I will not Bow, I will not Break

[Kismet]

Her black paws padded through the thick mud and grass, her ebon pads sinking into the sticky depths. Her face was composed and cold, and her eyes were just as frozen as the hardest of ice. She knew that one would fall, and she had had her hopes on one brother in particular, but now both wolves lay dead in the mud that they themselves have churned. The Alpha walked up to her former Beta, her eyes looking down to his un-moving form.

"Ahh... Tarak.." she murmured, sighing with exasperation. "Look what you have done..." she scolded, her mouth dropping into a frown. She looked up to see his brother, Takar, laying frozen in his own blood. "I certainly didn't expect this..." she whispered, though she did not mourn, she did not howl, and she did not give her blessings to her fallen pack mate. Instead she turned her head to the side and to the small wolf that was still lurking among the bushes. She also knew that there were a few other wolves within the foliage, spying on her and the dead brothers, but they were not her concern at he moment.

"Ah, there you are Kaan." she said, and the small creature emerged from the bracken and trotted up to the black Fae. "You have been a very sneaky wolf these past couple of days.." The Ethiopian smiled cheekily, showing all of his razor-sharp teeth.

"Yes," came a voice from behind her, and the Fae turned to see three pitch black wolves emerge from a small hole in the ground. "He has done very well." Kaan wagged his tail at his praise. But then the wolf looked back to Ebony, his ice-blue eyes twinkling as he smirked. "I guess none of us assumed that this would happen.... What will we do now?" he wondered.

"We will continue as planned, Desmin." Ebony spoke up, and a large smile broke out across her face. "It is a pitty that Takar died. He would have been a very fitting puzzle in our plot... But no matter, we will just have to carry out our plans by ourselves." The other wolves nodded, and Ebony looked back to her Beta that lay cold on the ground.

"Sorry, old friend," she said, "But we must all move on, eventually.." The Alpha turned her head back to the four. "Desmin, Blunt, Kurl, you are to come with me. Kaan--" she paused, making sure that the Ethiopian was listening. The animal perked his ears and stood still. "I want you to go and cause some havoc. Tell some lies, recruit some wolves, anything you can do that will confuse the packs." Kaan nodded and dashed off into the trees.

"The rest of you come with me. We have important deeds to do." The Alpha flashed her blue eyes to the retreating crows in the sky and she padded forward, her paws crushing the lone flower that had bloomed from the ground.

"Fenris's reign will once again rule the forest..."

[Fable]

Lobo had trotted the as he called them, 'loner grounds,' as the rain had poured hard onto his small body. His long, coyote like ears had flattened against his head as the rain had pitterpattered onto his fur. It was not a good day today, he could sense it. He could smell blood in the air, and hear the snarling and growling barks of two fighting wolves. He let out a soft whine. One of the wolf's scents was familiar....Taraks. One of his first wolf friends who did not attack him for being what he was. Lobo had decided to see what the comotion was about, but what he would find, was not going to be pretty. Silently the small wolf approached the muddy battleground, and the his golden eyes had widened. Noo... He let out another whine, for what he saw there on the ground, were two, black wolves. He was not quite sure of who was Tarak and who was Takar, but he knew for certain that they were both dead, and he also knew one of them was Tarak.

Suddenly, hearing another wolf pad into area, Lobo had quickly ran into the bushes, his body now low to the ground and his tail tucked in. He watched as a large black female had looked over both of the cold bodies that remained in the soft mud. He then seen some other wolves, the same color, and one wolf that was probably as big as him, approach the fae. There was something going on there, but what? He decided to remain silent and listen in on the conversation, his ears now forward and erect.

All he had heard was 'continue as planned,' and 'wreak some havoc.' Strange, the coywolf had thought. He let a little growl come through. Surely this wasn't good, and neither were they.

Fenris's reign will once again rule the forest....

[krynn]

*This account is a new wolf named Krynn, was previously named Tarak well he was still alive*

The fae walked with purpose through the land. The area was foreign, but the feeling that hung suspended over the land was not. Krynn was accustom to the suspense of the forest when larger forces were at work, because she was usually apart of them. Always the schemer and cunning wolf she was, Krynn didn't like being left behind in fights, even if they weren’t her own.
But she was in this land because she had followed her sons here. There passing, or rather one son's passing in particular had left quite a blood trail to follow. Takar, dear sweet Takar how troubled you must be. Momma's coming.
Her black pelt held beads of rain, of which she stopped to shake them free. The rain had let up, and slivers of light were revealing the fresh crisp morning of spring.
Her son Tarak had always loved the spring for reasons that she couldn't fathom. Memories of a time together surfaced to her mind as she padded quietly through the undergrowth.

