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Turning of the Tide - II (Blood Curse Plot Finale)

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Location: Raefnwood

The setters of the trap continue to converse, preparing as the rest of the pack begins to gather


 

Rocko

 

And then it came... the long, warning howl. It was like it set something in motion, even though it had already been going on the whole time. That howl sounded so haunting, he was sure he would never forget it, although he must say, that he himself would not doubt the urgency in it. The wolf who had rang that sound of alarm must really be good in acting or good in lying - or maybe both. If he would not know anything of the original plan, he sure would have reacted to that sound as well.

 

After that sound, it was like the whole forest went silent, only to burst alive again with a wave of anxiety, fear and adrenaline and not just from the wolves that had no idea what was going on, no. The wolves beside him, those who had helped with the plan and the trap, began to ooze it out as well. He allowed his senses to pick up their auras in the middle of it all and it was like they themselves had been set on fire, too. The call and the commotion further away had stirred up not just the wolves, but also the surrounding wildlife and he could hear or rather feel, their panic, too. "So it begins."

 

Once again he felt for the Fellfang wolves that had to basically betray their own kin and most of all, their alpha. His empathy allowed him to feel their pain as if it would be his own pack and his own betrayal. Feeling another heavy sigh slipping out of his chest, he wondered if this would become a new habit of him. Usually he tried to think positive and encourage others, but ... the air in Fellfang was dark and heavy and allowed for no nonsense right now and he knew, that the sound of panicked critters would be replaced by arriving pawsteps soon enough. Getting up, he turned around to face the others around him one last time, before slipping into the brush behind them - waiting.

 


 

Temperance

 

She stepped around, passing by Baely. The tip of her tail brushed against his tawny-grey pelt. Her muddied paws came to a halt on the other side of the trap, furthest from the den site - placing herself as bait for Valda to run to, and thus into the gnarled vines before her. The howl had set the plan into motion, and Temperance was more than ready. Her fur prickled down her back, her eyes blazed with hazel fire. It was time. It was time for an end.

 

Thunderous steps announced the arrival of more Fellfangir. They appeared through the woods, faces fraught with alarm - some in pretending. There was Polaris, poised and attentive. And then appeared Misha. His shock was genuine, and Temperance felt a jolt of bitter sorrow for the misguided youth. The last time she’d seen him had been during the conflict of her and Baely’s exile. It would be easier to hate him, but nothing was that easy. The she-wolf turned her scowl away, facing instead empty forest.

 

She let out a rattling breath, ears pulled back against her skull. Adrenaline kept most of her fear at bay, for which she was glad. Her paws dug into the soil, as though forcing herself to remain in place. Patience. The fox would be here. She would come, and in more ways than one, she would fall.

 


 

Baely

His ears flicked at the sound of the howl as he remained otherwise motionless. He waited still as stone for the pack to come surging through the trees to confront the assumed threat. He wondered what expressions would cross their face when they saw him. But it was a familiar face that broke through first. Polaris. His heart ached at the sight of his friend, and he dreaded to know what she thought of him now.

 

Moth and her son, Misha, followed close behind. Baely refused to meet the youngster’s gaze as he asked his hesitant question. You’re about to find out, he replied silently. The boy was young and impressionable, that he knew. Still, he could not help but feel hurt by the fact he sided against him during the eviction. Those feelings were very much still raw, but he forced himself to focus. Now was not the time to be consumed by emotion. There was work to be done yet.

 


 

Rocko

 

Ro's heart began to pump faster, finally picking up its pace alongside those who had been around him, especially when he saw that the two wolves he trusted the most out of the resistance stayed behind and out in the open. He knew that this was the plan, someone had to lure Valda closer and into the trap, but still.

The whole time he was able to keep his nerves calm, well for the most part, but now with the whole pack arriving... it was different, maybe because he readied himself for a fight and most likely because he was worried for the two wolves right in the center of it all. They had gone through so much and their love and loyalty drove them even further into it.

