Post by Chibiabos on Jan 12, 2010 23:19:25 GMT -5
Survivor betrays his battlescars and evil soul with an attempt at tenderness toward the intruder, but just winds up in a posturing argument.
Clover Lawn
A carpet of prairie clover spans outward in all directions. In the summer, reddish purple and white blossoms spring up, attracting bees and butterflies from all over. Grass has tried, with only limited success, to overrun the area; blades poke up around the fringes, where they've charged down the hill from the northeast. Dandelions, as well as a few vine weeds, have also claimed their presence here. But the clover holds fast. Sitting conspicuously in the midst of all the greenage, are three moss-infested boulders of increasing height, set in a loose circle.
___
Characters
Wanageeska, adolescent male wolf
Survivor, male wolf, pledgeling-omega of Ute
___
Hahtalekin has connected.
Minutes after Skelaghe had left to tend to her pups, leaving Survivor to his well-earned self-misery and Wanageeska to his fainted state, the scarred one stirs from his self-punishing lay. He spots Wanageeska not too far off, unconscious where he had fainted. The older wolf lopes over to the younger one and carefully puts his head near to listen for the pup's breathing ... satisfied the pup is, at least, still alive, the old wolf gently moves behind the unconscious adolescent, skillfully sliding his nose under Wanageeska's hind end, careful to maintain a proper leverage so that, as Survivor wedges forward under the pup, the pup winds up sliding onto Survivor's neck and back. The end result is Survivor now carries the limp young wolf on his back, and Survivor then makes his way over to the creek's edge. Survivor then kneels and crawls, then gently tils himself to slide the pup off on the edge of the creek, less than a foot from the water's edge. Survivor then uses one of his forepaws to attempt to splash cool creek water onto Wanageeska.
Wanageeska was, for lack of other terms, pleasantly limp since he fainted due to the build up of emotions. All he knew was that he was being moved and couldn't do much about it even if he wanted to, somewhere...anywhere that is that he might inhabit his blackened mind. Even when he was being carried on Survivor's back, he didn't stir, nor did he stir with the water being splashed into his face. Cold...he felt something cold and that was the only sensation he knew. Bitter cold. And wet. Two things he didn't like, but his body still wouldn't respond and he couldn't see.
Not wanting to drown the pup, after a few minutes, Survivor ceases splashing him. The battle-scarred wolf eyes the blacked-out pup for a few moments, then lays beside him, curling around him, and arches his head over the pup whilst doing so to lick the young male, lapping slowly and cleansingly, starting with Wanageeska's muzzle. Each stroke is long and slow, stimulating the younger wolf's nerves with Survivor's warmth and moisture, and each stroke is overlapping from the previous; this is not a rush job nor a race.
Wanageeska stirred a slight bit, but not much. The warm provided in contrast to the cold helped awaken some sense in his mind, but he wasn't too sure where he was. Wan shuddered and finally his eyes opened, staring at the creek, and then his nose picked up the smell, one familiar to him. It was Survivor, but he didn't resist. What use was there in resisting when there was little point in going anywhere as he didn't know anyone, and staying being as Skelaghe told him to go to the border? That was it. He knew he wasn't welcome here and to an extent, he wondered how exactly his father had died anyway. Those Eloone principles wouldn't just disappear in him...was he this alone too? Why was Wan even thinking on it? He grunted, remaining still.
Survivor continues in his task, not yet seeing Wanageeska's eyes open. Despite his brutish appearance, the scarred wolf is very affectionate and gentle. When he finally notices the pup's eyes open, he asks, in a gentle and caring voice, "Are you okay?"
Wanageeska breathed once, staring out at the creek. "Physically," he said lightly. "Once I am able to walk, I will be on my way." His mind hadn't been too shaken from his objective. He didn't know where he'd be going...just away from here. He only had two encounters with this pack's members...the pup Rowtag and Survivor and yet Skelaghe claimed he caused much unrest. Absolute wrong. He closed his eyes once more, listening for what was around him.
Survivor asks, "How long has it been since you have eaten?" The one who had given such a hot chase of the stealthy intruder now seemed quite preoccupied with his well-being.
