First Hunt

[Rose Petals]

Though he took quite a beating from the Lanion, José had recovered quickly. He was now in the swamp with his family, teaching his son almost sinister tactics to hunt efficiently. "Now son, as soon as you see that your prey is close enough for you to take it down, you should do so, and make sure that you tear its neck open as soon as you are able to, for that is the success of a quick kill. Quick kills are needed around here, for Lokken does not like to wait." José was showing his son the so-called proper stance he should take while hunting.

Miguel was getting bored with the idea that you had to do everything a certain way, and wanted to try hunting on his own. Though he knew hunting involved killing, another evil tactic, he pondered over the idea that there might be some less gruesome way of doing so. He did not really have any cares of what Lokken liked, or rather or not he liked to wait. Lokken was too cruel for Miguel, as he wanted to slip away from the Lanion's pack, though he knew it would be impossible, as his family belonged here. He had heard stories of his uncle betraying Lokken, and running like a coward to Kiba's side. He wondered if he could do the same, or if he could just escape from the war altogether. He didn't like to fight, anyway.

[Misery]

Kani led her down a path, from the spot by Lokken's dungeon where she had first been imprissoned. She followed reluctantly. Her white fur was matted, for she hadn't the energy to clean it. Any other day she would have done that first thing, but she figured it wasn't worth the trouble.

"Keep up, girl," her uncle barked. "We haven't got all day." She glanced up with a half-empty growl. Not once had he called her by her name. She knew he hated her, hated having to watch her all the time so she didn't sneak off. But she didn't care. Her burnt paw didn't care either, apparently. It was burning like the first moment Lokken's fire had touched it. She was limping badly. It wasn't easy to keep up when you didn't want to walk at all.

Kani led her to a swamp, where the damp ground had a cooling effect on her paw. She sighed with relief, though it still throbbed from walking. She looked up at the sound of a slightly familiar voice. It was Jose, the male who had assisted in her capture. And with him stood a young pup. She listened to Jose's coaching, and gave a low growl. Everything here revolved around Lokken. "Don't listen to him, kid. It doesn't matter what Lokken wants. He doesn't deserve it," she mumbled. She heard the snarl begin in Kani's throat, and then felt his fangs cross her eye. She yelped and turned her head away. Blood spilled into her eye, and then down her muzzle, staining her white fur. She licked her lip to get rid of it, but she couldn't reach her eye. It hurt badly, but she had gotten used to pain. It was something frequent here. She smiled bitterly.

Keeping her left eye closed, she looked the pup over. He didn't deserve to be raised here. And at that moment, she promised herself she'd get him out, even if Kani or Lokken or anybody else killed her for it. She couldn't let the poor pup live like this.

She would help him escape, no matter what it took.

[Rose Petals]

Scarlet stood up at the sight of Kani. Smiling slyly, she walked gracefully to him and greeted, "Hello, scum. How's my worst enemy doing today?" Scarlet chuckled menacingly. She loved to argue, and she did anything she could to pick fights. She glared down disgustingly at Kariah, and though she was still young, she wasn't a nal anymore, and didn't have a cute thing about her. "I see she's fit in real well here," Scarlet commented sardonically. She was referring to Kariah's filth and lack of grooming and care for her life. Glaring back at her family, she interupted their hunt for calling them over to her, Kani, and the misfit young felme. "Jose, you and Kani did a fine job with her. I'm sure Lokken is proud. Now, Miguel, this is Kariah. You don't want to be like her sort, understand? She's the type that will get you into trouble with his majesty." Scarlet grinned, teeth showing, at Kariah. She was non-verbally warning Kariah to stay away from her son.

Miguel saw the poor shape that Kariah was in, and he felt for her. He didn't like to see her this way, for though he had just met her, he was sure that she was well-groomed and beautiful before she was abducted. He knew just how to get on Lokken's bad side now, for his mother had slipped the secret. He would do everything in his power to befriend this felme, even if she hated him for being a follower of the Lanion.

[Misery]

Kani smirked. "Hey, babe. I'm just nasty today, how 'bout you?" He glanced at Kariah, rolled his eyes and said, "Yeah, she's getting along great." Kariah rolled her eyes half-heartedly. She pinned her ears back on her head and glared at Jose as he came closer.