 

At first you could only hear a quiet rumble, but the closer the pack drew to the scene, the louder the noise got and the more distinct, until you could make it out as separate paws rushing to the scene. Licking his lips nervously, he tried to keep as quiet as possible, even though he would not really be heard with everyone rushing in on them from all sides. Temperance and Baely seemed fearless, albeit nervous, though when he noticed that Atlas made himself ready to act, Rocko stood up as well, slowly making his way through the brush, able to defend them, if need be. Their mission was too important and he would not let them get killed, they were all doing good here, even though some of them might not see it at first.





Ian

 

Anyone who stood nearby Ian could probably sense how the tension was growing on him. His attempts to calm himself failed miserably, the whole situation was just too important, his own voice inside his head telling him that all would be fine served little or none as the young male knew he was just lying to himself. All could happen and there was no way to know for sure if their plan worked if not to wait until all was over. Ian gave another quick and worried look at the pit, freshly digged and hidden, just to assure himself that everything was in place and that the wind didn’t move a leaf or some pine needles, risking to compromise their perfect fox trap.

Inhaling and exhaling slowly, Ian closed his eyes, another attempt to slow down his heartbeat, galloping like a crazy horse.

 

At last, a howl sliced the tension in the air, the signal was cast. Ian’s long ears picked up the sound and he shuffled nervously in his paws. The plan was in motion at last. He imagined the Skuld still loyal to Valda getting up and heading towards Raefnwood, just like Valda would. He silently wished good luck to Rayne, Petra and Sheru, for them to play their parts so that the fox would believe and follow them right into the pit that was waiting for her.

He moved closer to Ludko, being next to someone whom he basically considered part of his new family, reassured the younger wolf, at least a little. The scars that a group of loners gave him, angry for the many raids the Fellfangir performed, itched with anticipation.

 

Many familiar faces at last began to appear. Fable’s mate, Polaris was in the first line, followed by others of the Skuld. One in particular caught Ian’s attention, Misha, Moth’s son whom he remembered for busting his expedition alongside Ludko, Vojin and Calida, where they attempted to find out what was wrong with the Jarl. Misha’s figure alarmed Ian as he feared that the young Witchdoctor would maybe turn and flee to warn the fox but it looked like he was more petrified for the shock of seeing Baely and Temperance. Ian looked at the two, worried, but their reaction made his fur lie flat instead of rising as both mostly ignored the younger wolf and paid little attention to him. If he was a threat, surely and especially them, they would have taken some precaution, right?

Turning his gaze over Misha, Ian awaited for the arrival of the rest of the Skuld and, mostly, for Valda.

 


 

Ludko

 

The warning howl made their situation all too real, cutting through the strained hush more effectively than any physical force could have done. Ludko's heart was pounding in his chest as he put on what he hoped was a convincingly worried expression, and tried not to meet anyone's eyes as the first arrivals started to trickle in. He focused his attention on Ian instead, glad to see that he was sticking close by. The youth's brush with death had rattled him, and he would do everything he could to keep him from further harm if things turned sour.

 

The rest of Fellfang had begun to assemble, and Ludko felt his fur prickle. Too many, too soon. Where was Valda? The delicacy of their timing struck him all at once. How long would the other Fellfangir wait, with no sign of the promised invaders? What if an unsuspecting wolf stumbled into their pit? His muscles tensed as he scanned the nearby forest, ready to take action if necessary. He would just have to trust that Rayne, Sheru, and Petra knew what they were doing.




Rocko

 

It pained him to know, that some of their believes would be crushed this day, but it was better to crush them, then to let them follow a faux spirit. He hoped to find out later, why the Fellfangir were so afraid of Valda. So afraid, that they would not question her from the start. Being a Sage it was his duty to collect knowledge and maybe this knowledge would also help him to understand what was going on and how it all even was possible to happen. Who know how powerful the ''true'' Valda was in their folklore and maybe, while being known as a trickster, this original Valda was good natured. He had scolded himself for judging the Fellfangir a bit, although lacking the complete knowledge of their tales, lore and believes.

 

While arriving next to Ian and Ludko, he tried to calm them down both, while keeping himself mostly hidden, though leaving the brushwork, but keeping a good eye on their surroundings and especially on ''the two spotlights''.

"Keep calm and focus. Now is not to time to lose it. You've worked hard for it, for your pack."

