I never thought I'd return...

[doki]

The sun slowly rose behind the cascading mountains, spilling a blanket of light onto the lands of the Balkamir Yakaxy Empire. A chocolate paw stepped onto the Founding Fields, the creature it belonging to once being apart of this land. His deep brown eyes glanced across the field, recalling of when he had first come to the Empire.

A sigh escaped Dokimer's jaws. He slowly padded ahead, breathing in all the old scents he had once had every day.

"I can't believe i'm back..."

He came to a halt and turned his head to the rising sun. He wondered if anyone remembered him... Remembered the old him. Upon his leaving, he had changed. He was no longer the scared little wolf he once was. And then, a single name danced across his mind.

"Sheba."

That was the reason he had left; the same reason why he had left Hally in the past. Doki knew all about Viking and he hadn't wanted to get in the way as he had before with his first love. But now, now he was back.

The Yagi breathed a deep sigh, coughing. He realized just how old he was getting. "I bet no one even remembers me.." He grumbled, walking forward. And as he took that first step, he felt his right leg give way under him and he collapsed on the ground, gasping at the pain. "Ah..!" He clenched his teeth, quickly making himself comfortable on the cold ground, knowing that he wouldn't be able to move for a little while.

His stomach growled and the old Yagi found out just how in bad shape he was. His vision began to blur as he fought to stay concious. He was starving, his leg was finally failing him, and he was old and alone, out on the cold ice floors of the field with no source of warmth around him.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Bathsheba]

[atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=background,http://i37.tinypic.com/p60eo.png] Bathsheba had deteriorated mentally. Now, she saw the shadows wherever she went. She saw her friends with monsters. And the voices were getting worse. But she knew that she was getting crazy. The saddest thing was as she stepped more and more into that abyss, she was losing her love. True, such a love was crazy, insane, horrible, but Anthony had been the only thing keeping her sane. Which was odd. That familiar scent was hidden under his travels. Why had he left us? Bathsheba narrowed her red-orange eyes. Her weight had ballooned again from her temporary moments of average weight. She was again heavily overweight. Unlike the first time she was so large, she did not carry this with pride and merely looked like a female who had everything taken away from her—even her mind. The only thing she had was this rank. This Empress rank. And, it was probably because nobody dared to fight a crazy wolf for the position. An injured Dokimer soon came into view. Bathsheba growled at him, that old, lonely wolf. She herself was getting old. Her bones were getting old and that ankle that he had treated those few years ago was her weak point. She’d get sore there often. “Damn you, idiot!” She barked and violently pushed him up and awake in the fields. “Why’d you leave us twice?” Because, Sheba… A tender voice played in the back of Sheba’s soul, hurting her. He knows your insane. Insane. Insane Bathsheba grew angry at the truth, but something clicked in her mind that made her forget to be angry. Her voice became soft as she looked over the injured male. “Dokimer? Get up, there is food in the pack.”

[doki]

He lie on the ground, slowly slipping into sleep.

His dreams brought him to a meadow. A blanket of fresh snow covered the wild flowers, the sun casting an ever so beautiful shine across the surface. And yet, a deep lonely feeling consumed him. He gazed around the field to look for someone. Something to help this lonesome feeling. In the distance, he saw a figure; someone familiar.

"Hello?"

The closer Dokimer came to it, the slower he went until he skid to a stop, jaw dropped in shock. Could it be true? Could it be his long lost love? ".. Hally!" He leaped for her, only to find himself face planted into the shimmering snow. He lifted his head and shook the snow from his muzzle. He was alone once again...

Another figure appeared. Not wanted to miss it, he dashed towards it, skidding to a halt in shock again, only for a different reason. The figure was not Hally, but Sheba.

"Damn you idiot! Why'd you leave us twice?"

[/b]

Doki staggered to his paws from her shove, whimpering at the pain shooting through his leg. His eyes blinked hard, trying to figure out what was happening. Only after a few moments did he realize it was Sheba. "S.. Sheba..." He spoke under his breath, feeling a pang of fear to her harsh tone. His lips trembled as he gazed at her. "I... I'm sorry..." He stuttered pathetically. Though, her voice soon changed.

