I Own This Place (Itachi/open)

[Nightmare Darkly]

Nightmare scrambled over a log, paws muddy from the swamp water. He looked around with mischievous yellow-green eyes, searching for someone to torment.

He knew he was off his packs land. In fact, this was the furthest he'd been from his den since he was born. However, Mama had gone wandering, so he had the run of the place until she got back. That meant he could go where ever, and tell his brothers to do whatever (whether or not they chose to listen remained to be seen) and do what he did best:

Bully.

Which was what had brought him hear. According to rumor, the pack of the swamp was a bunch of sissy wolves. That had made him squirm with anticipation. He had yet to kill a wolf, and he desperately wanted the chance to do so. He didn't care if people told him he was "too young," "too little," or "too weak." He'd find a worthless sissy pup and kill that instead! He'd make the whole Mafia proud of him! He'd murder the other pup so brutally and cleverly that they'd instantly promote him to the rank of the Don!

And that was his goal, really. To be the Don would be the greatest honor. It was his dream, his ultimate purpose. Sometimes, late at night, he wondered that it wasn't the only reason he kept breathing. However, he was too young and, frankly, stupid, to keep up a thought that deep for very long, and he dismissed it easily.

So here he was, in this swampy land, looking around for a pup to torment, looking around for a chance to be mean. Someday, when he was big and strong, this wimpy wolf pack was going to know his name, and remember what he did to their pup, and worship him so that he wouldn't hurt them too.

"'Cos I own dis pwace," Nightmare sneered to himself, his speech still thick with the rough accent of an unlearned pup "Or, if I don't now, I wiw soon enuff!!!"

[itachi]

Lots to do, lots to do. Now that Itachi had grown much stronger and his malnutrition from his very early puphood was now barely noticeable (an occasional cough), he was allowed to inspect the territory alone. He wondered why they let him alone, it wasn't a usual thing, but one of the wolves (he still wasn't good with names yet) said that he had good eyes, and would see any trouble before it came. Most likely the comment was to raise spirit, and Itachi didn't really think about it very hard, despite how hard he thinks about nearly everything.

No, he had more useful things to do. He was getting well aquainted with the territory. The smells, the feeling that supported each pawstep (though mucky near the swamp), among other things. His powerful sky blue eyes saw the swamp like clouds in the sky, and he mapped and kept note of the structures, though he would probably have to look at the same area numerous times to be able to fully appreciate and memorize the place. By the time he was looking around the borders regularly, no doubt.

He had also started learning to fly. Sasha couldn't do it, his special type of species mix made him only lift above the ground for a couple seconds. But that was about the level Itachi was at right now, except he could reach at least 10 feet in a single bound before descending back to the ground.
He did this several times, and now was inspecting the land from the branch of a tree, whos leaves have oranged and now start to fall and cover up the mushy mess of the swamp grounds.
He was more layed back than usual. Despite the fact that he was always attentive, he had been given a free day, and he wanted nothing else to do but sit in and think. The way he layed along his tree branch, you would think he was a cat, with his long tail swaying against the wind. His red wings were open and not one bit tense.

So when he heard a voice muttering to oneself in a strange kind of accent, it sorta made everything tense up and ruin the peace of mind.
Itachi's eyes already spotted it: a wandering pup that seemed bulky and more healthy than a loner, so it seemed to belong to a pack.
His black and red pelt was hard to see from this distance with all the fall colors, but Itachi did not feel threatened. In fact, his curiosity was almost overwhelming.
What is a pup like that doing here?
"Cos I own dis place."
Hm, strange accent. Interesting. I wanna hear more of this.
But before he said anything, he thought about that remark.
Technically, no its not. A pup dream. He was a pup, and had his own pup dreams, and he shouldn't be one to say anything. However, his didn't involve anything negative. He just wanted to be around friends and family and to be in one place forever as someone loved. A loner pups dream.
"Hey." He started, trying to practice 'casual lingo', "What do you mean by you own this place?" What he said ended up questioning the only comment he had actually heard clearly, and he was probably invading on the pups dreams. But a question was a question, he wanted to hear more of this voice.
The pup wouldn't be any harm anyways, he was in a tree and could sort of fly.

[/justify]

[Nightmare Darkly]

Nightmare looked up abruptly at the voice that sounded from the trees. A Keiyou! A full-blooded Keiyou! He fluttered his own black wings, scowling deeply at the thought of someone who was probably better at flying than him. His Mama had taught him that his father was filthy scum, and that because he was the reason Nightmare was of mixed blood, he should hate him with everything his little pup had. He was hating him a lot right now.

