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ethium ✦ archive ✦ last post )
Witheredcreek’s twisted smile rose, unbidden, in his mind. A twisted, crooked smile, morphing into a booming cackle that reverberated through his soul, striking like a poisoned viper. Merciless.
He could still remember every detail. From the upturned twist of thin lips, those thick, dark curls running wild with the surge of ancestral power and those pale frothing, chartreuse eyes, gloating with delusions of grandeur and the harrowed spark of ambition. Ambition that rendered so many souls lost.
And it was like that same tom stood before him
now.
The foreigners’ leader. Tall, lithe and composed, thin smile twisted and twined like a vicious, serpentine creature coiled tightly around a lone pine tree, squeezing the very lifeblood from its sap. And behind this… leader, his brood of shadowed vipers, restlessly slithering about to the shuffling of anxious paws━
No, that wasn’t right.
Wolfpaw blinked. His jaws ticked, easing a deep breath in… then releasing it. Steady and slow. This was ridiculous. The foreigners had yet to pose a threat. And this was
not Witheredcreek. Nor Thorn. Concealing a shudder with a raised chin, he rocked a step forward. He wouldn’t let the past interfere with the present. Ravendust would hardly━
And a
viper struck.
Dappled sienna curls whipped back, emitting a low hiss as claws skimmed the side of her cheek. Perchpaw. Scarlet bloomed, smearing, as she surged forward, undeterred.
(-5% for perchpaw ─ no herbs or rest needed for her to return to patrol!) And she was a whirlwind of flames, ignited under the blaze of moonlight. Slender claws sliced, deft and certain, executing a smattering strike across the offender’s jaws as she returned the favor. Amber eyes narrowed, a warning sliding through her teeth. “
Back off.”
The viper hissed, stumbling back. “…getting a little too close for comfort, sweethear━”
“
Enough.” A sharp command breached the silence, the foreign leader snapping out of his stupor. His paws cuffed the other’s ear, setting him into line with a firm swat. He grimaced. “Forgive them. My crew has been out of line, lately.” His head dropped in a stiff dip. “I don’t intend for this to turn into a battle.”
Wolfpaw’s jaws parted, jaw tight. “And you are?”
“Crater.” His voice was a mere rasp. “We’re here to warn you of a threat in your borders. It’s ravaged our place, but it’s within your bounds currently.” Shadows danced, flickering across his features, the dark and light entwining. “A badger. It’s carrying some illness… been terrible for the flora and fauna.”
“Is it… contagious?” Doepaw’s head lifted, soft gaze hesitantly breaking from Perchpaw’s cheek. “How bad are we talking?”
The foreigner shrugged. “I don’t know. wherever it goes, there’s a trail of destruction. Shredded plants, prey… you name it. We’ve scented it close to this location.”
A chill lingered, a biting frost shivering down his spine. “Why should we trust you?”
“You shouldn’t trust anyone, young one.” The foreigner’s smile was unreadable. Veiled. “Make your own decision, do your own investigating…” He shrugged, pale eyes sliding from Starsight to Shreddedmoon. “…and talk to those you trust. The decision is yours. But here, a token of goodwill. Chances are, you’ll need it.”
(+4FP bird, +4FP bird, +4FP bird) With a flick of his tail, the rest of the crew scattered. The foreigner offered a final nod, drifting into the embrace of the night’s shadows. His parting echoed in the evening breeze:
Good luck. ✦ The patrol has heard rumors of an ill badger scented within their borders! Do they confront (fight) this creature or leave it be? ✦
✦
If the patrol decides to start a fight with this predator, please make a note of that in your explore post for the next writer! You'd be completing Fennel's active quest and they'll return to reward the patrol with something special! c; ✦
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