Giving the two young ones a slight side smile, he tried to ease their nerves with such simple words, without raising his voice, trying to keep it between the three, luckily the commotion around them helped him hiding his voice. Although it was odd for him to think of them as young ones, since Ian and Ludko weren't too far off from his own age range, or so he figured. Maybe he just felt old in such situations, because he was no stranger to fights, plots and strategy in such occasions.

 

Oh, how he wished he would have never had to see such a thing ever again, or, at least not so soon. But he couldn't have left Fellfang, turning his back on those who might have needed some extra help, even though he didn't really do much. Keeping their borders as free as possible of innocent strangers, so they would not be raided, as well as helping Temperance and Baely with their wounds and informing their Aldinwitch about the whole situation. Well, and maybe offering moral support here and there. However, he had to hold himself back as much as he could, it was still not his pack and he was technically still a stranger. An outsider, who dared to interfere in a strange pack's problems.

 

All the while it was good that most of the pack were focused on what was going on at all and especially in the middle of the clearing, instead of around them. While he still tried to keep himself hidden for the most part, he worried that his appearance might ruin something or at least, draw the attention onto him, instead of what they actually had in mind.


 


Location: The border of Grenmyrk forest

Rayne, Petrah, and Sheru seek out Valda to lure her to the trap.


 

 

Rayne

 

Elsewhere, in Grenmyrk, Rayne traveled alongside Petra and Sheru in their quest to find Valda. The path they took was one Rayne hadn't trod before, the location they'd tracked Valda to was somewhat tucked away in the northern reaches of the territory, a place Rayne had left largely unexplored. In part, it was because of the river that divided it from the rest of Fellfang's lands. Rayne had bad experiences with rivers, and he tended to avoid crossing them where he could, but today there was no choice.

 

As they stepped into the dense foliage, Rayne was somewhat enamored by their surroundings. It was a bit dank and dark, but he could smell massive clumps of plants that he'd scented before in the witch doctors' den, and it excited him somehow. Such a dark place housing a dark impostor could still be full of life and beauty. He had no doubt that Moth and the others already knew about this place, but perhaps one day he would have to brave the river again and come back to investigate.

 

Slowly, Rayne began to pick up Valda's scent. In order to convince her to follow, they would need to act riled. Rayne turned to his partners. "Okay, we're nearly there. It's time to put on our upset faces." He grinned one last time before going stone-faced. "Let's go." Rayne broke into a run, crashing through the bushes with abandon. "Valda!" He called out, sounding pointedly alarmed, "Valda! There's trouble!"

 


Petra

 

Soon after the work of preparing a trap near the Raenfwood forest has started, their small squad was finally triggered for summoning Valda. And now they were heading towards the Grenmyk forest.

Mysterious and nasty enough this place was seemed to frighten all the living creatures able to find throughout the Fellfang territory. Almost alive or even better to say almost dead the woods were deep, were dark, were unpleasant as much as it able to be for an inanimate object. The best place for hiding from the light of truth and justice or also the most comfortable and safe place for the pretender.

 

Rayne’s warning words wrested Petra out of her own thoughts. She-wolf shook her fur starting from her nose along the body, flicked her tail tip getting ready to say nothing as she planned to. She was good enough at solving problems but not in making them or even composing them from the emptiness.

 

Anyway they were close to arrive and Petra to meet the instigator of the incident which almost shattered the calm of Fellfang routine.

 

"Valda! There's trouble!"

 

Yes, they had a problem. But how hypocritical this words sounded.

 


 

Valda

 

Today had started like any other day for Valda. Unremarkable in every way. Ever since Durzin had vanished, she’d begun to feel more insecure about her deathgrip on Fellfang’s pulse, causing her to spend a good deal of time in the gloom of Grenmyrk forest, away from prying eyes and to add to her air of mystery. The peace could never last for long, however- she had to return to the smelly ranks of wolves every day to ensure they were thinking and feeling what she designed for them to be thinking and feeling.

 

Her expression was plagued with the faint ghost of frustration as familiar figures came crashing through the thick undergrowth with the all the grace of disgruntled boar. There was more to it, though: alarm. Her large, bat-like ears shot upwards as Rayne, Petra and Sheru appeared, breathless, before her. The three of them on separate occasions had proven useful, even faithful to her during her stay with the pack. Seeing them here together lent to the credence of the situation.

