is nothing but war and chaos? By all accounts, these Wolves shouldn't have survived for as long as they did, but that's when it hit him. Not only was the scent of pacifism present but so too was a familiar scent, resolve. Pacifism doesn't mean passivity. These Wolves understand it does take action to achieve this end but how they choose to go about it is so, foreign to him.

Every achievement made in Wolfkind has been made with bloodshed. From the early days of territorial competition to the formation of the Great Packs to the War of Claws, and now this Great War. Do they expect their new world to be made in the absence of it? No, perhaps not. They are asking him to kill for them when it comes down to it. It's nothing new for Summanus but can he bring himself to do it even for a 'good' cause? "I'm not sure you'll want me to be your protector. You have noble, honest, and dignified scents. I...have the scent of a killer. Wolves like me end up in places like this, even in a fair and just society. You deserve freedom, but I don't." Summanus spoke. This was strange for him. He never opens up about such personal thoughts of doubt and self-worth. He wasn't sure but this kind of scent makes them trustworthy in his eyes. Perhaps their crazy scheme might work after all. What troubles him the most, is the thought of successfully avoiding his due fate. "I don't believe that," Ezra spoke up. "I believe a Wolf is his present, not his past! What you've done before doesn't affect who you are right now, or what you're going to do right now! Not unless you allow it!" Ezra rebukes.

Summanus suddenly growls as he shouts, "Easy words for you to say! You haven't killed hundreds of Wolves as I have!" Ezra stands to his feet and shouts back, "No! But I have been involved in the making of decisions that indirectly led to the deaths of countless Wolves! Do you think I'm going to allow my participation in that fact to prevent me from doing what we both know is right?! What would be wrong is knowing what the right decision is and choosing not to make it!" Ezra's words radiated throughout Summanus's being. Is it true? Would his decision not to aid them be just as bad as killing them himself? While he is through with being used as an instrument of death, would his death become the instrument that leads to the deaths of many others? Summanus's mind became dizzied with such thoughts. Summanus did not know the answer at this time but one thing did occur to him. He decided to eat. Summanus quickly looked to the assemblage of bits and pieces that formed a meal and then began to devour it. Ezra and Chaim smiled as they saw Summanus eat. While Summanus is unsure if he deserves to live he at least understands that they do. If he can help save their lives then he should at least try and if he dies trying then at least he'll die without regrets. "Hold on everyone," Summanus thinks about Blue and then the others, "Don't throw away your lives for mine just yet." He then looks towards Ezra and Chaim as they eat before returning to his own meal, "If I make it out of this alive then, maybe...I too deserve to live?"

         

Blue

Blue was not in the rundown shack that everyone was currently hiding in. She spent most of her time "scouting" for the rebel group, finding them the "best" routes to steal and transport what little food they could attain. which for the most part Blue did actually help steal, because, well, she needed food to eat. While any other run she did was quickly... extinguished. And Blue felt that soon, the rebels would realize that there was one spy, that was actually a good spy, among them. It didn't bother her too much, as she was sure that no one would suspect her.

And the only one who knew was currently being held prisoner and was soon to be tortured before his hanging tomorrow.

A certain stormy wolf she was currently waiting for to be dumped back into his cell. She wanted to... talk with him before he died.

Blue waited in the back of the cell, her black coat camouflaging her perfectly. She wasn't taking any precautions either. She was just inside the cell, no armor, no weapon, no extra wolves to keep him from killing or attacking her. Maybe, he will kill me, she thought, or maybe he will curse me with his words. Oddly enough, she did not mind the dark, low lit cell... and she couldn't really understand why. Was it because she was about to meet her Pendant's original owner? Or was she so worried about meeting Stormy that she didn't care about the dark? Either way, she was unsettled with the mere idea that small bits of her thoughts were associating the warm light of her pendant with Stormy's... crackling energy.

There was no way, she thought fervently. There is no way.... She growled, angry that her brain was betraying the mission, even in this small way.