"Why do portray such a face Tarak?" Krynn asked her yearling son, black as night with crisp blue eyes just like his father.
"It is spring mother...." His voice had been soft and full of love and anticipation. "What makes spring so special to you Tarak dear?"
Soft vocals spoke just above Tarak's ear as his mother licked his face. "It’s just something I can't put to words... Someday I think you might understand."
Krynn had been shocked by her sons comment, so sure and wise he had sounded at such a young age.

Krynn always tried each spring to see what her son saw in the season, but it escaped her like a fleeting deer. I will ask him again when I see him soon. A lolling tongue rolled out of her mouth as she wandered forward into the unclaimed land. Feint scents of blood, wolves and fear crossed her nose and made her mouth taste bad. Spitting into the snow, Krynn howled into the air with worry. The scents were those of her children.

Sprinting ahead, Krynn was no longer thinking of the possibilities spring could hold nor the fact she was in a hostile land. Her sons were foremost in her mind. She would kill for them because she loved them both equally. Takar's hate and Taraks love.

As a clearing appeared ahead, Krynn sped even faster. Her long slender but well muscled legs tor up the ground in a race to make it on time.
Krynn was faintly aware of other's present while she whipped past them, coming to a halt at the edge of the clearing she looked out at the horror of the scene.

A long mournful howl broke from Krynn's muzzle as she stood there crying to herself. There was no one to comfort her in her pain as she stood before her two dead sons. Krynn knew that Takar must have been the one to present the challenge. Krynn had always tried to ignore the hate between the two, but know it had finally surfaced and both their deaths were a result.

Walking to the solid black body that was nearest, Krynn lay down beside Takar in the muck. Her soft black pelt was now a chocolate brown as she licked her sons face. She cleaned the blood of his muzzle and noticed that his throat had been ripped out.

"Oh Takar, I will miss you. Your mood swings always kept me on my feet, what will I do without you? At least you died swift and sure" Looking over to Tarak, "I cannot say the same for your brother Tarak. I always told you not to be so mean to him. I told you not to underestimate him, but who listens to their mother? You probably knew before the end, the truth of your downfall."

Getting up, Krynn slowly walked over to her other son who was partially covered by a bush. Krynn saw that he had tried to get away from his brother, even in his last moments. Tears welled up in Krynn's eyes as she looked down on her beloved son.
A small crushed flower lay beside his head, and Krynn had another flashback of their time spent together.

"Why do you tremble when you should be proud?" Krynn spoke to Tarak again as he shook over his first kill. The body of a blood stained bunny stiffening at his feet. "Who will remember it?" He had spoke, a tremor in his voice. Puzzled at her son’s softness for prey, Krynn thought of her words carefully. "Well we will, and so will the forest. For everything that lives and breaths in this land is part of something so much bigger then we can understand."
Tarak had nodded his head and then ate the bunny, proud as he should have been before. Takar would never have had second guessed the meaning of life and death.

And that’s when Krynn understood why Tarak loved spring so much. It dawned on her like the sun breaking through storm clouds. Tarak had always loved life, had lived it and Krynn had always supported him like she did when Takar took it away. Tarak saw winter as a time of death, and spring as a time of re-birth. The crushed flower in the mud symbolized so much more then just spring, but knew life to be rejoiced and remembered.
Nuzzling her sons body, she saw the sunken whole in his chest. A whimper escaped her lips as she realised his ribs had been broken, leaving him suffering and fading slowly. But he was already gone and Krynn hadn't been there to comfort him in his final moments.

"I will always remember you my dear. Do not fear, for as long as I live I will carry you with me. I know thats what you would want."

[Kaan]

He knew that he should keep going, farther away from the scene of crime and carryout his deeds, though when he heard the mourning, desperate, grieving howl, the wolf had to turn around. Was it pity that compelled the small wolf to turn back, or was it because of his curiosity. The answer was as plain as the red in his coat, because the smile that graced his maw meant that neither was on his mind. Hmm, he will do good to turn the tide...

