[Nightmare] Scouting for fun

[hazen]

[atrb=width,450,true][bg=black] The Jungle had a constant rhythm of noise that Hazen had long since lost interest in. Noises of various insects rebounded of every object and even each other, birds above twittered and tweeted unrelentlessly. Somewhere far in the distance a roar emerged but was quickly drowned in the cacophony of other sounds. His own footfalls were even drowned out somewhat, he of course was making an effort to not have them heard. He slunk through the undergrowth, his coat constantly moving to help him blend in with the surrounding jungle. He filled it with numerous images and from the top to the bottom he looked like a piece of moving jungle. His feet were images alike to the forest floor, made up of decaying leaves, sands and every now and then as he walked a sprout would appear. His upper body was filled with tree trunks, leaves and even creatures far off in the distance. In many senses he was invisible, but this was an invisible without trying. This was an invisible that was searching for danger and as it moved it could be seen. The fact that he was trespassing did not faze him much, it was something he did often. He was not one that got scared easily, nor one that stepped down from a challenge. To him walking in on other pacts was an adrenaline rush; it was his way of entertaining himself besides the more obviously dangerous way. The more dangerous was where he destroyed lives. At times he could even bring about death. He had studied the Lumen art of trickery for many years and even though he did occasionally get caught out he was a master at the game. It was not unlike him to join a pack, cause havoc and then disappear. He was considering that at the moment, The Mafia were renowned for been one of the more.... evil of the packs. His games could either be a welcomed normality or an explosive abomination could be born. Oh the possibilities that filled his mind made him chuckle in glee. He was glad that he was alone because the glee of the ideas alone sent his coat back to white for a second before he regained himself. He grinned, camouflaging himself as a simple Yagi. His fur changed to dark green and strange horns long horns clung to his head from next to his ears all the way down his neck. They were of course optical illusions but enjoyable ones none-the-less. He sat down, the forest around him still just as alive as it was when he entered, still just as nosily. He couldn’t see the sky above but he guessed it was almost nightfall. There was about an hour of daylight left; it set of a thought that he should probably find shelter. But for now he just wanted to sit and enjoy his surroundings.

[Nightmare Darkly]

Nightmare trundled along, none-to concerned about concealing himself. This was his territory! He was gonna be the Don someday, so he could call this place his! He giggled as birds and reptiles scattered before his loud pawsteps. Although he was now a little over a year old, he still behaved much like a puppy. A twisted, bullying puppy, but a puppy none-the-less. He chased whatever moved, and his grasp of the lupine language was still in need of work.

Thump, thump, thump!

His paws thudded heavily against the earth. He shuffled his little black wings. He'd love to be able to fly above the jungle, but his considerable weight made it hard for him to get up that high without a little help from Mama. Even then it made his wings ache after too long. This considered, he put the thought out of his mind. Next he considered how best to go about tormenting his siblings. He hadn't seen Brightness around for awhile, which meant he'd be taking out all of his feelings of Afterglow. Or Flynn. A curl of a smile graced the pup's features. Tormenting Flynn would be wonderfu-

"Oof!" Nightmare grunted as he ran into another wolf. He tumbled backwards, tail over horns, into the undergrowth, then leaped to his paws, growling.

"Oy!" he barked, "Watch where yer goin', dozy-nose! Yew jus' bumped inter the future Don o' the Mafia!" He lowered his curly little horns, "Now yer gonna 'ave ter-" he froze, looking at the wolf.

A Yagi!

He'd always known he was part Yagi. His mother told him so. He'd been taught that Yagi's were arrogant, stuck up bastards who did as they pleased (he suspected this had something to do with his birth, but he hadn't gotten around to asking yet). He couldn't help but hate the other wolf on sight, and yet at the same time he was also somewhat proud to be carrying the blood of such a noble beast.

However, it wasn't the hatred/awe of the wolf that froze him. It was the sight of the horns, so much bigger and more menacing than his! He didn't understand that he was looking at an illusion, and he instantly took several hurried steps back.

"S-sorry, Mister!" he whimpered, instantly cowed. He couldn't run back to his mother, she was too far away, so he simply reverted to humble-mode, something he'd learned by observing his brothers while he rough-housed with them. He didn't quite roll over onto his stomach in fear, but he certainly backed off, and quickly turned his head so that his own pathetic horns didn't seem to be menacing the bigger wolf.

[hazen]

[atrb=width,450,true][bg=black] Hazen’s fun arrived more quickly than he expected, of course the world was filled with the unexpected but the arrival of his entertainment even though he had pretty much just entered the territory. His arrival was unannounced, and he had not noticed any patrols as he entered. The smell of wolves was over a week old where he had entered. Then again maybe wolves were expected. After all they had to remark their territory sometime or another. These thoughts occurred as a creature bumped into him, the distinct smell of wolf filled his nostrils, the smell of Yagi and Keiyou merged hit him. His reaction was not something he thought about as he turned to snap at the youngster, his growl reverberating through his body. Its pretentious barks stopped him and he stared at the youngster, his thoughts creating a plan. For a few seconds silence reigned between the two of them as the pup suddenly became afraid. He was still young, not fully grown at all, still a few months he guessed. His apology was noted yet Hazen said nothing, his submissive behaviour was noted as well. It amused Hazen that with simple tricks of light he could fool even one who knew the difference between the two species as well as this hybrid should. He walked forward, circling the pup, not a sound was permitted to leave his body. Even his breathing became quieter. So quiet that it seemed as if only the pup was there. He stopped his face in front of the pup’s. As soon as the youngster looked up he would be gazing directly into Hazen’s deep red eyes. Until the pup looked up her would do nothing. He would let silence reign.

[Nightmare Darkly]

Nightmare trembled as the bigger wolf circled him. He could hear neither breath nor pawsteps, and that frightened him. What manner of wolf had he encountered?

"You know, this place is full of ghosts...." Mama's voice echoed in his head, sweet as honey, as a thousand angels singing. Sweet, but full of deadly venom. She had taken pleasure in telling him stories before bed, but not the kind, gentle stories a mother should tell her pup before allowing them to drift into sleep. No, Mama's stories were cruel and dark, stories of the murders she'd commited, every gruesome detail told with obvious glee.

"This place is full of ghosts, old, dreadful ghosts, who make no noise when they walk, who's bodies don't need breath. Smell the air, Nightmare. What's out there? That scent, that smell of nothingness, that's the smell of a ghost..." That said, she had retreated to the front of the cave, leaving young Nightmare shivering in the darkness.

Nightmare took a deep breath in through his nose. Even if the wolf had a scent, fear clogged his nostrils.

A ghost!!!

He tried to still the trembling of his wings, but found he was unable to do so. He looked up to see if perhaps the spectral being had gone, but instead found himself staring into the eyes of the wolf. A small whimper escaped his throat, followed by a full blow wail of horror.

"MAMAAAAAAAA!!!" He cried, falling over backwards in terror, "MAMA! MAMA! A GHOOOOST!!! MAMAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

Tears came to his eyes, rolling down his fluffy face. He began to hiccup, cutting off his frantic cries of terror. Was he going to be dragged away by the ghost?! Was it going to tear him into pieces and eat his soul?! His sobs rebounded off the trees, and Nightmare could only hope that they would find their way to his distant mother.

"Ma...hicma...." his wailing trailed off. He lay on his back, shaking, waiting, hoping he would live to see the next morning.