 

Her tail twitched, voice tempered with the hardness of urgency, “Trouble? Tell me.”

 


 

Sheru

 

Sheru eyed the”spirit” in front of him. This was the little animal that caused all…this. The reason why Fellfang was split in half by their fights. Reminding himself about the mission and their task he made sure to hide what he felt and thought from the little fluffball that was standing before him.
The dark male wasn’t the best at showing his emotions through facial expressions just like that. To act upset you had to be upset, so he recalled the most upsetting scenarios he had experienced in his life to make sure his voice would carry his emotions through. Thankfully thanks to his travels he had more than enough material to work with.once he spoke, his voice was shaking with annoyance.
- Temperance and Baely are at it again. As always they are causing trouble. Tried to stop those two,but they saw me before I could get closer and left…thankfully they chose a direction that let them closer to Petra….

 


Location: Raefnwood

All of Fellfang, and Valda with those with her all converge on the trap site.


 

Valda

 

Valda listened to the three wolves with a tensed jaw, tail slashing. As there short-breathed news met her ears, her orange eyes widened, her pupils narrowing to feline slits.

 

“Temperance… and Baely,” she spat. It was half a question and half utter, coiling, serpentine anger. “Take me to them, this must end.”

 

Little did she know how apt her words were. She ran with Rayne, Sheru and Petrah in the lead as they plunged from the edge of Grenmyrk into the lighter woods of Raefnwood. She needed them to take her to where the two exiles were, no doubt where the seeds of unrest were taking root. They needed to be stamped out for good.

 

Howls sounded in the distance. Valda was no wolf, but she could surmise what that meant. The further they ran, the more scents of wolves began to waft in from the other direction, confirming her worst fears: Fellfang was congregating, with the exiles, without her say-so. Her control was slipping away. She hissed to herself as they ran.

 

At last, a small cluster of wolves appeared through the foliage, fueling the black fox’s ire. It became clear that two in the center were the wolves in question.

 

She stopped momentarily, her dark, charcoal fur bristling, “Temperance, Baely. Last I checked, you were banished from the territory, never to return.”

 

Her demeanor was usually sweet, even motherly- but that pretense was gone now. She was a small, seething fox in a world of large, angry wolves. She looked around to the wolves that had lead her, and to the other few wolves that stood in the clearing.

 

“These wolves are traitors! Heathens! If you fall into step with them, you are no better. Seize them, remove them!” She snarled, her voice beginning to shriek.

 

She stepped toward the small group, the ground under her paws fell away. What she had thought was solid ground was no more that expertly strewn branches and leave. With a screech, the fox fell downward, the smell of freshly dug earth meeting her nostrils as she found herself swathed in a wild tangle of vines and brambles. The more she struggled, the more trapped she became, like a fly in a spider’s web. Until this moment, she had always been the spider. She contorted herself to look upwards, seeing that she was caught about halfway down the expanse of a newly dug pit. As the initial shock faded, the reality of the situation began to dawn on her.

 

“How DARE you!?” she snarled, continuing to thrash. “Release me!”

 

Her breath began to quicken as she began to see and hear more and more wolves filter into the clearing. It was the whole pack. A small whine escape her as she shuddered with a new feeling… was this fear?

 


 

 

Misha

 

His question was left hanging in the air, as if it was nothing but a speckle of dust of the silent gathering. Yet, the tension was rising around him, nervous glances flickering between the Fellfangirs, and Misha felt his heart beating faster and faster against his chest.
Something was wrong.
And he didn’t know what to do about it.

If Durzin was here he would be giving orders and throwing out the exiles already, if not even fight them. For a moment, Misha was happy that that was not an option at all, but he envied that ability to grab the crowd by its horns and steer the situation. To not just be ignored in a sea of familiar faces.

 

Not even Baely would meet his eyes.
Or Temperance.

And when he found his mother, he only managed to furrow his brows before a voice echoed through the clearing.

 

Hackles rising and with his ears glued to the back of his head, Misha turned to watch the dark coated spirit enter the scene. Whatever he could have done to alleviate the situation was over now. She was here.

