Island of Legend (Open)

[Aylenni]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/30w71ae.jpg] A lonely raven soared above the island against the brisk north wind. The raven avoided the peaks of the Moonlit Mountains and the sinister mists of the Willow Swamp, venturing instead toward the beach, in hope of a last winter fish or two. The black sand was smooth and undisturbed from a distance, with only the largest boulders causing ripples in the flatness. As the raven flew closer, however, a tiny dark spot appeared on the shore. It lay, motionless, on the ebony grit. The raven, curious and in hope of an easy meal, landed on the beach a few yards away. The brown lump on the ground was a wolf, and it looked dead. The raven hopped closer. The wolf was in a bad way. Her wet fur stuck together in muddy, sandy, bloody lumps. Blood trickled from a long slash across her muzzle, and several other cuts and scrapes across her body. It looked like she’d cracked or broken some ribs, too. The raven hopped even closer, now just mere inches away. For a moment, the cold winter air was still. Then, the eyes snapped open. They were bright olive-green, and seemed to burn with a fierce, determined light. The raven took to the skies, fearing for his life now that the wolfess was awake. He did not stay long enough to see the green eyes glass over, the brightness dimming. The wolf drifted in and out of consciousness. At times it seemed she was awake, and at times she dreamed, lost in delirious memories. She wandered through them now, reliving old days. ”Kayden” said her mother, smiling down at her only surviving pup. ”A fighter’s name. You are a fighter, my Kayden. You fought for life, and you have won.” The wolf whined as her mother faded away. A new wolf swam into focus, and she growled. ”Kayden,” sneered her father. ”A male’s name. You’re not worthy to bear it- it should have gone to my son, not some weak female.” The wolfess grinned as he faded away. But all too soon, yet another wolf came into focus. ”Kayden,” snarled Nelaros. ”A mate’s name. Stop this foolishness and submit to me, or you will writhe in the dirt at my feet.” The female felt cold. She remembered the fight between her and Nelaros. She remembered standing over his broken body, chest heaving, adrenaline setting her veins ablaze, watching the life flow out of him, watching the light leave his eyes. She remembered walking away, unfazed by his death but nearing the end of life herself. She remembered a vast expanse of water before her, remembered the awe she had felt at knowing there was so much water in the world. She had leapt, ecstatic at her discovery, into the foam and filled her belly with the cold, salty water. She had been sick after that, and was sick still. The fever-chills racked her body, and she lacked the knowledge to fix herself. When she stumbled across the channel, it seemed to her that she heard her mother’s howl from the island, and she had swum across. But the salt water opened her freshly closed wounds and she bled into the sea. She fell into unconsciousness twice, waking only when her head dipped below the frigid waves, her new cut stinging excruciatingly. She hadn’t cared much that the shoreline was an ominous shade of black, or that there were wolf tracks near the rocks some yards past the waterline. She had dragged herself out of the icy sea and onto the sand. There her strength left her, and she collapsed onto the ground. A cold wind ruffled her fur, but it didn’t blow into her face. It was the wind that woke her this time. The wolfess didn’t bother getting up. She didn’t even bother to look around. What was the point? She knew she was dying. It was only a matter of time now. She looked up at the overcast sky. At least she was free. Free of her father, free of Nelaros. Free to do as she wanted at last. Shame I won’t be around to enjoy it, she thought dryly. She sighed and closed her eyes. There was nothing she could do now but wait. Or was there? In her mind’s eye, the female saw the prints on the beach. Were they fresh? She couldn’t remember. If they were, though, she might have a chance at life. Hope surged through her, filling her depleted limbs with energy. It wasn’t much, but it was enough, for now. She opened her eyes again. The light was weak, but it was there. Awareness flooded her senses. She saw the black sand stretching out in front of her, saw the dark waters she had conquered. The sky seemed less bleak now, and the cold air battered her less cruelly than before. Summoning up every ounce of strength she possessed, Kayden howled, a desperate cry for help.

