Snake Pit {Xeta}

[Stardust]

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All the small forms of life had already fled the area. As in many things, the little creatures had been wiser than most to listen to their thoughtless instincts; though to be fair, not much usually thrived at these altitudes. Now it was silent, more still than the bustling wolves of woods and fields could imagine, the only movement flurries of light snow gusted by the wind.

Ineluki had sought out this spot for that reason.

Just above the tree line, there was very little in the way of creature comforts. Sparse tufts of yellowed grass cropped up here and there when they found purchase and soil between the rocks, but otherwise, all was stone. Fall was still closing to its gray end, but up here there was always some snow on the ground, thin though it might be.

The tall, lanky male blended in well with these colors. As he loped steadily along, shoulder blades rolling and swinging like scythes, he often seemed a puzzle piece that had simply detached itself from this world of white on black, stark and cold.

Ineluki paused, surveying the view from the trail up to his mountain haunt. His sight was turned towards the Order lands, which he could see clearly, abutting the mountain range that he mentally labeled "his." He didn't mind. Save the leaders, they were mindless ants, of course, toiling away below for a cause half of them didn't even understand, but at least they valued power.

And he had decided to play a power game. That was the errand he was returning from; all along the winding hill trail, from the rich, dense forests below to the icy desolation above, he had left signs for curious wolves. He had scent-marked, to begin with, right at the border, just to ensure he got someone's notice. The viper was arrogant, that was certain. As he got further up, he had switched, leaving a few guard hairs tangled in the brambles--some white, some black. Occasionally he marked a tree again, leaving behind his pungent, stinging, compelling odor.

Turning away from the view, he faced his den. He had set up a humble abode for himself in the Revolt areas, of course, intending to rely on their protection for an easy life as long as they lasted, but he doubted even they would take kindly to his more private habits. And he did not like to be interrupted.

The den itself gaped in the slope of the mountain, a pitch black hole worming its way below the peak that stood above. A streak was already forming on the stone floor at its entrance where he dragged in his kills--for food and for play--no fresh blood, but a sickly stain of rusty orange brown.

Ineluki Stormking entered his lair, and waited, silent, calm and eager in the cold.

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[atrb=background,http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/fireb4ashes/Xeta--MIDDLE.png] It was cold, slightly foggy and there was a slight breeze in the air. Xeta wasn't quite sure why she was so far out of her territory, away from the pack who had posed as her comfort. Granted she hardly knew any of the wolves, it was still soothing to her to have other wolves around. It had been rough to join and she was scared even more than previously. The Order's mark was on her chest just like all the others. However it was hardly noticeable, blending in with the many other scars that covered her entire body. Clear evidence of her extreme masochism though it hardly made her any less attractive. The scars were lightly colored and her rusty red coat covered them well enough. Only if you got close enough could you see the marks of her past. There was one thing you would notice though, there was only one scar upon her pretty face. One scar from a very evil creature. Zero had claimed her, a high ranking wolf in The Order and yet Xeta hadn't talked to him since that day. He had promised her things, things that made her happy and lose the fear that she always carried with her. Yet not a single one of those promises came through. Her face, her prized possession, had been marked and now in her minds eyes she was no longer pretty. Now the small, lanky female was on a very large mountain where the temperature was getting much lower. Her thin coat was doing very little to keep her warm and yet she continued on. A certain scent had caught her attention and had started up a certain craving for attention and affection. There was a male around here somewhere, and by the smell of it he was quite cocky. There were markings nearly everywhere and as Xeta got closer she found a few hairs. Her soft amber eyes were narrowed just slightly as a cold wind washed passed her. It made her eyes water and her small body shiver but she was desperate. She had met Crouse, a funny character who had been nice company but that wasn't enough. Xeta was craving pain, the feel of blood pouring from her body. A shiver shot through her but this wasn't from the cold. Her jaws clenched slightly and she let out a soft breath. "Just a little further Xeta." She whispered to herself. By the time she actually came upon the den site Xeta felt numb, the cold had gotten to her and she was trembling but she didn't notice it. Her eyes were trained on the dark hole of the den, the scent here was strong and it was making Xeta's mouth water. She slowed her pace slightly but still continued forward. Her small, delicate paws pressed into the thin layer of snow. She could see the blood stain at the entrance and paused where she was, just a yard or so from the den now. She narrowed her eyes again as a harsh wind blew by again. She sniffed at the air just slightly and let out a slow breath. She couldn't quite see into the den and wasn't sure if he was even in there. Her spirits seemed to fall as she sighed and turned around. Her tail tucked tightly against her stomach now as she began to walk back the way she came. Her ears fell back against her head and she shook it lightly. "Should have known." She whispered in a very disappointed tone. Word Count:602

