Give me a song . . ., . . . And I'll give you a [melody]

[W_Smack]

(Posted Image)

Loneliness. I'm sure that all Vargs have had to deal with it at one time - that's the kind of creatures that we are. However, that didn't make it feel any better. Of course, more emotions than this were running through me. Among the big ones: bitterness, anger, jealousy. I had finally found a home of my own. A place where I could rule alone. And those selfish creatures that call themselves gods had kicked me out. So now, here I was: groveling for a home and begging to have a place to live once more. I suppose I should be greatful that Hades and Persephone hadn't kicked me out of the mountains all-together, but I chose not to look at these scrupulous details right now.

I huffed angrily and sat dutifully on my haunches. I suppose I could get used to these lands. It would be getting used to infiriority that would be difficult for me. I cleared my voice serimoniously and lifted my dark muzzle to the skies. A long, melodious sound eminated from my vocals. To any human ear, the noise may make seem frightening or sad, but all Vargs knew it's meaning. It sent a clear message: I want to meet with the alpha of these lands. I finished my call and began to wait patiently. My voice was even more beautiful than my Varg brothers and sisters. It had always been the most memorable part about me. That's also how my mother named me: Midnight Melody.

[Horsegirl]

<sub>(Posted Image)

Quiet solitude has its price.

Such was my brooding as I made my steady way over the crags of my domain. I'd become morose, solitary these last few months. Some odd change of events had forced most from our island. Sabrina, Flulia..... No. I would not think of her, that snowy white she-wolf. She was gone, I was sure of that, and taking with her a piece of my cold heart. Oddly that piece seemed to be the only warm one left, and now my heart was frozen as ever, maybe even more so. I had dropped my last name since they'd left, now I was naught but Dommic. Shadowhaunter no longer fit me, now I was more of like "blooddrinker." Strange that that loneliness forced me to become slightly vampirous. Now I liked the taste of blood, more than ever before.

"Yes, blooddrinker. Or bloodheart. But that would scare off the others, now wouldn't it?"

I stopped my endless wandering, the scent of another wafting to my nostrils. Something other than ravens, or rock. Something alive, alive with predatory instincts, to hunt and kill and feast upon red flesh. And this time, the scent was not marred by the salty stench of blood. No, it was clean and pure. It was a wolf. And a femme, too. My lope was picked up again, speeding off after the scent.

I came to a slow trot when I caught sight of her. She was gray, with hints of blueish gray on her shining pelt. I instantly knew her, though how I did not know.

"Midnight Melody," was all I said, the shock of seeing her temporarily muting me, silencing the need to kill.

She'd been former Drappa of another Western land, shoved out by the elements. Why mine was saved, I did not know. All I knew was that no one else had come to her there. Perhaps Hades and Persephone had no faith in a Drappa; thought a Dragga was more suited to starting a pack. He could claim females, after all. But still....to see her here was amazing. I failed at attempting to recover my composure, and decided to keep it that way. Better to keep my thirst in check.

"Melody....I hadn't expected to see you here. I mean, with the Fates and all....most of the lands gone....but still! You're here? What--how--?"</sub>

[W_Smack]

I couldn't help it as my ears perked inquisitively at the sound of the lead Dragga. However, I quickly hid my interest and composed my face into it's usual disgust and pride. I waited patiently as the Dragga lumbered towards me, but I found myself surprised at his own surprise. My hazel eyes narrowed as I took him in. "How do you know my name?" I asked, my voice a low growl. "I have a relatively good memory and I don't remember meeting you."

My hypocritical composure refused to budge as I took in the brute. He looked lonely - like myself - and crazed - like me. Maybe I wouldn't do so bad in these lands, after all. I lifted my nose discretely to the breeze and smelled the wind. As far as I could tell there were no more Vargs who lived here, though I could be wrong. My sense of smell was definitely not as as my sense of hearing and, of course, my voice.

My skeptical gaze turned slightly icy as he continued to stutter and falter over his words. "What do you mean 'expect me'?" I growled. "Listen, I'm not one to be played around with, so if there's something that you know and I don't, it'd be best if you told me now." My voice did hold a slight threat in it, though I hoped that I wouldn't have to follow up on it. Sure, I was a fighter when I needed to be, but I wasn't much in the mood for a fight right now. Though there were a bunch of feelings I needed to vent, I was much too tired to be getting into a blood battle with a vicious brute right now. "I think you know very well how I got here, since you obivously know where I live - or lived, rather." My voice faltered, though only slightly. And I recovered quickly - recovery seemed to be my forte today. "So why don't you tell me how you know so much about me?"

[Horsegirl]

<sub>Stupid, uninformed drappa, I growled within. A part of being a leader was knowing the names of others, was it not? What would happen if we went to war, and I didn't know what our enemy was called? Not that that had ever come close to happening, but still. Couldn't be too careful. My voice and statue were calmer now; her provoking words had jarred me from my shock and brought my instincts and composure back. "A good leader's job is to know the names of those who may become his allies....or enemies."

She threw her head up, into the wind that was flowing towards me. Very bad idea, dear, I nearly snarled, her scent washing over me. Thank goodness there were no open wounds anywhere around, or else it would be a very bad day for her. I focused on her words again. "You were a Drappa, now you're here. The last place I would expect one like you to come. If I had my land taken away, I sure as hell would not be going to another's anytime soon." I nearly laughed out loud at the threat in her voice. Probably thought she could take me in a battle. Oh yes. Defeat the vampirous male wolf that is much larger than you, is that it? Wonderful idea. Let me know how it all works out....if you're alive when he's finished with you.