Wanageeska would have blinked if his eyes weren't closed. "I ate a short while before I met you the second time," he said. It was the truth, but also Wan didn't want any help right now. He was still on Ute land, and Skel wanted him off.
Survivor comments, "You should probably eat your fill before you go wandering too far. Your energy is low from emotional pain." The hunter is still laying curled around the recovering younger wolf. "I know your mind is racing," he says, turning from gazing at the pup to gaze off in the distance. "I know little of your pack or your spiritual beliefs, but ... plenty about emotional pain. I'm sure you're ... thinking a lot of things, trying to fill in a lot of blanks so it makes sense. That is only natural," he says, then turns back to gaze into the youngster's eyes ... not a commandeering one, but one to show his sincerity, that he isn't just 'being preachy' for the sake of being preachy, but baring part of his soul to the younger wolf. "But it leads to untruths. The two wolves I was with, hunting after you yesterday ... are innocents, and I beg you to hold no ill will nor feelings toward them. They are loyal, faithful, good guardians of Ute. It is ... I ... who am the evil among them. I am unworthy to be here. And their goodness causes me pain, that I might taint them with my evil soul."
Wanageeska's white eyes focused on Survivor. He had the qualities of a rogue as opposed to being a pack suboardinate. Everything was not fine. He came here to find his father, did not. He explained his reasons for his behavior, and they were not considered-only ignored and passed off as disrespect. Well..that disrespect disrespected his own upbringing. "That might be how wolves here function, but not where I'm from. If I cannot find food, I will eat plant to supplement it until I do find meat. The most important thing for me is I leave."
Survivor speaks, "No one, certainly not I, will stop you from doing so. You are not compelled to stay. I would advise you, though, to steer clear of packs you are unfamiliar with. I spent a long time running from my past, and in that time encountered many packs ... almost all have the same basic rules and protocols in terms of respect for their territories and their members from outsiders. Yours you spoke of, in fact, is the only pack I have heard the faintest rumors of who operates differently."
Wanageeska still didn't moved, only kept his eyes forward. Other wolves would move the moment they got up, but he wasn't. It was a way to let his body slowly regain its senses instead of expending energy getting up the second they he awoke. "My pack controls a vast territory larger than this entire region. At one time, it was small, and the neighboring packs warred much. When they began overstepping their boundaries, we took action and presided control over them all. Our campaign crossed their borders without their consent, and those whom resisted were put of our their misery for those who resisted were corrupt in power. Because of this practice, peace was established in the region and eventually after a short war, all the packs were united under one complete army against which the outer packs dare not question. We came to realize that no one truly owns territory; they borrow it from nature just as we borrow our mass gain. Boundaries are none existent in our philosophy."
Survivor snorts. "I am sorry to hear that. Peace through conquest and slaughter of any who are not like you ... I know it wasn't your war or history, and it is probably the only life and history you know, but ... it is not a glorious one, young one ... err, what was your name again? I don't think I ever did quite catch it."
"Wanageeska," he said. "The conquest was not simply against those who did not like us. They were leaders whom abused their own packs, attacked outsiders and innocent creatures without provocation. We were liberators in the end, led by a wolf named Helaku...the same one that was Skelaghe's previous mate, and my father."
Survivor chuckles ... "Innocent creatures. I would educate you on the folly of your ways, Wanageeska ... but it would be pointless because you do not know enough of our ways, of the wolf's ways outside of the ways of your whelp-pack to understand. Nearly every victor in every war and battle views themselves as a righteous liberator. That does not make it so. You spoke disdainfully of 'those who resisted' ... its not hard for me to imagine those were entire packs, alphas through omegas and pack pups ... slaughtered as being in the way. I had my days of fighting, Wanageeska. Its no secret I've been in battle. But the battles I fought ... the war I waged ... was not an honorable one. I was defeated ... and in defeat, I was forced to confront my one true enemy: myself. I killed for the sake of killing. We justified ourselves as being "pre-emptive" against hostile threats. A lot of innocent blood was spilt ... and for my actions, I condemned my own soul. I am punished, Wanageeska ... but these scars you see are not the punishment. My life, my ... survival ... that is the punishment. I can never escape the guilt for what I have done. It is the most grievous wound of all, and it ensures that when whatever deities of nature there may actually be take my mortal life, I will not have a pleasant afterlife."
