masking shadows [zyn]

[Ɽazǿniel.]

Muscles tensed as he perched on the edge of the overhang, thick, greying-black fur teased by bouts of cool summer wind. Here on the mountain, the air was more brittle, colder, but with his powerful build and suitable coat, it was just pleasant feeling. Too often did his dark pelt absorb too much heat and cause him to feel fainter in the hot months. While weather so far had proven mild this season in Tytantus, he wasn’t looking forward to the rest of the days. And while he wouldn’t admit it to himself, he was feeling nervous about summer too.

It was mating season, after all. In his six years of life, he’d never gotten close enough to another female to mate. He never sired a litter or come close to falling in love. As a loner when he was a little younger, he had his share of flirting and losing interest after the mating fever had passed. Right now, though, his thoughts were troubled even as he strained his amber eye to make out the shape of the mountain sheep milling on the stretch of grass below.

Razoniel would not lie to himself. He knew that he was attracted to his leader, his alpha, but whether this was true affection or a sexual drive escaped him. In this case the shadow wolf’s heart was larger than his instinct to produce cubs. If this was just the dizzying effects that the mating season had on the wolves of Nevermore, he’d make no further advances and pull away from any that the auburn female would make. His opinions and values about love were a bit odd to the younger, physical-oriented generation, but before long his body would fail him and he wouldn’t be the ruggedly handsome wolf who was receding even now.

The white hairs on his muzzle twitched as he skulked around the side of the ledge, nostrils flaring at the small cluster of sheep. He trotted stealthily down a slope, hidden in the shadow of the mountain, and once he was nearly among the ewes cast off this veil. As expected, they scattered, but his powerful jaws closed around the leg of the nearest animal. He dragged it back and clambered on top of it, claws digging into the fleece as it flailed, struggling to knock him off.

“Damn it,” the beta breathed, lowering his head to dig his fangs into the creature’s throat. Still it thrashed under him, knocking him off for a moment. He skidded near another ledge, where there was a longer drop, and gasped in shock. Paw pads sweating with unexplained nervousness, he barely got a grip on the stone. He gave one final leap, casting out a shadow to blind the ewe as he shouldered it against the cliff side.

When the sheep finally died, he wheezed with the effort and turned his eyes upward, where he saw another figure. Possessively, he snarled and lowered his muzzle over his catch, unable to distinguish through the blood in the air if this was prey, a pack member, or foe…

[-zynêx-]

Heavy paws of umber and black tread silently atop the scarcely grassed earth. Each step taken with the utmost care, as if fearing to awaken some idle beast along her path. Her intent was not to attract attention, but not from the likes of imaginary creatures and beast of legend. But rather her Beta somewhere in the area. Always wary of his presence, she had noticed his leave of her person earlier in the day and became worried.

Usually when he wandered off on his own, he alerted her of his intentions, always checking to be sure it was alright and he would not be needed. A habit she had accepted as a gesture of his concern for her safety, though he knew she was able to take care of herself. But in this instance, he had wandered away without a sound from her side. His scent was the most noticeable against the aroma of spring and stench of mindless fodder, sheep if you will. She slipped silently through the foliage, light on her wide paws. Her body moving with a purpose and mind enraptured by mentioned purpose.

The season was changing. She knew and felt it in her soul. The lustrous scent of the spring flowers were waning in their intoxication. The pollen and sweet scents had drifted on and dissipated, leaving behind the soft, calming scent that was the natural essence of the foliage. She found this scent of nature to be the most pleasing. Whilst the season brought beauty, it was difficult to breathe anything but the overwhelming hormonal scent. But as the potency lessened and the lust was driven off with each passing day, creatures as well as herself would find themselves able to escape the passionate grasp of the season and had their minds restored to norm. But even with this clarity to her mind and senses cleared, her feelings for her Beta still lingered.