[virus !]

It had been a good while since I had walked the beaches of Traum. Most of my days had been spent in the more arid regions of the island, though the deserts had fallen prey to moisture and growth. No longer were the riches of the desert available to me, but I supposed I would make do with what I could. It was interesting how many people thought horribly of deserts, and I would never understand it. Cacti and large mesas, caves and caverns and the assortment of plant life that thrived in the hot winds had always fascinated me. The heat didn't have any bother to my body, though the fact that I was a jackal was probably a good indication as to why.

The sands felt odd beneath my feet; it was black and powdery, mimicking the cool darkness of the sea ripping at the shoreline. The waves seemed lethal, fatally beautiful. The faint scent of old blood was a commonality here, washed up on the rocks and filtered through the grains of sand. But of course, it was faint, and the strong, over powering smell of the ocean was much more prominent. As I swept my eyes over the shoreline, staying a good distance from the waves, I saw a brown lump of something washed over to my left. Curiously, I walked over to it. It looked dead, but perhaps I could extract some teeth..

But as I padded over, I saw the cucumber colored eyes and one brow went up with slight surprise. What was not surprising was the matted fur, the blood leaking out through numerous wounds, the dead look to her body. I bent down to her ear so she could hear me over the crashing waves; I had no idea if she wanted to lay here and die, or if she wanted safety. Should she want to remain here, I would leave her. But with a spark of curiosity and inspiration, I knew I could fix her if she was willing. It would be a challenge, yes, but it would be similar to an artist taking on a challenging painting.

"Would you like me to leave you here, or take you with me? I can fix you, if you'd want me to." I said to her. I raised my head back up to watch her eyes, to see any sort of answer.

[Aylenni]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/30w71ae.jpg] Kayden gasped with pain. She wasn’t dead, but she was beginning to wish she was. No one had come. It had been half an hour at least, and it had felt like much more. At first, Kayden had focused on the other things she felt, to block out the pain. But slowly every sensation was numbed by cold and agony, and there was nothing left but the awful hurt. Kayden fought every moment of it, trying and failing to force her body to behave. She grasped rational thought with a death-grip, refusing to let go. She knew she was in bad shape, but how bad was she? The scars on her side and back paw throbbed, but they didn’t feel wet or open. The biggest raw wound was across her muzzle. Half of it dipped into the sand, and she knew it could hurt to clean. She had felt that kind of pain before. The likelihood was that she would carry this newest cut to the end of her days. That taken care of, Kayden felt for more pain. Her sides ached- were her ribs cracked? She knew her tail had a break, and she could feel numerous scrapes and cuts covering her belly. Was that all? So hard was she searching herself for further injury that she forgot to keep an eye out for help. So she started when a soft female voice spoke in her ear. ”Would you like me to leave you here, or take you with me? I can fix you, if you’d want me to.” Kayden nearly wept with relief. “Please,” she rasped. She coughed, blood trickling out of her mouth. “Don’t… don’t want to die. Not—not yet,” she pleaded. She stared into the female’s eyes. She was a jackal, pure black with dark blue eyes. Kayden appealed to those blue eyes. She knew that this female, whoever she was, held Kayden’s life in her paws. ”Came from across the sea. Drank the water.” Kayden coughed again, and winced with the pain it brought. ”Didn’t—didn’t know it would make me sick. Not used to water, where I come from. Desert. Water was scarce- went without often. Got… got excited when I saw the sea. Where… where am I?” She coughed yet again. Kayden took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to keep from whimpering like some weak pup. ”Can’t move,” she told the female. ”Not easily, at least.” She closed her eyes for a brief moment, and then forced them back open again. It was so hard, so very hard. She could fade away into sleep, and pass out of the world so painlessly. No, she thought angrily. She could not die. Not yet.