Wanageeska breathed again. "This is the problem with wolves here," he replied. "They assume without knowing the atmosphere of the lands I was born in. Our targets were only those in power that abused it. Helaku forbid the killing of lower ranks and pups. My mother told me that whenever the pup of an enemy was found outside its borders and wandering, my father would take the pup and return it to its pack regardless of the consequence he faced. The lands..the Redwood Barrens...are not anything that you know. You cannot speak on what you do not know as you were not present." Slowly, the younger wolf pushed himself up. "I grew up in conflict, on the battlefield with troublemaker packs, but I also grew up under precepts which were compassionate as much as they were unforgiving. We speak things as they are, as those whom did resist us did so in violence and not peaceful diplomacy." The wolf stepped to the stream and began to drink. "When I return to them, however, as I am a military wolf...I will be stripped of my Tobba and
Wanageeska and Lunai, my rank, my place in the pack, and outcast because I failed the mission. Even father dying before I could meet him is failure."
Survivor shakes his head. "The problem, Wanageeska, is indeed those who assume without knowing ... but it is you who do not know. I told you, I waged a war. I lost. And it was righteous that I lost, because waging war, invading another's home to destroy them is never an honorable act. I know what happens in war ... you make someone into an enemy, then you go to their home and you kill them. All of them. The problem, Wanageeska, is after winning war, after destroying your enemy ... you, then, write the history. When you have brought tranquil death and reign victorious over the bones of the enemies of those you defeated, you can tell your sons or daughters anything. They would have no reason to question it; after all, no one is left alive to say otherwise."
Wanageeska looked up from the stream, peering at Survivor. "That is your story, not mine...and not the Eloone. Those belonging to packs we overran gave their accounts as to how their packs lived under the reign of their corrupt leaders. And even in corruption, there were honorable wolves in the fields. What you speak of is considered barbaric and uncivilized in the views of those whom live in the Redwood Barrens. Rewriting history merely because we were victors is a vain tool used by outdated mongrels. We are, perhaps, the only pack that would openly admit the entire war started with a false flag operation." Again, he sipped the water, and moved his legs accordingly to test their response. "You may know what happens in war here, but you do not in the Redwood Barrens."
Survivor snorts. "Those who belonged to packs you overran? You already said your pack had defeated those who resisted. Those who were resisted were killed, and you never have and never will hear their story ... but, I know you are young, and your whole life has been as a son of the victors. Whether its the Redwood Barrens, or the cougar-filled canyons where I grew up, war is the same anywhere. One side views its cause as more righteous as the other side's right to live peacefully. War only begets war, wanageeska. You can reign supreme for a time, but sooner or later, a sneakier being will come along with a craftier plan, if not mightier brawn. Wars, conquests, campaigns, killing ... no good, no honor comes from it. That is something you can never truly know, until you have persued glory with all your heart, been defeated without being killed, survived and come to realize you had not the right to do what you did. I can never be forgiven for my acts, Wanageeska, but I am reformed. I hope, if you do not return home, you will make a real effort to consider living instead of surviving, feeling instead of killing, honor instead of glory. Your clan won ... obviously, your pack has very strong warriors, incredible skills at sneaking. What do you think sneaking accomplishes in war? Getting past the guard so you can kill the unguarded ... pups and elders dependent on the warriors to guard them. That is the only purpose of sneaking in war, Wanageeska. You cursed two good warriors of Ute for doing just that. It is very frustrating, you are so hard-trained that you still refuse to see that. I cannot blame you, you are whom and what you were raised to be ... I can only ... pity your soul."
