graphic gore ★ genderfluid ★ white coyote

“What is a foreign child doing in my desert?” the coyote asks, tilting vis head until the vertebrae pop! all the way down from vis neck to vis shoulders, loud enough for the child to hear.

Ve blinks. Three red eye, out of sync with each other, analyze the child. Lucinder smells like Tanglwoods—which is the singular reason why Vale hasn’t tried eating him yet—but is far too young to make the journey with his family’s blessing. Unless his family was all kinds of fucked up, Vale supposed with a half-grin.

Reaching a paw up to vis face, Vale scratches at the flesh like any normal creature itches. But white fur and black sludge comes away, sticking to vis claws and between the toes, even as Vale keeps scratching, scratching, scratching.

When Vale returns the paw to the sands, half of vis face is a grinning skull.

graphic gore ★ genderfluid ★ half-bonefaced coyote

Vale’s right eye widened in exasperation, and ve rolled a paw. “Riiiiiiight. With what, exactly?”

graphic gore ★ genderfluid ★ half-bonefaced coyote

“Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight,” Vale repeats, drawing out the vowel. The coyote doesn’t bother disguising the confusion flashing over vis muzzle. “Kid, I don’t give a shit? Like, seriously, this nightmare for you is beneficial for me. So? Like? Buzz off? Before I change my mind and eat you.”

As he lurked nearby, the lion's maw merely curled up into a smirk. A foreigner. Someone who thought they had all the sway in the world within The Pitt to... convince them to drop their takeover? While he had rarely interacted with Brymstone, he held no disdain for the male. Instead, he praised their courage. The horseman held no pity for those who decided to succumb to such power and plead for their lives so shamefully like this child on their border. Aegon was impressed. The mortal realm once again proved to be selfishly indulgent and thought they had every right to the power of nature before them. Pitiful.

The new Pittian emerged from the shadows. He sauntered forward uncaringly, only to brush past Vale's figure with no warning. "And WHAT- As a forceful grunt left him, his paw attempted to slam down onto Lucinder's nape. If successful, the Tanglewood member would topple to the ground under his weight and be held there as he talked. Their widepipe would be pressed down upon. Whether or not his attack struck, the large feline continued to speak. "-makes you think we have any concern for that, darling?"

Claws flexed onto whatever laid underneath him. Weary, dark eyes stared down at Lucinder, awaiting their pleading answer and foolish reason. Whatever leverage they appeared to have seemed nonexistent. Needless to say, Death was beginning to get hungry and if they didn't whip up something soon, he would surely strike.

The age old insult. Quite literally, in fact. Aegon lightly let out a chuckle as the child mentioned his age and large stance that provided a clear advantage. A subtle, devious grin met his lips. If only they knew. Death was a punishment for a reason and if Lucinder wanted to continue on this blessed Earth, then he would remain complicit. The lion knew what burden he held over others. This situation was no different. Except... he didn't want anything. Aegon was merely supporting those around him and promoting his agenda. He chose to skip the question willfully.

His paw attempted to push further on the other's neck. Applying presumably enough pressure to potentially choke the other, the horseman lowered his head downwards and tried to lock eyes with Lucinder's. "You fear us," he echoed back. "Our group took ahold of your group." A gust of hot breath maneuvered down towards the other as he grew face to face. "You, mortal, are quite the fool." Imagine asking the animals who took over rightfully to rescind their hold and attack their own kind. The logic was pitiful. Needless to say, Aegon's disappointment in the living had grown, despite his fascination for their ways.

He let out a huff. "Now, you can either succumb as a captive here, rot on pike on the border, or go back to Tanglewood with your tail tucked between your legs," came his threatening growl. Maybe this time they would make the wise choice. If not, the lion would most definitely make a move that even Vale would find wickedly vile.