[xFenris.Fenrirx]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=000000] There was a stink on the air. It grew more and more toxic the closer the dark beast drew to it. The smell of salt was tainted heavily with the scent of wolves and blood. Females on the ashened shores of Traum. Rarely ever did the hated creature move to where the water met the black sands but this new smell was drawing him in. Curiouser and curiouser... he thought as a smirk twisted its way across his tattered and tainted maw. Normally, he spent his time in the woods deep in the shadows away from the light that blinded his eyes. Everyone can be curious from time to time. As the scent trail grew thicker and thicker, his onyx talons dug into the earth beneath him. The texture was odd feeling under him. A slight grumble rumbled through his vocals but it was still barely audible to those that could potentially be around. It was interesting indeed. Though there were no trees to give him the shadows he called home the blackened sand he blended into almost making him invisible to those that were not purposefully searching for him. Two lone femmes stuck out on the beach. One was as black as him the other looked as those she was about to die. The one that was damaged held an unfamiliar scent to him. She had not been on Traum for a long period of time. No, this was the first time she had set a paw on these shores. Pity she was already dying. The young fool must have drank the sea water. Then there was that alluring scent of blood that she was giving off. How interesting... He now wondered where she had come from. At the same time he did not care enough to go bounding up to them like some foolish whelp and ask. No, he was not like that. He was cold and many knew him as the emotionless killer that stalked that lands that he roamed. Many had fallen before him. As he drew closer, his pace slowed. He heard the new comer speak and he almost burst out laughing but held his tongue. His eyes had a glaze over them. Emotionless. Could not be read. Just the way that he liked it. "Is quite entertaining to hear a femme begging for her life to a complete stranger," he broke the silence as his crimson orbs watched them both. His eyes studied the open wound she had. Tempting. Very tempting. "You never know what kind of boogy-men walk these shores... Or..." he paused for a moment and drew in a breath. "The ones that linger in the forests are much more dangerous. But it seems my curiosity has brought me out of my dear shadows. Now then... What makes you think you are something so special to be saved?" he questioned rolling his shoulders back. Time would tell whether he would help or not. He had been a loner for so many years he knew different tricks of the trade to help in such manners. Though he had never willingly gave his services out to other wolves. After all... He found the breed disgusting.

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[virus !]

It had never actually occurred to me that another might have come up within this time. I do not know why it had escaped my mentality, but for the time being, I was blissful to that aspect. The brown wolf before me writhed and struggled to breath, sharp raking breaths slicing through her lungs with each attempt to cling desperately on to life. I put a paw on her shoulder, gently as not to hurt her any more but to firmly to deliver the message across. "Stay still," I said calmly. Unlike her, I was not panicking. It would be a strange feeling if I had ever panicked.

I looked back at the green grasses farther along the shore, then out to a small tide pool that was surely filled with crustaceans and mollusks. I had plenty of herbs and medicines back where my den was, but that was a good ten miles away. I wouldn't be able to carry a grown wolf on my back all that way; I was very small. Jackals were only three quarters the size of a full grown female wolf.

She gasped and pleaded with me and I turned my head back down to look at her. She had drank the sea water, something I wouldn't understand that would cause this much pain within her. All it held was salt and prokaryotes. Nothing that would fill her intestines with cyanide or cause her to bleed. "Ocean water cannot cut a gash in your face," I said as I began to nurse her wounds. The gauzey plant matter I had wrapped around my back paws came off in an easy roll, and I managed to patch up her sides and her legs. I nosed her rib cage, feeling a discrepancy in the bone structure. Broken.

A voice came from behind me, and for a moment I actually was startled. But as I saw the black fur and the red eyes, my body relaxed. I did not know this man. I did not know what he wanted.

"The ones that linger in the forests are much more dangerous. But it seems my curiosity has brought me out of my dear shadows. Now then... What makes you think you are something so special to be saved?"

I looked back down at the girl. No, he would not convince me otherwise to abandon her here on the beach, but I wondered why he honestly cared. Though, I do suppose myself asking that question would be hypocritical. I said with a slight humor to myself.

