reflection on the glass {open

[Veritas]

[atrb=width,450,true][atrb=border,0,true][bg=85580a] Pale eyes shifted quietly over his surroundings, observing the animals as they slowly woke from their nightly slumber, and watching others return from their nocturnal hunts and wanderings. Yawning lazily, he began his daily trek to the water's edge, muscles clenching and releasing to offer so some of warm up, though he did not plan on moving much faster than a smooth trot across the terrain. The lone figure was thin, though not so much to appear to be a loner, he survived fairly easily for an outcast, though this was only because he had it somewhat easier than others of his species. His coat, while it was not exactly able to hide him in any sort of light, it did not stand out so much in the shadows of trees, which was why he spent much of his time in the forest that he now walked away from. It provided excellent cover from the sun when he needed it. Now was not one of those times. Pausing long enough to crane himself forward, his rump sagging in a stretch that mostly worked the muscles in his hind limbs before he arched himself like a cat to stretch the front portion of his muscled body. He sighed, eyes lazily focused on the water in the growing dawn, it wasn't blinding yet, and he was confident that the water was not freezing, despite the rain and the time of the year. He continued on his daily path to the water, though usually he simply observed the area by the waters edge, today he planned on a bath. As long as he was alone, he could relax long enough to have a nice little swim to get the dirt from his glorious fur. It was after that bothered him, how was he going to dry off? His eyes rolled upward to the sky. There were clouds in the distance, but they wouldn't reach him for some time. Longenough for me to dry in the sun and then go back to the trees. He nodded to himself, though a disappointed scowl twisted his lips in an unpleasant expression. If he took the time for a bath and then soaking in some sun, he would have no time to hunt. His stomach rolled hungrily at the thought. The life of a loner was hard if one did not eat regularly, he had found that out in his earlier years of life. Being much smarter now, he made the time every day or every couple of days, depending on the meal size, to hunt and eat. His last meal had been a hare, which were becoming increasingly rare to find. The meal had fed him for the day, it had been a good sized hare, but now he was hungry and would need something a bit larger to hold back the hunger he was feeling. There was the possibility of skipping a meal, but he hesitated with that choice, he would be weaker the next time he hunted if he did that. The thought was not appealing, especially when he planned on something larger than a rabbit. He glanced at the water, he hadn't had fish in some time, mostly because of the frustration it caused. He was patient enough, but when hungry, his stomach tended to make him lurch forward when he should wait. He could hunt in the rain, but thinking about his bony spikes, he quickly changed his mind, he didn't want to risk being seen. Not that he was embarrassed by them, he wasn't, he just didn't like nosy wolves to know everything about him. And there were plenty of nosy wolves in the area.

[Ivarise]

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[atrb=background,http://i47.tinypic.com/s6oy29.jpg] ( I V A R I S E ) There was something soothing about this place, a special property that calmed him yet that was not what comforted him the most. The scrawny rabbit that hung from his jaws was what pleased him as it had been days since he had eaten, protruding ribs from his side as a testament to the slow murderous grip of starvation. How he hated remembering how pathetic he had become, a snarl escaping him though muffled by the hare in his jaws. His pride could not take the blow of accepting how feeble he had become, he had once been such a lord among peasants and how he had fallen to join those serfs. It was disgusting and unacceptable. Ivarise continued moving closer to the waterline, he needed a cool drink first before he ate this hare as he wasn't just starving but parched as well. Truly a miserable existence but he was not yet beaten down as he still had the wind with him, the power and majesty of the breezes still obeying him. For that he could keep his head high as he approached the waters, he could keep himself above others as he usually did but if only there was another so he could assert his greatness. That didn't mean that he wanted to see another wolf though an elemental would have been a sight for sore eyes. Unfortunately for him he did sense another wolf in the vicinity but alas, it wasn't even another if his kind as the coat of the other wolf was so vibrant compared to his own drab gray scale coat. How disappointing. Still a little company wasn't that bad as companionship was good for the soul was it not? Thus he approached the other male with the hare in his jaws until he was close enough to be heard, the carcass dropped onto the earth so he could call out to the other. "Good morning good sir!" His voice smooth and somewhat cheerful though his thoughts were far from it. 'Wretched dream wolves, disgusting smear on what wolves should truly be, elementals.' His prejudice and discrimination kept secret as to be a leader one must not be affected by biases, a fundamental and forgotten rule. Many failures fell because of that one law and Ivarise was certain that he would not fall by something as minuscule as that rule. --- ooc: i hope you don't mind the shortness of it xD

[Veritas]