And she was being used as an example! She growled quietly, but didn't have the energy to fight back. "It's better to be free than trapped by your so-called king," she mumbled. She kept her eyes on the ground, though she glanced up at the pup every once in a while. The poor thing would be beaten into submission and then trained to be the most rutheless animal. She didn't react when Kani dug his teeth into the scruff of her neck and dragged her down. When he had her there, he wrapped his jaws around her muzzle. After puncturing her skin quite a few times, he let go, growling. "Keep your trap shut, girl. You're lucky Lokken wants you alive." She just lay there, her eyes closed.

[Rose Petals]

Scarlet lauged as the disobedient felme was punished, as did Jose. "Miguel," Scarlet started with a disgusted tone, "I mean, it, you stay away from her, understand?" Scarlet approached Kariah, and looked to Kani, as he was her watcher had the authority to allow or not allow her to talk with Kariah. "You don't care, right? Because if you do care, I'll go to Lokken and get permission, it's no big deal." Scarlet was asserting her authority as she spoke, and knew that her plan might work, if only she would be allowed to take action.

Miguel noticed the glances he was receiving from Kariah, and knew what he had to do. Even if he didn't get out alive, he would help this felme escape, for she had a life before Lokken, and she deserved it back. What did Lokken want with her, anyway? Why would he take someone by force that didn't want to be in the war? Though he didn't know the answers to these questions, he did know one thing: He was now living for Kariah, and he would die for her, if he had to. The first time he was able to hunt on his own, he would request that he could take Kariah with him, to teach her a thing or two. He would have to keep this convincing, but he believed it would work. He had learned to lie well being in Lokken's pack, and now he figured that his training had paid off. It was only a matter of time.

[Misery]

Kariah huffed once, quietly, at the female's disgusted tone. "Yeah, stay away from me, kid. We don't want you to grow up wanting to be free." She rolled her eyes, glaring at Scarlet. "No, I don't mind. Maybe you'll be able to put some sense into her." Kariah sighed, cringing slightly. she could take any punishment Kani could dish out, just because she was used to it. But this female seemed to be one of those unpredictable types, someone who always had something up her sleeve.

[Rose Petals]

Scarlet gave Kariah a warning glance, as for her to shut her trap. Scarlet looked to Miguel, and asked him seriously, "Miguel, you don't want to be free, do you? Free with no one on your side and you could die at any moment because there was no one there to help you escape from danger?" Scarlet didn't know what she was saying in Miguel's mind, for in his mind, the idea clicked in his head that if he and Kariah worked together, they could escape from danger, from Lokken. Scarlet continued, "You like it here, don't you my baby?"

Miguel looked into Kariah's eyes, gulped, then looked at his mother and lied, "Of course I do, mother. I wouldn't ever want to be friends with a disgusting wolf such as her." He fixed his face so that he looked his father when he was getting ready to scold someone, and this gave his mother satisfaction. Miguel couldn't stand acting this way, but he knew it was the only thing he could do until he was older and able to be on his own. He knew now that he would have to work harder than before to befriend Kariah, for he had just called her a disgusting wolf. He hated himself for calling her that, but he also knew that his mother was very strict, and he would most likely be killed if he had disagreed with her.

Scarlet smiled, then nudged Kariah with her nose. "Come on girl, let's go." Scarlet was leading Kariah down by the mossy lake in the swamp to talk to her. She didn't even wait for her, for she knew that if Kariah tried to escape right now, she, Kani, and Jose would be after her. She sat down beside the lake to wait for her, which was only a few feet away from the others, but out of hearing distance.

[Misery]

Kariah glanced up at the pup when the question was asked. She didn't mind the words used. She was used to being called such things, but at the moment she just didn't want the kid to say what some part of her brain wanted him to. She knew that if he denied his mother, he would be killed. And that would ruin everything.She sighed quietly when he gave the correct answer.

But then Scarlet called her, walking away toward the lake. Kariah got to her feet, pausing once she was up, considering. She could run now, but she knew she wouldn't get anywhere. Not only would there be three wolves after her, but she was also injured. So she followed obediently, though she didn't like it at all. She went to sit by Scarlet, glancing warily back at the males. She held her paw off the ground, knowing she would be scarred for life because she didn't take care of it, and niether did anyone else. But it didn't matter. She would die soon anyway.