"Yes, over ran. No sense in sugar-coating it. My bluntness is what disturbs others. Would you rather me say invade? Campaign? Battled? No matter how you put it, the image is not a nice one even if it was not as what the words conjour. Our pack went to war in subterfuge, you must understand. For a long time we were a shadow pack...a phantom pack. It is creed we do not use our talents to kill elders or pups or those whom cannot fight back. There is an order to all things in the Redwood Barrens that simply does not exist here. Sneaking is not the only talents we have, Survivor. If I truly wished, all three of you whom followed me would have died last night because you were so focused on finding me." Wan looked up at the older wolf again. "You make it sound as if we're all about killing, but we're not. We used our silence in the shadows to gain intelligence about our rivals most of the time, what they believed and what they cherished in those beliefs so that if they fell when we fought we could give them
Survivor returns, "You /are/ about killing, Wanageeska. You are an assassin. You are not about a fair fight against warriors who are you match ... you are about getting past them, as you threatened to do to Ute to get at the pups. What if I were to show up in your pack's territory, a stranger, and declare my intentions to get at your pack's pups? You truly cannot imagine why Ute is disturbed by your stealth and dagger, your disrespect to the ways of every wolf pack in existence except your own? You came here with no respect for Ute, a pack of peace. Ute is no threat to anyone. Ute does not warmonger. Ute does not threaten the young of its rivals. Ute does not engage in supremacism. The notion of a peaceful pack is so disgusting and unfathomable to you, in fact, that you feel determined to leave instead of learning its ways, the ways of most wolves. That speaks volume, Wanageeska ... my life has no value or meaning anymore, Wanageeska, but even if it did ... I would rather die than live under the rule of your pack, as you have impressed it upon me."
Wanageeska slowly stepped up to Survivor and looked him in the fact. "All this talk and yet you've yet to realize the words of Skelaghe today," he said. "She said Helaku was her former mate, which means that most likely he was the Alpha of the Ute...prior to your arrival being as you seem to be fresh to what I speak about. Chances are, the same stealth and dagger you so disapprove of was the same security my father gave to the Ute before he died. And, should you remember...I never once mentioned the word 'pup' and the word 'kill' in my entirity of being on this land. Again..assumption. I gave you a warning on what your actions would cause if my pack heard of my harm while trying to establish contact with Skelaghe. If you are so experienced in war, then you should realize the slightest mishap and miscommunication can also lead to war, which was exactly what I was suggesting." Wan slowly walked past Survivor, having found his bearings. "Father said that Ute wolves are open minded, smart consideration and understanding,
Wanageeska particularly his packmates Skelaghe and Ixkin. Apparently, things changed. The Ute precepts he taught the Eloone do not seem present here. Of course, he was also discussing the Ute he knew, the one he served as Beta in, and this pack now I've met is not it!" He looked back at Survivor again. "The original pack of Ute died, Survivor. That is the origin of this pack, the members whom survived disease. Ask Skelaghe about it, and she'll tell you about the disease if it is in her interest to do so." For one that hadn't met Ute...Wan sure knew about it thanks to Helaku. "I must be off. There is no place here for me, or anywhere. Returning home...is not the most ideal thing for me."
Survivor snorts. "It does not matter how you knew her, she told you you were wrong ... and you were. You may not have had killing on your mind, but whatever your goal was, the means you attempted to force on the pack was not peaceful and disrespectful. Your pack never taught you to respect others ... by what you say, any wolf pack that lives as a wolf pack is an enemy, and any that get in your way will be wiped out. I have never encountered a pack more peaceloving nor tolerant as Ute, and your hatred of it only reinforces the picture you have drawn for me of your birthpack being a tyrannical empire. Might does not make right. I advise you to go home, pup ... your assassin ways will not find peace among any pack outside your homeland. You act as a terrorist, regardless of whether you think of yourself as one, and wherever you go, that is how you deserve to be treated until you learn how to properly respect a sovereign pack. Safe journeys, Wanageeska ... I shall tire you no more with lessons you refuse to hear."
Wanageeska kept walking. "I can say the same to you, Survivor...that your precepts prevent you from respecting the rules I had to operate by to reach Skelaghe. It works both ways, disrespect to you, apparently, but also disrespect to my loyalty to a pack that is not on the verge of falling apart." Wan didn't even look back as he spoke. "Call your buddies, chase me out if you wish. It doesn't make much a difference anymore when others believe I need schooling when they cannot see they push their own doctrine blindly. My personal feelings on protocol and protocol differ, but I guess you won't learn." And with that, Wan howled...give the poor wolf some company for crying out loud.
