Lore of the Wild, Part One: Tooth and Claw

[Zeich Yajuu]

((OOC: I am giving a one-week warning again for those in this thread. For all but Zahra, posts are expected within a week, and if not, you will be shuffled out. Also repeated warnings without any notice on delays will also get people shuffled out. Keep this in mind.))

[Kimiko Shihoin]

While she had chosen to wait in the line witht he leaders of the beast packs Kimiko wasn't expecting it to take so long. It was soemthing that she had to put up with for the time being in her opinion though. Seh had to be respectful and show that Soul Society wasn't here just to claim territory and loyalty from the Beasts. If she did that and was forceful against them at least some of them were going to view her and by extension all of Soul Scoiety in that manner. So while it was boring, annoying and damaging to her pride as a warrior she pursisted through it all for the greater good of Soul Scoeity.

When it was her turn to enter into the tent it seemed that the guard stopped her for a moment and gave her a few words about the situation. He claimed that she would have to show respect to the Beast that was pretty much demanding the tilte of Alpha through none combatitive means. As a warrior and one that in the past has fougth against Beasts Kimiko in all honesty didn't like the approach. She could understand that the strongest was the one to lead and dominate over others that was basic nature. Dealing with politics and others that hold more power in words yet nothing in strength was always boring. Eadgil's was trying to change how the heirarchy of the Beasts worked and she wasn't so sure she liked it.

However, she didn't have time to think that over she simply nodded her head slightly acknowledging the words of the lion guard and then stepped through into the tent. She was stepping into a dirt circle and all around her well more like above her sat Beasts of various species. All of them clearly having high positions not only in their own packs, but now the major pack that was beijng formed by Eadgil. It wasn't more than a moment after she looked around that the large cat caught her attention. It seemed that while he was planning on changing the structure of how things were ran she could tell by looking at him that he hadn't gotten into power through political or verbal means until now.

Eadgil seemed to be one that demanded respect and needed a sign of it while she was in his presence soemthing that Kimiko wouldn't normally do out of her own well being. She wasn't afraid even surrounded by these Beasts. However, these next actions would effect all of Soul Society and she didn't have it within her to throw away lives. It's one thing to bargin her own, but another entirely to virtually throw away those that she was speaking for over her own pride. So she placed her right hand over her chest and bowed slightly to the Lion. A moment later Eadgil's began to speak and it seemed that he wished to hear anything concerning the agreement between Soul Society and himself prior to them getting started.

"From what I've seen so far I have nothing to speak of. The state of everyone in the camp seems to be at acceptable levels and the sentries and guards that have been positioned throughout the area all provide adaquent defense to most situations. Though while I don't have anything to say at the moment if something does come up during the discussion I hope that you nor any of the others hear will not be offended if I ask for clarity on the matter." Kimiko wasn't the best speaker in Soul Society. They could have sent someone better to do this part of the mission. She was picked sololy because she had dealt with Beasts before and she was physically strong enough to hold her own against the majority of them.

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

“I already fuckin’ told you, asshat, I don’t need a damn escort!”

Aevus sighed, his tired blue gaze following the hell butterfly that fluttered away from that Senkaimon. The Zanpakuto at his side clinked in its black scabbard, chiming gently with each soft planted footstep. "The air around him...tastes foul." The wolf spirit murmured in disgust under her breath. A small smirk would lightly perk at that. “Careful now, he may hear you.” He stopped to look at the creature. He was a tower of a beast, intimidating was the least of the words he could use to describe the large wolf.

An umbrage of black flooded the creature's form. Spilling against his furs in a darkness befitting a shadow given life. The runes that coiled around the beast's arms and neck gave Aevus images of an eternal fire. Burning, raging flames against a darkened black silhouette. Ferocious foreboding wolven irises stared back at him and he almost found himself not able to look away. The beast was clearly rude, its words fell harshly with each step. Yet not all was like this beast.

Another wolf sauntered happily by his side. Her tail was a ceaseless pendulum ever since they exited the Senkaimon. Besides her previous comment she seemed perfectly at ease. “So this is the human world, it is rather...peculiar.” Aevus nodded giving a subtle “Yeah I suppose it is.” His mind was clearly elsewhere. His blues trailed onward but whirling thoughts spun and knotted in his mind. He couldn’t think of anything else but his mission. To his spirit this must have looked like an adventure but to him it was serious. Assassination or capture...

“Hey, fuckhead, didn’t you hear what I said? I said get the hell out of here, I can walk twenty feet without some shitty excuse for a babysitter to hold my hand.”

Another sigh left the reaper at that last comment. Stopping dead in his tracks he would turn heel, looking at that wolf dead in the eyes. A lukewarm smile perking his lips yet the rest of his face held stern. “Maybe I should have muzzled you mutt. Just thank me that you’re not on a leash.” His smile would disappear. His fingers grazed his Zanpakuto as a warning. “You’ll be free from me once we get there. So count your blessings.”

Lumina fell back at that. Her sheen white coat shimmered faintly from the rays of light that filtered through the canopy above. The dark markings covering her white silhouette became more pronounced as she stood in the light. Her sterling silver lined eyes looked askance for a time as she would walk beside the large wolf. “Aevus wouldn’t lay a hand on you, he’s all bark and no bite.” Lumina spoke in but a gentle whisper but Skoll would hear her. She'd look up at the black wolf warmly. "But this one...I do. So you'd best bite your tongue, or you might end up losing it."

"Lumina, you're straggling behind."
"Coming!" The wolf would sprint to reach the reaper's side, only just briefly gazing back at Skoll. Barring her unstained canines before turning back to the path ahead.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats & Skills}

Aevus

Strength - 100 (75)
Speed - 400 (540)
Spiritual Pressure - 350 (525)
Reiatsu Strength - 100 (70)
Light Aura - 50
Dark Aura - 50
Instinct - 150
Senses - 100
Energy Sensory - 0
Healing Expertise - 0

Lumina

Strength - 100 (75)
Speed - 150 (202)
Spiritual Pressure - 262
Reiatsu Strength - 50 (35)
Light Aura - 50
Dark Aura - 50
Instinct - 100
Senses - 150
Energy Sensory - 50
Healing Expertise - 0

•[Weapon: Katana] [2]
•[Stealth] [2]
•[Battle Analysis] [2]
•[Strength of Will] [2]
•[Hoho] [2]
•[Acrobatics] [1]

[Zeich Yajuu]

The ebony-furred wolf seemed to pay no attention to Aevus’s companion as the smaller lupine spoke to him, instead seemingly intent on glaring at everything around him. His gaze suggested that he was hardly perturbed by her light threat, and his stance suggested impatience, annoyance. For whatever reason, Skoll seemed to be in a perpetually bad mood that only seemed to fuel itself more by the moment, causing him to generally seem angry at everything that moved. The cause of this wasn’t obvious, but likely had to do with the dark, almost demonic aura that constantly flowed off of his body; perhaps it was the root of his general distemper?

Either way, they wouldn’t be together long, and probably to Aevus’s relief. Before long they reached the entrance to the Beast Sanctuary, known only by the general landmarks around it. There were no visible signs of the Beast-Clansmen, nor was there any indication that there was a large, protective barrier covering the place; indeed, Aevus himself would find that even without the ability to sense Reiatsu, something nagged at his mind, telling him that nothing was here, that he had to go away. It was a strong enough sensation that he might have started walking away, though Lumina, unaffected by it due to her animal form, would probably turn him back.