[Rose Petals]

{OOC: If you can, have Kariah say something about Lokken, no matter what it is, and use his name in it. I have an idea. Only if you are able to have Kariah say something, please try to do this.}

Scarlet glanced up at Kariah, and wasted no time in getting straight to the point. "Listen, the only way you're going to survive here is to accept your fate. You were meant to be with us, or Lokken would not have sent for you. Accept it and move on. You are pretty bratty, from what my husband has told me. It may be hard for you to understand, but Lokken is really the best choice for the throne. He gets things done, and doesn't wait around until it's too late, where as Kiba does. She doesn't deserve to be the Fane, for she lets everyone walk all over her, and that's no way to be a leader. You have to let others know that you are the one in charge. Lokken does just that. So, if you are going to survive here, consider cleaning yourself up and at least act like you like it here and his majesty may reveal to you why you are here." Scarlet glanced back down at the mossy lake, swiped her paw to clear a small hole, then lapped up a small drink. "Ah, refreshing," she commented deviously.

[Misery]

Kariah sighed. "You know, i think my fate would have decided for itself if I'd been left alone. And honestly, I didn't want any part of this. I was free. My mother and I. We weren't on either side, and then we were dragged into it. How would you feel if you were ripped from your home to be in some stupid argument you never wanted to get involved in? And now look at me. You see what your so-called king has done to me? What the hell kind of king is that? Lokken is cruel and hidious, you're just too blind to see it."

She was standing again now, glaring at Scarlet. She turned to dip her paw into the cool water, and it helped with the pain. "And what's more, Lokken's got you all brainwashed into thinking that cruelty is the only way to get things done. Well, it's not. I've seen the other side, and it doesn't take an ounce of cruelty. Maybe you should try to see things from someone else's eyes for once." She glanced at Scarlet out of the corner of her eye, watching for whatever reaction would come from her.

[Rose Petals]

Scarlet's temper was induced as Kariah spoke of the Lanion by name. Before even she knew it, Kariah was pinned to the ground underneath her. Their noses nearly touching, Scarlet snarled at the ignorant young felme. "You stupid girl! How dare you address his majesty by name!" Though Scarlet was sincerely trying to help Kariah, she now had no care in the world whether she lived or died. This young felme had disgraced the Lanion, and for that, she should be punished. "If I ever hear you speak about my king that way again, I'll kill you! You got that?" Scarlet dug her claws into Kariah's chest, though they weren't pressed in deep enough to puncture, Scarlet was sure she was making it hard for Kariah to breath, and at the moment, she wanted to cause Kariah as much pain as possible.

[Misery]

Kariah tried to make herself small under Scarlet, and she turned her head to the side, trying to avoid the older wolf. "Fine, I won't say his name!" she cried, desperately trying to save her own skin. She heard Kani laugh in the background, but she didn't care about him.

When Scarlet pushed her claws into her chest, Kariah found her breath coming hard. She gasped and struggled under the adult's weight. She thrashed with her limbs and jerked her head from side to side. "Look at yourself! You're all devils here!" she yelped. "You're no better than him!" She positioned her paws under Scarlet's chest and pushed her away. In her panic, it was all she could think to do. Once she was free, even though it was just for a moment, she darted away, running through the trees. She felt the blisters on her paw pop as she ran, but she didn't stop. She ran toward home, where she knew things would be in the right place. She knew everything would be alright there, even though she'd get caught again in a minute. But she had to run. There was no other way out.

Before she'd gotten twenty feet, she heard Kani after her, and she was sure Scarlet was back there too. But her uncle was throwing curses at her, threats of what he would do to her. And that kept her going, because Kani was her personal guardian, and he didn't care about her. She knew he would carry out whatever plans he had in mind.

[Rose Petals]

Scarlet and Jose took off as fast as their feet would carry them. Right beside Kani, they were sure to catch Kariah before she could get much further. "Stop, you ignorant thing! Come back here! You don't know what you're up against!" Scarlet growled. She hated being pushed away like she had been, and she would get her revenge, one way or another.

Miguel started running, trying to make himself look good for his parents, but in all reality, he was trying to slow the others down so that Kariah could escape. He was torn between trying to get her to escape now, and trying to keep her here a little while longer so they could escape together. No matter what he was going to do now, he had to listen to his father, which had barked back at him, "Stay, Miguel! You'll just slow us down!" Miguel halted in his tracks, saddened with grief at what might happen to his only hope. He fought hard to keep the tears from pouring down his small face.

Almost as soon as Miguel had stopped, so did Scarlet and Jose, for the Lanion had appeared just in front of Kariah. He barked a powerful wind that blew her back, and then he casually walked over to her, bent his head down, and whispered into her ear, "When will you learn, you stupid little wimp?" Lokken's eyes were gleaming with disgust and hatred, but yet he also looked as though he cared for this young felme. He did have an ounce of concern for her, but he would never admit that to anyone, and he didn't admit it to even himself. He stood up, his shadow almost completely covering Kariah, and waited for her response. Jose and Scarlet gasped, as did Miguel, for neither of them knew what was about to happen.