Clover Lawn
A carpet of prairie clover spans outward in all directions. In the summer, reddish purple and white blossoms spring up, attracting bees and butterflies from all over. Grass has tried, with only limited success, to overrun the area; blades poke up around the fringes, where they've charged down the hill from the northeast. Dandelions, as well as a few vine weeds, have also claimed their presence here. But the clover holds fast. Sitting conspicuously in the midst of all the greenage, are three moss-infested boulders of increasing height, set in a loose circle.
___
Characters
Wanageeska, adolescent male wolf
Survivor, male wolf, pledgeling-omega of Ute
___
Hahtalekin has connected.
Minutes after Skelaghe had left to tend to her pups, leaving Survivor to his well-earned self-misery and Wanageeska to his fainted state, the scarred one stirs from his self-punishing lay. He spots Wanageeska not too far off, unconscious where he had fainted. The older wolf lopes over to the younger one and carefully puts his head near to listen for the pup's breathing ... satisfied the pup is, at least, still alive, the old wolf gently moves behind the unconscious adolescent, skillfully sliding his nose under Wanageeska's hind end, careful to maintain a proper leverage so that, as Survivor wedges forward under the pup, the pup winds up sliding onto Survivor's neck and back. The end result is Survivor now carries the limp young wolf on his back, and Survivor then makes his way over to the creek's edge. Survivor then kneels and crawls, then gently tils himself to slide the pup off on the edge of the creek, less than a foot from the water's edge. Survivor then uses one of his forepaws to attempt to splash cool creek water onto Wanageeska.
Wanageeska was, for lack of other terms, pleasantly limp since he fainted due to the build up of emotions. All he knew was that he was being moved and couldn't do much about it even if he wanted to, somewhere...anywhere that is that he might inhabit his blackened mind. Even when he was being carried on Survivor's back, he didn't stir, nor did he stir with the water being splashed into his face. Cold...he felt something cold and that was the only sensation he knew. Bitter cold. And wet. Two things he didn't like, but his body still wouldn't respond and he couldn't see.
Not wanting to drown the pup, after a few minutes, Survivor ceases splashing him. The battle-scarred wolf eyes the blacked-out pup for a few moments, then lays beside him, curling around him, and arches his head over the pup whilst doing so to lick the young male, lapping slowly and cleansingly, starting with Wanageeska's muzzle. Each stroke is long and slow, stimulating the younger wolf's nerves with Survivor's warmth and moisture, and each stroke is overlapping from the previous; this is not a rush job nor a race.
Wanageeska stirred a slight bit, but not much. The warm provided in contrast to the cold helped awaken some sense in his mind, but he wasn't too sure where he was. Wan shuddered and finally his eyes opened, staring at the creek, and then his nose picked up the smell, one familiar to him. It was Survivor, but he didn't resist. What use was there in resisting when there was little point in going anywhere as he didn't know anyone, and staying being as Skelaghe told him to go to the border? That was it. He knew he wasn't welcome here and to an extent, he wondered how exactly his father had died anyway. Those Eloone principles wouldn't just disappear in him...was he this alone too? Why was Wan even thinking on it? He grunted, remaining still.
Survivor continues in his task, not yet seeing Wanageeska's eyes open. Despite his brutish appearance, the scarred wolf is very affectionate and gentle. When he finally notices the pup's eyes open, he asks, in a gentle and caring voice, "Are you okay?"
Wanageeska breathed once, staring out at the creek. "Physically," he said lightly. "Once I am able to walk, I will be on my way." His mind hadn't been too shaken from his objective. He didn't know where he'd be going...just away from here. He only had two encounters with this pack's members...the pup Rowtag and Survivor and yet Skelaghe claimed he caused much unrest. Absolute wrong. He closed his eyes once more, listening for what was around him.
Survivor asks, "How long has it been since you have eaten?" The one who had given such a hot chase of the stealthy intruder now seemed quite preoccupied with his well-being.