"As I said before," I continued, "A leader should make it their job to find out about the other royalty in their area. As I did with you. All I know is your name, and that you were a former Drappa, but that is all. No need to get uppity about that, now is there?" A trace of a smile crossed my maw, barely showing, looking darker than any other's. "And if you think you can beat me in a fight, over any petty little thing, you've got another thought coming."</sub>

[W_Smack]

I watched him stonily as he spoke. So he had made it his business to know all of the wolves who roamed the mountains? Maybe that's why the Gods had exhiled me. I suppose I never had been that great of a Drappa, though that was ok because no one else had ruled under me. I had lived alone. In my own lands. And that was how I had liked it. But now there was no where for me to go.

I could feel some tension growing between us, though it wasn't necessarily bothering me. A sneer spread slowly across my maw at the Dragga's next words. "What is 'one like me' supposed to mean?" I asked. "And it's not like I had a choice. I wandered through the mountains for some time, but each time I tried to reenter my homelands, the Gods would shun me and punish me. So I tried living in the unclaimed mountains, but that bastard Hades and his little Persephone finally drove me here. It seems I have no choice."

Uppity? This Dragga hadn't even seen the beginning. My dark hazel eyes glistened as I glared slightly. A wave of anger flashed through me at the large Dragga's threat. Sure, he was large and strong, but I had learned from the best. My father had been one of the most fearful fighters and my greatest mentor. I wasn't large, but I knew the ways of battle and I was quick with my reflexes. However, I put all of this aside and hid my anger within my cold heart, saving these tiny details until later in case I needed them. "So what's your name then?" I finally asked. "Since you already seem to know so much about me, how about you tell me a little about yourself and these lands?"

[Horsegirl]

Clearly she hadn't been scared by me yet. She seemed to not have the correct instincts; even Aeolus had been more afraid of me than she was. If what I had been doing hadn't steered her away, then maybe I'd have to take a different approach. I hadn't been as cruel as I could be, but why spill blood when I could just make her disappear? I switched to my uncaring mode.

Ignoring her first question (though giving her a fright may have been fun) I started. "I am Dommic, a former Balkar fighter. First one of the Western Provinces, the ruler of the mountains since I arrived. They're steep, but further down is good for hunting and all. I'm perfectly fine with it, as is Aeolus, the other male that lives here. You can stay if you want. I don't know if you appreciate mountainous terrain. Your choice." Leaving our conversation open-ended, I started to walk away. I guessed that she'd be desperate to find somewhere to stay. But maybe she'd be put off by what she'd found: a craggy range, ruled by a vicious wolf that alternated between aggressive and uncaring. I hoped she'd go for leaving than staying. "Why can't you just go away?" I hissed, so low and quietly that she couldn't hear it.

[Emmy]

(Posted Image)

Sleep had been good to Aeolus.

Without being terrorized by the usual nightmares, he slept peacefully, for once getting the night’s sleep he deserved. Upon waking, he shook himself, barely believing his luck from the night before. He was home! That word had almost no value to the grey wolf after living for so long without one, but all at once a new life had been forged for him. He was looking forward to it, to actually interacting with his own species for once, to being able to be a part of something.

The only problem was Dommic. That crazy male who was now his leader. He was terrifying, and confronted him with a problem- he could control Aeolus. That strange fear, he was so angry at himself for it. Dommic was slightly bigger, yes, but that had never made Aeolus feel like he did now. There was a gnawing feeling in his gut that the bigger male was different in some way, than any other Varg he had ever met. That strange hunger, his anger, and abrupt mood swings. Something about last night had really set his hair on end. Maybe it had been the ravens. Ravens, he thought you’re stupid enough to be frightened by mere birds?

It was light now, less threatening in a way. He got up, stretched, and pulled his muscular jaws open in a gaping yawn. Sniffing around a bit, he decided to set off and look around a bit. He headed off into the trees at his left at a brisk trot. The sun on his back was reassuring, and helped him feel more confident in these strange mountains. He loved the dramatic landscape, the jagged rocks and low trees framed by those purple-hued peaks. It was an environment he felt he could prosper in. Sunlight filtered through the trees as Aeolus heard the low murmurs of talk. The closer he got to the voices, the better he could scent the Dragga Dommic. And somebody else…

The somebody else was a female, and it seemed that her and Dommic were arguing over something. Cautiously, he poked his square head out from behind a spruce to get a better look at the strange Dragga. She was black, with hints of greys running about her pelt, with a small white patch on her chest. Dommic looked annoyed at something. Slowly Aeolus walked out from behind the tree, not all the way out of the trees, but nearer to them. He cleared his throat softly to get their attention. “Morning.”

(Posted Image)

[W_Smack]

My dark hazel eyes glinted and narrowed as I watched the alpha begin to walk away. He certainly was different, and I didn't like him one bit. But if he thought that I was just going to back down without at least trying to get my way, then he was severely mistaken. My ears twisted backwards and lay against my skull as I thought of my misfortune and the obvious struggle that was still yet to come.
However, my ears and eyes lifted once more as a new Dragga came into my sight. I sniffed the air wearily as I gazed in his direction. He was of ample size and stature, and seemed respectable enough. If nothing else, he was at least a normal Varg, compared to that weird alpha. "Hello," I greeted him, nodding sociably. "You must be Aeolus," I reasoned. "My name is Midnight Melody. You can just call me Melody if you perfer."