[Misery]

Kariah glanced over her shoulder when Jose barked at Miguel, and then turned back. When she did, though, she yelped and tried to make a quick turn. But her paw was of no use, and she slid sideways instead of turning, and Lokken's wind just pushed her down even faster. She stayed there on the ground, staring up at the King, panting. She was scared, and she was sure it showed in her eyes, but she was trying to be brave. There was a pure hatred that mixed with her fear, and she had to hold herself back from shredding his ear as he leaned down to whisper in her ear.

"You think I would have run if I was a wimp?" She stood slowly as he stepped back, obviously waiting for her answer. She glared at him, though she let her tail hang limply behind her in defeat. "What the hell do you want with me anyway? You know I'm going to keep trying to get out, no matter what you do to me." She stepped forward, placing her nose right in front of his. She had to turn her head to the left slightly, because she was blind in her left eye now. Maybe not permanently, but everything would be fuzzy for the rest of her life. "So unless you want me here that badly, you might as well just kill me now, so one of your stupid minions doesn't have to do it for you." She didn't know why she was being so brave, but there had been something in the king's eyes that had showed just a bit of weakness, the first she had seen since being here. He had showed concern, and she knew that didn't necessarily mean he wouldn't kill her anyway, but it was weakness.

[Rose Petals]

Lokken laughed, annoyed. "You are a wimp. You are still limping and complaining about the paw of yours, like something terrible happened to it. You wouldn't know pain if it hit you in the face. You are weak, but headstrong. Yes, you'll keep running. However, you overlook the fact that you'll keep getting caught. The only way you would ever escape is if you weren't such a wimp, and that will never happen. You're the daughter of a wimp, the granddaughter of a wimp - it runs in your blood. You're only headstrong because your father was in my pack, and he was a great Okane. Your mother, however, came along, and your father fell for her. That's when you were conceived. She didn't feel the same way about him, of course, because she was ignorant, and so you were away from us for too long, and now you're brainwashed. Now that you're finally with us, you will learn your place, and take it proudly. Understand?" Lokken had never spoken of this aloud, but now the truth was out as to why he wanted Kariah. Though not like his sister, he couldn't read minds, and he couldn't foretell the future, so he had no idea of what might be coming. He only got the brute strength side of the powers, whereas his sister received the mental powers. Lokken wanted Kariah because he felt she belonged in his pack, since her father was the Okane, it meant that she was to be the Okane. The only thing that needed to be done now was to break the young felme from her previous ways, and Lokken was determined to accomplish this tedious task.

[Misery]

Kariah listened to him, though she didn't much care for what he had to say. However, when he insulted her mother and her family, she bristled and growled. "Don't talk about my mother like that!" she cried, launching herself at him, though she knew what would happen. "My mother is stronger than you or your brutes will ever be!" She snapped her teeth into his ear, for she couldn't find a hold anywhere else. When she fell away, taking some of his ear with her, she growled, spitting out the blood that tainted her gums and muzzle. "And I will never be one of you." She braced herself for whatever blow might come, though her eyes were locked on Lokken's. She saw Kani step forward out of the corner of her eye, ready to tear her down as soon as she made another move.

[Rose Petals]

Scarlet snapped her jaws as she growled, while Jose took attack stance. Scarlet felt hotter than her red fur, and was ready to kill Kariah for attacking her Lanion. Though no one knew why, she took more offense to someone degrading Lokken than she would any other king, and even her husband, Jose. Sure, Lokken didn't have any trouble in killing one much less a thousand with one swish of the tail, but it wasn't about holding his own. It was based on their past, which only Lokken and Scarlet knew about, though Lokken was sure Kiba had her share in the knowledge. As soon as Kariah fell backward from Lokken's ear, she barked, "You little bitch! How dare you!" Scarlet was so furious, she couldn't think of anything else to say, even though she had a lot to say. Her mind was scrambling all the information it held, and she was confused at this scene. For the first time in her life, she had no clue as to what to do.