It was known to be more than a passing fling when the very presence of the brute called her stomach to flutter and eyes to glow passionately with an unexplained emotion. When having the male away from her for more than a few minutes was next to unbarable....When she found herself crafting excuses to have him near her. This was no fleeting thing. She would dare call this emotion love. Not a foreign concept to her, but some she never thought would mean anything to her...until the onyx brute wandered into her life.

Perhaps another reason she sought him so desperately and quietly was that she wanted to confess these feelings, to know there was some reciprocation of her love to him, if only a sliver. Even a token of her affection was clasped tightly between her fangs. A simple obsidian band to match her own, found within a crevice of the Tytanus den. It seemed like a work of Fate for her to find another trinket to match her own, and she couldn't have been more elated with her luck. Surely this would make him see she intended to have him by her side, and she wouldn't have to literally vocalize the words.

Hopeful thoughts ceased by the tang of blood in the air and the dying bleat of an unfortunate creature. Mingled too was the musk of her Beta as strong as if he were next to her. The etiquette and stature of a Queen was gone as she raced through the thicket of bush and grass. Once silent paws beat loudly against the mountainous ground signaling her advance. And then her eyes beheld a single amber jewel, an innate defensiveness consumed it as the brute coveted his prize. When other leaders would have shown insult to such behavior, Zynex only smiled, slowly padding to her companion. Within only a few feet of him she halted, gently dipping her head to place her treasure on the ground all the while holding his gaze. Tail swayed with greeting. Smile still adorned, she raised her proud cranium and spoke with a gentle tone only used for him..."Hi there."

[Ɽazǿniel.]

It was her.

Quickly shame flattened his ears and turned his fierce, silent snarl into a faint frown. He stepped away from his prize as she walked toward him, dipping her head, and had to smile faintly as he heard her soft voice. It sent those alien chills up his spine as always, and though the mating pheromones were not as strong as a few days before, her scent was luring him closer. It still had to be the thick of mating season, for him to be so attuned to a female’s smell.

“Greetings, Lady Zynex.” The black wolf spoke professionally and fell into an elaborate bow, but the gesture was clearly exaggerated and marking. His eye twinkled with amusement and warmth for his friend. Because, if nothing else, she was his friend—and his loyalty to her was all the stronger. He gave a tiny jerk of his head toward the sheep, inviting her to eat first as was custom, and backed away in order to sit down.

Something glinted on the ground beside him, an onyx band. He reached out with a large paw and turned it over to admire it, eye flashing over to the one that she already wore around her ankle. Briefly he smiled. “You found another one?” he asked, with no idea of what her intentions were with this second cuff.

Guilt suddenly washed over him. He lowered himself onto his stomach and glanced over at her with shame. While seasons ago she would not have really bothered with trying to find him if he’d run off, now he was pretty confident that she’d been searching for him. Or so that foolish, childish part of him hoped. Attempting to explain himself, he fumbled. “I’m sorry for sneaking off like that—I just wanted to—” His bottom jaw snapped up to the top to stifle the rest of his words.

Originally Razoniel had wanted some alone time, but he couldn’t dare say that now with her standing there. And now that she was standing there, he couldn’t dream of being alone on this mountain.

“Did you need me for something?” he asked quietly, almost in a defeated voice. Gingerly, he rose and stepped over to her side, touching her shoulder with his nose. With even a shallow inhale, he was consumed by her scent, driving his brain crazy, until he had to pull away again.

ooc; razzy still thinks it's mating season, so he'll have doubts about them. xD just thought that would add a bit more drama for his standpoint.

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[-zynêx-]

Once recognition dawned on his face, she knew their encounter would be less awkward. She understood how a kill tended to blind wolves of their surroundings and to see him reestablish himself so quickly brought an elated tingle to her stomach. Following as he stepped aside from his meal, she slowly shook her head in decline. "It's alright...it's your kill..." then her visage was touched with a playful frown. "And what did I tell you about calling me Lady? Must I smack it into your thick skull Raze?" She chuckled at her rendition of a nick-name for him, knowing she couldn't hold an angered facade with him. It was simply impossible.