"It is not a matter of how special someone is, but the fact that I am an herbalist. She is practice, and nothing more. I serve the Order full heartedly, and she is of pure blood. I see no harm in enhancing my skills on her." I did not bother asking why he was here. If he wanted to kill her, he would have already. I saw a familiar purple flower in the glade area not twenty feet away, and I strode away from the brown female. I was not worried about the stranger harming her or killing her; I already knew that he would not.

[Aylenni]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/30w71ae.jpg] The jackal commanded Kayden to stay still, putting a commanding paw on her brown shoulder. Kayden obeyed as best she could. The jackal commented dryly on her condition as she worked, wrapping some kind of seaweed or something around Kayden’s bleeding wounds. ”Ocean water cannot cut a gash in your face.”

[/i]

Kayden spluttered a laugh, not understanding herself why the simple statement was so funny. ”No,” she said through chortles, ”But nasty, depraved, lecherous males who died for trying to put a paw on me against my will sure can.” Still chuckling, Kayden smiled, the sides of her face aching slightly from disuse. The jackal nosed her ribs gently, and the Arabian wolf stiffened faintly. The laughter died in her throat as a new voice sounded.

” Is quite entertaining to hear a femme begging for her life to a complete stranger. You never know what kind of bogey-men walk these shores... Or... The ones that linger in the forests are much more dangerous. But it seems my curiosity has brought me out of my dear shadows. Now then... What makes you think you are something so special to be saved?”

Kayden soured at his tone. She didn’t like males at the best of times, and ones with voices smarmy and arrogant as this one didn’t count as “the best of times”. She thought about telling him to piss off, and even opened her mouth to utter the words, but thought better of it. She didn’t want her healer taking offense. ”When the alternative is me dying helpless on a beach, I’d rather ask a friend for my life,” she said testily, raising her head enough to fix the black stranger in one cool olive eye. ”And wolves who’ve spent their lives in the desert aren’t to be reckoned with, either,” she added. Her savior spoke as well.

” It is not a matter of how special someone is, but the fact that I am an herbalist. She is practice, and nothing more. I serve the Order full heartedly, and she is of pure blood. I see no harm in enhancing my skills on her.”

Kayden didn’t know what the “Order” was, or why the purity of her blood mattered, but she wasn’t about to ask and make an ignorant fool of herself in front of the male. ”I’m not one to turn away help when it’s offered by someone who can give me what I need, especially when I’d die if I refused. If you’ve got a problem with that, then piss off. I don’t like men, and I don’t like you, and I think you’re too full of yourself to care much about what happens to me, so why bother strutting over here with your big bold talk, trying to scare an herbalist and a girl at death’s door?” Kayden felt new energy flood her veins. The jackal walked off, but Kayden wasn’t particularly worried. Anger gave her new strength. She sat up, feeling surprised at the sudden lack of pain. She hid her shock, however, and faced the male down. ”She’s got a legitimate reason to be here, and I’m grateful for her help. But if you came here just to scavenge or try to make yourself feel tough by finishing off some puny female, then you know what to do with yourself. I think you like to scare people, don’t you? Standing there with your scars and your red eyes and your attitude, well, you don’t scare me, buster, so either go away or tell me something that doesn’t make me want to pound you to a pulp, or I swear I’ll give you a couple of new scars before I leave this world.” The words left her mouth and she didn’t want to take them back. It felt good to sass this male, and she knew her irritation gave her enough strength to make good on her promise. She was no match for him at the best of times, but anger and adrenaline would see to it that she could at least make him hurt before he squashed her. The words were a challenge- would the male fight back, or would he make himself useful? She didn’t mind much about dying this way, leaving the world with a fight and a defiant word. It was dying passively that irked her, dying where she had no control left over a situation. She’d chosen her death. The only question was, was the death in question interested?