"Dokimer? Get up, there is food in the pack."[/b]

His legs became stiff under him as he slowly nodded to her, clamping his mouth shut as to not further trouble the situation. He went to take a step forward, only to wince and fall back over from his troubled limb.[/color][/blockquote][/blockquote]

wahh.. i didn't know what to reply xD

[nero]

Sheba had passed that glory spot in immensity. She once looked grand, but now looked pathetically deformed. Her limbs ached simply by moving and she was slightly annoyed by Dokimer’s injuries. Especially the fact that it seemed he couldn’t walk. “Come, now old wolf. You are a doctor, why’d you let yourself get like this?”

She didn’t know what he had been through, nor did she care. She felt her power slowly slipping as her sanity was slowly slipping away. She could barely say that she was able to move, to understand, to see in the way a leader should. Sheba had had everything taken away by her: even her faculty to care.

Her kindness was like a bitter taste in one’s mouth. It lingered despite the fact that the offensive flavor had long touched the mouth. Her maternal attitude was merely the result of habituation, over and over. She didn’t think like a mother any more. She didn’t feel like a mother anymore.

A blank slate. Her mind became a blank slate, clean of all things that had made her Sheba. Her love of telling stories, her love of love itself had washed away in the rain of insanity. And she stopped, lost and dazed, watching the injured wolf struggle to stand and fall.

It was lucky for Dokimer that Nero arrived. The young wolf tapped his mother’s shoulder to release her. “Newcomer?,” Nero inquired. Dokimer was a pack member long before his birth. The young wolf was now nearing adulthood. He had a heavier build, but it was not fat like Sheba was, it was muscle. Rust colored eyes portrayed kindness, but a dark heart desired power.

Bathsheba grumbled, churning the melting spring snow as she turned around. “There’s food in the Snowhills.”

Nero offered a shoulder for Dokimer to lean on. A small Yagi. Interesting.

((ooc: Enter Nero~ LOL))

[Cypress]

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[atrb=background,http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac298/Wonderwhy_wolves/cypress-1.png] The Captain of the Empire moved almost mechanically though the Founding Field. So often had she made these treks it was second nature, in her bloodied maw she carried a few unlucky leverets that ventured too far from their parents den. Her eyes were almost sunken with sorrow. She had lost the closest thing she ever had to a family. Her pups and the father of them had all disappeared, leaving her cold and alone once more in the desolate land. All she had left was the pack, and that seemed to be unraveling as quickly as Sheba's sanity. Forever loyal to the once kind Empress, Cupressus was bringing more food home to the pack. In the distance the small female saw three shapes of fellow yagi. The largest one was, of course, Bathsheba. Her heart sank a little, she was unsure what was happening to her Empress....all she knew is that she feared for the future. As soon as her heart sank, it leaped back up when she recognized the smallest form...Dokimer? For the first time in months she had a slight spring in her step, so long it had been since she had seen her friend and kindred spirit, the Doctor. Both were smaller than average yagi, and both had things wrong with their tails. Hers was improperly docked, his was deformed. She made a line to meet the group, finally seeing the Nero was among them. She slowed her steps as she neared them. Was Doki injured? All her questions would have to wait, she dipped her head in respect to Nero and Sheba. Her eyes traced over Nero's form, he was growing up to be a fine yagi it seemed. She did not speak, only dropped the food at the feet of the Heir and Empress.

[doki]

Dokimer grunted to Bathsheba's words, knowing that he had pretty much ruined his life. "I... I don't know..." He murmured softly. He closed his eyes for a minute, trying to gather up the strength to get back up to get back to the camp. With another failed attempt, he just sat on the ground.

Until a young Yagi male appeared.

