The confinements present about the overgrown village held nought but silence, a strained intermission one may not readily deem a show of peace nor a truce. Prisoners they within walls once beneath their possession, craven the false king flaunting achievement accomplished through dirty means.

Time once before safe felt the child among those structures woven with thriving vegetation, clinging vines and branches softened beneath moss, delicate buds interspersed throughout dwindling, withering beneath the light chill. Stolen that in a single foul moment, tense now the air, their quiet voices and prying eyes ever present. Alone Salvia, minimal the comfort derived from light that painted the worn cobbles, ignored the world beyond himself. For only so long may such be achieved, the steps too numerous, the chatter nervous though edge of excitement tinged, above all one in particular notable.

Along tip of tongue lingered insults he wished to throw at other, distance enough quelled worry for he was secure in knowledge he may escape. It was not guaranteed, might never be, over confident the child spurned and made low, idea abandoned with a sigh. His resting place was abandoned with ease, parameters of the town left behind as Stryker addressed the masses that crowded about, unwelcome intruders that were complicit in this though they lacked hand in imprisonment. They benefited from land not their own, did not care to assist in taking a stand against the man that spun lies with a silver tongue, enough that for Salvia.

Warmth present within damp swamp land, the humidity striped by the colder temperatures that controlled more open areas, the final vestiges of summer fading. It would take only time for such to fade, the first frost arriving with it, for now enjoyed by youth who had known only the heat. Unstable the ground he tread with growing confidence, along aerial roots moving to keep the mud from his paws, not out of a need to keep clean but more the offense of the wet and grainy texture. Within thoughts was he lost as continued his slow walk, tufted tail swinging slowly behind, enjoyed a moment alone before he must return to the rabble Stryker had brought into their midst.

[member=16276]quasar[/member]

Meeting up with the kingpin himself, had been such a delight. The quiet scowl on his face- that rested in his eyes settled firmly in the tiger's maw at the sight, and it were only the presence of the rest of his clan that kept the medicine tiger mostly silent. He had come with the group for selfish reasons. With the snow the medicine- or what that the tiger held in reserve was spoiling quick. Ice wilted even dry plants, and encouraged rot. Even in the buildings of the boardwalk, of his home they grew sour, pungent with the dour scent that left Vaas wanting more.

Still, there was a silent pressure, as they approached the border, and realization dawned the familiarity. Dark jade eyes stared at the border, and eve passing it he felt a quiet presence only start to grow. they were being watched. By the rest of the lion's clan, or the one carefully subjected. Vaas didn't know, didn't care. His mind was lingering on the white fallen coat of the ally.

"What kind of vegetation grow here," Vaas voice was sharp in the silence after the kingpin's words. His tone a droll tinge of annoyance. He doubted the other even knew himself. The striped bangal shuddering as his paws sunk deeper through the bog. The sound of hissing silence, not even the prey of the area was present here, there were too many, not only of his clan or his ally's but something native, something knowing and judging. Vaas felt his sneer growing.

"Though, it'll be interesting to explore, i'm sure there are a few.... key points i can find, hmm?" In any lans there was always a place,a  small private well kept secret of drugs. Vaas was a tiger of habit, and the habit of using what he knew. He may not be the most conventional medic, but ah- well he wasn't going to let that stop him.

Had a chance to learn of the rather uncouth moniker bestowed upon him it may well have caused amusement. Apart set the predator from such herbivores, surface level such contraction, however, beneath timid the child, as flighty as they. Yet such seemed they in days that expanded across hard drawn boundaries, a falsehood even as they were made for digestible understanding, a colony of rabbits pressed into a corner before the gaping maw death framed in the slathered jaws of jackals.

An enigma those that enacted control, purpose for such unknown though preparation continued behind the drawn curtain, another piece on the board those caught in the crossfire. Momentum came to a staggering halt, disturbed balance until, from prior perch, he was forced to step down from. Dense had grown the clustered flora encasing roots nestled among dense soil, hushed as though held a tense breath, all he may hear the crackle his own steps produced. Minimal the leaves that had fallen, withering as their hues changed, needles hidden within, unwelcome and thus rejected the change autumn sought to write against the woodland.

Upwards head moved, the sudden noise an alert he may heed for only a few meagre steps. Advantage the other bore, his own age permitting less difference between them in general size, yet, where soft baby fat still clung to Salvia, prior training allowed muscle to gather beneath multi-hued coat. Cry died as chin struck the ground, harsh the stars that burst into brief life over darkened vision, pressure grinding his chest down into the unyielding earth. Awkward his position, forelegs splayed out though beneath had gathered the back, unrestricted if hindered by the weight pressing down on his back.

Afforded no time to ponder over this development, nor to gauge what exactly may have deemed him suitable for hunting, afixed teeth into soft flesh. Blunt those tips that dug into cheeks, the force used building until he ground out a short and breathless hiss. Clumsy the movement that began a sudden kick out of his back legs, an attempt to dislodge the other by disturbing their balance.

A mentor's job was never done.

Quasar was a good hunter, a damn good one. Refined under the tiger's careful gaze, they pair of them training more under moonlight than the timid day, yet here the presence of other's on the edge of sight, but not outside their true senses. Quasar was a good hunter- yes- but this was unfamiliar territory. It wasn't there's, and Vaas knew that the place was controlled by the kingpin- by their new ally, there was no doubt that it could've all been a trap, no matter how much the leader thought: Vaas would never trust Stryker, not truly.

As a sense of noise exploded behind him, where Quasar went to hunt, Vaas snarled loud. Making haste of the distance where his apprentice could be found between three of the natives. "You fucker's feel strong going against a cub? A trainee?" Vaas' voice grate even to his own senses, aware of the fact that he was outnumbered, outgunned, if the flames that flickered out of the golden winged lion's maw was anything to say about it. "carajo cachorro, lo que una manera de encontrarlos" Vaas looked towards his own apprentice, stepping towards them with the clear intent of separating his apprentice from the pair of warriors. "you real fucking desperate for a win, huh?" Vaas shot out, looking towards the lion " A fight?"

Here, there was a shift in priorities, from defense to offense. The wild medicine cat felt the water that coiled around his wrist suddenly gain weight, size as he pulled from the pool nearby them. His stance was a challenge and he grinned at the other, watching the other and refusing to meet eye- the fucker didn't deserve the right. "Well, let's go, let's get you a fucking fight! huh?" Vaas shouted out, his tail behind him a lashed at the dirt.

Even with the words, the swell of power, Vaas' entire form relaxed. His head was cocked, and a smile despite his words. He enjoyed this, a mockery of a challenge before the other. Rhinestone had picked the lowest of allies, but he was powerful. It meant that Vaas needed to see this place still had a back bone, and it would have to be one hell of a fight if anything were to be done.