[atrb=width,433,true][atrb=border,0,true][bg=5D462E] To say he was caught unaware was an understatement, completely caught up in his thoughts, he had not seen or heard the gradual approach of the other wolf. He did however, hear the greeting, his head turned sharply, pale gray eyes focused on the figure of an emaciated wolf, pastel gray in hue, something that immediately told him he was an elemental, but what kind? His eyes shifted to the sky blue eyes that seemed a bit subdued. He raised a brow, he knew enough to know that this was an air elemental or a water elemental. Water seemed more likely, but he hesitated on making this assumption a fact in his mind, it was hard to tell them apart. The rabbit did not escape his notice, but after a hungry lick of his lips he ignored it as best he could. "Good morning, indeed." He replied, chuckling softly as if he were aware of something the elemental was not. "Happy hunting?" He asked, curious as to where the hare was found, but now that his bathing plans were gone for the day he had plenty of time to hunt. Yawning, he moved forward, his pace leisurely in pace, but stiff. He wasn't fond of elementals, they were nothing but hot blooded air heads. Too caught up in themselves for having some control over an element to notice that there were others with talents that far exceeded their own. Pausing a few steps into the water he took a second to get a drink, though one steely eye remained on the other. "I'm Veritas, or Vers, if you like." Stretching stiffly once more, hoping to relax his coiled muscles before he thought about simply laying down. He wanted to move, to be in some sort of motion, he had slept most of the night, he was alert and his muscles crawled with energy from all the rest. Yet, his stomach clenched hungrily as he continued to breathe in the scent of his acquaintances breakfast. Definitely need to hunt today... He thought dryly.

[Ivarise]

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[atrb=background,http://i47.tinypic.com/s6oy29.jpg] ( I V A R I S E ) Eyes glinting in amusement, Ivarise watched the male turn his head quickly in his direction as it appeared that his greeting had caught the other of his guard. It was hypocritical of him to think that this wolf was a fool for letting his guard down as he had his own moments like such but that was how he was, a hypocrite and a jerk. He would have snickered out loud if he could but that wasn't acceptable even if the other was a dream wolf and technically trash compared to someone of his caliber as one day he would create an empire and it was best to have allies rather than enemies. "Did I surprise you? My bad, I apologize for it as that was certainly not my intention." His words smooth as honey and apologetic, eyes softening before turning his eyes to gaze at the water. They burned with spite now as he stared at those white birds afloat the water, his mind imagining other wolves in their place and their deaths. It gave him satisfaction in a twisted gory way but that was what made him, him. Once more he shifted his gaze but this time from the swans to the vibrant yellowish wolf, his eyes catching a glance of the male licking his lips at his hare. If he had been a more generous wolf then he would have offered to share but he was starving as well so he decided to ignore it and instead answer the males answer to his greetings. Ivarise shifted to a more comfortable stance before addressing the male, eyes glowing as he subconsciously made the water stir by a gentle breeze. "Not really good if you think about it," a short bark of laughter escaping him before he continued speaking. "Life's hard as a loner and we both seem to be starving." The words a small blow to himself as they included the truth that he was desperate for food as well but he could live with it, he would adapt and ignore the true meaning of what he said. Nudging the carcass aside, he listened once more to the male as he asked him of the hare before the male took a few steps into the water to take a drink. Then came the introduction, Veritas, an interesting name though he had heard stranger ones before it. This was not the time to scrutinize the aliases of others though as he would have plenty of time for that later but for now, he had a little wolf to entertain and charm. "I suppose you could say that it was a little happy but the triumph is nothing when you realize how scrawny it is but food is food." The male shaking his head at his words before speaking up once more. "I am Ivarise Belveolve, Veritas but simply Ivarise will do." He wasn't certain what made him do it but he picked up the hare and moved a little closer, a new idea slowly crawling its way into his mind. Bribery they would call it but who cared? The elemental dropping the meal onto the earth and offering a share, "If you'd so like, I could partition the hare and we could have a small boost in hunting something more filling." His words a tempting offer though he wouldn't be disappointed if the other refused as that meant more for him and less for everyone else. It was amusing now that he thought about it that earlier he had been so unwilling to share but now that he was beginning to rouse himself, the more cunning and manipulative part of him was beginning to act out more that the instinctual part of him. Time for an exercise, he was getting rusty in charming others and this was simply a perfect opportunity.

[Veritas]

[atrb=width,433,true][atrb=border,0,true][bg=5D462E] The glitter of amusement was all Vertias needed to know that elementals, perhaps only this one, could not remain civil in the company of the three other types of wolves that roamed the land. He was competent enough not to voice his opinions about the other species, but even a child knew when to hold his tongue in the face of another. Unless they were aiming for trouble. Vertias forced a grin to curl his lips, it was not bold or threatening, only dead, it held no friendliness, nor empathy. The words that had caused the grin to appear only made his muscles want to tense up, yet he remained relax to the observing eye, his breathing was slow and deep, he was keeping himself calm through this. He shook his head lightly, "no, do not apologize, it's good to be reminded to stay alert." It was good to be reminded why he stayed alert, if only a fellow Dreamer had been the one to remind him, not this elemental snake. The elemental turned his gaze from him, Vers cocked his skull, angling it so one eye found the wolf and the other found the birds he glared their flight. Vers rolled his eyes, turning to the elemental who was just turning his gaze once more. He smiled and offered a chuckle for the comment about the breakfast. "I find it easier to get along if one dedicates himself to hunting at all times." His eyes flickered to the rabbit, but he made no move to steal it. He was hungry, not starving. To him, there was a difference. The next set of food statements had him chuckling. He nodded, holding his tongue this time. I've given enough on the subject of food. He thought, referring not to the simplicity of speaking about food, but the words he used. They were quietly laced with meanings, but he doubted one less intelligent than a dreamer would catch on, for they sounded like normal statements to be made. His ears twitched as he the wolfs name, Ivarise. The name meant little to him at the time, but he held onto the full name, surely it would come in handy at some point or another. "An honor it is, to meet an elemental. Tell me, are you of air or water?" He asked, eyes flickering with interest. This of course, was not to be the end of Ivarise's speech, he was speaking more now. This time, about splitting the rabbit and hunting something larger. His spine stiffened slightly. "What prey did you have in mind?" A small smile touching his lips. He was hungry, and a large meal would sate their hunger for at least a day, if not more, but what could two weakened wolves bring down that would fill them both until their bellies burst? Already his nostrils flared, smelling the air for a worthy opponent for them. He would play this game. For now.