"What I mean by 'I own dis pwace is dat dis pwace is mine! I'm makin' it my pwace! I claim it in da name of da Mafia!" He spread his little, mossy green paws wide. The brown mane that ran from the top of his head to the end of his rump rose up a little bit. He glared fiercely at the Keiyou. From the smell drifting about the area, this was a wimpy wolf pack pup. A cruel smile split the face of the young hybrid. Wonderful!

"Unwess yew wanna do sumfink 'bout dat?" he challenged, "Or are yew to scared? Yew're one a' dos' wimpy wittle Cwan puppies, eh? I betcha yew ain't ever kiwed nuffink!" He was trying to incite the other pup into attacking. Or crying. Which ever came first. He didn't care, really. He just wanted to sink his claws into the other pup's flesh.

Nightmare spat a thick gob of goo onto the ground, then extended his grin to expose his slimy teeth. He was already planning how he'd murder the pup. His mama had told him about how she'd killed a Keiyou. He'd start there, ripping the little guy's wings off. Then he'd pull off his tail, then his ears, then his paws, then he'd let him bleed for a little bit, then he'd finish him off, and bring his body to Sylvester, the current Don. Hopefully, he'd be so pleased, he'd up Nightmare's rank a bit. Ha! How wonderful would that be?

He could so easily picture it all in his head... a shiver of joy ran through his body.

Yes, someday, they'd speak the name of Nightmare Darkly in hushed voices! He'd let this pup be the reason why. He should feel special, really, being a part of such a momentous happening. Not everyone got to be the first kill of a great leader.

[itachi]

Itachi was called out for a challenge of fighting. By analyzing everything about this pups behavior, every muscle that moved, he could tell the pup meant harm. Itachi knew that a pup that bulky would be dangerous for him, so he didn't even consider getting into a physical fight. Instead, he was going to use his wits to solve this one. After all, the pup might have been a little older but couldn't even talk right. No matter what Itachi would say, this pup would clearly present himself as a total jerk. The Mafia didn't sound like a friendly place. He would have to ask the pack about it later.
He may not have much pride in his pack at the moment, but he knew he had enough. They sheltered him and have given him a permanent home. They weren't weak. They were strong, but it didn't have to be physically.

I will show this pup just that with a little game. I hope he can withstand conversation for more than a few seconds without trying to fly up at me. He thought, knowing of the pups wings. But somehow, the wings seemed out of place on such a bulky little body, like roots around a boulder.

"Do something about it? I wasn't really hoping for it. Not with someone who can't even speak right. But how about this; if you can get up to me, I'll have no choice but to fight." He knew this was dangerous, and he was being a little harsh, but it was all part of the plan. This little pup had no real idea what he was doing, barking around. It was suprising the pack didn't come, hearing the commotion.
"I really don't have a wish to fight, I just don't go that way."
His casual lingo was unlike Itachi's personality, but once he learned of formalities he knew he would drop it quicker than rotten food.

[/justify]

[Nightmare Darkly]

Nightmare growled when the other pup mentioned his manner of speech. He was still having trouble grasping the concept of proper speech, although his mother had drilled him daily. It bothered him that, despite his efforts, he still sounded like an uneducated pup (which he was). He coughed a few times, trying to remember what his mother had taught him.

"We-eh... well!" he said, choking out the L sound, "Well... I can speak right if... If I want too! So d-I mean, so there!" He stuck out his tongue insolently, "And I wiw- I mean, will fly up de- there! Yew may not want t'fight, but that only makes it more fun for me!"

And now he was really riled up. His bobbed tail wagged furiously, causing his entire rear end to wiggle with the force of it, drool ran from his mouth, his eyes were wide.

Gunna kiw 'im! Gunna kiw 'im and rip 'im and shred 'im and eat 'is heart for dinner! his thoughts ran around like a frenzy of wild animals. It was more than being mocked, it was more than his goal to be better than anyone. It was his upbringing, teaching him to apply his passionate personality to the darker side of life.

He spread his wings and flapped furiously, springing up into the air, fluttering, and then, with a yelp of dismay, toppling back to the earth. His wings ached. He was too big, too heavy, to reach that kind of height without some kind of aid. Snarling and pawing the ground, he aimed his horns at the base of the tree and did what thick-headed berserkers do best:

Ran right into it.