Quickly deterred from her musings at the mention of her second cuff, the Alpha hurriedly shielded the trinket with a rough swipe of her paw, tossing the band to her underbelly. "Oh that's nothing." She looked anywhere but to her Beta, knowing should they hold eye contact he was going to pry. Yet try as she may, her eyes were still drawn back to the brute with an amused glimmer as he stumbled over his words. She caught bits and pieces as he attempted to explain himself, but topped so suddenly it drew attention. "You just wanted..what?" She asked almost hesitantly. The guilt on his face was most misleading though she refrained from prying about the motives.

Discarding the question same as he, she again smiled at her friend as he placed himself at her side again. His brief sniff did not go unnoticed, rousing yet another chuckle, but a soft childish tone. Zynex turned her head as he lifted his own and rubbed the tip of her muzzle under his chin, burying the fleshed nose deep within his fur and inhaled deeply his relaxing musk. Umber boots lent her bodice more against his, falling deeper into this embrace. Mind and body overcome with comfort and the love unspoken. "Yes," she mumbled against his pelt. "There is something I need you for." Feminine heart raced against her chest, and strong voice trembled under the weight of so many emotions. "I...want to know what you think of me."

[Ɽazǿniel.]

Zynex refused the meat politely, though he had no real appetite for it at the moment. Hunting was more of a distraction from his thoughts, but at least the dead ewe would feed the pack after his meeting with the alpha female. She reprimanded him for calling her Lady, and he laughed quietly along with her. There was no way he would stop calling her that now, even if they were for some reason no longer with the pack. The troubling thought halted the rest of his musings, making him fall silent as he watched her with curiosity. Her paw had darted out in order to drag the small obsidian band underneath her, where he could not see it.

And of course that would bring his attention to it; he thought nothing of it as it lay there. His eye probed her silver ones, frowning faintly. Why would she have to hide it from him? He genuinely had no idea—as was common for the slightly slow beta. His thoughts were so practical and set in stone that he was unable to use his imagination to figure out other wolves’ motives for doing something. Just to grasp that she was attracted to him took quite a few hints, since he had never allowed a thought like that to ruffle his fur before.

At this, Razoniel glanced at the band again. Perhaps it wasn’t for her.

The female asked him what he had wanted, and he faltered for an answer. His tongue felt like a dead weight in his mouth before he forced out, “I just needed to run, and hunt something. I was thinking.” That was true. But no longer did he want to do that alone. Although her presence was toying with his mind, awakening all of his senses in a way he loved but hated, to tell her to leave would hurt him more than anything else. He didn’t want to see her upset.

As he drew in her smell, he could feel the ginger she-wolf shift her weight. Her velvet muzzle slid under his chin and into his coat, her body sliding against him, as he reveled in the feel of her fur on his and the sound of her soft voice. There was a quiver in it that sped up his own heart, as he hung onto every word. She finished at last, “I…want to know what you think of me.”

Razoniel nearly whimpered in longing but stopped himself, instead gently brushing his snout along the crest of her head, caressing her. His yellow eye was focused on a spot far out on the horizon, thoughts milling slowly in his thick skull—as her taunt had probably been right. Even if he was sensible, if Goranzo blood flowed in his veins, the more simple-minded approach of the Tytantus had taken over his instincts. And he did not know what to say. He knew what he wanted to say, but surely that was only a cub-like impulse. If he spoke, he wanted to give her the truth.

The black wolf sighed and drew himself slightly closer to her, head resting lightly on top of hers. His ears fell back a little as he said, slowly, “I know what I think of you. I’ve longed for you like I’ve never longed for any other she-wolf. I want you by my side always.” This said, he pulled away with a regretful, watery quality to his eye. He shrugged lightly and stared off at the ground, tensed up. “I just don’t know if it’s true or not. If what I’m feeling is attraction from the heat of the mating season, or if it’s deeper than that.” He swallowed and looked uncomfortably at her. “I want…to be sure.”