Lokken laughed, and mumbled, "Damn. Strong grip for one that doesn't belong here, wouldn't you say, Kariah, daughter of the fallen Okane?" Lokken chuckled, and to everyone's surprise, Lokken did not strike back, nor did he even attempt to block her attack. When he saw Kani step forward, and the other two ready to lunge as well, he commanded, "No, she doesn't understand. It's not her fault that she was born into our clan, and she hasn't been taught of our true ways. She thinks we're evil, but yet, she has our blood in her. Wouldn't that make her evil, then? She claims not to be, so that would mean that we are not." Lokken turned to Kariah wth a huge grin and added, "Better get your story straight, girl. I think I'm getting confused, here."

[Misery]

Kariah glared around at everyone, her golden eyes lingering on Scarlet. She snarled in response to the she-wolf's fury. But she turned back to Lokken as he spoke, laughing. "Stop it! I don't belong here. It doesn't matter where my father came from, I don't belong here!" She lowered her voice, thinking of her mother, somewhere outside of these torture lands. "Just let me go." She heard Kani laugh at the sadness in her voice. He scoffed and pinned his ears to his head. "Oh, shut up," she snarled at him. "You're no more a relative of mine than anyone else here. Mom would love to get her fangs into your throat." She turned to face her uncle, and she stepped forward, standing tall. "Oh, I'm sure she would. But she's not strong enough to do it." Kariah snarled at his remark. "Then maybe I should take care of you for her, huh? What with my father the fallen okane and my uncle an not a very nice person." She leapt at him, aiming for his throat. She was causing trouble, and it seemed to be Lokken's presence that made her so rebellious. She barreled Kani over, but her pushed her back. And, likewise, she attacked and ended up on top again. She caught a glimpse of Miguel, but then Kani had her pinned again. They went on like this for some time, until someone stopped them.

[Rose Petals]

Lokken sighed at Kani and Kariah's fight, then after a few minutes went by, he decided Kani had had enough fun. "Alright, no more. End your squabble now. I have a new arrangement to be made. I'm sure it is likely to change again, but for now," Lokken turned to Scarlet, then continued, "you will be her watcher. And you are responsible for her life. If she escapes, and you don't find her, your son dies. If she dies, no matter who the killer, your husband dies. If she escapes and then dies, both of them will die. Understand, my lady?" Lokken cast a glance at Kariah, whom he was sure wasn't liking this new arrangement. He laughed to himself for his utter brilliance, and walked away silently, having nothing more to say.

Scarlet hadn't even had time to think of a reply before his majesty had left. What would she do if Kariah one day got clever and actually escaped? She would lose her son. She couldn't attack her any more in anger, for she was liable to kill her then. If she died, so would her husband. She couldn't do anything to the young disobedient felme to punish her. Why had Lokken done this to her? Had she been out of line, or did he just hate her now? Didn't he remember their past? A million things at once were running through Scarlet's mind, and she couldn't sort things out. She had to watch Kariah with an overloaded mind; that would be very difficult. And she had a son to take care of. How would she keep her son away from Kariah if she had to watch both of them at the same time, thus they would be near each other. She had no clue what to do. Instead of wasting any more time, she decided that she and her family should go home, to where they usually stay, at least, and no matter how bad she hated doing so, she had to take Kariah with her. "Miguel, Jose, let's go. Now." She had Miguel to stand in front of her while Jose followed up behind them so that Kariah wouldn't have a chance of escaping now. Scarlet only had one thing to say to Kariah, and it was by no means a hesitated command. "If you so much as even look out of my cave, for I know what will be going through that little pea-sized brain of yours, you'll be sorry. You will not, absolutely not, cause me to lose my family. You got that?"

[Misery]

Kani stepped back from his fi. Kariah looked up at Lokken, glaring, wanting to finish the fight. She watched expectantly when he said there was a new arrangement. When she heard that Scarlet was her new watcher, she puffed her chest out slightly with satisfaction. But she lowered her head again when she heard the terms. She flattened her ears and tucked her tail slightly. She glanced at Scarlet once, who seemed quite panicked by this arrangement. But she turned her eyes on Lokken as he disappeared, and sighed quietly.

There was a sudden change of heart in the felme, in maybe two seconds. She was actually quite grateful for the change, for though she knew Scarlet would barely be any better than Kani, she would rather be with the adult felme than with her noley. She stared at the ground, wanting so badly to whimper but not allowing herself to. She would not attempt anymore escapes, and she would do her best not to cause too much trouble. She couldn't. Not without someone getting hurt, or worse, killed. She took slow, slinking steps to Scarlet, and lay quietly down beside her. She licked her paw and a mark on her shoulder from the recent squall. This messed things up a little.