[Stardust]

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Ineluki's patience was, seemingly, infinite. His last meal kept him full for a while, dissipating warmth throughout his limbs, but the thick layer of fur over his lean form was hardly enough to keep him as insulated as most of his northern kin. Nevertheless, he remained still, crouched on his belly, head resting on his paws, eyes trained forward, chest hardly moving as he breathed.

He could feel the cold, of course. But he believed it could not harm him, so he didn't mind it.

He had grown hungry again by the time the faint noises of a creature moving caused his ears to prick up with interest. That was one of the benefits of frightening off the little forest animals--he knew that anything he heard moving near his den was another wolf, and he could hear it clearly.
And he rather enjoyed a bit of hunger. He found it added an edge to his interactions.

He slipped silently from the cave mouth like a black tongue, standing still in the entrance to observe his guest.

His face remained impassive, but he was pleased. Her small, brightly colored body, shivering so delicately in the harsh wind. Her tail tucked up neatly beneath her rump. He thought he spotted a few faint, mostly healed scars on her body, beneath the short fur, so perhaps not a complete naïf. But fragile. He could see that fragility in every line of her body, her stance, limned even in her dainty red hind legs, and it was delicious to him.

"Should have known," he heard her murmur to herself, clearly dejected.

"Why, yes, I suppose you should have." His voice was honeyed ice, sweet, cold, smooth, biting, deeply strange. He remained standing in the entrance of the den, body mostly hidden in shadows, white chest and face floating in the darkness, eerily disconnected.

"You're a long way from home, pretty thing. Did you just follow a whim up here?"

Now he smiled, slowly, the expression gliding across his teeth, like an oil slick, like blood. Taking rolling, loping steps, he eased his way out of the cave mouth, circling slightly to one side of the femme but still remaining behind her. His long legs moved with surprising grace over the rocky landscape, paws planting with certainty, though he carried his head low between his shoulder blades, even with his torso. When he walked that way, though, it didn't look submissive. Even though he wasn't strutting with his head and tail waving high in the air, he looked distinctly cocky.

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[atrb=background,http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/fireb4ashes/Xeta--MIDDLE.png] A slight tingle shot through Xeta's body as she was walking away. It was as though someone had been watching her, digging into her very soul. She was tempted to look back again but instead clenched her teeth and continued on. This was not the place to be wasting time. It was cold and her body was slowly losing its heat. She had very little body fat to begin with and with the harsh wind and the high altitude she found herself getting more and more frozen as time went on. Her small paws pressed into the light layer of snow just slightly as she walked away. Tail tucked firmly to her stomach as her head lowered between her shoulders. Her ears were tilted backward as another harsh wind swept passed her. A rough shiver ran through her entire body and she let out a soft whimper. Perhaps this had been a bad idea after all. She quietly cursed herself for being so desperate for some affection. It was then that a cold voice slipped out and wrapped around her very brain. Something clicked in her and her body froze, breathing getting deep as her heart rate picked up. So there had been someone up here, well this would be a lovely day after all. She didn't turn around just yet, just let a small smile slip over her lips. Suddenly she couldn't feel the cold around her, her mind zoned in on the male who she could hear walking toward her now. It made her skin crawl just thinking about the things that she could persuade him to do. Finally she had found someone who wanted her and it made her smile grow. Of course she didn't know that this little quirk she had was in fact quit twisted. She was stuck in her own world and seemed completely innocent and naive. Though many had called her a whore, she wasn't sure what it meant and didn't let it get to her. She was simply looking for attention, something to keep her sane. He spoke again and even threw in a compliment which made Xeta giggle quietly. Her tail slowly left her stomach and moved to hang limp between her hind legs. Her head lifted just slightly and she felt the warmth of his body next to hers. Though he was still behind her slightly she knew he was close and this got her more excited. She shrugged her slim shoulders and turned her head to look at his face finally. He was handsome, an odd coloring but she adored it. She could feel the cocky aura around him but that didn't bother her at all. It would be easier to get attention from him as he was now. Her ears lifted just slightly and soft amber eyes narrowed just slightly as she took a step closer to him. "Just looking for some good conversation I suppose. You really aren't subtle about being up here you know." She said. Her voice was smooth, soft and sensual. Like a beautiful tune that was sure to sooth the ears of any wolf. Her tail gave a soft wag and she gave him a polite smile. "What is such a handsome wolf doing all the way up here alone?" She questioned. She held her ground for the time being, just wanting to see how this wolf reacted to her. She would figure out the next step once she had tested the waters for a bit. Word Count:591