The Doctor opened his eyes as Nero approached, watching as he lightly tapped Sheba. He didn't know that the young wolf was actually one of Sheba's pups; though he would find out soon enough. A strange feeling ran through him as he gazed into his eyes, almost like something was being covered up deep inside him. But he just shook his head, erasing any thoughts from his mind.

"Newcomer?"

Doki sighed, knowing that he probably was a newcomer to the pack now, the only ones knowing him would be being the wolves who had been there the whole time. "I suppose..." He said, mostly to himself. He noticed that Nero was offering him a shoulder and stood up with his shaky leg. He leaned against the bigger male, knowing that his weight was probably nothing.

Another familiar scent ran across his old nose and his ears twitched a little. It was Cypress. He nodded to her, holding in the faint happiness he felt from seeing her. His eyes shifted back to Sheba. "Please take me back... I've been away from home for so long..." His voice trailed as his leg began to ache again and he pressed his full weight on Nero's shoulder.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

muah.. I suck at this xD

[nero]

Bathsheba growled to herself, but made no indication that she even heard Doki. If he didn’t think she was taking him back, then fine. What else could the invite into the pack territory be? However, Sheba didn’t know what Doki had been through. And, quite frankly, she didn’t care. She was a changed wolf. Her steps were heavier; her mind, more clouded; and her future, dim.

Cypress’s coming received nothing more than a dull nod of the head. Shadows played pictures in Sheba’s eyes. She felt a mote of emotion at least; a tiny speck of it shone alone in what little light was left, but then ignored it gruffly, out of sorts, needing to move into her den for some sort of sanctuary. She limped faster, but was stopped by her son. She was oblivious to the food that Cypress had hunted for the pack.

Nero, however, stopped. “Please eat, old wolf. Get your strength up.” He looked at the food that Cypress had offered and moved it closer to Doki. However, his plans to portray a sweet young heir was interrupted when Doki said that he wanted back into the pack. He had been a member long before now. When the remember whens of Sheba’s good leadership was still true.

This would work to his advantage. If he could push that idea, that Sheba was insane, perhaps he could become Emperor that much earlier. And, if not, then at least, if Sheba lost her power either by death or her own mental destruction, then perhaps his own path to leader would be that much easier to follow. A plan. For now, it was only to reveal Sheba for the insane bundle of nerves she had become. It should be relatively easy given the fact that she seemed on edge.

“Bathsheba,” Nero said, “Is it true that you know this wolf? Take him back then. Tell him you’ll take him back.” He knew that she’d go insane. Everything about her stance, her mannerisms, it spelled the beginning of a storm. A storm that would only prove to this Empire why she was losing her touch. Not only with leading, but with her own mind.

She swung her head around, dumb-eyed like a cow. She growled slightly as her son was morphed into a strange creature, half monster, half Nero. His eyes were flames; his body, darkness. What does he want now? Can’t he see you’re sleeping? Bathsheba forced words from her mouth, “You… I took you back. I’ll always take you back!” She was getting angrier in the way she spoke. She ranted, raved instead of spoke. “Why are you such an idiot? Why do I have to spell it out for you each time? I invited you into my pack, the heart of it; I invited for you to share the food of my pack, this wretched Empire! Why can’t you fucking listen for once!”

Nero looked to Cypress as he began readying his body to somehow steady Sheba's descent into madness. Episodes like this usually came and went. It was average to these wolves, routine, but still, they knew how not normal it was. It was by luck that most of the pack hadn't seen her at her worst. He tilted his head toward his mother in the middle of her hot words and then said to the Captain, "We must before she injures the old wolf; let's go."

ooc: God-mode is allowed for Nero + Sheba and getting her pinned down Feel free to use Nero as Cy's help ^^

[Cypress]