 

Unbeknownst to Misha, his packmates all viewed the fox with disgust, all aware of her true identity. Misha however, still saw her as a spirit. A being with unknown power. He trembled under her furious voice. He didn’t want to banish or hurt Baely and Temperance again, but the spirit held such power over him he might’ve just stepped up and do it.

 

Was it not for Valda suddenly disappearing into thin air.

Wide eyed, he stared at the spot Valda had just been standing, until her voice could be heard from the pit in the ground she had fallen into.

 


 

Rocko

 

And then she appeared. She who had caused all of this. She who was responsible for the gap that had driven itself into the heart and soul of Fellfang. She who had dared to call herself a powerful spirit, manipulating their alpha, feeding him drugs and bending him to her will, so much so that he agreed to attack other wolves.

 

Valda, the trickster spirit. No, the mortal black fox.

 

"She is ....tiny."

Was the first thing that came to his mind and his face loosened up, looking a bit dumbfounded even. His reaction even surprised him himself, but what did he expect? They had told him that she was a fox after all, but her sheer presence had caused so much, maybe his mind had thought the fox had something special about her. Most likely, his mind made Valda out to be extraordinary huge for a fox or with an unusual fur or pattern on it, but no. She was just a regular, little black fox. Well, he never had seen a black fox before, sure that was odd, though otherwise, she was just... a fox.

It made his confusion about her having such a power even stronger, albeit her manipulation skills must be acknowledged, maybe even admired. If she wouldn't have used them for evil, that is. Though, why she had chosen to use her skills to cause such havoc was beyond him. What did a fox gain from such drama and the outside raids?

To him, foxes weren't irrational creatures and always seemed to have a plan and reason why they did certain things, but who knows. There surely is one lose rock in every kind.

 

Her sheer presence seemed to pump up the tension and adrenaline even more than before, if this was even possible and when she ordered the two center pieces to be removed, he instinctively rose to his feet, muscles getting ready to protect them, if need be.

But then, she just vanished from sight, falling into their trap and down into the pit. Hearing her screech and then her shouting, he allowed himself a snort, "Feisty little thing, isn't she?"

Rocko's sister adored those little beings and now he could see why. If all foxes were as feisty as Valda, they sure had that thing in common.

 


 

Myghchaell

He'd imagined Valda to have looked much more unnatural and demonic. This was the monster that had infiltrated their number, and brought terrible suffering and dread with her. He'd not yet seen Fable with his own eyes, but the thought of a simple fox breaking a wolf down from the inside out felt impossible... and yet it had happened. 

 

Though his packmates towered over her, Myghchaell couldn't help but give credence to the way in which she carried herself. The look in her eyes told more than a vivid story ever could, and it was all he could do to suppress the guttural growl pining to be let out. Instead, the male locked his eyes upon the false spirit and didn't move; if looks could kill...

 

He was silent as the fox pleaded her case, feeling sicker with every passing moment, not with nausea but instead with anger. He only moved when Valda set into motion the next part of the plan, falling into the trap and beginning to rave once more. "Careful, everyone," Myghchaell muttered shrewdly, cautiously moving to where he could see the fox, "the offal is starting to smell."


 

Calida

 

Her ears swiveled around and head snapped to the side when she heard the sound of multiple footsteps fast approaching the scene. They were here, she was here….

 

The black vixen came into view and a deep growl immediately began to rumble in the she-wolf’s chest. The fox spoke but it was as of Calida had gone deaf, for no words reached her ears. She was too focused on each step “Valda” took to pay attention to anything else. When the vixen began to take her final step towards the trap, Calida held her breath and stood still as a stone with her eyes fixated on the fox’s paw. As soon as the foliage began to crumble Calida darted forward. She wanted to watch the fox fall.

 

It was the most satisfying sight the she-wolf could have asked for. Calida stood near the edge of the hole for a few minutes, silently staring at the devil vixen with her green eyes burning. Seeing the fox thrash about while entangled in vines and screeching to be released caused a guttural scoff to escape her throat.

 

“Pathetic…” The word rumbled from her maw, soaked with disgust and resentment.

