- - ragnarok. [hati~]

[[ sköll ]]

There was nothing quite better than hunting down frightened prey while invisible. Wide eyes threw glances backwards, only to find nothing – and his quarry, more often than not, panicked into dodging the wrong way.

Cold, empty non-light twisted about him, Sköll charged through the frigid muck and swamp grasses. Mud and filth coated his legs, and doubtless the sound of his splashing gave him away – but the sheer panic in the sickly jackalope’s eyes was more than enough to encourage him to keep up the guise. With high, leaping steps, he lunged for his prey: the rodent darted mistakenly in front of him and his teeth were upon its neck in seconds.

Fresh, warm blood gushed into his mouth with a sharp, metallic tang. Delighted, he flung the catch to the ground and loomed over it, still writhing, to draw off its life-force. Maw and throat blood-drenched, with dark splatters of mud thrown up all about him – in fact, the only visible cue that something was there at all – he must have made quite a sight. The jackalope slowly stilled, first its thrashing, then its breathing, and finally its eyes dulled and froze, now an empty husk to be left to rot.

Temporarily satisfied, Sköll laughed silently to himself – high, empty and staccato – and waded yet deeper into the thick waters. Once he moved away from the patches of land (if indeed they could be called that), he found that the quality of the water was much improved, and he ducked his head beneath the surface in an attempt to rid himself of the filth of the hunt. There was no snow to roll in, and he figured that would have to do – but as he struggled back to solid ground, he found that all he’d managed to do was coat himself with a bodily rusty tinge.

A low sigh expressed his discontent, and he let the light flow normally around him once more as he shook his thin pelt dry. The trees around these parts were interesting, Sköll mused, digging into his vast pool of memories in a bid to see if he’d explored this territory before. He found he couldn’t recall – which likely meant he had not; he’d never been too fond of amphibious environments – and scrambled up onto the arching, twisted roots that thrust free of the ground and water alike to breathe freely in the winter air.

His nails scraped loudly against the bark as he sauntered from one twist of roots to another, but he made no efforts towards stealth. He had had his fun with the jackalope – and now he wanted to play. Though he could not detect the heavy, lingering overlay of scent that would indicate the presence of a local pack, he could tell that stray wolves visited the area often enough. And, should luck be on his side, perhaps he would run into one of them, and have himself some fun.

Sköll smiled.

[☽ Hati ☾]

Nanjiro Swamp…what a treacherous and shunned place. So many dangers lurked here…it fitted him well. Hati quietly grinned as he troubled himself around the Mangrove Sanctuary.

As if instantly, the hollow trees called out to him…promoting their shelters and comfort. Hati saw no heed to hurry for such a thing…but the offer was tempting and his haunches were pushing down with exhausted from his travels. He struggled at first over the trailing roots…such a strange feeling against his pads. Although, once he practiced his footing, it was less complicated and he no longer look like a fool.

Hati approached the closest hollow tree and walked inside, huffing slightly. A small warning sign to any who would be around him…if there was anyone. Earlier he had caught the scent of packs…dens…and among other things. The scents seemed long past this particular spot though and desired no need to show caution.

Hati's tense muscles softened as he took hold of the empty den as his own.

It seemed strange though…a feeling jerked at his senses…as if pulling him towards something "Like hell I'll go…" he muttered to himself. Hati looked around once more, just in case, and then settled himself into a rested positing within the tree.

It was comforting for a shred moment. The humid and slightly chilled air…was temporarily a pleasant feeling. The feeling quickly vanished as the smell of blood entered his nostrils.

"…" Hati smiled coldly.

Seeking for some entertainment and possibly a free meal, he slipped away from the tree quickly. Not caring to hide himself with his Lumen ability, Hati trotted towards the scent with his obvious blue coat. He had no fear for others…in fact he presented himself quite clearly for his 'games.'

Hati came to a stop near the edge of the roots, water shifted below him. His head turned around slowly until he caught the sight of the peak of interest. Several blood splotches to his right had caught his attention.

His body pulled towards the crimson puddles without a moments hesitation. Once he neared the area, his ears caught the sound of eerie scrapes and scrambles against the swamps roots.