The Ethiopian slowly trotted through the trees, seeing a black wolf hunched over and sobbing. Kaan recoiled slightly, thinking that one of the wolves had come back from the dead, but as he observed more closely, he could see the feminine shape and the other two wolves that still lay dead on the ground. I will do good master, you will see.

"Oh, it was horrible!" Kaan cried, falling to the ground with a thump. "He tried to stop them, but he is so small and weak. He could not stop it from killing them both!" the small wolf shook with sobs, and he lifted his paws to cover his head. "He could do nothing but watch!" Though inside the wolf was smiling hugely as he cast the bait. Now he just needed to wait for the bauble to bob.

[krynn]

Krynn shifted her watery eyes towards the newcomer who had entered the clearing. It was small and at a first glance looked like a fox to her, but the scent was stronger; that of a wolf. Her curiosity at the emotional animal stuck her and Krynn walked toward the crying wolf. Krynn herself was an emotional wreck at the loss of her babies, but she also knew that the wolves who presented themselves before her could be threats.
Krynn didn't know what she was going to do with herself now that her future plans had been utterly ruined.
"Don't fret little wolf" Krynn said soothingly. She was distraught herself, but the alpha in her wanted to help the lesser wolf. In a way, what she spoke was also helping to heal her.
"My babies were strong right until the end. Nothing would have ended a fight like theirs. If it had been stopped today, they would have found a way to kill each other tomorrow."
Krynn wiped the tears on face against her pelt to help her fur dry faster. She was not ashamed at having been seen with her sons in an emotional state.
"Which brother did you know?"

[Kaan]

Kaan allowed the femme to comfort him, whispering sweet nothings in his ear to try and soothe his sobs. But his plan wasn't to be babied He was on a mission.

"Takar. He was such a good master. So kind... He treated Kaan very good." he said. Kaan leaned into the thick pelt of the she-wolf, looking as if to seek comfort. "Takar planned on killing him, Kaan knew, but...but..." The Ethiopian once again shook with his tremors, he even hiccuped a few times. "But they were going to fight tomorrow. It was set up, and the wolves promised not to fight until then." Kaan looked up to the Fae with watery eyes, his chops pulled down in a horrible grimace.

"The wolves did not kill each other!" he cried, his head falling back down to his paws. "It was them! They did it! If they haden't of come, Takar would still be with Kaan!"

[krynn]

"Takar. He was such a good master. So kind... He treated Kaan very good. But they were going to fight tomorrow. It was set up, and the wolves promised not to fight until then.The wolves did not kill each other! It was them! They did it! If they hadn’t of come, Takar would still be with Kaan!"

Something registered in Krynn's mind that something was amiss, but she couldn't place the uneasy feeling at the moment. Maybe it was just her riled emotions, or the shock of what this creature named Kaan was saying. "What do you mean my babies did not kill each other!?" Krynn's demeanour and sense of mind changed in a heartbeat to vicious and angry, the side which most resembled Takar. She was no longer the loving, caring mother she had been seconds before.
Her dripping jaws hovered just above Kaan's head, a direct threat to his safety and wellbeing should he not answer willingly.

[Kaan]

Kaan shrunk back at the quick change in the Fae's attitude, and he whimpered slightly under her horrible gaze. His large ears fell flat against his skull, and his bushy tail darted between his legs.

"Th- they d-didn't kill each o-other." he stuttered. "They were planning on it, b-but never got a chance." Kaan lowered his head slightly, seeming to be overcome with grief. "It was Kaan's old pack, the Lakota. They always picked on Kaan, so Kaan left with Takar. The Lakota followed Kaan and tried to kill him, but Takar saved Kaan." the small wolf was again sobbing by this point, but he tried to pull himself together so that the she-wolf would not dismember him.

"T-Tarak came and saw Takar dead, and m-maybe Tarak felt love for his brother, so he attacked the Lakota when they tried to kill me again. B-b-but there were to many of them, a-a-and..." Kaan closed his eyes, letting loose a wave of tears. "Kaan is so small and worthless... he was no match for the Lakota. They chased him off until Kaan lost them by the river. He came back to see his master...."