If he couldn't fly up there, he would ram the little freak down to his level.

Smash! Smash! Smash!

He pounded the tree. His horns left dents in the wood. His wild blood-lust kept him from feeling the pain of a headache that would haunt him for weeks afterward.

And then the inevitable happened.

He put on an extra turn of speed before hitting the tree again, and hit it full force. His curly little horns struck the wood, and he instantly pulled back, preparing to strike again. Only one problem, though.

His horns didn't come out.

The berserk state he'd worked himself into vanished instantly, replaced by a wild panic. He was stuck! He was stuck! He tugged his head back, braced his front paws on the wood, pulled and twisted struggled, but he couldn't break free!!!

"Mommy! Mommy!" he shrieked, his fall back plan anytime something didn't go his way, "Mommyyyyyyy!!! I'm stuck! I'm stuck!!! Hewp meeeeeee!!!!" he began to wail, flailing helplessly as he attempted to free himself. What would they say about the Great Nightmare now? That he died, stuck in a tree?

Great sobs came from his muzzle, howls and whimpers and cries of terror and anguish. Bravado gone, he cried up to the pup in the tree.

"Pwease hewp me!" he whined, "Pwease! Pwease! Pwease! Waaaaaah!!! I want my mommy!!!!"

[itachi]

There was clear bloodlust in the pup. The poor thing just wasn't raised properly.
I guess we both have something in common. Itachi pondered, watching as the pup continued to barrel himself into the tree in an attempt to knock it down, the whole time he watched the angry pup with no clear expression on his face whatsoever. He already knew he had won, he had more advantages than he could hope for. But when the pup got stuck into the tree, he felt obliged to help him, remembering that they had something in common.
So he hopped down casually from the tree as if nothing was happening, and came to the pups antlers. They were clearly latched onto the bark, and there was only one way to get them out.

The poor pup was crying for his mother, which made Itachi feel set apart. At least this pup had parents, unlike himself. So now he had even more motive to get the pup out of the tree.
"Your horns are curled up in there, don't tense or you'll be stuck there. Okay, I'm going to get you out."
He bit one of the horns and then muffled,
"I'm going to count and then your going to tuck your head down and pull back. Ready? One... Two... Three!"
Itachi shifted his weight downward so the antler was no longer lose. This force caused the other one to snap right off the tree, and when the pup pulled back, he tumbled a little, but he was free.
"You can speak okay if you want to. I didn't have any parents to begin with, so I havent really been disciplined to strangers." Itachi didn't know if he was explaining himself or if he was apologizing, but he knew that he had done good here, and hoped that the pup wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

[/justify]

[Nightmare Darkly]

Nightmare sniffled when he heard the other pup coming down out of the tree. Certainly now, after all his bravado and threatening, the other would kill him, wouldn't he???

However, he only came down to help, it seemed. Whimpering a little, he followed the other pup's instructions, and was soon tumbling away from the tree, his horns released from their bark-covered trap.

Leaping to his feet, he studied the other pup uncertainly. This was only the second real act of kindness he'd ever received. The first was his mother's decision not to feed him to Flynn and Sylvester. He wasn't sure how to respond.

"You can speak okay if you want to. I didn't have any parents to begin with, so I haven't really been disciplined to strangers." The other pup had said. Nightmare tilted his head to one side.

"Yew reawy dink so?" he said, dropping back into his usual manner of speaking, "I s'pose I cin talk right if I feew wike it..." he shuffled his paws awkwardly. Now the other pup had revealed that he didn't have any parents. Nightmare wondered what that would be like. Certainly his own mother wasn't exactly the very image of maternal loving, but she was still there. He knew he had her if he needed her... most of the time.

"W-wew... it isn't that much fun... parents. They cin teach ya stuff 'bou strangers and hunting an' stuff... but if ya wanna wearn da real stuff, ya gotta go out an' teach yerself!" he puffed out his chest in a regal manner, "Jus' wike I'm doin' now! I'm teachin' mysewf to hunt n' kill oder wolves! Den mama wiw be super prouda me!"

However, he considered the other pup before him. He had been freed from what would no doubt have been an awful fate as food for some other beast of the swamp later that night (or, even worse, the dreaded Flynn!). He couldn't kill someone he was indebted to. Dropping his voice low and turning his eyes to something else, he addressed this matter.