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[atrb=background,http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac298/Wonderwhy_wolves/cypress-1.png] Cypress had not said much of anything in the past few months however she was the first of the pack to witness Sheba's decent into madness the scar on her side gleamed in the sunlight. Perhaps only she and Nero knew....perhaps they were the only two that cared, even for selfish reasons. Cypress moved closer to Doki, poorly docked tail wavering in greeting. She was happy to see him, even in her pit of sorrow. Sheba was making her way back to the pack lands. Why Doki, why did you have to be hesitant? It seemed Nero was an instigator, he wanted the older wolf to see what was happening to the Empress. But why? Maybe it was for Doki's own good, maybe it was to prove a point. The Empire was dying....unless Nero could take control. Cypress was unsure how she felt about that, she had not spent very much time around the male since he became a sub adult. Cypress was still larger than him, but not by much, he would no doubt surpass her soon. Her ears quavered at the sound of Sheba's outbreak. She watched the Empress with a pensive expression. Had she lashed out at anyone else in the pack, aside Cypress? She didn't know, but she didn't want it to happen. She also readied herself in case she turned violent, taking a step to shield Doki and come closer to Nero.

[doki]

Dokimer limped at Nero's side, eyes on the ground. His mind was scattered. Ever since he had left, itt was like he was in a dream, walking around in a hallow body. Everything seemed to be happening so fast now. Things went in one ear; some things went right through him and out the other. His mind was beginning to fail him.

".. What?" He shook his head as Nero spoke of him eating. Only at that moment did he realize the pungent scent of the prey that Cypress had brought. His mouth began to water and his stomach growled. Unable to control himself, he stumbled forward and on top of the leverets, chomping down on the fresh prey within moments. In his hungry state he devoured creatures, leaving virtually nothing. The sweet taste of the blood running down his throat quickly started making his dizziness start to subside.

Only when he had eaten everything in front of him and licked his bloody maw did he realize what he did. He quickly raised his head, ears laid back in embarrassment. He was about to appologize when Sheba started up her rant.

“You… I took you back. I’ll always take you back! Why are you such an idiot? Why do I have to spell it out for you each time? I invited you into my pack, the heart of it; I invited for you to share the food of my pack, this wretched Empire! Why can’t you fucking listen for once!”

The words slipped into Doki's mind like poison. He instantly crouched low to the ground, feeling that vulnerable, frightened state coming back over him. "I-I... I..." He couldn't find words to speak. He winced, knowing that he messed up again. His head started buzzing again. His life started flashing before him, so quickly it overwhelmed him. Wanting to get away from it he stood up, stumbling forward and enduring through the splitting pain in his head. He was doing just as he had always done when something like this happened...

He was trying to run away.

[/color]

muuuuah.. i kinda lost my muse with Dokimer... D:

[Bathsheba]

[atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=background,http://i37.tinypic.com/p60eo.png] Bathsheba had become hypervigilant. Her eyes, behind a veil of bangs, were trained onto Doki’s quivering form. Like a mindless beast, she snorted and the cold air of the tundra turned her breath to fog. She almost looked like a dragon in her madness. She twisted her mouth into a wicked snarl and glanced only briefly toward Nero and Cypress. Her son looked weak compared to the practiced Captain. It was almost pathetic. She lumbered forward, step by step toward Doki. “You damn coward. You always leave,” she growled as he attempted to make his getaway. But he had been so weak before, barely able to walk. There was no chance for him now. Bathsheba’s eyes were a demon’s eyes. Her focus was the razor-keen one of a predator about to kill. Nothing mattered anyways. Doki had turned into nothing but a strange twisted form of a jackalope trying to wear a wolf’s skin in her mind. He was desperately trying to put his paws in the legs of the wolf, only to have the pelt bunch in thick folds around the smaller form. And the antlers were sticking out through the mouth and the eye. “What is this? What sorcery is this?” She became incoherent and momentarily confused, almost afraid, stopped in her tracks. Nero leaned forward, readying himself for that moment when she’d explode into attack in order to mirror Cypress. However, the great question framed itself: What were they waiting for? Nero had no ties to his mother except for the fact that she had whelped him. He wasn’t hanging on the hope that she was going to stop and turn around. In fact, there was no evidence whatsoever that she intended to do anything but kill Doki. A quick, split-second decision had him decide to take the smarter route, a preemptive strike. He wasn’t going to wait for Sheba to destroy the small Yagi. So, the heir himself flung himself toward his mother’s massive body. The momentum of his body made her sway and then crumble to the ground thanks to her weak ankle. She growled and took Nero by his left ear and flung him off of her back. Her vision put an overlay of monsters on the figures of the Yagi around her. Her own family, her pack, they were monsters masquerading as friends. Not even her son, bleeding from the ear and picking himself up for round two, was the true monster despite the evil in his heart. Bathsheba rolled onto her feet again, her heavy body virtually unscathed and she said, “It’s all evil! All of it!” And she again turned to the weakest of the three Yagi—Dokimer. “Why don’t you die beast!” Nero looked at Cypress. “She’s not right. We have to pin her, subdue her.” He lunged again, fully aware that he would fail again if she did not assist him. ((Ooc: Once again! Permission to powerplay with Nero and, to whatever extent you need, autohit Sheba ))