[Ivarise]

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[atrb=background,http://i47.tinypic.com/s6oy29.jpg] ( I V A R I S E ) A part of him wanted to laugh out loud but alas, that would not give a fine impression so he kept his amusement to himself. Why? The deadened smile of the male was simply delightful as that meant that this wolf would be harder to play with, a challenge for his wits! So instead of chuckling at the reaction of the male, Ivarise simply simply gave a nod though he still forced a welcome and cheerful countenance not that anyone knew it was a painted front. "Very well." His tone smooth before he took a glance once more at the swans, they were beauty incarnate and now there was no imagining of the swans to be something else but he simply saw them as what they were. It comforted him to see birds as they were with him, they kept in touch with the wind yet swans also lingered in the water so they were truly something special. He could have observed them for ages if not for the presence of the other and of the conversation that they were having as he was far from a rude wolf, he was learned and he refused to sink down to the level of others. Thus the moment he heard Veritas speak, he mulled over those words and the implications that those statements had. It certainly didn't make him any happier but the opposite, irritation spiking as it was as if he was being treated as a dumber beast! Dirt! Fool, he was better than this beast who could never know the feeling of such wonderful control of the elements. Keeping sharp cutting words to himself, Ivarise replied calmly and coolly as he had to remain as such like he usually was. "If one was to dedicate hunting to all times, there would be no space for everything else that colors life in the different living shades." He paused for the moment to ponder on his own words before continuing with his words in a slightly more passionate pitch. "Unless you refer to honing hunting as a skill then perhaps such devotion may be right but that opens up weakness." With those words he shook his head and moved a little closer to the water that if he took a few more steps, he would have been in the rippling water. The question that came from the dream wolf amused him, could he not tell by his eyes that he was a wind elemental? There was a very distinct difference as well as the one that came with scent, water elementals usually smelled odd or fishy but wind ones like him were like fresh air or something. Ivarise couldn't find the word to describe it but regardless, there was a marked difference. "An honor really? Many wolves not of my race regard us differently and not in the positive manner." He knew and heard of the things other wolves said in their haughty tones but they were simply envious beings and for that it made them inferior for whispering behind the backs of an entire specie. Ivarise didn't bother to answer the second question but instead showed the male, a breeze blowing the water and stirring it. This was why wind was stronger than water, fire or earth, it could manipulate the other elements. And thus he used the wind to force the water up in a miniature tornado, the water forced into a shape by the powerful gusts of wind before he weakened it and the water just fell into the lake in the splash. It was fun and the reactions of the swans swimming about were hilarious, honking and hissing of the birds making him chuckle. His eyes glowed at the thrill of it all before he turned once more to the male to answer another of his questions. "A fawn if we are lucky but if not, I suppose we can try dining on birds..." He trailed before making motioning with his tail at the swans who had honked angrily at his tornado earlier, he didn't eat birds that often and certainly not beautiful ones but they were still prey. "I scented a herd earlier and it seemed that they were coming this way but who knows what is in the mind of herbivores and the odd whims or cultures that they may have." --- ooc: teehee <3

[Veritas]