Skoll, on the other hand, didn’t hesitate, and kept moving forward ahead of the others. Quickly he stepped between two trees, and then he disappeared, vanishing from sight. Aevus, following behind, would soon reach the barrier as well, and he’d feel a rippling sensation flow over his body as he stepped through the wall that separated the normal world from the Beast Sanctuary. The instinct to leave, to escape this place, was ever stronger, but in a way it was like jumping into a pool of icy water; the sensations were powerful at first, but quickly faded as the mind adapted, and soon the Shinigami would have no problem entering the Beast Sanctuary.

Well, until a large hand was placed on his shoulder. Aevus would find himself roughly turned around, and a large figure looming over him. Like many of the Beast-Clansmen, who were known for their strength and sized, the leonine figure stood a good foot above the Shinigami in height. Glaring down at Aevus much like Skoll constantly had, the guard shoved his captive backwards, towards the entrance of the barrier. And speaking of the Beast-Clansman that Aevus had been escorting, the wolf was nowhere to be seen. But there was little time to think on it, as the guard spoke in a low, growling tone. “What are you doing here? Outsiders are not welcome. Leave, or face punishment.”

---

Zahra would be given a look by the guard, a condescending expression with a mix of pity in it, but the lion gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder and started to escort the jackal towards the arena, leading her around the outer edges and towards the far side. As they walked, he quickly explained the situation. “We often get those who are without packs, those who have abandoned their own for the sake of joining us, or those who have opposed their pack and left to avoid our lead. I am sorry to hear that you no longer have a pack, for whatever reason, but rest assured that there is always room in the Scylding sub-packs for any who is willing and loyal.”

As the two of them were walking, however, they paused momentarily as a commotion occurred at the far end of the arena. There was a good deal of swearing and yelling among the crowd, seemingly coming from one individual who soon came into view with a pair of guards escorting him, one holding onto each of his arms. The black-furred wolf that was being dragged roughly along seemed to have quite a foul mouth on him, practically inventing expletives on the spot as he tried to fight free of the two holding him. Both of the lupine’s “escorts” were the standard Scylding guards, two large lion-men that were more than strong enough to hold his feeble attempts off.

One thing to note, however, was that there was a wide circle of Beast-Clansmen standing away from the wolf. Any of them with the slightest ability to sense spiritual energy, Zahra included, would feel a sort of… well, dread or anxiety from the dark energy seeming to flow off of him. Combined with his foul attitude and aggressive temperament, it was no wonder that many of them treated him as though he were some sort of demon, and few wanted to get near him. The guards were unfazed, but the crowd gave them a wide berth as they dragged the wolf-man towards the arena, despite his continuing protests regarding it.

“Hey! I told you inbred excuse for housecats to fucking let me go!” The wolf’s angry remarks were growing louder as he approached the arena, the guards taking him past Zahra as they moved down a ramp that led into the lowered area. Unceremoniously, the lupine Beast-Clansman was thrown into the arena, and both guards stood to prevent him from escaping, standing firm against the barrage of insults that came afterward. Yet there was something of a smirk on their faces as they barred the wolf from leaving, doing their best to keep him within the arena as a new group entered from the far side, a trio of jackals that Zahra would find to be very familiar, having just encountered them a few minutes past.

The guard escorting Zahra scowled. “Looks like a troublemaker. Normally we leave the arena as a way for tension to be released, dealing with feuds and general discontent in a contained environment to prevent chaos among the various packs. But occasionally we get someone who’s going to cause trouble anyway, and he gets thrown into the arena whether he likes it or not. It’s just his bad luck he’s fighting three-on-one; he won’t survive long in there, likely. But as with all of the Beast-Clan, survival of the fittest determines who lives, and who dies. It’s no longer our problem. Come on.”

But would Zahra let it stand at that? She had previously had an issue with the other jackals before, so if she wanted vengeance, fighting in the arena would give her free rein to do so without any form of reprimand. If she felt sorry for the foul-mouthed wolf, that could be another reason. Of course, there was nothing that said this had to be her problem, either; if she wanted, Zahra could just simply turn and walk away, following the guard and finding a nice independent area to settle in and wait for more information on the Beast Realm and their travel into it.

---

A few more supplicants stepped into the tent as Kimiko was ushered to the side by one of the guards, brought up into the seats that were mostly filled by the heads of various Beast-Clansmen tribes. She’d notice quickly that the seating was arranged into two halves, with the entrance dividing it on one side and Eadgils’ podium doing so on the other. Kimiko was sat near the podium, a position most would consider a seat of honor, given that she was placed very close to the head speaker in the area. Either they trusted her, respected Soul Society, or simply wanted to keep her close in case trouble broke out. Either way, she was right next to the leonine leader, who was addressing one group at a time who had their own questions regarding how their packs would be treated, their positions of power, and so on.

Another look around would show that the separated halves of the room were intentional for another reason; the side that Kimiko was at, to Eadgils’ right, was made up of individuals who seemed to generally agree with following the Scylding clan, if the discussion among them was any indication. Many of them were sympathetic to Eadgils’ cause, willing to follow under his clan in order to reach this world of relative safety, a realm that would be all theirs. Serving under another would not be such a bad thing, as Eadgils had promised general autonomy to each pack, meaning that the leader of each pack would still be a leader in guiding their own people, and only beholden to the Scylding pack on matters that affected all packs.

It was much like how the Soul Society handled its own organization, Kimiko would probably realize; much like Central generally ruled over the Gotei Thirteen as the ruling government body, the thirteen squads each had their own area of expertise, their own leaders, and their own chain of command. Being already involved in such a system might help Kimiko to be more sympathetic as well, or at least more understanding of what Eadgils was trying to set up; whether or not she agreed with it would depend on her personal thoughts, but at least she could identify with the aim and how it was handled.

The other side of the room was made up of those who opposed the rule of the Scylding clan, but were granted seats as a measure of respect. It was not a condescending gesture, either; they would be given every right to argue their case once all of the leaders had gathered, and had the opportunity to sway the sympathy of those who were in support of Eadgils. After all, without proper support, the Scylding clan would not be able to take sole rule of the Beast Realm, and in order to move over there safely, would likely have to employ the other packs on equal terms rather than in a system of rule. It was a viable option in the short run, giving everyone equality, but it was unlikely to lead to long-term stability.

The last audience ended, and the center of the room was cleared, leaving it open for all to see. The entrance to the tent was closed, and two guards stood before it to ensure the privacy of discussions. Eadgils raised one large paw, and silence slowly fell over the room, the meeting called to order. “Pack-leaders, thank you for joining me here this day, so that we may discuss our future as a race. Before we begin, I want to make it clear that any major disruptions will be dealt with swiftly, and both sides will be removed from the tent, along with their ability to speak in this meeting. Let us show the human here among us that we beasts can be somewhat civilized.” This drew a bit of laughter from some of those gathered, scattered among both sides.

“And speaking of this human, I would welcome our guest to introduce herself. She is a representative of Soul Society, whose members have been so kind as to watch over those of us who were found in the other world. Though natural prejudice between races exists, Soul Society has still treated many of our people with respect, either giving them room within their own territory or welcoming our kind into their own. In response to their kindness towards us, I have extended an invitation for them to send a representative to listen in on the matter as we debate it, and weigh in on the matter. It is my hope that her support for either side will spur both to either sway her or encourage her to remain firm in her decision, so that we may be sincere, open, and enthusiastic in our talks.”