[-zynêx-]

She waited with bated breath for his reply, or something from him to indicate he understood her meaning. Perhaps the only moment in her life when she felt stark terror in her heart, and true fear of rejection. She was silent, listening to the steady breathing of her Beta.

And then finally he spoke, head resting atop hers in the most comforting way as each word fell tenderly into her ears. He longed for her, he admitted, more than he had wanted any other female. Her heart lept into her throat, stopping her breath. Bodice shook with a sudden twitch, heart restarted and hammered painfully. Her ears rang with his words. She nearly jumped at his confession. "I want to be by your side as well!!" Ginger form recoiled from under his, turning on a dime to look him in the face. Liquid pools rippling with joy and brimmed with unshed happiness. She much more she wanted to say, but held the words at bay to allow his thoughts to come forth.

There was a falter in her eyes. A slight quiver of her lips as he voiced his uncertainty, his doubts. She knew her feelings were true, but he worried what he felt was nothing more an infatuation of spring. It struck her emotionally, but never enough to change her opinion, her affections. If all she had to do was convince him what he felt was the real thing...then that she could accomplish.

Taking a breath, the auburn female lowered her haunches to the ground, curling regal plume about her thigh, all the while keeping her eyes on Razoniel's single optic. She recalled a time when these feelings came forth, when she felt that slightest inkling that this was more than a love-sick sensation. "Do you remember...not long ago when we played under the moonlight?" She smiled softly. "You looked so happy and enjoyed yourself...almost like you didn't want the moment to end. Did you feel then it was just the pull of the season that allowed us to play, or...was it more than that to you?"

[Ɽazǿniel.]

Zynex jumped away from him in a burst of excited energy, and though the smile on his muzzle was slight and sad, he had to be warmed by her enthusiasm. As she faced him, her eyes were absolutely aglow with warmth that usually never reached past the silver veil of her gaze. To know that he could draw such sparkling beauty to the surface warmed him a bit, but the feeling was subdued. He felt guilty for ever going along with their games, the flirting, and her advances. If he really felt nothing more than a childlike crush for the female, he didn’t want to pretend any more.

But his confession brought a downward twitch of her lips. She stared at him for a few moments, sighed heavily, and took a seat in front of him. Guiltily, he copied her movements again. His tail felt like some dead thing, flopped against the ground. As much as he tried to tear his gaze away from hers, she would not allow it. Silver and gold met and held, bonded by energy in his chest that he wished wasn’t there, wasn’t teasing him so.

The smile on the auburn alpha’s lips was a beautiful, delicate thing, something he didn’t want to disappear or to break. He cocked his ears toward her words, regarding them carefully, cautiously. Back then hadn’t he felt like two friends playing a game? Maybe something deeper had lingered under the surface then, but he didn’t know for sure.

But what was love? Razoniel knew that he would give anything for her, no matter what his feelings were. She was a dear friend, someone he never wanted to lose. There was some chemistry between them that he at least didn’t share with any other female. Did this equate to love? Friendly warmth and attraction? It pained him not to know.

“I don’t know, Zyn,” the black wolf breathed shakily, a hitch in his voice from the tremor that rushed through his muscular body. He glanced at her, knowing that he didn’t fully understand her intentions, though he could easily guess. “Do… Do you love me?” he asked simply, knowing that if she confessed something and it really mattered, it’d probably give him enough of a jolt to know what he wanted.

[-zynêx-]

She didn't know what more she could say to him. When but a moment ago she was happy about his confession, now he was just frustrating her with his doubt. She understood his dilemma, but it was a silly one. Regardless if this was a spring infatuation or not, it wasn't as though they were going to leave each other...unless that was what he worried about.

There was understanding for the troublesome squall in his heart, but there was no need to prolong this. No matter what, they would remain together, and if there was a problem, then would overcome it, she was indeed certain of this. But apparently he was not, and that in turn filled her with doubt.