[atrb=width,433,true][atrb=border,0,true][bg=5D462E] Dream wolves were known for their intelligence, they had to be, how else could they hunt and otherwise survive with their bizarre colors. Some tended to dull their coats or conceal their unnatural color by rolling in dirt or mud, but he refused to be ashamed of his magnificent color. It was what made him unique, different, and he had to admit, any other color would not conceal the bony spikes that protruded from his brow to the base of his tail. Of course, those on his skull were far more noticeable than he would have liked, but that couldn't be helped. The wolves acceptance was fleeting, as if he hadn't meant to apologize in the first place. He smiled, nodding slightly, ignoring the swans that alighted on the water, but instead kept his intense eyes on the wolf, watching as the hate no longer flashed in his eyes now that he saw the feathered creatures for what they were. Veritas truly grinned as the wolf began to speak, stirring the temptation of a philosophical debate. He raised his brow, listening, ears twitching and angling back as if to flatten to his skull. He shook his head, chuckling. "No...how should I put this..."He trailed off, brow furrowing as he fought for the words. "I mean that one should take every opportunity that presents itself." He finally concluded, it wasn't the wise words he had felt on his tongue, but it was level enough for any wolf of decent intelligence to understand. "I'm curious though, what weakness's come to your mind?" He cocked his skull to the side, genuinely intrigued by this elemental's way of thinking. As far as Vers was concerned, Elementals of air and water were far too similar, having met few, he did not remember any differences in smell, he did remember the colors of their eyes. Both water and air elementals could have blue eyes, though the water elementals had blues, purples and greens. It would not be uncommon for an air and water elemental to have the same shade of eyes. The golden wolf listened with amusement as Ivarise spoke, he remembered many of the slanderous words used against elementals, he used them at times as well, always for good reasons. "Yes, so I've heard." he nodded, his tones slightly humored. "I don't think it wise to judge another race by their color or abilities. It only shows their ignorance and incompetence..." Unless for good reason. He finished mentally, jaws locking tight against the truth, or so he believed, he could not spit it out. What he had said was not a lie, it just wasn't the full truth. He watched Ivarise show him what element he was, feeling the wind pick up immediately and ripple the water, startling the swans who barked in their funny language and hissed at them. He grinned, fascinated by the liquid tornado that was created by the strength of the wind. When it dropped back into the water and the wind once more died down he nodded. "Good show." He applauded verbally, grinning briefly before he returned to a serious state of mind. The birds reminded him of how hungry he was, and conveniently how Ivarise was not guarding his meal any more. Again his tongue rolled over his lips, but he remained where he was. His interest flashed intensely as the other spoke of fawn or pheasant for dinner. He glanced at the birds, a bit of hesitation in his slack jaw as he paused before he spoke. "The fawn would be excellent...bird though..." He shook his head. He was not about to go splashing in after the birds, he would go hungry or wait till Ivarise left before he attempted such a thing with eyes on him. The elemental continued speaking, and once more Vers hesitated. "...I see...we should find cover than, I'm easily spotted if I'm not in the shadow of something." He shrugged casually, not willing to admit just how much he hated the brilliance of his coat in times of hunting. Especially to the face of an elemental, the species that thought they were better than all the others. --is my text color hard to read?--

[Ivarise]

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[atrb=background,http://i47.tinypic.com/s6oy29.jpg] ( I V A R I S E ) Ignoring the smile and nod of the dream wolf, he continued watching the birds idly as he thought of the perfect way to knock them out with a gust of wind and voila! Beautiful plump swan for breakfast instead of a scrawny hare as that was only an appetizer. The thought of eating something better than what he had caught earlier painted a grin on his face, eyes glowing with eagerness and a tad bit of amusement. Ivarise couldn't help it, the dream wolf simply delighted him with all the amusing things he had done already although there was an inkling of irritation as well. Turning his head, he caught a glance of the other male shaking his head which made him cock his head to the side in inquiry. Usually he would have avoided doing so as he looked feminine enough so he didn't need a cuteness boost or whatnot but now... curiosity caught him once more. That chuckle didn't help ease it but made it grow until he heard the response to his earlier words, an obvious misunderstanding of his earlier words. "Be an opportunistic wolf, I see." He said after a nod, more words escaping him to answer the male. "My words of gaining weaknesses still ring true though but that would be for my belief" Determination and pride made him stick to his earlier statements though his tone was far from condescending but more of an accommodating one, not that he was truly going to oblige anyone. A laugh would have escaped him as it appeared that even Veritas ended up cocking his head as well due to curiosity but instead Ivarise gave a nod and looked thoughtful as he sought some words to answer his question. "Weakness of mind, of body. One may be the best hunter but that brings in weakness as the ego will grow although many wolves already have a pride larger than them," A bark of laughter escaping him before he continued his words "But to be one of the best then we weaken ourselves as we focus too much on one thing alone rather than rounding off all skills, perhaps that is good but only if you're in a pack where there are others who can back you up with their own abilities." Taking a deep breath, he mulled over what else to say before glancing up at the sky for a moment as if to get a bit of inspiration for his words. "If we speak of an opportunistic behavior than the weaknesses still hold but in different ways as we become shells who only see things as yet another opportunity and not for what they could possibly be. Of course those are what I believe." A laugh escaping him as this could possibly lead to a debate, nice as it would be but he had other things to focus on such as the meal and the next words that escaped Veritas. "True yet it happens all the time even in elemental society." His voice soft and a little rueful before he shook his head to push the notion away. A smile escaped him at the male's compliment on the small little show, it was nothing compared to what he could actually do as he had trained rigorously and it showed on how skillful he was in using the elements. "Thank you for the sentiment." Another nod before he glanced at the agitated birds glowering at him, a snicker escaping him once more. Then his thoughts wandered to the rabbit and wondered if he should check if it was still okay, the decision already decided. He crouched down to sniff the hare a little, the temptation to just gorge on it was far too high but no, he had offered to share and he would stick to it. "Hmm yes a fawn would be good and those birds... a good gust would knock them out." Ivarise made a gentle experimental push with the wind at those birds, a large white one squawking in surprise before angrily preening itself. "But if it is the fawn that you would prefer then that is fine and cover would be good, for all sorts of hunters." He replied easily before nudging the hare, "I said we would have a boost in hunting so let us." --- ooc: naw, i can see it fine