With that, Eadgils gave a nod to Kimiko, motioning with his paw for her to rise. “Please, Captain, introduce yourself and tell us what you know of the matter as well as Soul Society’s initial stance on this, so that we may have a firm foundation with which to begin these talks.”

[Zahra]

Zahra watched the emotions on the guard's face. Was he taking pity on her? Why was he? She didn't mind too much being by herself, knowing that she had someone back in Soul Society for her. But, maybe showing up alone here made him think she was truly alone. She didn't care one way or the other, but when the guard patted her on the shoulder and walked, she followed behind him.

She kept note that he was walking the outer edges of the area, which she assumed was to not infringe on the little territories of the other groups. It was an interesting he picked this way, since it seemed to her that the lions controlled the entire area. She assumed it could've been out of mutual respect, having the beasts respect this entire area while the lions would respect the little territories of all the packs that had arrived.

While thinking about this, the guard started to speak, saying that it really wasn't odd for them to get beasts without packs. She thought it was odd, but then, in Soul Society, there was no definitive pack for all the Beast-Clan there to unite under. So, she really didn't have a reason to mention anything. When he mentioned sub-packs, it peaked her interest. She didn't know how huge packs were organized, but she guessed this 'sub-pack' thing was how it worked.

But when he said he was sad she no longer had a pack, she looked up at him. "Zahra never had pack." They were now by the arena and when she heard the commotion, they both stopped and her ears perked up towards the sound. She was really curious to see what was going on and it wouldn't take too long for her to figure out what was going on. She watched two other guards dragging another Beast-Clan towards them.

She noticed the circle of other Beast-Clan around the one getting dragged away and then she felt it. Her senses were already on alert for being surrounded by all the other unknown Beast-Clan, but this was different. She felt something......evil. She couldn't put her clawed finger on it, but there was something off with the wolf Beast-Clan that they were dragging this way. She understood why people avoided the wolf.

He was yelling loudly, they passed her location and she watched as he was thrown into the arena, unable to get out due to the guards blocking his way. She had turned to get a better view of the arena and saw three jackals walk into the arena to fight him. She started to growl low in her throat as she saw those jackals again. She didn't like that jackal pack, but it wasn't fair to her that it was three on one.

The guard explained why he was thrown in there to fight, because he was a troublemaker and has to fight against his will. He mentioned the wolf's bad luck, saying it wasn't their concern and made it clear that he was ready to move on. She looked towards the guard and lightly touched him on the hand. "Zahra help wolf. You stay here and wait? Or Zahra find other guard when done?"

After she got his answer, she would run towards the arena and jump in, standing next to the wolf, brandishing a knife in both hands. She still felt the weirdness from this wolf, but she didn't like the fact that he was thrown in here whether he liked it or not. Survival of the fittest works, but not when it's forced like this. She quickly glanced towards the wolf. "Me Zahra. Who you?" She would then look and growl towards the jackals, ready to fight.

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

As the white wolf caught back up to him, Aevus would eye her shortly. Her warm gaze would meet his cold one and she would cock her head. It was as if she was telling him she had handled it. And that he needn’t worry about the darkly coated lupine anymore. They seemed to move in unison as they walked, remaining as their eyes set to the forests path. Their footsteps sheltered against the ground beneath their feet and paws. Brushing and stomping the brush before them.

A light wind fell against Aevus’s hairs and those silvery furs as they meandered through the thicket. A whisper or what sounded like one slithered into both his ears. He would stop dead in his tracks. The sensation he felt came like instinct. It overcame him instantly sheltering him a single notion. There was nothing here. Turn back it told him. Turn away from here...leave now. His feet pivoted as he shifted away and he would begin to saunter from that path “Aevus?” Lumina immediately nipped at his sleeve, her ears lowering.

“Not that way-” She would grumble with his sleeve still in her maw. Trying to pull the Shinigami in the right direction. She would burry her front paws into the ground below, growling as she tore at the man’s sleeve. "Aevus!" The wolf barked, a growl falling away from her throat as she gave away from his sleeve. Her eyes released from a narrow as Aevus looked her way clearly disoriented. Confusion painted over him as he turned to face the white wolf.

“What's gotten into you?"

“I felt a pull..."

Lumina's silvers widened at that. "W-Was it her? Was it the hollow?" He held his temple for a moment closing his eyes. "No, something else. It felt like I was being pushed away." His nose crinkled and Lumina would keep her silver gaze affixed to him. “It must be a trick. A trick most likely to deter trespassers. Hollows I'd have to wager, maybe even humans...” Lumina eyed him with care. “Aevus are you-” Blue eyes opened. “It's alright Lumina, I'll manage.” But not everything was alright, he still felt that pull.

It was different but it reminded him of that that stormy night. The night of his bout with that rogue. Yet his eyes remained his own and he didn't feel golden irises stabbing into him or dark pads prattling against the inner recesses of his very mind. Nor did he hear the sultry whispers of a silver tongued vixen. He held a vexed expression, fighting against this foreign instinct was an annoyance. Even worse that damn beast had gone off without him. Gathering himself he would enter that portal alongside Lumina. leave now it bellowed. That instinct overflowed his mind, falling over him and in an instant it seemed to wash away from him. It was overwhelming. He felt a force turn him. Fingers instinctively sought his Zanpakuto.

“What are you doing here? Outsiders are not welcome. Leave, or face punishment"

Being pushed back Aevus’s eyes would widen before narrowing on the beast. He was ready for a fight but by will alone he attempted a compromise. His eyes fell for but a moment as he gathered his bearings.“I’m here on Kimoko’s orders.” He was a terrible liar and being pushed around wasn’t helping him any. His eyes would return to the beast. Yet the mission was his priority, this feline wasn't his target. Jutting in front of the reaper Lumina would force distance between the two. “*We’re* here on Kimoko’s orders.” The she-wolf corrected glancing warily up at the feline. He was larger than her and his presence reminded her of the lupine from earlier. Yet this one was far less intimidating.

“It was a last minute request." Aevus managed through lying teeth, his fingers hesitantly loosening from his Zanpakuto. Lumina shook her head and nearly scowled at the reaper."In truth Aevus is a terrible liar. He slept in." Her tail raised and her ears became erect as she turned away from the Shinigami. Forced irritation fell from her maw as she looked once more to the feline. "So we weren't able to accompany the captain when she arrived." Rubbing the back of his head Aevus would look askance before attempting to give a genuine smile. "You could have left that part out." He managed in a chuckle. It came out unnatural and forced but maybe that would help him. "We don't want to lie, we're guests."

[Zeich Yajuu]

((OOC: As it’s been two weeks, I’m moving on. Kimiko receives her second strike.))

The guard would look over Aevus with an appraising expression as the man and his companion explained their presence there. He didn’t seem convinced, however, but their poor acting could have been a part of it. Yet it seemed that even that wasn’t the case; the lion’s eyes scanned both of them, as if looking for something, and he seemed displeased, as if he hadn’t found what he was looking for. The large feline stepped forward, catching Aevus’s shoulder and starting to push him backwards towards the entrance to the sanctuary. “I’m afraid I don’t know this ‘Kimiko.’ I know that we were expecting a Shinigami visitor as a representative of Soul Society, but you do not bear the symbol that would mark you as the one chosen. Even if you are her subordinate, I cannot let you in. This is a sanctuary for our kind only.”