Wanageeska would have blinked if his eyes weren't closed. "I ate a short while before I met you the second time," he said. It was the truth, but also Wan didn't want any help right now. He was still on Ute land, and Skel wanted him off.
Survivor comments, "You should probably eat your fill before you go wandering too far. Your energy is low from emotional pain." The hunter is still laying curled around the recovering younger wolf. "I know your mind is racing," he says, turning from gazing at the pup to gaze off in the distance. "I know little of your pack or your spiritual beliefs, but ... plenty about emotional pain. I'm sure you're ... thinking a lot of things, trying to fill in a lot of blanks so it makes sense. That is only natural," he says, then turns back to gaze into the youngster's eyes ... not a commandeering one, but one to show his sincerity, that he isn't just 'being preachy' for the sake of being preachy, but baring part of his soul to the younger wolf. "But it leads to untruths. The two wolves I was with, hunting after you yesterday ... are innocents, and I beg you to hold no ill will nor feelings toward them. They are loyal, faithful, good guardians of Ute. It is ... I ... who am the evil among them. I am unworthy to be here. And their goodness causes me pain, that I might taint them with my evil soul."
Wanageeska's white eyes focused on Survivor. He had the qualities of a rogue as opposed to being a pack suboardinate. Everything was not fine. He came here to find his father, did not. He explained his reasons for his behavior, and they were not considered-only ignored and passed off as disrespect. Well..that disrespect disrespected his own upbringing. "That might be how wolves here function, but not where I'm from. If I cannot find food, I will eat plant to supplement it until I do find meat. The most important thing for me is I leave."
Survivor speaks, "No one, certainly not I, will stop you from doing so. You are not compelled to stay. I would advise you, though, to steer clear of packs you are unfamiliar with. I spent a long time running from my past, and in that time encountered many packs ... almost all have the same basic rules and protocols in terms of respect for their territories and their members from outsiders. Yours you spoke of, in fact, is the only pack I have heard the faintest rumors of who operates differently."
Wanageeska still didn't moved, only kept his eyes forward. Other wolves would move the moment they got up, but he wasn't. It was a way to let his body slowly regain its senses instead of expending energy getting up the second they he awoke. "My pack controls a vast territory larger than this entire region. At one time, it was small, and the neighboring packs warred much. When they began overstepping their boundaries, we took action and presided control over them all. Our campaign crossed their borders without their consent, and those whom resisted were put of our their misery for those who resisted were corrupt in power. Because of this practice, peace was established in the region and eventually after a short war, all the packs were united under one complete army against which the outer packs dare not question. We came to realize that no one truly owns territory; they borrow it from nature just as we borrow our mass gain. Boundaries are none existent in our philosophy."
Survivor snorts. "I am sorry to hear that. Peace through conquest and slaughter of any who are not like you ... I know it wasn't your war or history, and it is probably the only life and history you know, but ... it is not a glorious one, young one ... err, what was your name again? I don't think I ever did quite catch it."
"Wanageeska," he said. "The conquest was not simply against those who did not like us. They were leaders whom abused their own packs, attacked outsiders and innocent creatures without provocation. We were liberators in the end, led by a wolf named Helaku...the same one that was Skelaghe's previous mate, and my father."
Survivor chuckles ... "Innocent creatures. I would educate you on the folly of your ways, Wanageeska ... but it would be pointless because you do not know enough of our ways, of the wolf's ways outside of the ways of your whelp-pack to understand. Nearly every victor in every war and battle views themselves as a righteous liberator. That does not make it so. You spoke disdainfully of 'those who resisted' ... its not hard for me to imagine those were entire packs, alphas through omegas and pack pups ... slaughtered as being in the way. I had my days of fighting, Wanageeska. Its no secret I've been in battle. But the battles I fought ... the war I waged ... was not an honorable one. I was defeated ... and in defeat, I was forced to confront my one true enemy: myself. I killed for the sake of killing. We justified ourselves as being "pre-emptive" against hostile threats. A lot of innocent blood was spilt ... and for my actions, I condemned my own soul. I am punished, Wanageeska ... but these scars you see are not the punishment. My life, my ... survival ... that is the punishment. I can never escape the guilt for what I have done. It is the most grievous wound of all, and it ensures that when whatever deities of nature there may actually be take my mortal life, I will not have a pleasant afterlife."