[Veritas]

[atrb=width,433,true][atrb=border,0,true][bg=5D462E] Veritas could not help but wonder the elemental's train of thought when he said the statement about weakness still rang true. He waited patiently for an explanation, and after several minutes he received one. He spoke of an over-sized ego and how that would be a wolfs downfall. Vers nodded, he understood that, but in the year he had been alone his ego had not enlarged. He had grown confident, but even that confidence had slowly stopped growing after a time, he was fairly sure that it had even shrunk a bit. It became clear, after the bark of laughter, that Ivarise was still speaking about being the best, his lips twitched, he did not care about being the best, it had never been a concern of his after he had grown up. When he finally spoke of opportunistic wolves, his ears flicked forward, straining atop his skull as he listened. It seemed as if Ivarise thought that if one became too opportunistic that it was a weakness, Vers agreed; however, he missed the point he was making. "Interesting. I find that being an opportunistic hunter a good thing, one rarely goes hungry then..but I agree, being opportunistic towards everything can create tragic flaws in a foolish wolf." He shrugged, he was beginning to enjoy this conversation of wits, though it was only making him hungrier as it dealt with food, something his stomach rolled painfully for. He nodded sympathetically to the elemental when he mentioned that even his own race indulged in racism among them. He couldn't find anything to say, after all, his own kind did the same thing, as did the winged and the dire wolves. "It seems like we all have to degrade another race to make ourselves feel better." He muttered, chuckling. For some reason he found it worthy of laughter, but it lasted only a few seconds before he straightened slightly. Having missed the thank you Ivarise had mentioned, he now listened as the elemental talked about the hunt. once more his attention spiked to a sharp intensity. He raised a brow, speaking of opportunistic... He muttered silently to himself letting his thoughts fade as his hunting partner tested the two birds with a gust of wind, he heard the flapping, splashing and squawking of one of them being thrown off balance before righting itself. Resisting the urge to scowl in disgust, the Dream wolf turned his attention to the woods, he couldn't wait to return to its shadow. Sure, he loved the feel of the sun on his fur, but he wanted to be in cover before their prey saw them, he was too noticeable out in the open, he gleamed like a golden sculpture out in the light. The nudging of the rabbit disrupted his longing thoughts and he turned his skull back to the other wolf to hear him offer half the rabbit. He stretched forward, hesitating with his jaws partly open. Cautious, what if it were a trick? Then I'll sting him. He answered silently, pushing away his worries as his jaws tightened on the hind leg of the rabbit. Taking no time to pull the fur out, he simply began to break the bones and separate what was in his mouth. When he finally pulled away, leaving more than half to the owner of the catch, the hind legs were gone. He licked his lips and then turned away, eyes staring out into the forest. He wanted to move, he could feel the energy from the small morsel he had devoured and it made him anxious, he wanted to be in the woods hunting. He was patient enough though, he would wait until his temporary partner was finished before he suggested they go and hunt down the herd of deer. --okay, just thought I'd make sure. =P --

[Ivarise]

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[atrb=background,http://i47.tinypic.com/s6oy29.jpg] ( I V A R I S E ) A breeze whispered past, brushing his fur as he scrutinized the treeline for any sign of life other than an insignificant bird or a scrawny hare. Ivarise let a smirk creep up, the wind had brought him a boon which was the scent of the herd of deer he had mentioned earlier. This was good as it gave a head start to where they may be, the perfect opportunity which the dream wolf would probably take with how he seemed to adore opportunism. Disgusting. His smirk would have twisted into something darker if it weren't for his infamous unflappable calm and thus he mentally shook the urge away and instead contented himself with simple imaginings yet even he did not have the luxury of that as the male spoke in response to his earlier words. The elemental nodded at the other's words, they made sense but it was the agreement that caught his attention the most. It stroked his ego but he guessed that the male was a little exasperated by how and what he said in the few statements before his agreement. "Indeed it helps to be opportunistic so I must agree to your statement." The male dipping his head once more in recognition before he spoke up, his tone amused. "We are all right in our own respects and beliefs, we must simply avoid being in an extreme." With those words, he turned to glance at the trees once more just in case something appeared that was utterly deliciously deer. And Ivarise would have continued doing so if it were not for the comment about the racism, shaking his head sadly. "It is in one's nature I suppose to do such a thing, to try to be greater than our neighbors although there are exceptions. Wonderful blessed exceptions." The words softened and his tone turned wistful, it was a pity that such wolves were hard to come by as he knew that he was racist himself. "Alas, I cannot say I am part of that minority." He admitted, his tone honest as he deluded himself that he was speaking to another elemental and not a dream wolf. Of course it didn't work at the end, the glaring hues of the male's pelt a stark difference to the gray-scale ones of an elemental, of his own. His eyes weren't as vibrant as well, they didn't glow and weren't as intense, how disappointing but he knew that he should have known better. Letting it slide, he was silent as he waited for the male to just do something and get his portion of the cadaver after he had nudged the corpse his way. Veritas seemed hesitant as if the gray-hued wolf was a liar, as if he would strike and murder in cold blood. Ivarise would have raised an eyebrow if he was human but he simply waited patiently, his tongue swiping at his muzzle as he was reminded of how hungry he was. Thankfully he didn't need to wait any further as the other wolf took his partition though it was less than what he had promised, less than half of the hare. "If that is all that you want..." He trailed off, glancing at the carcass before gorging on what was left of it. It wasn't graceful but the speed he ate was remarkable for him as he was used to having his own sweet time yet it wasn't as quick as the dream wolf. Still, he could care less of how slow or fast one ate as long as he gained the energy that once ran through the speedy bounds of the hare and would now be with him as he hunted. And the hunt was his next priority as it entered his thoughts, rising from the crouch he had fallen into so he could dine on the hare. Veritas was already gazing into the forest, Ivarise moving closer so that he too could scrutinize the treeline as he had done several times earlier. "Ready?" His words hushed and excited, the wind stirring once more to bring in the mixed scents of the forest. It was the musky smell of the herd that caught his attention; his movements were fast as he stalked forward to hide in some bushes, motioning to the other with his tail. It was time to show these deer who was boss and why they shouldn't stay in just one area for long. --- ooc: sorry for the wait and such a crap post D:

[ELZE]

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[atrb=background,http://i46.tinypic.com/15pk1gy.png] Remaining entirely still for long stretches of time was not only an acquired taste, but also a difficult skill to learn. Wolves were not meant to stuff their bodies under thorn bushes and lay motionless for any span of time, and yet there was one doing just that. She would have been audibly griping about it, too, were it not for the fact that she was trying to remain hidden. In fact, she wouldn't be trapped underneath any amount of vegetation at all if she weren't trying to remain unseen. She laid with her silver-furred belly pressed right against the ground, her forelegs arranged ahead of her and her hind-legs kicked out behind her like a snoozing pup. It wasn't the most graceful position to be in but at least no one could see her. She exhaled softly, causing the prickly leaves of the thicket to sway away from her face. She already had a stinging scratch on her nose from diving haphazardly into this thorn bush, she didn't have any desire to add more scrapes to herself. She had just been walking along, minding her own business, when she came upon quite a sight; a pair of males, one of her species and one a definite Dream Wolf, squaring off in a clearing. Ever the cautious being, Elze had made haste to hide herself and observe from afar rather than jump in without knowing if they were going to start snarling at one another. One could never tell with Dream Wolves; they were a hostile race covered in beastly warrior-like additions. The one she was watching now had spikes, for goodness sakes. She rolled her one good eye; that wasn't what a wolf was supposed to look like at all. The technical term for her current activity was "spying", but she didn't intend to keep it up for too much longer. Her back feet were starting to fall asleep, and that prickled more than the thorns surrounding her. The two males didn't seem likely to start ripping each other to pieces either, so it was probably of minimal risk to approach them. She didn't trust either, even the Elemental one; she could see his blue eyes from her hiding spot, and she was highly suspicious of what that could mean. It's possible he's just a Water Elemental... she thought hopefully, but as if he was responding to her thoughts, a breeze fluttered over the Sound and there could be no mistaking what he was: an Air Elemental. As always, a shade of fear and distaste rippled through her body; she despised Air Elementals. She also despised feeling like a coward, which was exactly what a wolf hiding in a shrub was. "It's about time to get moving, you know... she chided herself, knowing she'd have to get up sooner or later. She turned her focus back on the two males. How long had she been listening to them blather on about hunting for now? It seemed like ages, and she'd lost track of their conversation already. Her stomach grumbled as if protesting what her mind was saying; even if they were boring, they were going hunting. Lone wolves didn't eat much, and finding two sets of willing extra jaws...they could really do some damage if they found a good enough meal. It was too good to pass up, even if she'd seriously consider the company of a grizzly better than these two. With all the grace of a wounded elk, she began extracting herself from the thorn bush, first by trying to back out from under it and then, finding herself caught, by pushing forward through the front. It was a lot of rattling and leaf-dropping and noise making, but eventually she stood not far from the two males, a few thorns still clinging to her snaggled pale gray fur. It wasn't elegant, but who cared? Her time with these two would be brief if she had her way, so what they thought of her mattered very little. They were useful only because they were willing to team up for hunting purposes, nothing more. It was an entrance that no one could miss, but she drew herself up anyway. She was wary of both, but it had been so long since she'd last heard the voices of other wolves, so long since she'd experienced the ease of having a hunting partner. Perhaps... she thought with hesitation ...perhaps it'd be alright, just for now. Even if they are both unsavory characters. "Any chance you're looking for a third member for this little hunting escapade?" Even though her words were somewhat friendly and her tone neutral, she kept a healthy gap of space between herself and them. They were rivals to her no matter what, one because of his race as a Dream Wolf and the other because of his Element and the experiences Elze had of dealing with his kind. Both were strangers to her as well, and she vowed to stay on her toes; no one would get the better of her. ooc. I hope neither of you mind another wolf?