The lion finally released Aevus at the border of the barrier, crossed his arms, and indicated that the Shinigami was to head out. He wasn’t particularly rough when he guided Aevus there, but he wasn’t gentle either; the guard’s strong grip had probably left red marks along the Shinigami’s shoulder. His expression wasn’t angry, condescending, or reproachful anymore; instead, it seemed to just be a steady, stoic look. “Look, I know that your people have been kind enough to support ours who have ended up in Soul Society, and we appreciate that. But we are in the middle of important matters right now, and while Eadgils has graciously offered a seat to one of your representatives, individuals without our leader’s mark of favor will not be allowed in.” At least the guy was kind enough to explain.

But at the same time, it made things more difficult for Aevus. Without permission, he’d have to resort to breaking in, either muscling his way past the guards or trying to sneak past a large gathering of individuals whose senses were on average sharper than that of wild animals. This was promising to be a difficult mission already, and it hadn’t even started…

“Hey, wait a moment.” The words came suddenly, and Aevus would see the same guard from before. “Before you go, I need to ask you something about that wolf you came here with.” A glance down at Luna made him pause for a moment before the first hint of a wry smile crossed the feline’s muzzle. “The other wolf, the foulmouthed troublemaker.” Oh dear; even though their time together had been brief, Aevus would have gotten a very good idea of the fact that Skoll was likely to cause trouble because of his brazen and negative attitude towards those around him. If the guard was inquiring about Skoll, then this couldn’t end well…

“I don’t know if you know much about him, since you were probably an escort and not affiliated with him, but he seems to possess a foul temper and an angry disposition that will likely get him in trouble with the others. He’s already caused a scene with two of the packs since arriving, and he’s been taken to the Arena to cool his head. That being said, as he is one of our kind—I think, anyway, something just feels wrong about him—it’s our job to make sure he settles in among us at least to some degree. Perhaps you can enlighten me to his poor behavior’s cause, so that we can help him adjust.”

Well now, here was an opportunity; the lion was hoping to learn more about Skoll, an individual whom Aevus himself had only just met. This gave him an opening; if he didn’t want to try stealth tactics or direct assault to get into the sanctuary, he could always try and bluff his way in again. Perhaps an exception could be made if it would seem to help Skoll; all Aevus would have to do was make up a story on the spot that would convince the guard. If not, well… there were still other options, at least.

---

“Hey, bitch! I didn’t fucking ask for help, so get out before you screw things up for me even worse!” The black-furred wolf growled at Zahra as she jumped into the arena, involving herself in the fight. The other jackals paused, but their grins grew wider, more malicious as they eyed her. Having already caused a scene with them prior, Zahra was now an immediate target for the three of them, and judging by the small daggers they wore and their sharp claws, they were fully capable of combat and could deal lethal blows if not handled carefully. Worse yet, they moved with an ease that suggested they were not strangers to fights. Added to an unlikeable companion and the disadvantage of numbers, Zahra didn’t seem to be in for a good time.

The lupine she had stepped in to guard was still spewing profanities as she looked them over, but at least it was at the jackals, the guards, and even some of the audience members. He seemed to just be a hateful person, no matter what the reasons; all the more reason to deal with this situation and then get out, distancing herself from the wolf before she had the displeasure of associating with him further. But first she’d have to deal with the three jackals opposite her, those whom she had spited earlier with her quick escape and threats.

All participants were required to give their names before combat, and Zahra was able to place names with faces. The black wolf behind her had grudgingly given his name as Skoll, while the three jackals were Ormi, Ryok, and Kharim. Ormi was clearly the leader, thin and wiry, yet with a hint of lean muscle giving him a strength that was not apparent on his frame. Ryok stood to his side, and though he didn’t seem to possess the strength that his companion did, the tan-furred jackal seemed eager and somewhat overly energetic, bouncing on the arches of his feet as if he was impatient to get moving. As if to contrast him, Kharim was quiet, silent and brooding, his eyes seeming to look elsewhere, as if he were in a world of his own. There was no idea what to expect from the jackal who looked to be past the adolescence of the other two, but whatever it was, he was still willing to involve himself in this fight, and he occasionally fingered his knife while muttering to himself.

Now that the formalities were out of the way, the fighters were free to attack each other at will. Yet Ormi and his cronies didn’t seem inclined to make the first move, drawing their weapons and laughing amongst themselves. Only Kharim was quiet, but he seemed to almost be licking his lips as he fiddled with his knife, seemingly ignorant of his companions and their jeering laughter. Zahra would likely get the opportunity to make the first move, but before she did, Skoll spoke to her, his tone still gruff as ever. “Well, if you’re going to be goddamn stubborn and stick your nose where it doesn’t fucking belong, then make yourself useful. Keep them busy and cover me, and I’ll blast their asses so hard they’d feel like the breeders.” That last remark was met with a lopsided, almost malevolent grin as the wolf raised one hand, pointing it at Ormi.

As he did so, Zahra would feel a… shift of sorts. It was hard to explain exactly what it was, but something about Skoll would feel slightly different. He’d just smirk, and she’d hear him mumbling under his breath. “Arise, god of thunder! Awaken, mother of storms! Unleash the lightning upon the sinners!” An incantation, a prayer? Some kind of spell? Zahra would be fully aware that Beast-Clansmen could not use any sort of magic like that, so perhaps he was just psyching himself up… at least, that was a possibility until a moment later. “Hado #4: Byakurai!” Suddenly a bolt of lightning would leap from the wolf’s hand and dart across the battlefield, striking at Ormi. The jackal paused in his laughter, his eyes widening, and he threw himself to the side just in time so that the bolt only tore across the outside of his right arm.

His eyes spoke of no laughter now, though. His expression was stony, his silence matching that of the crowd. No one knew what they were seeing, no one understood how Skoll had done what many would think to be impossible. The wolf just grinned, that cocky expression on his face as he raised his hand again. “Time to dance, fuckers. Hey, jackal-wench, get your ass in there and keep them busy so I can blast them, you hear me?”


Skoll’s Reiatsu: 1270/1500 (-200 for Lore of the Spirit, -30 for Byakurai (+20% cost due to Lore of the Spirit))

SPOILER: Click to show

{Skoll’s Stats}Skoll is a Class 5 Nakabakki/Beast-Clansman. He is a Rank 1 Technique Master Type, 500 SP.

Strength - [50] (50) Points

Speed - [100] (100) Points

Spiritual Pressure – [75 x 2] (150) Points

Reiatsu Strength – [100 x 2] (200) Points

Light Aura - [35] Points

Dark Aura - [65] Points

Instinct - [75] Points

Senses - [50] Points

Energy sensory - [50] Points

Healing Expertise - [0] Points

SPOILER: Click to show

{Ormi’s Stats}Ormi is a Class 4 Beast-Clansman. He is a Rank 1 Brave Type, 1200 SP.

Strength – [300 x 1.5] (450) Points

Speed – [300 x 1.25] (375) Points

Spiritual Pressure – [100 x 0.5] (50) Points

Reiatsu Strength – [100 x 0.5] (50) Points

Instinct - [200] (200) Points

Senses – [200] (200) Points

Energy sensory - [0] (0) Points

Healing Expertise – [0] (0) Points

SPOILER: Click to show

{Ryok’s Stats}Ryok is a Class 4 Beast-Clansman. He is a Rank 1 Runner Type, 1100 SP.