Wanageeska breathed again. "This is the problem with wolves here," he replied. "They assume without knowing the atmosphere of the lands I was born in. Our targets were only those in power that abused it. Helaku forbid the killing of lower ranks and pups. My mother told me that whenever the pup of an enemy was found outside its borders and wandering, my father would take the pup and return it to its pack regardless of the consequence he faced. The lands..the Redwood Barrens...are not anything that you know. You cannot speak on what you do not know as you were not present." Slowly, the younger wolf pushed himself up. "I grew up in conflict, on the battlefield with troublemaker packs, but I also grew up under precepts which were compassionate as much as they were unforgiving. We speak things as they are, as those whom did resist us did so in violence and not peaceful diplomacy." The wolf stepped to the stream and began to drink. "When I return to them, however, as I am a military wolf...I will be stripped of my Tobba and
Wanageeska and Lunai, my rank, my place in the pack, and outcast because I failed the mission. Even father dying before I could meet him is failure."
Survivor shakes his head. "The problem, Wanageeska, is indeed those who assume without knowing ... but it is you who do not know. I told you, I waged a war. I lost. And it was righteous that I lost, because waging war, invading another's home to destroy them is never an honorable act. I know what happens in war ... you make someone into an enemy, then you go to their home and you kill them. All of them. The problem, Wanageeska, is after winning war, after destroying your enemy ... you, then, write the history. When you have brought tranquil death and reign victorious over the bones of the enemies of those you defeated, you can tell your sons or daughters anything. They would have no reason to question it; after all, no one is left alive to say otherwise."
Wanageeska looked up from the stream, peering at Survivor. "That is your story, not mine...and not the Eloone. Those belonging to packs we overran gave their accounts as to how their packs lived under the reign of their corrupt leaders. And even in corruption, there were honorable wolves in the fields. What you speak of is considered barbaric and uncivilized in the views of those whom live in the Redwood Barrens. Rewriting history merely because we were victors is a vain tool used by outdated mongrels. We are, perhaps, the only pack that would openly admit the entire war started with a false flag operation." Again, he sipped the water, and moved his legs accordingly to test their response. "You may know what happens in war here, but you do not in the Redwood Barrens."
Survivor snorts. "Those who belonged to packs you overran? You already said your pack had defeated those who resisted. Those who were resisted were killed, and you never have and never will hear their story ... but, I know you are young, and your whole life has been as a son of the victors. Whether its the Redwood Barrens, or the cougar-filled canyons where I grew up, war is the same anywhere. One side views its cause as more righteous as the other side's right to live peacefully. War only begets war, wanageeska. You can reign supreme for a time, but sooner or later, a sneakier being will come along with a craftier plan, if not mightier brawn. Wars, conquests, campaigns, killing ... no good, no honor comes from it. That is something you can never truly know, until you have persued glory with all your heart, been defeated without being killed, survived and come to realize you had not the right to do what you did. I can never be forgiven for my acts, Wanageeska, but I am reformed. I hope, if you do not return home, you will make a real effort to consider living instead of surviving, feeling instead of killing, honor instead of glory. Your clan won ... obviously, your pack has very strong warriors, incredible skills at sneaking. What do you think sneaking accomplishes in war? Getting past the guard so you can kill the unguarded ... pups and elders dependent on the warriors to guard them. That is the only purpose of sneaking in war, Wanageeska. You cursed two good warriors of Ute for doing just that. It is very frustrating, you are so hard-trained that you still refuse to see that. I cannot blame you, you are whom and what you were raised to be ... I can only ... pity your soul."