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[Veritas]

[atrb=width,433,true][atrb=border,0,true][bg=5D462E] The elemental's agreement wasn't one he expected, but he took it in stride, simply nodding in response, there was nothing more to say about opportunism on his behalf. Yet, as Ivarise continued, he could not help but agreeing again, though it was a silent agreement, a flicker in his eyes and ears that made his oppinion apparent. In a brief silence he made himself content to lick the blood off his lips and remove any traces of fur from his mouth. He wasn't exactly fond of the fuzz that appeared in his mouth after meals and would have gladly washed it out with a drink, but they had more important things to do. Things that would just cause more hair to be found in his mouth, he would have to wait to remove it properly. After thinking, the elemental began shaking his head sadly, the golden wolf listened, hearing the distant crunch of prey as well as the words spoken. His ear twitched impatiently. He frowned, however, at the direction of the conversation, though it was pushed aside with a smirk when Ivarise admitted that he was rascist. "Neither can I." He muttered, revealing how he felt about other races in general. He was glad, though, that they didn't speak on it anymore and the wind elemental began to eat. Veritas turned back to the woods, watching intently, hoping that the herd would not arrive until after they were set up and ready to go. He was somewhat amazed by the speed in which the wolf ate, having consumed more in just over the same time he had finished his smaller portion. As his hunting partner rose from his crouch, Veritas followed suit. Rising from his position, he moved astride the elemental to the bush, not intending to stay there. "Any spe-" A racket cut him off, he straightened up, ears pricked as he watched the thorn bush shudder and shake before a wolf finally freed itself from its grasp. He growled quietly. What was she thinking causing such a noise with deer so close. He pushed it aside as she ventured over, keeping a safe distance away from them. From the glow of her eyes and the boring tone of her coat he guessed she was an elemental, a fire elemental if he got the eye color right. When she spoke, he shrugged, looking over to Ivarise for his opinion. "I don't care, the more hunters, the bigger the meal can be." With that, he turned, his ears intent on the crunching of dead leaves as he made his way to another cluster of bushes, where he crouched down in the shadow of it, rubbing his headd in the dark dirt with a grimace he waited. His frame tensed as he waited. Having forgotten to ask his question he wondered if they were hunting a specific herd member or if it would be decided when they arrived. Either way, he would find out soon. His tail flicked in an alerting way, he could see them coming. His head turned slightly so he could see the other two through the corner of his eyes, while his main focus remained on the prey that ambled forward into the waiting trap. --sorry for the wait --

[Ivarise]

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[atrb=background,http://i47.tinypic.com/s6oy29.jpg] ( I V A R I S E ) Ivarise simply ignored the nod in reply to his words, that conversation was already over and he made it known with his lack of response whether by body language or by words. He did catch the small nuances of agreement in the other's expression though, Veritas seemingly deciding to be as silent as he had chosen to do so. Amusing, a smile threatening to break out but he quelled the urge and moved his attention back on his comrade. Once again it grew as he saw Veritas attempting to remove the fur from his jaws, the key word attempt as the dream wolf seemed to give up and content himself with having some hairs in his mouth. The dream wolf was the not the only wolf with that affliction though and soon he was trying to get rid of the fur in his jaws as well, the fluff irritating him though he knew it would be futile with the upcoming hunt. Pushing the annoyance out of his mind, he observed the different changes in the male's expression such as an ear twitching or a frown before it slipped away and into a smirk. How he wanted to roll his eyes at that, so what if he had confessed to falling into racist ways? Better to be honest than continue lying. Turning his head to look away before his exasperation reached its peak, the murmur from his temporary partner was nearly unheard but oh it was. Those words making him sneer for a few seconds before it slipped away and he just nodded as he followed the male's gaze to the forest. Iva knew as he moved that the dream was tailing him before he soon came to be side with side with him as they paused for a few moments near the bush. Flicking his ears at the sound of his companion speaking, he certainly didn't expect him to be cut off nor did he expect to hear all that noise. Naturally his curiosity got the better of him and he turned about, intense eyes widening for a moment as he caught sight of another wolf and an elemental at that. What a joy. She may not be that unwelcome but she certainly had to know better than to create such commotion just to get out of some bushes, a scowl wishing to escape but he suppressed it once more. How he simply wanted to let all his displeasure and negative facial expressions to escape but alas, he certainly couldn't do that. Scrutinizing the female, he was disappointed that she was a fire elemental as they were known to be... irrational as well as his own preference to be with his own kind. Still, the hunt had to go on and he wondered if they should ask or invite her to come with them. He received an answer in the form of the female asking a question, Ivarise glancing at Veritas as he answered first, gaze moving back to the stranger before he decided to speak as well. "You are welcome to join us miss." It was politer and far more welcoming than what the dream wolf had said but that was natural, he was a dream wolf after all. Quickly crouching down, he used a gentle breeze to direct the scents of the herd to where they were and their own away from their prey. Waiting, he prepared himself as his eyes sought what was it that Veritas was gazing at. Perhaps it was the meal that he had promised but regardless, it would be interesting. --- ooc: badabaaaam