OOC:: Wow that was fun to write...

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[xFenris.Fenrirx]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=000000] His brow raised slightly as the unwounded female spoke to him. She claimed to be apart of the Order. So that was the stink that filled his nares when he pulled in her scent. He had heard of that pack before. A bunch of wolves parading around thinking that they were all high and mighty for being wolves. Oh how he wished he could bring the end to them. Wolves were fowl creatures there was nothing special about them. Yes, he was canine and yes he liked killing those of the breed but he did not fancy himself suicide. One day someone actually worth their salt would come along and end him. Until that day he would continue doing what he did. A smile twisted up on his features. "A herbalist... How impressive. Not many carry those talents these days. But then again I would guess that the Order would have one on hand..." he replied looking over at the smaller femme and rolled his shoulders into a shrug. He watched her then walk off leaving him and the other nameless wounded one before him. He studied her for a moment. The scent of her was not unfamiliar to him. Though she had spent who knows how long in the ocean the smell of desert sand clung heavily on her. He had been through that type of terrain before. Many moons ago. The creatures that lived among the pulverized rocks were interesting indeed. Quite resourceful to live in such a hostel land. In a strange sense he could respect that but as she spoke he bit his tongue to hold back a laugh that threatened to escape his breath. "Well well... Aren't you a tough one?" he questioned taking a step closer to her and then sitting on the blackened sand. His tail brush the ashes side to side for a moment and then it laid still. "Here you are on the brink of death and you still manage to give me an actual threat. In your state it would be rather cowardly of me to take your life and I am not one to look for the weaklings to kill. I actually enjoy a challenge," he added with a smirk taking shape on his tattered maw. "Though... If I might add. Once you regain your strength I would be more than happy to go one on one with you. I have had the privilege of taking the lives of a few desert males... But I never have fought a fae of your kind. Could prove rather interesting." He had no intentions of ending this woman's life. It would be what he considered rude to do so while she was in this state. Only a true coward would take advantage of such a thing. Though he was quite intrigued with her. He had her that it was a male that had caused the gash across her face which raised more questioned in his mind. He also had caught the underlining tone of hate towards his gender. "It seems you have a fowl taste for men..." he added with a small sigh as he closed his eyes. But then he opened them to look at her. His one eye gleamed with life while the left held a milky tone of blindness behind it. "I do not blame you there. Over the lands that I have traveled it seems that brutes only have one thing on their mind and they do not care what they have to do to get such a thing. Honesty in males has seemingly all but faded from this world..." he sighed and then straightened himself. "Seeing as I am the kind of male that is not like that... Yes, I have my demons, but not along those lines. I am dubbed Fenris Fenrir. But please Fenrir for short. I do not expect to gain your name in return... I just feel it would be rude of me to not introduce myself," he finished dipping his maw towards the wounded one.

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[virus !]

As the girl lay there, disheveled and matted, I listened to her story. From what I could piece together, literally and figuratively, she had been beaten by a past lover or perhaps an enemy. The gashes across her nose and the two broken ribs told me a horrible death for whoever had done her wrong; something I wasn't worried about suffering myself as of now, but thought cautious for every other male on the island that sought to do her wrong.

”But nasty, depraved, lecherous males who died for trying to put a paw on me against my will sure can.”

She tried to chuckle, and I clucked my tongue at her. "Ah ah, no laughing. Lay there, and let me fix you," I laughed softly to myself. My small torso flit easily over the grasses and before long I was bandaging her up with my grass silk.

”When the alternative is me dying helpless on a beach, I’d rather ask a friend for my life,”

I said nothing as of yet. In fact, I don't believe this stranger even knew my name, but I felt comfortable with her and obviously she felt comfortable around myself as well. I could have told her not to be so bold, but I figured I would let Fenrir play his cards right and only then would I step in. Nothing was going to happen, I already was sure of it. Fenrir was no coward, and he would not take the life of someone who lay helpless, bleeding and dirtied, on the washed up shore of a beach. He at least had a little bit more respect for life than that. I myself held no care at all on the matter. To take a life was to take a life, no matter the method chosen.

