false confidence - injured, joining

[GRIMNYTE]

[align=center][div style=" background-color: transparent; border: 0px solid black; width: 540px; min-height: 6px; font-family:times new roman; line-height: 110%; text-align: justify; color:; padding: 20px"]Was it right to feel a sliver of annoyance as he lay witness to his underlings showing the stranger mercy? Mercy. The Pitt. Both things were unlikely to mix well in his mind - at least, they never had mixed well underneath Yes Man, even if the former leader had a sunny disposition at his immediate disposal; it was then that Esklav came to the conclusion that he ought to be harder on them, if he were to drill that mentality into the core of their lifestyle. This behavior was only reserved for anyone but them. Any sensible Pittian - as far as he had observed - would do better leaving such a weak addition to the group on the ground to die for the carrion to eat, or roughly patch them up and use them for slave labor in the near future. Not only did they now have another mouth to feed with their already patchy food supply, but now their herbs were being used as well. And for what?

Someone not even deserving of their glance.

"No. Don't give him herbs - save them. He's not one of us. He's an outsider." the words were blunt, and the leopon's gaze was deadpan as he stared at the figure. "Back away, all of you. He will be taken to camp and bandaged up, but no more; if any one of you seeks to disobey, you'll join the slaves. Take this as a lesson: we are The Pitt, not Sunhaven, or the Ascendants; we are not hospitable, nor are we wasteful." the demiurge would move forward, and aim to pick up Rigel by the scruff so he could drag him back to camp. The dog was heavy, but not too heavy. If his advances were successful, he'd immediately set off without a second glance back.

[Stryker]

[align=center][div style="width: 60%; text-align: justify; font-size: 11pt; font-family: georgia;"]☣ — As Esklav arrived, the male listened with intent. With every word, Stryker’s eyes began to narrow and a low growl began to arise from the back of his throat in frustration. While he knew he should go with his leader’s word, this was not the lion’s first time disobeying and it had only caused him dismay to stay under lock and key, so he impulsively disagreed. With a heavy paw gesturing, he’d aim to shoo Esklav’s face away from Rigel. If he’d resist, the male would push harder. Narrow neon orbs aimed to stare into Esklav’s own with a furious intent. ”Don’t you think it would be easier to gain another guardsman rather than another slave?” he inquired curiously. ”While he is weak, the canine is the only one to survive.” His head craned towards the male’s side, challenging the leader to disagree. ”Ultimately, his brothers could not defend themselves but he managed to fight off whatever evil came upon them.” Even so, he was wounded in the fight.

To see that he was still walking on two feet, even with support, was quite the feat for the stranger. Surely some damage had been done. Stryker could admit that Rigel may have died also with the wounds he inflicted... but he didn’t. Shouldn’t that count as something? ”Truly, he must be strong and the best out of the bunch,” he admitted. ”Don’t we thrive on the survival of the fittest here in the Pitt, sire?” Truthfully, he was mocking him. That was not evident in his tone either, but if he was to be demoted to a worthless slave because of it, then he might change. ”We are a clan of outsiders and this man just wandered on our doorstep hoping to be apart of the freak show-“ Maaaybe he didn’t say that, as he’d been mute this whole time, but the lion was trying to strike a chord. ”His feat of dignity and strength must be worth something.”

[GRIMNYTE]

[align=center][div style=" background-color: transparent; border: 0px solid black; width: 540px; min-height: 6px; font-family:times new roman; line-height: 110%; text-align: justify; color:; padding: 20px"]The insubordination should not come as a surprise to him, and yet, it does; by Stryker, of all members, someone who he had specifically entrusted into a position of worth. And he repays it with this. As soon as the male spotted the movement in the corner of his eye, he would set his fur alight, the prickling energy of the electricity lining his pelt aiming to zap Stryker in warning. Don't come further, it said. Nonetheless, the action did much to set a boiling in Esklav's belly, especially after being touched so carelessly (even if he could not feel the pressure, his own weight being shifted underneath the will of another was jaunting). His head was rotated slightly to the side, and even if he did not react other than the casual slip-on of his powers, it remained that way for but a moment before he fixed it. He remembered her, shoving him into corridors, slapping him when he displeased her. If he looked back, his growing irrationality would give him the picture of her, too, instead of Stryker.

But he looked back anyway, unfazed. He was made to do the bad things, the things his Father would rather not do, and he was perfectly alright with it. If he was to kill someone, he would do it without a shred of hesitance. He was the perfect machine. He took... pride in it.