Strength – [300 x 0.5] (150) Points

Speed – [350] (350) (700 when running) Points

Spiritual Pressure – [100] (100) Points

Reiatsu Strength – [100] (50) Points

Instinct - [150] (150) Points

Senses – [100] (100) Points

Energy sensory - [0] (0) Points

Healing Expertise – [0] (0) Points

SPOILER: Click to show

{Kharim’s Stats}Ormi is a Class 4 Beast-Clansman. He is a Rank 1 Freak Type, 1100 SP.

Strength – [300 x 1.25] (375) Points

Speed – [300 x 1.25] (375) Points

Spiritual Pressure – [100 x 0.75] (75) Points

Reiatsu Strength – [50] (50) Points

Instinct – [250 x 0.75] (187) Points

Senses – [100] (100) Points

Energy sensory – [0 x 1.25] (0) Points

Healing Expertise – [0] (0) Points

[Kimiko Shihoin]

Kimiko had come to the conclusion that she couldn't base anything about these Beasts by the typically knowledge that most Beasts are more savage and less knowledgeable than most of the other races. All of the Beasts in the tent seemed to be the rare individuals that had achieved not only vast power, but knowledge as well. It was because of this conclusion that Kimiko wasn't sure what to expect from this situation completely. She had encountered and fought against Beasts in the past yet none of them had been this civilized or even patient. So for the time being she would be cautious.

She was being guided up through the tent by one of the lion guards to her seat. Once she arrived there she would sit down and look over the inside from her new position. It seemed that there was a distinct difference between the sides of the tent. One side bore facial expressions that seemed either displeased or worried. The other side though seemed to have Beasts that were happy or confident. Although this was going off what Kimiko though the expressions were it was hard to tell and base her assumptions going off the differences in each Beast's face due to the vast differences of each species present. There was one thing she knew for sure though and that was that not everyone in the tent was happy at the moment just as it had been outside.

She was positioned near the top just near Eadgils. It seemed that they had picked this position for whoever had come to Represent Soul Society. Now sitting here Kimiko realized why in her own opinion. To many the position was a sign of respect, acknowledgment and perhaps a promise of what may come to pass. To Kimiko though it showed something else entirely. She was surrounded and not just by Beasts, but more specifically the lions. Eadgils was proving that he was far more intelligent than any other Beast Kimiko had ever met not only by the way that he spoke, but by his strategy.

Where she was positioned wasn't something that she could look at or feel comfortable in even with her vast strength. This right now was as good as already being locked up. She was surrounded by the lion guards who she figured had to be strong enough to at least defeat most third seats if not Vice Captains. The true threat though was the fact that Eadgils was right beside her. Based on what she had seen so far this lion was proving that he knew how to lead without expression force something that was both impression and disappointing to the young Captain. While a Noble by birth Kimiko enjoyed the simple handed ways of politics rather than the long polite approach.

Eadgil just so happened to by her assumption be a Beast that could do both of these things and it seemed he could do them very well. Going off her experience with fighting against Beast packs in the past the Alpha without a doubt was the strongest of them all and Eadgil wasn't just the Alpha of the lions who seemed to be able to control most if not all of the other Beasts, but he was confident that he could become the true Alpha of all Beasts. This was a monster in his own right and Kimiko knew she'd have to be more cautious here than anywhere else for if something went wrong the chances that she would get away were next to impossible.

Eadgils though addressed all of the Beast Alphas in the tent and got them to all quiet down while then proceeding to lay down the rules for this gathering. Afterwards he motioned for Kimiko to introduce herself to them all as the Representative of Soul Society. Kimiko stood from her seat and if none of them had realized it before than they would all now see that Kimiko was more than likely the smallest creature in the tent. "Thank you Eadgils. Greetings everyone my name is Kimiko Shihoin. As Eadgils just explained I've come from Soul Society to listen and weigh in on the discussion that takes place here today. First I'd like to congratulate your entire race for being able to find it's home. As for Soul Society's stance on what is going on so far all I can say is that we hope to help you all continue leading pleasant lives while being allies through the peril that the other worlds cause us as a whole."

Kimiko would bow her head slightly acknowledging every Alpha present as respectable. Afterwards she would sit back down in her seat and await to find out just how things were going to be handled by Eadgils. He seemed to be in control, but Kimiko knew that some of the species tended to have short tempers and even if they were intelligent anger makes everyone jump to conclusions and decisions. She just hoped that everyone present would think of their packs instead of themselves or else there was a good chance she'd have to defend herself and possibly Eadgils so that at the very least Soul Society through her efforts might still gain access to the Beast realm by showing it's protection for the new Alpha.

[Zahra]

Zahra stood at the ready, facing off with the jackals when she heard the wolf behind her yelling that he didn't ask for help and that she needed to get out. Obviously, she didn't listen to the wolf, she was in here for her own reasons. One was for helping this wolf since he was forced to fight for, what seemed to her, no reason. Two was to get back at these assholes for only wanting her in their pack to be a breeder. 

She was angry at them for mistreating her in that regard. She looked over the jackals as they gave their names. She was trying to pick out the best one for her to attack first. They all seemed as agile as she was, but she hoped from what she had learned, that she might be able to dance around them and hit them when they least suspected it. She looked at the one that seemed distracted. 

Her instincts were screaming at her to go after that one first. But, once it was announced that they could start fighting, no one made a move. The wolf, Skoll, was behind her not moving, and the jackals in front of her were just playing with their knives and laughing among themselves. It was then that she heard Skoll bark at her to 'make herself useful' and distract the jackals so he could blast them and 'make them feel like the breeders.'

At that last line, Zahra smiled. It would be nice for them to get a taste of their own medicine. She then felt something...off about the wolf. It was some sort of a shift that she didn't fully understand. When he pointed towards the one jackal called Ormi, she had seen something similar with the shinigami. Did he come from Soul Society as well? He was mumbling and she was still amazed. Could he do that?

She had seen Kido before but she thought it was completely impossible for their kind to wield that kind of power. It wasn't until she heard the phrase 'Hado #4' that she actually knew what he was doing. She had seen that before, but she never thought one of her own could do it. She watched the lightning shoot from his fingertips and hit Ormi in the face. All that were watching, including the jackals, looked with wide eyes at him. This fight might be more even than she thought.

It seemed no one else knew that he could do that either. But she knew that this would be one of the best times to go in and strike while everyone was caught off guard. So, while Ormi went to reach for his face, Zahra ran full tilt towards the one called Kharim with her knives out. Once she got about five feet away, she would switch the hold on her knives so the points were facing away from him and would slash upwards with both arms, hoping to get him off guard.

[Zeich Yajuu]

((OOC: Aevus receives his first strike.))

Zahra’s rapid strike bore fruit as the she darted forward, her knives slashing out at Kharim, who was still fiddling with his knife and mumbling to himself. As if he hadn’t noticed her, the jackal hardly moved, and both blades slashed across his torso, leaving deep gouges that bled profusely, staining his fur in crimson streaks. Yet even as the female jackal finished her attack, she’d find two powerful hands grasping her wrists as her opponent’s knife fell to the ground, a pair of clouded gray eyes meeting her own gaze. Kharim gave an almost lopsided smile, his strength only just above hers, yet if she tried to struggle free she’d find herself unable to easily pull herself free. He’d have to obviously work to hold her, but the difference in strength was enough to hold her steady for a counterattack.