Swiveling his head around, he wished to catch sight of this inflicting sound.

[[ sköll ]]

Sköll did not have to wait long for the scent of another to reach him. Fresh and musky, with a hint of something familiar – perhaps Lumen? He heard no introductory howls, and indeed the only sound to reach his straining ears was mirrored scrabbling across the uneven roots.

He carefully calmed the excited raising of fur along the length of his spine, willing his fur to lay flat and slick against his wiry build before venturing forward towards the stranger. His sickly white pelt, still tinged red, remained as such – he could easily throw his light out of kilter should anything go wrong. And it never really did go wrong, even when he pursued and taunted the strongest and short-tempered of wolves in a half-hearted suicidal bid.

Carefully balancing his weight so as not to slip from the mess of winding roots, Sköll jogged lightly between the thick trunks and low-hanging branches, following a scent that just barely overcame the heady aroma of putrid swamp-water. He skirted around a particularly thick collection of mangroves – back the way he had come, originally – and nearly ran smack into the brutish blue-pelted beast.

A surprised laugh, sounding a good deal more like a cough, was torn from his throat, and he halted with his legs spread awkwardly between two different roots.

”My my, this is a surprise. You’re quite the handsome one, to be out here in the swamp, no? You’ll get your paws dirty,” he commented in an obviously sultry tone, not bothering to introduce himself. He hopped forward, closer to the newcomer, and slunk along the smooth bark like a cat. He came to rest beside the other, settling lightly on his haunches to look him over.

Deciding to go with his gut – which was practically screaming at him that this creature was a fellow Lumen – Sköll reached out for a hint of light. Something, anything, to decorate his squalid pelt. He finally reached out to the sun, wrapping the stray beams of warm light that fell through the open canopy into himself and watching as his fur bloomed a rich orange-yellow.

He batted his eyes and glanced down at himself appreciatively. ”Well? Not bad, I must say.”

[☽ Hati ☾]

Hati's head swiftly turned to the direction of uneasy sounds. Something was indeed coming…but the wind was against him and he couldn't make out the smells.

His nails shifted into the ground, muscles tensed. Hati would not be without caution…or guard. As the cries of abraded roots and displaced dirt neared, Hati huffed. A small puff of air that was released warningly. Unlike most times, this noise did not stop…it continued. Hati made no effort to run, flee, or show any sign of fear. He stood his ground…his gleaming cold eyes watching ever so raptly.

Suddenly, another wolf appeared out of nowhere…nearly running into him, in fact. Hati's face curled into immediate disgust as he overlooked the quick and feeble thing. Be it any other wolf, he would have easily snapped their neck. But this…this scent? Was this a Lumen? A wolf like himself? Possibly the first one he has came in contact since his concussion? Another indication of interest presented itself as the other laughed strangely…

Hati's scar began to pound.

His eyes twitched in momentarily pain but it was too quick to notice. He easily resumed his pissed-off expression and glared at the awkwardly positioned creature.

'My my, this is a surprise. You're quite the handsome one, to be out here in the swamp, no? You'll get your paws dirty'

If this wolf could not see the irritability on Hati's face now…then he was blind. Hati's face lowered, his jaw pointing down and his brow furrowed. This creature even dared to get close to him!

"Tsk" The word was thrown loosely from his chapped mouth.

Hati could barely fight back the feeling of demolishing this petty thing. Look at how it dares to come as close as it does! "Who the hell does he think he is…" Thoughts spurred through his mind as he calmly held a strong composer…and kept his bloodlust at bay.

This other Lumen, none the less, interested Hati as it shifted it's colors with the technique passed down within their species. It would also seem this wolf had a handle on its concept. Hati eyed him over with curiosity…but that stopped head when he caught sight of the battering of eyes directed towards him.

"…"

'Well? Not bad, I must say.'

Hati showed his vibrant teeth "You may be able to change your pelt like so…but your face is something you'll never fix" he growled. Hati's voice was rusty but soft. Even though his tone didn't share his expression...he was beginning to loose his patience and interest. Would it not be easier to just rid himself from this wolf? If so, he saw no need to give out his name.