Slender ears arched forward at his shakily spoken question. Hammering heart nearly stopped as autumn fae turned her head from this golden gaze. Eyes veiled by ginger lids she took several calming breaths. The immediately knew the answer to this question, but it was harder to speak it aloud for the first time than the many instances when she had confirmed the feeling in her heart. But here he was, asking her outright and honestly. There was no reason for doubt for she knew her feeling as absolute, but if uncertainty had festered in Razoniel's heart, would he not accept her declaration? It was this thought that kept her lips clamped and her eyes set to the ground.

Yet after several breaths and a calming sigh, she found the courage to lift her head and look upon the face of her heart's desire. Slowly a small, tearful smile crept to her muzzle as did her muzzle inch closer to her Beta. Gently she tapped their noses together, coral flicked in haste to touch his fleshed tip. A sort of kiss if you will. "Of course I do..." came the soft-spoke words. "How could I not?"

[Ɽazǿniel.]

How could this be so hard for him?

His molten gold gaze washed over the edge of the cliff ledge that they perched on, where he had nearly fallen with the sheep moments before their meeting. Had he been a little more desperate and full of emotion, he would have contemplating throwing himself off. But that would solve absolutely nothing. What was going on now wasn’t serious or life-changing, was it?

But love was supposed to be. He’d seen his parents nuzzle together in the grass, warmth in their eyes, even as his father became too old to romp and play. And they’d turned their love-filled eyes on him and his sister, their treasured cubs. That had meant everything to him, had made it set in stone for him that there were good and decent wolves in the world. It forced him out to search for a pack to join, for wolves to hunt amongst and guide should that be his job.

It was what caused him to team up with Zynex in order to lead and build the mighty Tytantus pack. Those first few days had been a thrill for him. He’d been glad to be her guardian, just for the love of the job itself, and as beta did all that he could to support her. They’d quickly become friends. This—this was just another step. Maybe a step to a life that was that much better.

As he asked his question, he watched the ginger she-wolf struggle. Her silver eyes closed as her flanks heaved for breath to calm herself, to gather herself. For many terrifying moments, she did not answer him. He began to open his mouth again, to prompt her once more, but she lifted her head with beautiful, emotional tears in her eyes that he did not expect.

The black male closed his eyes as her cold nose brushed his, evoking tenderness in him, and smiled when she licked him lightly. “Of course I do… How could I not?” she whispered quietly, as he sighed and briskly licked the top of her head. At this question, he smirked wryly.

“I’m already old,” her beta said sardonically. “You can ignore it right now while I’m able to run, but before too long you’ll look at me and see a crippled elder, while you’ll be strong still. And in a couple of years—” He cut himself off, knowing that providing the image of his imminent death would only upset her. He rested his muzzle against hers again and nuzzled her cheek affectionately.

“I love you too,” Razoniel said without hesitation. It was like a quickly prepared lie—or it could have been a truth that he’d known all along.

[-zynêx-]

In the wake of her confession, she had expected some kind of excuse from him. She was no so surprised in hearing him bring his age as an issue. Of course she knew he was older, he had a little more than a year and a half over her. And even if he crippled and became lame, she was still love him all the same. She had come to terms with this when realizing to extent of her feelings toward him. If he could no longer hunt, then she would provide for him, If they could no longer run and play together, then she would simply lay and enjoy his company. His age was not a factor, and ti bothered her that he put so much thought into it.

With another release of disappointed she raised her paw and curled it at her chest then extended it slowly at his flank, and smacked him...several times, each time a little harder to knock him to his side. With practiced swiftness she rose to all fours and rounded to his vulnerable side, dropping her bodice into his obsidian fur, tail waving with the energy of a year old pup. "Stop bringing up your age," she scolded him, reaching with a firm muzzle to clamp onto his ear and tug lightly. "Infact, stop making excuses all together. If there are obstacles, we can overcome them. We'll go blind, deaf, and dumb together if it means I can remain by yourself. If you are too lame to walk, I will carry you. Should you go blind, I will be your voice in the dark. I even learned to tame the shadows for you. Razoniel, my love for you knows no limits..." She slapped a paw over his neck then flicked it carelessly over his ear released ear. "Stop making excuses and just love me like I love you..."