 


 

Petra

Sheru’s tale sounded unfinished a lot but Petra decided not to overdo with storytelling and with no changing her expression turned around forward pointing the direction with a head gesture. “ The cause can be spoken later. We need to move now otherwise we will have to search for them over the whole territory.”

 

She made the first leap to the Gremnyk woods border and started with the slow tempo to make others able to overtake with her. Then the last thing left for them to do was hoping to the pit to be ready before they will come.

 

She honestly worried about the result of whole this story starting from the Trickster’s first appearance on the lands with Old Ways’ reign. Her actress play was only the covering of her uncertain in her own words and choices.

 

Petra continued the run along the victim. Her paws laded one after one with the heavy movements, her claws digged narrow stripes of wet soil with no intention to slip.

As long as they were moving a tiny motley point smoothed by the distance grew larger.

 

Some meters more. And the vixen is trapped.



 

Temperance

 

A thundering of paws, faint beneath the murmuring of the crowd already gathered. She squinted into the brush to see whose coats flitted through the woodland. Reddish, dark, greys.... Her ears pricked, and she opened her jaws to taste the air. Rayne, Petra, Sheru. And... Valda. Despite her usual stoic nature it was almost difficult to stifle the smile that threatened to gloss over her features. Her paws prickled sharply and she sunk her claws deep into the soft soil, stilling her body in every other aspect so as to remain somewhat casual. Of course, she needed to act a little... she was a trespassing traitor, and she was caught.

 

The fox appeared, a lithe shadow so small compared to the wolves. And yet the power she held... Temperance could hardly refrain herself from lunging (though she did, of course). It was so satisfying to see her spitting fury, black fur puffed out like the little nasty hairball she was. Yell all you want, false spirit, it won't matter much longer. Temperance lifted her head in defiance even as the words hit her, hazel eyes burning deeply within the unreadable mask of her features. She waited, poised next to Baely, ever so aware of the balance in the air. It was good that tension would be expected, considering she was supposed to be surrounded by those marked as enemies. She did not even try to settle the discomfort that made the fur along her spine bristle.

 

As Valda addressed the rest of the Fellfangir, Temperance was delighted to hear the pitch of her voice rise. A little closer, her mind cooed. Almost seconds later the fox moved and her paws hit the ensnarement. It was lightning fast - the vines and twigs and leaves buckled as her weight pressed upon them, and in an instant the trickster was plunged into the pit. Her screech was music to the red she-wolf's ears. This time she could not hide the cruel smile that stretched over her muzzle. At last. Her gaze flicked upwards, darting around the gathered wolves, the entire pack minus their poor sickened Jarl. Most of the expressions lingered on disgust or excitement. Most of Fellfang had become the rebellion.

 

Myghchaell's words made her nose wrinkle in amusement. "Foolish vixen..." She leaned forwards slightly, bending her head down to sneer at the trapped creature. "See what happens when you meddle in the affairs of wolves? Especially when you are a treacherous, poisoning little wretch." She spat the last word. Lifting her head, she surveyed the crowd once more. The grasp at her chest was overpowering. She was not in charge here, and yet she spoke as though she led them all. It was surprisingly, actually. The conviction and sheer triumph that permeated through her. She had not expected to feel so strongly, especially with Durzin out of the picture. Yet this was startlingly thrilling.

 

"Look upon the spirit now, Fellfang. Does a being of the all-powerful realm become tangled in mortal vines? Lies she has spun to us. She is nothing but a maggot, leeching upon our ways. She is the true traitor here." Temperance's tail fluttered up, accenting her confidence.  

 


 

Baely

 

He glowered down at the fox, maw curling into a deep frown. His eyes glittered with indifference, offering no words as she screeched orders at the wolves. None of her commands were obeyed and he watched with a cryptic gaze as she stepped into their trap and fell. His eyes followed Temperance as she crept to the pit’s edge to taunt the false spirit, but he did not follow. He instead shifted his gaze to the crowd of gathered wolves—to Misha.