[[ sköll ]]

Sköll’s smile fell at the other’s gruff countenance – this stranger might be just as boring as the rest, a disappointment he should have been used to after one hundred years’ time. At his words, however, the expression returned: a broad, crooked grin that flashed clenched teeth and scarred lip. He was a sucker for juvenile insults, and it showed.

”Your words are too sweet, darling,” he cooed, rising to his feet and hopping into the shallow water of the swamp. It rose to about his chest, still manageable so close to the trees, and Sköll took a few prancing, buoyant steps. He let his legs fall invisible, and as the sediment disturbed by his movement settled, a wary fish ventured out from the shelter of the roots.

He immediately sapped a breath of energy from the scaled ectotherm, and the stunned creature floated to the surface – still alive, though subdued.

Sköll, unnamed stranger almost forgotten, caught the fish’s tail and flung him up onto one of the broad mangrove roots. Low, unsteady laughter hissed from between his teeth, and he had returned to the elevated platform of roots to slowly pry one of the fins from its body before remembering his manners.

”Oh, darling, would you like some?”

He kept the still-live fish trapped under a single lean paw, nails tearing into the agitated and bloodied flesh. He returned his maw to the prey, shearing away the rest of the torn fin, and paused to watch as its mouth closed and opened uselessly in the dry air.

”I don’t mind sharing.”

He debated winking at the larger wolf again, but he didn’t seem to appreciate playful flirting – a shame, really. ”No reason to scowl, big boy. We can be… friends.”

[ ooc | LOL this is the failyest of fail posts. I apologize. Dx ]

[☽ Hati ☾]

] occ| It's okay xD [

Hati only threw out the insult to test the strangers anger. The expression expressed by the other wolf seemed to have been affected a little. (Not as much as he’d like.) Hati had his shoulders rolled forward, ready for a battle it may be....but the other wolf looked too fragile for such a thing. Even though Hati was a Lumen himself, for as long as he remembers...he has been oddly physique--His body was thin but harbored muscle that had an unknown origin.

‘Your words are too sweet, darling,’

“Darling?!” The displeasure on Hati’s face could evidently be seen as he bit his lip in irritation. “What a frustrating pest!” he thought. The voice of the other wolf rubbed against Hati’s calm fur--his fur stretched upward, tensed by the ‘cooed’ words. Shaking the feeling away, he turned to observe the other male. “...” He seemed to be fishing...a natural.

Hati swallowed a breath of air and squeezed his stomach inward to stop any awkward rumbles.

Hearing the quick snap of breath, his concentration went back to the one who had caught a fish. Hati thirsted for energy himself, and for a concise, dark moment, he thought of taking this wolfs energy. Hati curved in pain a brief moment as his scar thrashed against his spine. “Damn...” There was just something about this wolf that made him so–and he wanted to find out why.

The other wolf had returned to the mangrove roots with his ‘feast’ and seemed to be enjoying his strange event, laughing. Hati frowned and furrowed his brow once more, agitated by the strange and unsteady laughter. He muttered to himself in words that the other could not hear. When the stranger turned to him, Hati perked his ears and tensed his muscles.

‘Oh, darling, would you like some?’

“Again with the damn ‘darling’” he growled within his thoughts. Hati lifted his lip a little more, showing his rigid white teeth. Although...the fish that this stranger pecked at seemed irresistible in Hati’s eyes. It has been a while since his last meal. Traveling from place to place has made it difficult to adjust to where and where not to find food.

‘I don’t mind sharing.’

Hati cringed at the thought of sharing with the stranger who he already hated. Indeed...it would be against his principles to do such a thing. Rolling his eyes in exasperation, he thrusted away the thoughts of eating with this pesky wolf.

‘No reason to scowl, big boy. We can be… friends.’

His eyes regained their normal coldness as the strangers last sentence was shot like an arrow through his head “Friends?!”

Suddenly, Hati opened his mouth letting out a puff of air before laughing. His laugh flowed out in a musical tone as the breath escaped his maw. Hati could barely hold his sudden laughter together, closing his eyes as his head lifted to the sky.

A cold grin curled along his cheeks as his laughter came to a stop. He gazed at the other wolf and regained his calm composer “Tell me your name.” he said bluntly, refusing to use manners and state his name first.