[Stardust]

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The coppery female froze in her tracks at the sound of his voice, a rabbit stunned just before the downward bolt of the hawk, or so he thought. As he came closer, though, he noticed a certain interesting mix of odors coming from her. Mingling with and chasing away that fear and crushing disappointment were the scents of...eagerness, excitement, did he even detect...arousal?
Well well well.
The combination of fright, fragility and excited hope was the most delicious perfume to his nose. It smelled like salty flesh, like overripe plums, like frost on crushed and powdered leaves. He breathed in deeply, not bothering to hide the gesture, and released the subtlest, lowest, softest of pleased growls, without ever opening his mouth.

He saw the fae begin to uncurl slightly, her tail hanging limp between her legs. She shrugged, as if to shake off some lingering feeling, and turned to look back at him with eyes that seemed to belie the traces of an experienced nature he'd been perceiving--soft, warm amber, they reminded him of a fawn or a doe. Ineluki moved closer, very slowly tracing the beginnings of a circle around her, keeping his pale eyes locked with her bright ones. Her ears lifted after seeing his face--he wondered if it was his striking looks, or the faint promise of cruelty that only the perceptive or twisted could pick out.

"Just looking for some good conversation I suppose. You really aren't subtle about being up here you know."

He chuckled, a sound nearly as deep and subtle as his earlier growl.

"No, not at all. I find it illuminating to encounter the kind of wolves who would follow my trail." He left the interpretation open as to whether he thought those wolves were brave or foolish, but a grin still graced his features. Their voices were both harmonized and at odds--both were smooth and silky, but his bore that icy undercurrent, and hers flowed out quite welcomingly, inviting, appealing, appeasing.

She wagged her tail briefly and flashed him a charming smile, almost demure save for its boldness.

"What is such a handsome wolf doing all the way up here alone?"

"Just looking for some good company, I suppose," he quipped, echoing her earlier words. He toyed for a moment with his thoughts, wondering if it would be too soon to begin picking at her insecurities, questioning her sense of self-worth. As he did so, his eyes gleamed even colder, if possible, the color looking like dead fish bellies, silvery scales.

He decided it was too soon. The hints he thought he had seen in her actions were fairly strong, but it wouldn't do to frighten her off, or to play all his cards at once. Ineluki loved the game, perhaps above all.

"It seems I've found it, if you care to stay a while, and if my conversation is up to par," he said smoothly instead.