[krynn]

Krynn licked her chops, the smell of fear rose from the little wolf's body and it made her hungry. She knew both her sons very, very well. Krynn narrowed her sharp gaze on Kaans eyes, locking their vision together. She searched for the lie he knew he must be telling.
Takar only stood for himself, cared for no one and deffinatly would never die for anyone but himself. This wolf was claiming he had done just that, plus his brother had died coming to the rescue? Something was deffinatly far-fetched.
Krynn scanned the wolf's body and noticed he was not even scratched. Anger filled her even more.
"Do not lie to me little one, because even if my son died for you, I would gladly be willing to finish the job which the Lakota started."
Swishing her tail, Krynn's ears were pulled back and a snarl escaped her lips. "Do you really think I am fool enough to not know my own sons? There is no way in hell that Tarak would die avenging his brother. The fact that Takar might have died saving you is enough to disbelieve. Then there is the fact that a wolf other then Tarak or me is strong enough to kill him."
Krynn leaned in even more, her hot breath pressing against the fur of the other. "What makes youuu sooo speciallll?"

[Kaan]

Kaan padded back a few fox-lengths away, his brows pulled together in a glower. He hated the fact that all other wolves were larger and stronger than him, and it just fueled his anger more. How dare the she-wolf speak to him in a such a manner!

"Takar tried to save Kaan because Kaan and Takar had a deal! He was going to kill Tarak, and then join the kin so that he could rule every other wolf! He may not have saved Kaan because he cared for Kaan, but he saved Kaan because he was Takar's path to power!" His tone had dropped a few octaves through his speach, and his eyes grew glassy once again in sadness.

"Tarak I suppose was not sad for his brother, but Tarak was so good that he wanted to help Kaan. I know Kaan is not special. He is a simple kerl that knows not even how to take care of himself... but he was happy next to Takar. " Kaan looked up to the Fae. His small apearance and large ears caused him to look young and dare I say cute, and with his small, black, watering eyes, the picture of innocence was perfected.

"Kaan will help you get back at the Lakota. They killed Takar only because there were so many of them, but this time you and Kaan will slaughter them one by one. Kaan wants to help seek revenge for his fallen master."

[krynn]

Krynn seemed satisfied with Kaans answer for now. She lowered her hackles and her ears perked forward again, the snarl missing from her black face. So Takar had been part of a bigger and grander plot. If this plot was so juicy that Takar felt extreme enough about it to endanger his life, then maybe... just maybe it was something Krynn also wanted in on.
Krynn smiled, once again the mother she had been before. The angry and distraught wolf before her needed comforting again.
"Well you should have made that clearer in the beginning Kaan. Here I thought you were trying to lessen the honour of my son’s deaths."
The little wolf was adamant that she go after this "Lakota" pack and rein death upon everyone. But Krynn really didn't know much about the land or the wolves who inhabited it. If the Lakota were capable of tricking and killing Takar, then Krynn had to be very careful. Maybe pick them off one by one in the dark of night.
But first things first.
"What is this power you speak of? the one that Takar wanted to gain?"

[Kaan]

Kaan smiled for the first time since he met the Fae, and his small teeth poked out from between his lips. His tears instantly dried, and his large ears perked up once again.

"The power, yes, Takar liked that very much. Does she know about Fenris? The one that started the very first packs?" Kaan asked, his obsidian eyes twinkling in his victory. "Well, the wolf was a god. But the other wolves feared him and they killed him." Kaan growled. He acted as if Fenris was his father, even though the small wolf was not even close to being related to the huge black beast.

"But his Kin still walk the earth. They are planning to take back the land that their great father used to own. They will kill all who stand in their way and take all who will not defend... Takar was hoping to be the greatest Alpha, but now that master is dead, he will never live to see the day..."

Kaan looked up then, hopeful. "She must come with Kaan to meet the others. They will welcome mother wolf and help you take revenge on the Lakota. After the dirty deeds are done, she will be held in the highest respect among the new Shinook pack." Kaan took a hesitant step forward, as if he were afraid that the Fae would strike out again. He sat in front of her, leaning his small head into her furry chest.

"And mother wolf can be Kaan's new master.." he murmured, smiling.