There was such desperation in her voice, and some unplaced emotion, determination if you will, to make him see her claims were true. An single aud flicked behind in recollection of her gift, and quickly she slip of him, padding to her abandoned trinket and took it gingerly in her fangs once more. "I want you to have this..." She woofed quietly around the onyx band, placing it at her Beta's...hopefully Alpha's side. Resuming her draped position over his flank, she looked to him with hopeful eyes. "Will you wear it?"

[Ɽazǿniel.]

When he brought up his age, Zynex pulled away from him for a moment. His ears flattened slightly as he realized it seemed like he was just making up excuses for them not to be together. Though, yes, there was faint doubt in his mind about his age. He didn’t know how likely it was, but there was a chance that he could screw this up just by getting older. If the fancied his rugged, older appearance now, she’d come to hate it when he was mostly grizzled grey with fading eyesight in the one golden orb he still bore. What would she do then?

Whack.

He flinched at the harsh touch and turned to look at her in surprise, when she hit him again in the flank with her paw repeatedly. He fell under these blows and rolled onto his side, ears pulled back and expression shameful as he knew he was deserving of this punishment. However, the ginger female swiftly rushed to him, sprawling on his side and wagging her tail, speaking softly to him even as she fastened her teeth lightly on his ear.

“Stop making excuses,” his beloved alpha growled desperately, paw draped over his neck, “and just love me like I love you…”

Razoniel smiled gently and rolled onto his back, balancing her gently on top of his stomach. In this position he attempted to wrap both forelegs on her shoulders, an awkward embrace, and reached up to give her muzzle and cheeks and chest ferocious licks. “Okay,” he murmured, nuzzling into her autumn-hued coat. “I’m sorry, Zyn. I just never expected for anything this wonderful to happen to me.” He was a wolf of few words, constricted further by his heavily thudding heart and tightening, passionate chest.

Gently she moved off of him and went to pick up the obsidian stone cuff, which he had forgotten in the moment. Soon his eye widened, as her intention became apparent. He rolled back onto his side as she settled on top of him, looking hopeful. He glanced at the small band and reached toward it with a large paw, rolling it over, studying it thoughtfully though he already knew his answer.

“Will it make me pretty like you?” the black wolf crooned, rubbing her cheek and mulling over how to fasten it onto himself. He attempted to work it on his ankle with his teeth but gave up, giving her a helpless look.

[-zynêx-]

Unbridled joy rampaged through the rampant heart of the Tytanus Queen, her King now set and willing to remain by her side. Glassy orbs could not hold the overflowing pools any longer and within seconds twin streams broke through the rusted dams and flowed steadily down her ashen muzzle. Tail swung with excitement and joy. Coral lapped excitedly at her companion's graying muzzle while heavy paws padded gently over his frame.

No words were used to express her elated mood, for the female felt regardless of what she said, nothing would suit or could compare to the immense feelings welling within her by Razoniel's acceptance of her love to him. With a tearful smile she watched him fumble with the trinket, failing miserably to place it over his ankle. "You silly..." she chided him softly, reaching his nose with her tongue then turned her head to the stone band. Nudging his paw upward, she lifted her head above it and draped the band over his paw. It swayed slightly as if to fall but it remained still by the girth of his digits, wider than her own and larger than the interior of the band. Zynex hummed to herself in thought, trying to figure a way for it to fit, when she thought of how she got her own treasure to fall into place.

Wrapping the tips of her fangs around the exterior, she brought down the onyx band with a sharp tug and snap of her head, effectively freeing his trapped paw and let his gift fall listlessly down his foreleg. The female barked with puppish triumph. "There you go," she announced, taking his leg between tender jaws and shook it for him to see. "I think it suits you. But it blends in a little too well I think..." she commented off-handedly, looking from his onyx pelt to the gift around it. But regardless if it blended or not, at least she knew he was wearing it, and it wouldn't come off...easily.

ooc: Zynnie's got an Alpha!

[End Thread]