[[ sköll ]]

At the stranger’s growling huff and – if he said so, rather rude – denial of his generous offer, Skoll cracked a leering smile and nudged the half-dead fish along the mangrove root with one paw. It flopped around lewdly, and Skoll pressed the pads of his paw into the creature’s gills with a particular maliciousness, the same jeering, half-suggestive grin plastered across his face.

”Yes, friends, I do hope that’s not too big a word for you. Such a shame when they’ve got beauty and brawn but no brains, isn’t it, yes, it is,” he replied, the latter end of his sentence trailing into silence as he slowly descended into the much more common practice of speaking to himself. Being alone would do that to a wolf – after decades of (mostly self-imposed, though he would never realize it) banishment; decades of wandering with no kind, supportive words behind him; no warm bodies to be near; no familiar scents to breathe in… He’d become a bit used to muttering to himself, and didn’t always remember that real wolves – normal wolves – were not quite so… unhinged.

”Tell me your name.”

”Ooh, nevermind, I do like you again. I bet you make a lot of enemies, don’t you – I bet I have more than you – do you want to bet, that could be fun –“

He cut himself off quickly, scowling, and eyed the stranger for a moment more in silence, wondering how to answer. ”Skoll. I go by Skoll. Now what’s your name, and do tell me about that lovely scar on your back, won’t you?”

[ ooc: LOL WHAT EVEN IS THIS. i had muse and i enjoyed writing it but .... i couldn't seem to add much else and i'm sorry it's short and ughhhhhhhhhhh and also it's late and I AM SO SORRY I AM A HORRIBLE RP PARTNER ]

[☽ Hati ☾]

] ooc: It's quite alright! I don't mind…I don't really have that much muse and I come up with both long and small post You are not a horrible partner! Not at all! xD [

Hati continued his strange grin until it dropped into a leering frown.

'..such a shame when they've got beauty and brawn but no brains…'

His fur fluffed and a pelt of anger carved the image of this annoying pest into his inflicting memory. From the tip of his nose, to the tip of his tail, Hati's body firmed in rage. "That's it…I'll kill him…He's good as dead!" The hot-tempered wolf took several steps closer to the stranger, each step shredding the roots beneath him. This stranger...he seemed to show bits and pieces of his true mettle. The situation presented by Hati would have generally intimidated others into fleeing...but this wolf continued to stay. As if he was intrigued by Hati.

As Hati came closer, it would only become inevitable that he wouldn't be able to do it. His eyes widened and his legs shook. Hati had fallen slightly, his front leg spread out to stop his near-fall. The blue wolfs head swung downward and his eyes closed in pain.

To Skoll…it would look like Hati just bowed to him.

Hati's off-white scar vividly showed, continuing a pain that should have been long gone. "You….You're getting on my damn nerves!!" he growled pulling himself abruptly upward and pushing his nose against Skoll's, in vexation.

His pain ceased moments later and he was able to catch both the strangers name and the inquiring question that followed. Hati pulled his nose away and took a seat, letting out a calm breath before pulling his composer back together.

Although he mentally refused it, Hati's name and answer escaped his lips.

"My name is Hati. For this scar…I don't remember."

Blinking in bewilderment at his giving of information, Hati briskly looked to the side…not wanting to keep eye contact with Skoll. He bit his lip, writhing in suppressed annoyance.

[[ sköll ]]

This stranger was deliciously predictable, Skoll mused. He’d always been a bit of a sucker for gruff, muscled wolves – though they rarely provided him the intellectual stimulation he so craved, they were often very easy to manipulate and, were he feeling a bit kinky, the perfect choices to indulge his masochism. The other puffed out his fur and bared his teeth at Skoll’s words, and stepped forward with stiff-legged rage to, no doubt, inflict some sort of damage. Skoll didn’t bother to move away – in fact, he stared his opponent down, daring him to continue.

He slipped on the roots, navy-furred legs stretching out awkwardly to catch his bulk as he fell; stooping, it was almost as though the stranger had bowed before Skoll, eyes downcast and back arched steeply.

Skoll could not help his laughter.