[Cypress]

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[atrb=background,http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac298/Wonderwhy_wolves/cypress-1.png] Cupressus watched as Bathsheba descended into a chaotic state. It hurt her heart to see her beloved Empress like that. She remained between the large female and the small, weak male. She didn't want to see anyone hurt, however Nero took the initiative to attack his mother...to attempt to subdue her. Her intense green eyes flashed momentarily with ire at the adolescent, had he no respect? However his quick and thoughtless reprimand by Sheba made her worry for his well being, as if a mother would for her own pup. The smell of blood in the cold air made her ridged and stand alert, she had to do something. However what was escaping her. She had been by Sheba's side since day one. However day one was also when she met Doki. Nero's words echoing Sheba's, made the decision for her. No one else could be hurt, the Empress was a danger to herself and the others around her. She had to be subdued, it was for her own good. Though she feared the insane yagi would not see it the same way. " Bathsheba, stop this!" Cypress almost growled, reading herself, horns down in the stance of a duel. However, Nero lunged before the challenge could be met. She was unsure of the yearling's skills in a fight, so Cypress made to make a head on blow, to take the brunt of Sheba's wrath if, once, it was unleashed. She charged, aiming to stun the Empress with a blow to the chest, once Nero had distracted her again.

[nero]

The dust settled for a moment, so to speak, with Cypress’s mighty blow to Sheba’s chest, stealing the attack from Nero. The small wolf had glanced off of Bathsheba’s hefty frame, but the attack had left the physically unsound Empress catching her breath since all the air had escaped her. Sheba narrowed her rust colored eyes and her one horn tilted toward Cypress. Despite the fact that she had been stunned, she wasn’t ready to let go of the battle. Her mind was still affected by images of monsters. She saw red.

Nero hadn’t stopped to nurse his ear. He was focused on his mother, but also slightly embarrassed that he was so unskilled that Cypress was a better fighter than he. He merely served as a distraction, but his mother had fallen. He knew her ankle was weak and in her feeble minded rages, he knew she wouldn’t be able to fight with as much fire as she had before. Blood ran down the side of his face, but Nero saw the crimson more as warpaint that evidence of injury. He circled his mother, trying to find the easiest spot with which he could pin her from. Bathsheba was distracted by the idea that Cypress may attack again, and so, Nero threw himself at her, in an arcing jump that aimed for that spot between her shoulder blades, away from the danger of her thrashing horns.

It made Sheba refocus on her son. She bucked and twisted where she lay, trying to shake Nero from off of her back. Her body grew tired from the drama of the moment. Her growls became pants and she slowly was subdued from exhaustion. Nero released his grip and stood on his mother, who breathed heavily, her eyes still glazed over in insanity, but she was too tired to be much of a threat. “Now,” Nero said, between breaths himself, “we need someone to escort the Empire’s prodigal son back to the Snowhills and someone to watch my mother.” He shrugged his shoulders, “I can watch her. She should be sane again soon.” Nero felt it was better if Dokimer had someone familiar lead him back into the changed pack.