[nanuq]

Everyone had forgotten about her. Nanuq did not mind. This was a killing feast. When Krynn walked up she felt so sorry for her. She held back a snarl as Kaan came to her. They talked, Kaan spewing lies and nothing more. She stood up and padded over to them. "Lakota killled no one. This was Tarak's and Takar's fight. No one interferded. Kaan is simpling making troble and spewing lies like he was ordered too" Nanuuq told Krynn, hoping Krynn would belive her. "Go back and whine to your master, tratior!" Nanuq snarled at Kaan.

[yuluku]

Once she got into a new place, far away from that small, little, red, imbecile! She couldn't think of a more horrid way to put it. So she watched with anger and pity. She saw Takar strike and almost thought that the beta was dead, until Takar was fooled and Tarak made a final death blow. She saw him run onto the other side of the clearing, brush, and she saw him fall down. At the instant she knew both were dead. But it seemed like nothing to her, like stepping on a butterfly it didn't seem to change anything. She couldn't wrap her mind around what she just witnessed. Almost like all of her emotions and nerves were gone. She crept back over, and saw the many wolves crowing around. Then Ebony showed up. And everything changed. She heard it, Kaan too. Their plan, the set up. And her voice was caught she couldn't even fathom this. What has come to this world? Have we all really lost sight of passion, life, and love. Why? Why can't we just-... Then she couldn't finish the rest of her thought. The other wolves had come, some she'd never even seen before. She listened intently, how they'd trick the packs. No, Yul wouldn't fall for that. Then they left, Kann stayed, and a some other new wolves came to wittiness it all, see the dead.

But before they could notice her, Yul took off. She ran, and she'd run for a while then, "I can't trust them." She told herself sternly, "They're all cynic and evil! I can't trust my own pack. There is no good...... And there never will be." She clawed the ground as she ran, she'd leave everything behind. Trust no one. Intently, she felt now dead on the inside. And then, one last howl rising up to the sky. It was of anger, lust, and disappointment of everything around her.

[krynn]

Krynn narrowed her eyes at the proposition Kaan was suggesting. That she should take Takar's place in the "agreement". Krynn was used to having lesser wolves in her command, and so having Kaan as a minion would be useful, but at the same time not necessary.
Krynn saw lots of potential surfacing here in Ardelyn, even though she had just arrived today. It was no wonder Tarak and Takar had been drawn here for their own reasons. There was so much to take advantage of.
But before she could reply to Kaan, another wolf bounded out of the bushes, angry.

"Lakota killed no one. This was Tarak's and Takar's fight. No one interfered. Kaan is simply making trouble and spewing lies like he was ordered too. Go back and whine to your master, tratior!"

This raised Krynn's eye brows as she turned her attention to the smug Kaan. She realised what was happening.
Smiling Krynn displayed all her sharp fangs, and a deep throaty growl escaped her.
This new wolf had claimed what Krynn had thought all along. That the two brothers had killed each other, and that this Kaan creature had nothing to do with it. But whom to listen to? Instinct told her to side with the friend of Tarak. Takar had always been troublesome and played mind games of which even she had sometimes not been able to understand. Her softer son Tarak however was honest and played by the rules. This wolf before her did not seem to be on the same side as Kaan.
Krynn was in a predicament. Kaan was a trickster and of course a lier, but this other wolf was straightforward and somewhat honest. If she went with the light wolf, then Krynn was less likely to get the answers she needed to find out about the plot Takar had been apart of. But if she stayed and went with Kaan, then Krynn would have the knowledge in her grasp. She could always change sides later if they didn't satisfy her need.
Krynn decided to take the straightforward approach.
"I believe what you say about the brothers killing each other. This fight does not have the necessary evidence to prove a gang fight." She spoke softly, a dangerous edge building on her vocals.
"As for you Kaan, I have had quite enough of your treachery! Did you not think I would eventually find out the truth of these events and come find you? I warned you before that I would not tolerate lying to me."
Krynn lunged for his face but stopped short. "I don't want to hear another squeak for your maw. Take me to your real master now or I will dine on your flesh."
Krynn knew the other wolf was probably confused about Krynn's decision to go with him even though he had been caught in a lie. But this was not a time for Krynn to think of her reputation. She needed something, and she was going to get it.
Turning to the other she said, "It was nice to meet you and I hope I see you again in the near future. What is your name? do you have a pack?"