[ELZE]

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[atrb=background,http://i46.tinypic.com/15pk1gy.png] A knot twisted in the female's stomach when she heard it; the low but unmistakable growl of the dream wolf opposite her. Her hackles rose like bristles to mimic spikes running down the dream wolf's back, her jaws configuring themselves to reveal just the barest hint of teeth. She tensed, sensing the possibility of a fight, but she contributed no noise to the growing altercation. Now that she was closer to them and further from the strong scents of the woodland, she could tell prey were close by. Even if her own crashing entrance had put the hunt in jeopardy, she couldn't imagine a fight with this stranger was going to improve their chances of a successful kill. All the same, Elze put her own safety and vain pride ahead of her dull hunger. What could have been a scuffle quickly died out, however. For all the dream male's hostile growling, his low-spoken words were ones accepting her into the hunting team. The fur along her nape lowered a little as she calmed herself, recognizing immediately that he wasn't looking to fight her any more than she was looking to defend herself against him. This hostility wasn't the best way to start off a hunt, of course, but she rarely backed down from a challenge. The Air Elemental had also spoken so her, noticeably much kinder in his words, but she could sense a similar brewing standoffish-ness in him. There was nothing beyond ill-feelings aimed at her by these two males and this made them decidedly dangerous company to keep, so she was prompted to keep her distance. It would be tough work hunting side by side with this pair, one being openly aggressive to her and the other barely bottling it up inside, but she'd give it a shot. The would-be fight had gotten her blood hot, and that wasn't just a figure of speech when it came to Fire Elementals. Without realizing it, a heat had grown in her chest that she'd barely recognized while wrapped up in the possibility of sparring with the dream wolf. It gave her a spark of energy and her eyes seemed to blaze with a vigorous light, but she also knew she was more dangerous like this. Elze had not been counseled in using her Elemental gifts as a pup. She'd had to learn how to master it herself which meant, naturally, that she'd barely mastered it at all. Elementals pups were powerful creatures that, if not properly trained and disciplined, became destructive forces. Fire itself was so naturally devastating that a young wolf trying to harness it alone was a recipe for disaster, and an adult with only a minor grasp on it was even more so. She could feel the power building within her as she slunk into a crouch and prepared for the hunt, and so she said a silent prayer that she could keep a hold on her fiery abilities. Because if she couldn't, things could go quite wrong indeed.

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[Veritas]

[atrb=width,433,true][atrb=border,0,true][bg=5D462E] The tension that rolled off the fire elemental was clearly noted and responded to by a slight raising of his tail and a rigid posture. His lips twitched before curling into a slight smile. His frustration still intact from her previous noise. However, as Ivarise concluded that she was welcome, he relaxed and walked away calmly. He had not wanted a fight, but was merely voicing his irritation by a low growl. There wasn't anything threatening about it, at least not in his mind. After flagging the sight of the deer, he allowed his thoughts to roam slightly. Going over the tones Iva had used when speaking to the other elemental. He wasn't kidding about racist...even against other breeds of elementals.... He thought quietly, deciding that elementals had it harder than Dreams when it came to discrimination. Not only did they have to deal with the other species racism, but they dealt with the same from their own species. What a shame... Pulling himself out of his thoughts as the herd broke the tree line, he lowered himself to the ground. Legs tensed to launch him forward once they were close enough. Already his eyes attacked the herd, searching for weakness'es while he debated which one three wolves could take down and fill themselves on. The few fawn of the herd would not do, not with three large stomachs to feed. We need that one.. He thought, deciding immediately that they should go after the doe with the limp. Picking his prey he shifted again, leaning forward ever so slightly. The herd stopped. Ears pressed forward on their odd shaped heads, while large eyes searched the meadow that rested against the Sound. First one head went down to graze on the still green grass, while a couple others kept their heads up, vigilantly watching. Veritas watched as they switched, the Stag of the herd didn't graze at all at first. Patiently he waited as they began to lose track of who was supposed to keep watch and soon all of their heads were down, nibbling on the green blades of grass. Gorging while they still could, winter wasn't far off and when it hit there wouldn't be grass to graze freely on. He licked his lips, cocking his skull to the side so he could see his hunting companions. Again his tail waved, but in the opposite direction this time. Were they ready? He was. With a nod in their direction he sprang forward. The movement was not all that caught the herds attention, as soon as he moved the few inches into the sun his fur went ablaze with a brightness that hurt the eyes. Possibly stunning the lesser animals for a moment, which was all the time Veritas needed to cut in front of the group, having been farther from the intended victim than the others, he relied on them to force her in his direction, or get ahold of her so he could join in. Either way, he maneuvered himself so that the easiest escape route meant going past him. The meadow exploded in motion, the herd rushed, bounding in every direction as they tried to escape the hunters. All avoided the golden wolf. The crippled doe hobbled, trying to run, but unable to put full weight on her injured leg. Your suffering will soon be over. He promised silently. He pitied the creature, but not enough to allow her to live. He needed to eat, and she would not last but a few more days before other predators caught her.