“Going to enjoy your taste...” With a sudden revelation of jagged, bladed teeth, the odd jackal suddenly lunged forward, and Zahra would find them sinking into her shoulder and lower throat, piercing the flesh with surprising ease and drawing blood. Those clouded eyes seemed to gleam with a feral joy as he sank his teeth into her body, his form seeming to shiver with a silent ecstasy at the taste of blood on his lips. Worse yet, if Zahra didn’t get him off, she’d find that the grip holding her was becoming more firm by the moment, the hands on her arms squeezing more tightly as if the jackal before her was getting stronger by the moment.

Skoll was otherwise occupied, so he could do little to stop the confrontation between the two. Ryok was constantly circling him each time he tried to retreat, preventing the wolf Beast-Clansman from getting into a better position to act, while Ormi was more than happy to close the distance, his claws bared as he drew even with the weaker wolf. Another Byakurai shot across the field, but at such close range, Skoll was unable to aim precisely, and Ormi easily sidestepped it. There was little time for a follow-up spell either, as the larger jackal pounced on his victim, bearing the black-furred lupine to the ground. A clawed hand came up and slammed into Skoll’s face, leaving several bleeding gouges across it as he let out a howl of pain.

Zahra would have to deal with her own situation before she could help her companion, however; Kharim seemed to be drawing even more strength as he drained the blood from her body, almost seeming to drink it as he did so. It was vampiric in a way, yet it was very likely this was the jackal’s Yaseishin, letting him draw strength from the taste and feel of blood in a berserker manner. Breaking free would become more difficult with her hands bound by an increasingly strong grip; what would she do? How would she escape?

Skoll’s Reiatsu: 1240/1500 (-30 for Byakurai (25 + 20% cost))

Lore of the Spirit: 2/5

Kharim’s Reiatsu: 450/750 (-300 for Yaseishin)

Yaseishin Duration: 1/6

SPOILER: Click to show

{Kharim’s Yaseishin}Kharim’s Yaseishin has had one potency and one duration upgrade. The base power is the ability to grow stronger upon the consumption of blood; for every post he drinks fresh blood, whether it’s from a victim or himself, his Strength goes up by 10%. The amount is somewhat substantial, at least a mouthful, before the effect takes hold. The upgraded Class 5 version costs 50 Reiatsu per post, but with each mouthful of blood he drinks, he can give up half of the strength boost to restore a small amount of stamina instead.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Kharim’s New Stats}Strength – [(300 x 1.25 x 1.1) (412)] Points

Speed – [300 x 1.25] (375) Points

Spiritual Pressure – [100 x 0.75] (75) Points

Reiatsu Strength – [50] (50) Points

Instinct – [250 x 0.75] (187) Points

Senses – [100] (100) Points

Energy sensory – [0 x 1.25] (0) Points

Healing Expertise – [0] (0) Points

---

The group fell silent as all eyes turned on Kimiko, letting her speak, but she’d feel the weight of what had to be nearly two dozen gazes all fixed on her. This was only a fraction of the beast tribes that existed in the area, represented in this tent, yet she’d feel the burden of her words even as she spoke them. Every eye on her was waiting to see how Soul Society would react; would they support Eadgils, suggesting that Soul Society believed in a more unified race of Beast-Clansmen, perhaps with an idea of partnership or alliance? Would they agree with the independence of the individual tribes, promoting individuality at the risk of potential future chaos as each tribe strove for its own dominance?

Kimiko’s answer was surprisingly level and uncommitted, an excellent show of words from one who was not much for the political aspects of things; Soul Society showed its concern for the two different sides, hoping to aid the Beast-Clan race as a whole, but did not take one side or another. She was simply sent to observe and decide then, rather than to come with an overwhelming show of support for either side. There were a few small expressions of disappointment from some of those seated far from the center—likely those with a lower social standing than the others, who had more to gain from their side’s success—but for the most part, expressions remained neutral rather than disapproving or supportive. It seemed that she had not upset the balance between sides just yet.

Eadgils gave a grateful nod to Kimiko for her words, and just that expression alone would remind Kimiko of the political battlefield she was on; her senses would let her catch glimpses of movements, small hints of barely-concealed expressions that came from that nod. How many saw it as a sign of approval from Eadgils, like a secret message between allies? Every action made and every word spoken by the Captain would have its implications on this crowd, and she’d have to be wary. Whether or not she intended to, she may end up choosing a side.

Once Kimiko was seated again, Eadgils stood and addressed the group again. “We of the Beast Tribes thank the representative of Soul Society for coming here, and supporting our race regardless of what path we may choose. To determine that path, however, is why we are here today. It is with that in mind that we will open up the debate, beginning with one side, and then the other. Speak to our guest here, as well as one another, and let us see which path we take. We may not come to a conclusion here today, my fellow Clansmen, but it is my hope that we do sooner than later, and together as one we enter the realm of our ancestors.”

With that, the leonine leader took his seat again, and indicated for those on his left, opposite Kimiko, to speak. One clan chief, a towering bull that looked much like the minotaurs of Greek myth, stood from his seat, and the room fell silent for him to talk. “I’m not going to beat around the bush, human.” His tone was stern, and it was obvious that he did not hold Soul Society’s representative in high regards. A comment was heard not far from Kimiko’s right about bulls and stubbornness, but it seemed to have gone unheard from the opposing side as the male continued. “We know that Soul Society claims to care for our people, but we have seen evidence of those who are considered outcasts, those whose minds are still infantile enslaved or beaten, those who look for shelter treated as monsters. What proof do you have that your ‘support,’ isn’t just to further your own ends? After all, humans have been proven to be greedy and selfish over that of their neighbors repeatedly through history.”

It was a bit of a loaded question, and one Kimiko would have to defend against quickly. If she didn’t turn it back on its head, the others could use that as a means of undermining Eadgils for wanting to ally with such people, or worse, it could turn into a general revolt against her if it went poorly enough. How would she respond to the question thrown at her? And what implications would her words have on the meeting, where everyone was hanging onto her every word and motion?

[Zahra]

Zahra smiled as her knives made large gashes into the jackal. But, the smile was short-lived as she felt her wrists got grabbed by the jackal. His strength was impressive. He had enough strength to be able to hold her still. She knew that she was strong, but the male was stronger, which made her growl loudly in her face. He just smiled at her in a weird way. She was fidgeting, trying her best to wriggle out of the hold he had on her.

She thought how acrobatic she was would have helped but to no avail. She was trying to figure out a quick way to escape him when she thought back to her fight with her mate. The yell she used made it much easier for her to get away and he suffered some pretty bad effects from it. She thought about it as the next best reaction to having her wrists held, because she couldn't use her hands.

When he spoke and started to show his teeth, she took a deep breath. When he lunged for her, she screamed in his face, activating the technique called Howlrazer. The strength of the blast would be 81, so not enough to actually overpower the man, but it would be enough to cause confusion and disorientation. If he would continue to hold onto her wrists during this confusion period, she would move her legs up in an attempt to hit him hard in the chest and/or stomach area.