”She’s got a legitimate reason to be here, and I’m grateful for her help. But if you came here just to scavenge or try to make yourself feel tough by finishing off some puny female, then you know what to do with yourself. I think you like to scare people, don’t you? Standing there with your scars and your red eyes and your attitude, well, you don’t scare me, buster, so either go away or tell me something that doesn’t make me want to pound you to a pulp, or I swear I’ll give you a couple of new scars before I leave this world.”

As I listened to her tirade I couldn't help but smirk. She had fire within her, from the scars on her body and the bold words she spat at Fenrir. It was foolish, yes, but I admired her bravery, however I had never needed any more than I already owned. I had enough courage to get me through the world without panicking often at all, without feeling uncomfortable. The last time I had felt true panic had been months ago. I was not a scared woman.

"A herbalist... How impressive. Not many carry those talents these days. But then again I would guess that the Order would have one on hand..."

I nodded in his direction calmly as I pasted antibiotics onto the girl's muzzle. "Nefertiri Shemei. I cannot say it's a pleasure, Fenrir, but I do say you make for interesting company." I said softly, clearly, not looking to insult but more to amuse. I turned my gaze to the broken woman. "And you, my patient?" I chuckled. "I'll have to disallow you from killing for the time being; you can disassemble him later," I chuckled, beginning to plaster the gauze to her legs and ribs.

[Aylenni]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/30w71ae.jpg] "Well well... Aren't you a tough one? Here you are on the brink of death and you still manage to give me an actual threat. In your state it would be rather cowardly of me to take your life and I am not one to look for the weaklings to kill. I actually enjoy a challenge. Though... If I might add. Once you regain your strength I would be more than happy to go one on one with you. I have had the privilege of taking the lives of a few desert males... But I never have fought a fae of your kind. Could prove rather interesting." ”The males are too obsessed with honor to fight properly,” snapped Kayden. ”We women have no such principles.” It was true- when Kayden had made the mistake of mouthing off to an aunt, the wolfess had beaten her so soundly Kayden hadn’t been able to stand for three weeks. Kayden didn’t think long on the aunt in question; she was too irritated. The male was almost laughing at her, laughing at her threats. ”I think you will find me a much more difficult opponent than them,” she added. Was he mocking her? She had no idea. Was the dry tone in his voice sarcasm, or was the politeness truly meant? There was no easy way to tell, and it was making the Arabian feel annoyed. "It seems you have a foul taste for men... I do not blame you there. Over the lands that I have traveled it seems that brutes only have one thing on their mind and they do not care what they have to do to get such a thing. Honesty in males has seemingly all but faded from this world… Seeing as I am the kind of male that is not like that... Yes, I have my demons, but not along those lines.” Kayden blinked, surprised. She hadn’t expected anything like this to come from his mouth. Desert males were obsessed with honor when it came to strangers, but in their own lands they were arrogant, coarse, and lustful. This wolf was unlike anything she had ever seen before, and it confused her no small amount. Kayden didn’t like being confused. ”I’m surprised to find a male who would agree,” she said, with a tiny amount of edge off of her voice. ”Most of the ones I know were so full of themselves and their sex that when they walked, they seemed surprised that the desert sands didn’t part in front of them.” ” I am dubbed Fenris Fenrir. But please Fenrir for short. I do not expect to gain your name in return... I just feel it would be rude of me to not introduce myself." Kayden blinked again. She was nearly sure now that he was being genuine, but she refused to acknowledge it. How could any male be so polite? It was impossible. But Kayden was saved the difficult question of whether or not to answer. The jackal introduced herself also, smearing something strong-smelling over Kayden’s muzzle. "Nefertiri Shemei. I cannot say it's a pleasure, Fenrir, but I do say you make for interesting company. And you, my patient? I'll have to disallow you from killing for the time being; you can disassemble him later." Kayden relaxed, relieved. Now that both had given their names, she wouldn’t have to worry about hiding her own. ”I am Kayden al Howaitat, daughter of Serra al Abbadi. I came here looking for my mother. She said she was going to the island of legends, Traum. We all thought she was crazy; everyone knows it doesn’t exist. But I think she may have believed this place to be the island in the tales.” Kayden would risk telling Fenrir and Nefertiri about her quest. She already trusted the jackal, and if worst came to worst, there was nothing in her words that the male could use to blackmail or threaten her with. Kayden yawned, and some of the goop got into her mouth. It tasted awful. She made an involuntary face and spat the stuff out, making a noise. ”Euch,” she said. ”What is that, anyway?”