"Yes, over ran. No sense in sugar-coating it. My bluntness is what disturbs others. Would you rather me say invade? Campaign? Battled? No matter how you put it, the image is not a nice one even if it was not as what the words conjour. Our pack went to war in subterfuge, you must understand. For a long time we were a shadow pack...a phantom pack. It is creed we do not use our talents to kill elders or pups or those whom cannot fight back. There is an order to all things in the Redwood Barrens that simply does not exist here. Sneaking is not the only talents we have, Survivor. If I truly wished, all three of you whom followed me would have died last night because you were so focused on finding me." Wan looked up at the older wolf again. "You make it sound as if we're all about killing, but we're not. We used our silence in the shadows to gain intelligence about our rivals most of the time, what they believed and what they cherished in those beliefs so that if they fell when we fought we could give them
Survivor returns, "You /are/ about killing, Wanageeska. You are an assassin. You are not about a fair fight against warriors who are you match ... you are about getting past them, as you threatened to do to Ute to get at the pups. What if I were to show up in your pack's territory, a stranger, and declare my intentions to get at your pack's pups? You truly cannot imagine why Ute is disturbed by your stealth and dagger, your disrespect to the ways of every wolf pack in existence except your own? You came here with no respect for Ute, a pack of peace. Ute is no threat to anyone. Ute does not warmonger. Ute does not threaten the young of its rivals. Ute does not engage in supremacism. The notion of a peaceful pack is so disgusting and unfathomable to you, in fact, that you feel determined to leave instead of learning its ways, the ways of most wolves. That speaks volume, Wanageeska ... my life has no value or meaning anymore, Wanageeska, but even if it did ... I would rather die than live under the rule of your pack, as you have impressed it upon me."
Wanageeska slowly stepped up to Survivor and looked him in the fact. "All this talk and yet you've yet to realize the words of Skelaghe today," he said. "She said Helaku was her former mate, which means that most likely he was the Alpha of the Ute...prior to your arrival being as you seem to be fresh to what I speak about. Chances are, the same stealth and dagger you so disapprove of was the same security my father gave to the Ute before he died. And, should you remember...I never once mentioned the word 'pup' and the word 'kill' in my entirity of being on this land. Again..assumption. I gave you a warning on what your actions would cause if my pack heard of my harm while trying to establish contact with Skelaghe. If you are so experienced in war, then you should realize the slightest mishap and miscommunication can also lead to war, which was exactly what I was suggesting." Wan slowly walked past Survivor, having found his bearings. "Father said that Ute wolves are open minded, smart consideration and understanding,
Wanageeska particularly his packmates Skelaghe and Ixkin. Apparently, things changed. The Ute precepts he taught the Eloone do not seem present here. Of course, he was also discussing the Ute he knew, the one he served as Beta in, and this pack now I've met is not it!" He looked back at Survivor again. "The original pack of Ute died, Survivor. That is the origin of this pack, the members whom survived disease. Ask Skelaghe about it, and she'll tell you about the disease if it is in her interest to do so." For one that hadn't met Ute...Wan sure knew about it thanks to Helaku. "I must be off. There is no place here for me, or anywhere. Returning home...is not the most ideal thing for me."
Survivor snorts. "It does not matter how you knew her, she told you you were wrong ... and you were. You may not have had killing on your mind, but whatever your goal was, the means you attempted to force on the pack was not peaceful and disrespectful. Your pack never taught you to respect others ... by what you say, any wolf pack that lives as a wolf pack is an enemy, and any that get in your way will be wiped out. I have never encountered a pack more peaceloving nor tolerant as Ute, and your hatred of it only reinforces the picture you have drawn for me of your birthpack being a tyrannical empire. Might does not make right. I advise you to go home, pup ... your assassin ways will not find peace among any pack outside your homeland. You act as a terrorist, regardless of whether you think of yourself as one, and wherever you go, that is how you deserve to be treated until you learn how to properly respect a sovereign pack. Safe journeys, Wanageeska ... I shall tire you no more with lessons you refuse to hear."
Wanageeska kept walking. "I can say the same to you, Survivor...that your precepts prevent you from respecting the rules I had to operate by to reach Skelaghe. It works both ways, disrespect to you, apparently, but also disrespect to my loyalty to a pack that is not on the verge of falling apart." Wan didn't even look back as he spoke. "Call your buddies, chase me out if you wish. It doesn't make much a difference anymore when others believe I need schooling when they cannot see they push their own doctrine blindly. My personal feelings on protocol and protocol differ, but I guess you won't learn." And with that, Wan howled...give the poor wolf some company for crying out loud.