After she would drop to the ground, if he just immediately lets her go, she will land, run behind him and squat, then slash at his Achilles tendon on both of his heels, trying to make it so that he can't walk anymore. After those quick slashes, she will try to slash at the back of his knees, further hindering him then standing to slit his throat. If the kick connects and he falls backwards on his back, she will follow him and immediately when he lands, slash his throat.

She would go through with those attacks and then figure out what to do next. She quickly glanced back towards the wolf and saw that he was having issues. He needed help, but she wanted to make sure that this jackal was dealt with. If none of her slashes worked to hinder or kill him, she would try to hide in a dark corner of the ring before he came back to full awareness to sneak attack him. If those did the job, she would run towards Ryok, brandishing her knives in an attempt to slash him. 

Remaining Reiatsu: 660/810 -150 for Howlrazer

[Zeich Yajuu]

((I am giving one last three-day warning for folks who have not posted in the last week and a half. This one will not be a strike for either of the remaining participants, it will lead to removal.))

[Kimiko Shihoin]

As Kimiko finsihed speaking and sat back down in the place that had been designated as her seat she was expecting to hear some sort of outburst from the Beasts that were assembled in the tent. Kimiko wasn't all that great at speaking formally dispite the wishes of her father or the other nobles she was an outcast in that regard and yet it didn't seem to be the case right now. Normally her blunt and straight forward approach to problems led other nobles and political figures to simply labeling her as a brute that couldn't possibly be a threat to them. It seemed though that the Beasts were perfectly fine with a straight forward answer.

She scanned through the tent with her eyes while she was sitting to hide the fact that she was actually trying to get the faces of all of the Alpha's into her head. If anything strange or rather problematic occured it would help to have some idea of suspects that might have been displeased with what was going on. It was harder to tell the expressions of the more calm Beasts due to the facial differences, but Kimiko could still tell what most of them felt although she knew if they were pretending she'd have no way of telling. Aside from the few Beasts that looked sad there didn't seem to be anything different than a few moments ago.

Kimiko had to stay neutral at least for the time being if she didn't she ran the risk of allying with one of the sides prior to hearing what both sides sought. Eadgils nodded towards her as she sat down and he stood to speak once again. The longer that she stayed in this tent the more apparent it beecame that Eadgils was actually a very intelligent individual that was using much more than his body as power. He had a very good tongue that just like the Heads of the Nobles families tended to be very sharp never promising anything while allways gaining the appeal of all those that could hear it.

Once Eadgils sat though she watched as a Beast that seemed to be either a Bull or a very strong cow or sorts stood and spoke directly to her. Although his straight forward approach brought a smile to her face it seemed that this Beast wasn't a fan of Kimiko or Soul Society. The Beast though obviously holding some form of ill will towards Soul Society did raise a very good point that Kimiko had been expecting to face at some point. How could the Beasts trust Soul Society to keep its word. Kimiko would stand once again as to not be disrespectful to the Bull or any of the other Beasts in the tent.

"I understand your concern and respect the fact that you held it until the time was oppurtune. The relationship between Shinigami and Beastclansmen has been a rough one over the centuries that I can't deny. I also can't deny that there aren't those that harbor ill will towards members of your race just as there are those within your race that feel the same towards us. What I can do is tell you what we have already started to do and what we seek to do in the future. Many of the Beasts in Soul Society over the last few decades have been accepted into the families of Shinigami as members. These Beasts have a place that they can call home and Shinigami that they can call family. Beasts now are also now able to join Shinigami training to become one of us entrusted with their own zanpakuto."

"Positions of authoirty have been acquired by Beasts that have proven just as Eadgils and the rest of you have that Beasts are capable of being far more than what Soul Society thought in the past. I can't fix the past mistakes of Soul Society nor can I promise you that there won't always be that one individual that just can't see past the first layer of an individual. What I can do is be the first experience for the alliance of our races." Kimiko stopped speaking for a moment and all of the Beasts would be able to see her head moving from side to side as she scanned through the tent looking for someone. After a few moment she stopped. "Excuse me sir I didn't get your name outside, but could you inform the rest of the Alphas on what happened outside please." Kimiko was speaking to the reptile Beast that had edged the line of threatening her for cutting in line.

Kimiko of course hadn't cut and chose to wait her turn like Alphas and now it would pay off as the correct decision. She would wait for the Alpha to tell the others that she had waited in line like the rest of them and then she would continue. "Thank you. As you can see I respect all of you here as all of you are leaders who look after those that call you such. If I saw you as monsters or beneath me I would have forced my way into the tent without a second thought. I hope that in the times to come all Shinigami will accept your race as I have." Kimiko would bow her head slightly to the bull and then sit down once again as she had answered his question and concerns to the best of her ability.

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

Wide eyed the pale faced reaper’s fake smile would fade as he began to be pushed away. His left hand jutted to the handle of his Zanpakuto. Aevus don’t. Lumina’s voice shot him down from his eager hands. If she wasn’t there he may have done something regrettable. This was bad...things wern’t running smoothly at all. And being man handled...well beast handled in this case wasn’t something to scoff at. It put him in a position where he didn’t feel like he was in control, where he didn’t feel safe.

Bear with it and hear him out. If only he had her patience. He would sigh, his cold blues washed cleanly over the ground. If they were better actors maybe they wouldn’t be in this mess. Their tongues were anything but silver; bronze at best. But yet again neither him nor Lumina had the symbol required for entry anyway. So their inability to make a worth note lie didn’t matter. It was all for naught. The two were mere escorts and this beast knew that clear as day. But that wasn’t entirely true. There was more to this mission than being a simple escort.

Lumina stood at his side trying to hide her concern. A hint of a growl nearly fell from her maw as she watched how the overgrown feline moved him about. Being released Aevus’s cold visage would return to the beast. He could still feel the creatures on him. He must have left quite the mark. Regardless of how the beast chose his words he could tell he didn’t want the Shinigami to overstay his welcome. That much was certain. He still had the red marks to prove it, even if this feline wasn’t trying to be overly rough with him. He was gonna have to break in. There was no way around that fact. But he didn’t want to cause any more conflict, not if he could help it. Without that mark of favor he was at an impasse. Stealth was always an option but...

---

Quiet steps Aevus’s eyes narrowly set on his target. The air felt cold and his fingers shook as he pressed his weight against the wooden frame of a window. Shallow breaths a throbbing heart beat. The floor creaked and he would stop, his gaze trifled with an overwhelming shock. A hot breath of air fell down his neck and his eyes lit up with a realization. It was no longer cold. Next he was on the floor a sleek black form fell into him. Predatory emerald lined eyes crafted neatly over him in the unlit darkness.

The man thrashed but he would immediately gaze into those fierce emerald irises. The feline hissed her tail flicked as her dark furs stood on end like curved swords. “You and your two helpless feet make to much noise.” Aevus winced as her clawed nails dug into his shoulder and next he felt a faint nip against his neck. She had bit him and he felt her rough tongue fall away from his neck as she rose. Her tail whipped against the man’s cheek as she turned away from him.

Blood covered her muzzle and her rough tongue flicked as she groomed herself. Aevus sat up nearly slack jawed, he would shake his head. “I was nearly across the room that time.” A laugh fell away from that bloody muzzle. “Oh~ Nearly, hmm?” The dark furred cougar planted herself atop the windowsill, her slit emeralds glowing brilliantly in that darkness. “You leave a lot to be desired.” Her rough tongue flicked once more as she lapped at the faint traces of blood.