"Tell me, Stryker ― for the safety of this one dog, you would risk an empty belly? Or, perhaps the next time you pull a pathetic takeover such as your last one, and your wounds grow from the scrawny little Snowbounders clawing at you in retaliation, you would much rather chance infection because the last herb was wasted on someone who might not even last long in the desert?" his tone was even, and his figure remained as perfectly still as ever - even if the dreadfully mundane parts in him would so like to throw the slaver to Blacktide and watch him get eaten alive. A small slip in his drinking water, and a child would be born in that fat gut of his ... "My word is final. I'll have none of your whining, and if you seek to touch me again there will be worse consequences than a mere tap on the shoulder. Is that clear, Stryker?"

[; albion]

[table]
[tr]
[td]

[/td][td]

[/td][td]

[/td]
[/tr][/table]

BENNY G.

benny was more than happy to follow cosette, his first few steps hurried before trying to calm himself and walk more... naturally. his mind was away from rigel, now. as his eyes met with the serval's body, the desert in front of them wavering and just... her. if anyone were to see him, a flicker of passion in his eyes passed before they returned to a neutral stare.

he stopped when seeing esklav approach from a bit far off, and put a paw to cosette's shoulder to get her attention before turning his head to follow the leopons direction. he could hear esklav clearly from where they were, his leveled tone and voice crystal. the marbled fox winced slightly seeing the sparks line his pelt and go after stryker. well, looked like the poor guy was gonna be alone tonight without care, as he originally stated. buzzardfood. no use in stopping their journey now, though; and he would much rather leave after the scathing insult about snowbound... awkward.

"we can... still get water. for everyone." benny suggested, looking down to meet cosette's gaze. "if you want, I mean. don't gotta be stuck with me."

© LEXASPERATED

[Stryker]

[align=center][div style="width: 60%; text-align: justify; font-size: 11pt; font-family: georgia;"]☣ — Electricity swarmed through his body, his spine twisting and turning as he jolted. Fur stood on it's end as he took the hit willingly from his leader, knowing that this was going to only be the start of his punishment. Gritting yellow teeth, the lion let out a harsh growl. The effects were quick to ware off from such a light jolt, but even so, the 'entrusted' Slaver did not believe that he learned his lesson. He was soon to arise from the distasteful. An expression of displeasure ran through his face as a shaky, mischievous smirk grew upon his maw.

'I thought we were thriving, not picking up the last scraps of our enemies. We should be rolling in supplies and we are,' he wanted to answer back proactively. 'There are plenty more to go around.' Yet he knew the situation was hypothetical. Stryker would like to think that'd he give up his life, but truthfully he knew the extent of his kindness and he would never proceed to do so, even to someone related to him. This was not the situation though. Someone who could become one of their greatest warrior's lied before them, being denied the chance to join their ranks. All because of this fool. Yes Man might of been a brute, but he gave everyone an equal chance, including him. Nevertheless, cheat once then always a traitor.

"If you say so," he cooed slyly.

And that was the end of it.

[darci]

[div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 60%; font-family: georgia; font-size: 13pt; text-align: justify;"]There were so many fucking voices and people moving around. He closed his eyes and grimaced, beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed. The feeling of Valkyr putting something in his mouth made him tense up, but was quick to recognize the taste of the herb. His pack knew basic herbs (such as the one he was given) and he had been treated with them many times. Rigel found the urge to clamp his jaws down, but he did not want to do harm to those who had intentions of helping him. The feeling of Esklav's teeth meeting the back of his scruff sent of jolt of energy through him and he twisted his body, lips drawn back to reveal his teeth. The action was foreign to him as he had never been carried by the scruff of his neck, even as a pup. Given he only met his mother twice and his father was nonexistent was a just reason for that being so.

Rigel failed to put up most of the words exchanged for they simply bounced around in his head like an echo. His green eyes shifted up, half excepting his brother to come bounding to his recuse. Fear gripped his stomach. His brother. He was certain the other survived. His pack, on the other hand, the one he had been given after his former mentor and leader sacrificed himself to by time for Rigel and his crew to escape. He bit down, blood welling up from his tongue.

[guts]

The touch to her shoulder catches her off guard, enough to make her flinch. She wasn't used to being touched in ways that weren't violent, and when she finally realizes that he wasn't going to lash out at her, she turns her head and looks back to see what was going on. Cosette frowned at Esklav's words, frustration seeping into her body, but she didn't show it or give voice to it. Instead she softly shook her head with a quiet sigh. She could somewhat understand what point he was trying to make, but it still irritated her that he was refusing to help when the male obviously needed it. Hopefully he would somehow make it.

Luckily her attention was diverted before her good mood got too spoiled, a soft smile forming on her face at his offer to still go and get some water. She wasn't certain why, but she liked spending time with Benny, whether it be with other people around or just the two of them. "Yeah, s-sure." she agrees, suddenly nervous and feeling those all too familiar butterflies. Maybe she was getting sick. Nevertheless, she'd continue her trek away from the scene, grateful the fox couldn't see the goofy smile on her face.

[glow=black,2,300]— ✘ —[/glow]