 

“If she is truly one of your spirits, then shouldn’t she be able free herself?” He asked the young wolf. “A trickster spirit being tricked by mortals. Seems unlikely,” He scoffed, aiming a scathing glare towards the pitiful creature below. “What have you to say? You who followed her so obediently.” He ripped his hazel gaze from the pit and back to the dark wolf, but no further criticism came from his mouth. The former Brandr seemed to let his judgement rest. For now.

 

Something must be done about the fox.” Baely addressed everyone now. “Though I would personally like to know why she did this to us. What does a simple fox have to gain from meddling with us wolves?”

 

Revenge was suddenly removed from his itinerary, its presence replaced by curiosity. He now looked at the scene before him like a puzzle needing to be solved. He wanted to know everything. The fox was the least of his concerns as he placed the majority of the blame on their Jarl. A leader should not be so weak to let a fox deceive him. And he also held bitter resentment towards the Thane and his fellow Brandrs who stood by and let the deception continue unanswered. Until now, of course.

 

No, the fox was not the subject of his ire. But he believed she was the key to understanding it all.

 

His conscious left the crowd to contemplate the situation more thoroughly. His brow furrowed with frustration. Baely could not comprehend why she would bother with all of this. What did she gain aside from easy meals and protection? Perhaps that was enough. Still… it did not explain how the vixen knew so much about Fellfang’s—enough to successfully infiltrate and manipulate so many. “And how did a fox know so much about our beliefs.” He spoke his curiosities aloud, albeit in a quieter voice.


 

Olega

 

How indeed.

 

The she-wolf remain still as ever, statuesque beside her daughter, watching the scenes unfold. She too had been kept in the dark about this… plan, so she shared in Misha’s confusion as more and more of the pack assembled. She cast a cursory glance over Moth’s shoulder, to find her daughter was pointedly not meeting her eye. Olega’s own narrowed. Never before had Moth deceived her. Never before had she kept any secrets.

 

Why?

 

Things began to become clear when, too suddenly for it to be accidental, Valda appeared, flanked by three wolves. Olega felt the furrows of her brow fall deeper into her crown as she studied the fox, the unbridled anger Valda wore as she saw the gathering. The wolves she thought long gone and exiled, standing before her as clearly as any other. This was… defiance. The Skuld had grown tired of Valda.

 

One step was all it took, and the spirit crumbled.

 

Olega could not see into the pit, but her ears turned back at the shrieking. She had not known of this plan, it was true, but it still brought her a measure of satisfaction. The fox had gone too far, done too much damage and enjoyed power far beyond Olega’s control.

 

She listened in typical, resolute silence as the others spoke. Each had their own monologue, their piece to say - precious little of it struck any chord with the she-wolf, save for Baely’s final words.

 

Her hardened gaze glanced his way, resting on his face for a moment, wondering. Did he know? No… no-one knew. None save the fox herself, who was preoccupied in her prison of vines.

 

Once more, she remained silent, her gaze finding Misha. This was not her fight. Only if her family was challenged, would she be required to use her tongue.

 


 

Moth

 

The fox had fallen, and it seemed so… underwhelming. As Moth turned her ears back, the shouting abhorrent to her, it felt like nothing much would change. That even once they were rid of Valda, the seeds of her poison would remain, stuck somewhere in the back of their throats. A bitter after taste on every word they would speak, from now until their last. She could see it in the way these wolves now looked at one another, once a family, now accustory even in presenting a united front.

 

Her body tensed when her son was directly spoken to, resentful of the lack of understanding or sympathy for his situation. None of these wolves had the wanderer’s soul or the spiritual heart that he had. They were not fit to judge his mistakes. Many among them, many they loved and trusted, had made far worse and with far longer on this earth to have known better.

 

Baely’s question was poignant - she too had wondered how. It was only now, when the fox struggled against the vines that held her and failed to become free, that Moth herself could begin to accept she truly was a mortal creature. Doubt had lingered on her tongue from the moment Valda had spoken her name… her true name.

 


 

Rayne


Joining the charge, Rayne ran alongside his packmates and Valda as they raced towards the trap they had set. Breaking out of the foliage, Rayne stood stiff as Valda stepped forward and slipped into the trap, just as they'd planned. Peering over the edge, he witnessed the vixen struggle at the bottom of the pit. It was surreal, to see a creature he'd been led to believe held a mighty power now laying prone and twisted in vines at the bottom of a hole. She was utterly impotent, helpless and simpering without her facade. He held back a snarl, anger coursing through him as he watched the fox who had manipulated him squirm.