It bubbled up easily, happily – bright and clear and full of mirth; a legitimately happy sound to foreign to Skoll’s tongue. It was cut off as the stranger rose, brushing his nose against Skoll’s as he rose, pushing back against him aggressively before taking a seat.

”You’re getting on my damn nerves!”

The laughter, only temporarily halted, tore forth from his mouth once again, higher this time, and Skoll snapped his maw shut abruptly. A smirk twisted his lips and his chest shook from withheld laughter – but he knew how to play his hand; knew when to back down and play submissive. Trolling was such a delicate art, and teasing back was often a good move to make when optimum irritation was desired. (And, though Skoll would never admit to it, he liked something about this wolf.)

He ducked down low, taking in Hati’s rough voice as he finally introduced himself. ”Hati? Hati. Hatiii.” He tried the name out, slinking forward with a low belly. He craned his head back, looking up at the other Lumen, and licked submissively at his maw – he even threw in a quiet whine for good measure, hoping to appeal to Hati’s masculinity. ”You don’t remember at all? Maybe a birth defect, then?”

Skoll, legs bent at a painful and awkward angle, rolled onto his back. The roots were uneven and painful against his spine, but he twisted around so that his belly was splayed nonetheless, stretching out his lithe limbs in a way he figured would be appealing. He let loose another whine, wiggling a bit – and tumbled sideways into the water.

His eyes widened almost comically for a brief second, and as he gasped, surprised, he swallowed a lungful of rancid swampwater. Coughing, he dropped the illusion of gold-red fur and floundered back to the surface, nostrils flared and fur soaked. Laughter once more escaped his lips, throaty, and even as he hacked up the ruddy water, it didn’t appear that Skoll was at all perturbed by his sudden dip. Giggling still, he lowered his snout to the water and let his nose submerge – silent bubbles of his rapidly exhaled air churned the brackish liquid, and he raised his suddenly too-amused gaze to Hati.

[☽ Hati ☾]

Hati looked at the acquiescent lumen with a constricted and callous eye. His inner mouth salivated as he observed Skoll’s throat. Such an appealing prey he happened upon...As he learned before though, Skoll was of unique value to him. He couldn’t put his paw on it, but this damn wolf seemed significant.

Skoll had lowered himself, licking Hati’s maw submissively. The robust wolf was brisk and tense as the lumen did so. His lip curled somewhat, revealing his canines. Hati’s tail had been flared to the sky, parading his superior supremacy.

”You don’t remember at all? Maybe a birth defect, then?”

Hati looked up to the sky a moment, leaving himself open. He didn’t fear Skoll though, for he had played his part in showing submission. Even though Hati called bullshit on some of it, he believed Skoll was of no life-threatening concern. His eyes embraced the light that transcended from the sky “…” It was an ugly sight, this disgusting world...this disgusting light. Although, looking to the sky seemed to help his process in thinking.

Alas, no history could be recalled.

His head looped down, and a small puff of air escaped his moist noes “Hmph….It’s of no concern to you”

Hati watched at the pathetic wolf wriggled around and eventually tumbled into the water. It was an amusing sight, watching the feeble and pitiful.

The blue wolf lowered his tail, resting it limply against his hinds. His rear gradually fell, relaxing on the tanged root. The lumen eyed Skoll, thoroughly watching his water routine. What a sight it was…strangely diverting too. But it only held little amusement to Hati as it continued. He mused the possibility of just leaving the dumb where they lie, especially this one.

His eyes deepened with possibilities, could he just leave? What if there was a meaning to all of this?

A large sound escaped the air as Hati snapped his maw together, wounding his gums. A flow of crimson slowly dripped from his lips, trickling off his chin. His eyes barren and icy, looked through Skoll. The virile wolf shook vaguely, laughing to himself. There was no meaning to this…just a coincidence.

Hati began to rant quietly, telling himself what he knew…what he wanted to hear. It was all hush-hush, his words were but whispers to those around him. There was no meaning to any of this…especially not his ‘Skoll.’ Unsatisfied, he leaped into the water, snapping the energy from several fish at once. He had regained his neglected and hard composer, glaring at Skoll as coldly as he did when he first met him. He wouldn’t let this lumen confuse him.