[xFenris.Fenrirx]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=000000] Blood soaked eyes studied the jackal as she came back into view. She had a strong smelling substance with her. This femme was younger than himself but she was intelligent. For a short moment, he wondered where she had learned such skills that had seemed to have all but faded from this world. Not many studied the arts of healing. Many more were interested in the other. Fighting. Killing. Which were also handy skills to learn but it was a good thing to be trained in all sorts of fields. Not just one. "You continue to impress me, my dear..." he offered looking at the standing fae. "You must have had an excellent teacher. Not many know of healing. Let alone having the know of what plants can cure..." he paused for a moment as a smile drew across his lips. "And ones that can cause even more damage to a patient." He had seen untrained fools think they knew what they were doing and ending up poisoning their comrades. It was quite comical actually. Then again he kind of had a twisted sense of humor. "But it is a pleasure to meet someone with such intelligence, Nefertiri." he finished dipping his maw in her direction. Then his attention fell back to the wounded fae before him. He studied her as well. Taking in her scent and every small muscle twitch. His emotionless pools locked with her own for a brief moment. It seemed that there was a moment of confusion in her gaze after he had spoke to her. Perhaps she was not expecting to be spoke to by a brute like he had spoke to her. Not everyday did wolves actually show politeness towards others. Especially those of his gender. He did not blame her for the confusion in her gaze. But he let her speak before he called her out on it. A small laugh bubbled up through his vocals as she spoke about honor in fighting. "I see no honor in such things... I just know that it would be, how you say, impolite to take the life of a wolf that is already on the cusp of dying," he replied honestly. "And in my ventures I have found that faes are much more resourceful when it comes to fighting then males. Males, after all, think purely on rage and anger which makes their fighting skills lacking any sort of challenge," he added thinking about it. "Women are much more intelligent when it comes to combat." He paused again to listen to her as she spoke. There was still a hint of confusion in her tone and she also did not snap at him as much with the reply. He shook his head lightly from side to side as she spoke of brutes and their sex drive. "That statement is very true. Even here males seek out women for their own pleasure," he said thinking back on what he had witnessed. "Myself... No... I have never done such a thing. Any fae I have ever been with was a willing experience," he added. "I would think it rude to force such a thing on another." Though Fenrir was a darkened devil, he had his own set of rules. Those that were rude tended to die quicker around him. Once in a while, he would actually stop and have a conversation with another. This would be one of those situations. It seemed like these two could actually prove to be interesting to speak with. One that was a herbalist and another that was from the desert. But he snapped out of his thoughts as he continued to listen to her story. So she actually had a reason to be here. Searching for her mother. How interesting indeed. For a moment, he wondered back if he had come across her in his travels but it quickly slipped his mind. There had been no blood shed that had a similar scent to this femme. So perhaps there was still a chance in finding this missing relative. "So, you're saying you just jumped into the ocean and swam here?" he questioned. "How does one born of the sand know how to swim? You are rather fortunate to be alive. Yet another reason as to why I have no intentions of ending your existence at this moment...," he finished with another smile that quickly faded back into his ashened maw.

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