 

Listening to his brethren, it struck Rayne that perhaps there was still something amiss. He had never met Baely, but the burly male was right. How had a fox conveniently known enough about Fellfang's spirits to be able to wrap the whole pack around her paw? Was there perhaps another traitor in their midst? He glanced around and saw people looking to Misha, but Rayne couldn't bring himself to suspect him. He hadn't spoken much with him, but he'd never seemed treacherous in the slightest. What motivation would he have to destroy the pack from within? Or maybe Rayne's bias as one who had believed in Valda foolishly led him to believe that Misha was also a victim. Perhaps a desire for a kindred spirit who knew what it was to be tricked, someone to feel close to in a time where he felt half-traitor himself. Whatever it was, he couldn't suspect the witch doctor. Not even that, he wouldn't.

 

Staring back towards the dark hole, Rayne spoke his piece. "We ought to interrogate her, get the real story. And then..." Rayne paused, knowing that his pack was likely even angrier than he was. There were undoubtedly wolves who would rather see her dead and buried, ones who thirsted for her life as revenge for being tricked, maybe even ones who wanted to displace the blame. Was that what he wanted? To call her responsible for his own failings and leave her for dead? No, he couldn't stand to be a killer, even if it was only by proxy. Yet, she had to be punished. "...We can send her off with a few scars to remember us by."

 

 


 

 

Polaris

 

Tensions rose as the wolves danced around the edge’s pit. Polaris could smell their anticipation, the promise of retribution fueling their remarks. Her eyes flicked to Baely, how long it had been since she’d seen him, and how she’d done nothing to stop his banishment. He asked the questions which she too needed answered. Her jaws clenched in her own desire for revenge. How easy it would be, to end the fox now. How she could serve as a reminder of what happened to those who trifled with Fellfang. Silently, she drew up alongside Baely and Temperance, and looked down upon the creature brazen enough to call herself their God.

 

The once composed and self-assured “Spirit” was now bound to this earthly form. Heir power had been replaced with fear, and Polaris savored what she saw there. She was as perishable as any of them. No infamy, nor title, could keep her mortality at bay.

 

“In Fellfang, there is equal consequence for every evil,” She remained poised, locking eyes with the fox. For too long “Valda” had been in control. Now their roles had reversed. It was a quiet victory for the Lady of Fellfang. 

 

“Murder is not outside the realm of punishment,” she continued, “You clearly hold contempt for the Skuld and lack a basic respect for our kind. But because we are a generous people, we give you an opportunity, vixen. Convince the Skuld why your life should be spared.” This was the trial her just Husband would have requested, had he been in his right mind. But Polaris, acting in his stead, was not so forgiving.

 

She stood silently, awaiting an answer.

 



Created at simplydevio.us - Designed by qalaxydoq
Part two of the official Blood Curse Plot finale! :la:

Synopsis: Resistance members who had previously engratiated themselves with Valda find her in Grenmyrk forest in order to lure her towards the trap. Irate that Temperence and Baely have returned to the terrory, Valda steps forward, right into their trap, getting entangled in the vines below. The Resistance presents this to the pack, proving that she is not really an all-seeing spirit. Polaris asks the imposter why they should let her live.

I wanted to give a huge applause and thanks to everyone involved with the Blood Curse plot! I really hope you guys enjoyed the wild ride. Continue to read the next installment of this RP to read what happens and see all the effort everone put in!

Featuring (In the Whole RP):  SaskedieJagerin with Ian, Kiwiaka with Misha, MediocrePotato with Calida, Flufferooni with Halvar, Zoketi with Temperance, ShishiNoSeirei with Sheru, Shichibi with Rocko, halloumicheese with Moth and Olega, Ammerlie with Petra, Tamrielle with Tamreille, toboe5tails with Rayne, KelpGull with Ludko, DodgerMD with Grendel, Ramala with Fable, and Jaeggy with Baely

:icondomain-of-the-wolf:
© 2018 - 2024 Ramala
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