Hati looked at the stunned fish and grabbed only one, taking it with him. His head was raised as he walked past Skoll in the water, splashing the lumen as he treaded through.

[[ sköll ]]

Hati was a wolf of few words -- Skoll found that he quite liked him; more and more with each passing second. He often found that there was nothing more disappointing than starting off on a rant, only to have his newest plaything interrupt with pesky comments. (And, on top of his silence, Hati was a rather handsome wolf, as far as Lumen were concerned. It was always best when his toys were easy on the eyes.)

Now that he thought about it, it had been quite a while since he'd had someone to play with -- someone to follow and sleep beside and torture to the brink of insanity. He missed it; had been without it for so long that he forgot he longed for it, until all the longing and pain rushed back and broke over him at the faint promise of something to do for the next fifty years or so.

(And really, he was ecstatic to have found a Lumen. A Sennyo would have sufficed, and were pretty enough, but -- call it biased, but he much preferred his own kind.) He'd have to be careful, though, not to overdo it -- not to lose him. While the other species made for good fun, they dropped like flies; insignificant and short-lived. There was only so much one could wring out of a Yagi, or a Kukkien, before it simply keeled over dead. The longer the life, the more chance Skoll might find for entertainment.

The other fell into the water after him, taking a fish for his own. Skoll straightened at this, pelt dripping, and pouted at Hati. "What, my present wasn't good enough for you? Why don't we ever talk about our feelings, Hati--" Skoll paused as Hati stalked past him, obviously planning to leave, splashing him as he went.

Skoll followed.

He submerged himself in the thick water, propelling himself forward along the muddy ground -- the only remnant visible was the trail of bubbles he left as he trailed alongside his newfound companion. When he found he could no longer hold his breath, the smaller Lumen popped back up, shaking himself liberally in an attempt to get as much of the water off of his fur (and onto Hati's).

"That's fine, I guess," Skoll murmured, before glancing over to size up Hati from the corner of his eye. "How old are you? Do you recall? ... Where are you going? Hati. Hati --"

[☽ Hati ☾]

Hati felt the propelled droplets of mucky water cover his pelt. He sneered in abhorrence and his eyes closed reflexively, guarding against the cascade.

"That's fine, I guess," Skoll murmured, before glancing over to size up Hati from the corner of his eye. "How old are you? Do you recall? ... Where are you going? Hati. Hati --"

The robust male temporarily dropped his fish as Skoll engaged a conversation with him. After a vague moment, his vivacious pink eyes looked Skoll dead in the eyes “Annoying piece of shit…ya damn imp…” Mumbles rolled between his canines before he spoke recognizable words “I’m 100, if you must know…” he huffed. The already tempered wolf was about to answer his next question (with a smartass remark), but the flimsy imp continued to irritate him. His ears flamed around pulling at his ‘brow’. When he pushed his ears to their upmost position, his forehead furrowed into a scowl.

“DAMN!” he snapped, turning to Skoll.

Strangely, the robust wolf followed in silence for a period of time. He only looked at Skoll, eyeing his unique acquaintance. “There is no specific direction to where I will go, I go where I like... and that’s that.” He tipped his head to the side and snorted a puff of air into the face of Skoll. He had never met such a wolf before…that he had been attracted to. Be it that this wolf was a fellow Lumen or just because he was Hati’s complete opposite…either way, Hati seemed to be interested in him. Although he loathed the troublesome idiot, there was some thread that seemed to bind his conscious to the stranger and he would like to keep that connection…at least for the time being.

Hati took a closer step to Skoll for a passing moment, glaring into the lumen’s pink eyes. He turned with a quick snap “Che!”

The wolf bended the light around himself until a silk-like pelt of complete blackness consumed him. His pelt became like the night sky and left his gleaming pink eyes as the stars. The water that had attached itself to his pelt seemed to have faded away. Hati seemed to like his new pelt as he turned about a brief tick, eyeing its harsh blandness, just like his heart.

His head flipped over to Skoll, and he eyed him curiously “Where is it…that you are going?” he asked. His tone was quite brittle as he did so, as if he had a hard time socializing with others…which he did.