"Wook... I can't kill yew 'coz yew saved my life... so I owe yew a favor..." he shuffled his paws again, feeling awkward, "So.. so... yew better hold onto that! 'Coz yew never know when yew'll need it, and as soon as it's gone, I cin kill yew again... So it's da onwy thing keepin' yew awive!"

He scowled deeply, staring down at his paws. He hated owning favors! Hated it! But he couldn't change the fact that he did owe one, and he was going to have to live with it.

"Er.... so... if yew ever need hewp... just call out 'Nightmare!' okay? I usuawy hang out around da jungle, but I'm gonna be a wanderer wike Mommy someday, and take over pack wike yewrs and make them part of da Mafia!" again, he puffed out his chest, this time spreading his little black wings to make himself look bigger, "And what're yew gonna do, eh?"

[itachi]

Teach yourself? Most definently. There are certain things that cannot be taught. Instincts are the greatest example of that.
It seemed now that the pup wasn't such a poor pup after all, he just wasn't educated right in his morals. But thats just another one of those things that he taught himself.
As for what the pup said about parents, it was probably only because of the group he was stuck with, though. All parents wouldn't teach their children quite like this, or some of the pups in Quesse Anar would be the same way. They certainly talk funny, but thats because they are trying to learn the language. This pups morals were dilluted, but that was quite all right. He had a whole lifetime to get them fixed and make the decisions he thought was right.

The pup still went on with the idea of taking over Itachis pack, so he had to go along with his defense of his pack.
"What would I do? I would do what any good wolf would do, defend the pack with all my strength. And now that I have this warning, I'm going to learn a move so powerful you won't be taking my pack away from me!"
For the first time in a long time, he spoke with passion and vigor, and he realized the responsibility he heaved in his later years.
"You can count on that."

[/justify]

[Nightmare Darkly]

Nightmare giggled. This pup was funny, with his claims of defending the pack with all his strength. In his mind, no one so young could possibly make a big enough move to stop him. He considered himself smart, clever, all the makings of the perfect leader and fighter. As if to prove his point, he sat down, scratching his ear nonchalantly, and said:

"I cin onwy count t'fifty, so I dunno know if I can count on dat. Moves aren't numbers," he thought this to be the wisest thing ever to leave his mouth. Rather much, it probably only served to make him look like more of an idiot.

Lurching to his paws and shaking, he considered the other pup with curious eyes. He'd never met someone so... mild mannered. All the wolves he knew were the vicious, in your face "hell-yeah-I'll-fight-you-bastard" types. He didn't think anyone could not react to being challenged to a fight. He didn't think anyone could care enough about a pup with his horns in a tree to pull him out. In fact, he remembered being told by his mother that if he was ever trapped, she'd more likely watch him die than help him.

Needless to say, despite his initial hatred of the pup, despite the fact that he didn't want to owe any favors, he was fascinated by the idea of a world where hatred and pain and discomfort didn't exist. Where everybody cared for each other, and helped each other out.

"So... so... yewr pack... is it nice?" he asked casually. He didn't want to show how curious he really was.

[itachi]

Hearing the pup giggle, Itachi couldn't help but be slightly annoyed. He was obviously being underestimated, but since the begginning, he already knew this was occuring. Give it time, the pup, when no longer a pup, may have to learn the hard way.
But when it seemed that the pup... scratch that, Nightmare, was curious about a different pack, Itachi felt obliged to answer, though would not give out any sign of pack weaknesses.
"Well, I'm a newcomer to the pack, for I was once a loner. Give or take, it's only been about two months since I've been there. I could say its fantastic, but thats only comparing to the life I lived previously. The community is well socialized, and it's like everyone is friends. Though there are some hostilities that may reside within, I have no real experience with that yet. There are others wolves to talk to, children of the same age to play with, and much to learn. So I could say that pack life is nice, yes."

These two would definentley meet again. Itachi was absolutely positive the time would come when they would need to. If this pups morals are still dilluted enough to attempt taking over a pack by oneself, of course. But there was plenty of time to change that.
"I doubt that you can't count past two, for by two years we should meet again, see how much we've grown and changed. What do you think?"

This pup wasn't so bad, but the situation would be worse if that pup had never gotten his horns stuck in that tree.
Thinking of ways he can improve, he heard and has seen examples of wolves with special powers. There were several ideas as to how these were recieved, Itachi believed that they could be recieved through lots of hard work and training, if you know the right field, and train for the right ability.

[/justify]