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[atrb=background,http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/fireb4ashes/Xeta--MIDDLE.png] Xeta's smile grew as she heard the male take in a deep breath and let it out in a soft growl. She knew she had a special scent, sweet with innocence but with a tang of her twisted side. She had been complimented many times on it and had learned to use it to her advantage. Her tail continued to wag softly as she watched the male now. He had a certain dangerous look about him but that only made Xeta tingle with excitement. It was wolves like this that always gave her the most pleasure. Creatures like Zero, though he turned out to be a dud. She growled lowly at the thought of that vile male but had to calm herself. She had a new partner now and that was all that she had to worry about. Her soft eyes never left his own pale ones, her body staying in place as she took in his thick scent. He seemed interested in her which was always a good first sign. Her tail continued to wag as he moved around in a slow circle, her ears perked up happily. He chuckled and spoke again, causing her to shiver and smile back at him. "Then I suppose we can keep each other company." She purred and tilted her head to the side with another light smile on her lips. "If you'll have me I'd be glad to stick around for a while." She said and shifted her weight slightly. She was tempted to get a little closer and start working her magic. She wanted something soon, her body was craving it. She wanted the affection and physical contact that she had been deprived of for so long. She took a small step forward to him and dipped her head softly to him. "My name is Xeta by the way. It is a pleasure to have found you sir." She said and gazed at him with soft, big eyes. She was like a pup, begging for attention from her mother. Her body was relaxed and her ears were perked high on her head. Her breathing was even though her heart rate had sped up quite a bit by now. His scent was intoxicating and she found herself trying to move closer to his large body. Word Count:386

[Stardust]

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Ineluki sidled slightly closer, and could feel her pulse, very, very faintly, a tremble of warmth and heat in the chill air. A cool thrill responded within him, deep within the silky fur, somewhere near the heart that never seemed to beat.

The easy, sensuous pattern of the moment was briefly broken when the fiery female let out a low growl. It was very faint, and from the distant look in her eyes, he suspected it was a response to some thought or memory wandering through her head, not to him. Nevertheless, he took the opportunity to react, and push the bill just slightly.

On oddly dancing feet, he briskly covered the remaining space between them, standing immediately in front of her, with his neck arching high so that his head was above hers and looking down, almost nose to nose. He arched his eyebrows elegantly, and his nearly black tongue snaked out of his mouth to lick his chops, baring a quick flash of teeth before snapping shut again.

"What was that, dearie?" he queried, a stronger element of menace in his ice-crackling voice, though still richly tinted with droll amusement. To his pleasure, she resumed wagging her tail, as pliant as he could have wished.

"If you'll have me I'd be glad to stick around for a while," she purred, a grinning little minx. He could make that grin bigger. He could make it turn into a howl of pain. He could do both at the same time. The future was full of possibility. His easy smirk returned, twitching up the line of white that surrounded his muzzle.

"My name is Xeta by the way. It is a pleasure to have found you sir." With a gentle, almost subconscious motion, like the turning of a flower towards the sun, she leaned even closer to him. If Ineluki had been a wolf of less restraint, he would have been openly salivating. As it was his black nose twitched again, taking in more of that scent, while his body remained quite motionless.

He stepped back and to the side slightly, no longer towering over her, but still quite close. Easing himself along in a slow glide, he moved up alongside her, flank-to-flank, brushing over the creamy fur of her neck with his muzzle as he passed. When he was nearly past her, their tails just touching, he stopped and looked back.

"Ineluki Stormking, Xeta. But where are my manners?" His grin broadened, as if this was the greatest joke he had told in a while. "It's cold outside, you've come along way, and I've kept you talking when my domicile is waiting right here."

With that, he trotted back to the smooth, stained entrance of his cave, reaching the tenebrous opening just as the first few flakes of a light snow flurry began falling. He stood for a while, looking back at Xeta with an expression that very clearly said "Are you coming?" Then he slithered into the darkness to resume what he hoped would be a much shorter wait.

His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, glowing slightly. The space he stood in was more of an entrance hall than the den proper--several side tunnels led to smaller, more private rooms. The interior of this space was decorated only with the bones of his kills, picked meticulously clean. A few rib cages lined the walls, gleaming bright, stark white against the black basalt rock, a deer skull rested near the entrance, and numerous small bones of uncertain origin were clustered towards the back. The Stormking turned to face forwards in his bone vault.

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[atrb=background,http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/fireb4ashes/Xeta--MIDDLE.png] =[ I have no Xeta muse any more! I am killing her off actually. I am so sorry! PM me so we can plot again though!!