Aevus brushed against the wound on his neck flinching as he did so. “Well you don’t have to bite me every time-” The cougar’s ears pivoted and flickered in his direction but her emerald’s traced the frosted window staring out into the bleak night. “I could hear you, smell you and of course see you.” The black cat sighed. “You wont be stealing from me but don’t underestimate my senses.” She would turn to him showing a Cheshire smile revealing those faintly bloodied teeth. “You forget~ My teeth remind you~”"

---

...He would never get around those beasts, their senses were to acute. Regardless of how he moved, they most likely would pick up his foreign scent a mile away. The place was littered with them and his mission seemed to almost seem impossible. As the Lion spoke up Aevus would listen almost half assedly but Lumina on the other hand was paying full attention. Aevus would lean against a nearby tree another sigh leaving him. “I’m not surprised, he was rather mouthy the entire way here. But i’m not sure myself, I just wanted to get him here as soon as possible. Besides the report I was given I have nothing on him.”

"The air around him was foul." The disgust nearly fell from her maw as the wolf spoke up. Silver lined eyes once again looked up to the Lion. "The stench reminded this one-reminded me of something disturbing." Lumina would shake her head as she settled herself on her haunches. "In the report, I was told he had a hellish aura. He might not be all that he seems. iv'e fought his kind before, I wouldn't mind lending my assistance if you need it." No feigned smiles, He was trying honesty now and the Lion would hopefully see that.

[Zeich Yajuu]

Zahra’s counterattack came suddenly even as Kharim started to bite down. His teeth caught her shoulder, the jagged fangs sinking into the flesh, but only for a few moments; though the injury was there, it ended up being shallow, bleeding only lightly. Before the jackal-man could really secure his grip, he’d suddenly find a blast of raw sound crashing into his ears. A howl of pain erupted from his muzzle, and though his eardrums remained intact, he staggered back, stunned by the attack. This gave Zahra a moment to get herself free, and she took it, pulling herself free and stepping back to recover from the sudden attack. Her shoulder bled, but it wasn’t serious, just enough to leave her fur matted and sticky with blood.

As he was stumbling back, still clutching his head, Zahra lunged forward, and her blades caught not one, but both of the jackal’s ankles, dropping him to the ground as his legs suddenly gave out. Another howl of pain came, and this time, it drew attention; before the female could aim for more fatal blows, Ryok was suddenly closing the distance, tackling her from behind with sudden ferocity. He wasn’t strong enough to hold her down, not physically, but the blow would be at least enough to knock her down thanks to the sudden burst of speed that had him slamming into Zahra. It would be enough time for Kharim to recover from the ringing in his head and, though he was somewhat crippled, he could still fight.

Indeed, the injured jackal was tugging himself along the ground with ease, his eyes murderous as he tried to catch onto Zahra’s legs. With Ryok’s rapid tackle, it was likely that the female jackal was already on the ground, and now she had to deal with not one, but two attackers at once.

---

The gathered pack-leaders seemed to consider Kimiko’s words, but for the most part she had scored an important point with them: Shinigami had, as a whole, been working with the Beast-Clansmen more of late. Trade existed with some packs to provide basic medical supplies and tools in exchange for things such as furs, hides, meat, and bone for use in commerce. Labor was also a welcome token of trade, though always voluntary, never forced. Of late, some of the noble families of Seireitei had taken in the Beast-Clansmen as adopted members, and though some saw it as taking in pets as opposed to adoption, it was nonetheless a step in integrating their kind into society. While it was a slow process, the seeds of change had already been sewn.

This seemed to have established some satisfaction, but the bull had not seated himself yet, indicating that his point had not yet been made. “Thank you, Kimiko.” The male seemed comfortable speaking to her in first-name terms, something that normally only other Captains would, if even them. Either formality wasn’t much of a thing among the Beast-Clansmen, or they thought themselves her equal. In this society… well, she might be as much, or less. “Now that that has been established, and we can be assured that you hold our best interests in mind, I will explain to you why Eadgils’ mad claim to sole leadership is going to lead to our destruction, not our salvation.”

“Romus.” It was a gentle, almost polite reprimand, yet coming from Eadgils there was a sense of menacing power, a sense of warning that suggested a hint of intolerance. The lion’s expression didn’t even shift, yet there was a brief flinch from both sides of the room, from the bull identified as Romus especially. Kimiko would have missed some of the cues; though she had exceptional senses compared to an ordinary human being, she lacked the knowledge of cultural cues that were shown by Beast-Clansmen in body language and expression. She’d have gotten that he was warning them, but the full impact would miss her.

Romus quickly revised his statement. “I do not believe it is wise to unite all of the Beast-Clansmen under one leader. Our people are territorial, claiming areas of our own, and we do not share them so that we may maintain resources to keep our packs strong. Additionally, leadership is decided by a show of power from one who would claim to be an alpha; Eadgils would pass this up, claiming subjugation over all Beast-Clansmen without proving his strength to them, and rule by name and position rather than by the power that we have been given. Most people would not accept him, and a ‘kingdom’ divided will not stand.”

“Most?” A remark came from a fox-like canine somewhere off to Kimiko’s right. “I think the estimate was about seventy percent in favor of Eadgils’ lead, but I suppose you traded brains for brawn, hm?” This drew some scattered laughter from around Kimiko, though Eadgils remained quiet aside from a sharp look at the offender, who quickly quieted himself down. Romus seemed angered, his nostrils flaring and his eyes narrowed, but he forced himself under control. “There you are, human. You can see that there will be nothing but discord, even with their numbers. Nearly a third of our race will rebel against a sole rule, creating chaos and bringing down any ‘kingdom’ from within. Tell us you can’t see the wisdom of remaining as separate packs.”

---

The guard listened to the two of them speak, explaining about Skoll’s hellish aura, but by the time they were done, he was actively confused. This in turn would probably leave both Aevus and Luna just as confused; had they been unclear in stating their thoughts on the matter? It didn’t get much more obvious than “this guy feels like something from Hell, and we can lend you help in reining him in if needed.” Yet the leonine guard looked completely clueless, and after a moment, he would ask a question that would probably floor the both of them with its ignorant simplicity.

“...You speak of this ‘Hellish’ aura, but I’m afraid I don’t understand. What does this mean? Does it have something to do with that weird feeling I get from him?” It was probably the strangest thing the two of them could have expected to hear; it seemed that this guard did not understand the concept of “Hell.” This was something that most people took for granted; the human world had it ascribed in many religions, speaking of a pit of damnation and punishment. Soul Society and the other spiritual worlds knew it to be a place where the demonic Akki dwelt, as well as many other Sinners. As it was, almost everyone knew what Hell was.

Aevus probably wouldn’t know this, but the Beast-Clansmen were based on nomadic, hunter-gatherer tribes. They never ascribed to the idea of religion, and thus had never really embraced the concept of heaven and hell. They accepted life and death, and thought little of the “afterlife.” Even those from Soul Society didn’t really think of it as an afterlife, as much as it was simply a transition to another life. As a result, the concept of “Hell” was foreign, which explained why the guard was so confused and didn’t understand Skoll’s aura. In fact, most of the Beast-Clansmen probably wouldn’t; they’d embrace it as just something strange or off, but not quite “evil.”

It would be up to Aevus to figure out how to take this. How would he explain this concept to the lion, and how would he use it to convince the guard to let him in?