Canis lupus <Shadow>

[Leaf]

A figure fluttered by, and that was all you would see. A shadow that shimmered before you before it disappeared in a flash. It skirted the trees, dodging branches left and right, skipping over stones and boulders. Nothing was big enough to be an obstacle. The trees above rustled when it passed, but other than that, no trace of its path could be found. It was only too sudden that it stopped, right before the ribbon of water that stretched across the land. The White Ribbon River.

Leaf panted slightly as he straightened himself and dropped the sack in his maw. His white pelt ruffled slightly in the wind as his golden eyes scanned the land around him. As a wolf, he enjoyed the physical capabilities that enhanced his movement. However, he could not enjoy the fact that he had pursuers on his tail. Shaking his head, Leaf transformed back into a human. His coat of fur melted away and the white deepened to a brown. A boy now stood where the canine had been. He bent down and filled his water bottle in the clear stream, then took a long drink in the river. It was refreshing and the cold taste was paradise to the tongue. Finally he sat up and pulled the brown sack onto his lap. With a swift movement, he revealed an astounding amount of treasures, gleaming in the sunlight.

Rightfully, these were not his, but he didn't care. After all, Leaf was an outlaw, a criminal, a thief. There was a legit bounty on his head and he knew it. Known as one of the most wanted criminals throughout Xisin, Leaf was both proud yet concerned. He had to always be on his toes. After all, the police and guards seemed more sneakier than the thieves nowadays. Relaxing was the last thing he could do in the past few days, but now, he deemed, it was safe. Leaf took a big stretch and rolled his sore muscles a bit. However, it wasn't long before he caught a scent. His eyes narrowed. Someone else was approaching.

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[Shadow]

>Wolf<

Shadow took a step forward. He wasn't mistaken. A new source of scent had entered the area. Wolf. No... Human. Definitely wolf. A werewolf...just like him. Recently shifted. The black wolf stood off behind some foliage and a few trees away from the scent he was picking up, he could tell this because he couldn't spot what he scented.

He took a few steps forward. If he was right...and he knew he was, the werewolf would know he was there. It was best to act as if the other werewolf's senses were deceiving him. Shadow remained hidden, prowling closer and closer. The scent changed slightly as it got stronger. Male.

Was the scent familiar?... In the city scents blended, warping and refusing to let Shadow distinguish them from another. But he could have sworn this scent was familiar. The man wouldn't know Shadow... The black furred wolf remained in shadows for the most part in the city, prowling the back alleys, watching deals go down, thieves pillage and steal, and he himself rummaging amoungst food stores.

It could be that that was where he knew the scent from...but it was all up in the air right now. He knew nothing until he saw what he scented, and that was when he pushed out of the brush, coming unknowingly into quite a wide area. He realized his mistake a moment later, because, sitting on a rock, staring directly at him was the source of the scent.

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[Leaf]

A spark seemed to erupt the moment their eyes met. The large black wolf that stood in the bushes. It had a wild, brazen look, but Leaf knew that it was just a facade. The smell of the city as well as the woods wafted off from the night colored canine. The beast was also special. It was alone, without a companion, yet perfectly calm in the presence of a man. Without doubt, this wolf was probably sentient and the chance of it being a werewolf was high. 

Curious but cautious, Leaf tucked the contents of the sack back into the bag and closed it. The scent of the opposing wolf was strong. It was definitely a healthy, strong male. Leaf could feel the hair on the back of his neck rise. The instincts of a wolf was pulling at every one of his senses, telling him to challenge the intruding wolf. However, Leaf couldn't do that. He had to remain calm. He had to be smart and observe. Perhaps this could be an ally, but it was going to be a dark day if they stood on different sides of the line.

"You are not a normal wolf, aren't you."

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[Shadow]

>Wolf<

Shadow wondered whether to answer the question or not, but it really didn't come down to the answer any more. The question was Rhetoric. The man knew he was a werewolf, just as well as Shadow knew that the man was one. It was a common knowledge of scents that werewolves had. They knew how to recognize one another, it was built in. To challenge, to run, to answer, and to remain still. The choices all seemed about the same.

He'd have to do one, but there was only one he could really take.

Shadow moved forward, coming out of the bushes. His muscles tensed. If this man tries something, hell would break loose. Shadow guaranteed that. He was a fighter. If it came down to a fight, he would win. He didn't care how good the other wolf was or how fast he was, Shadow would fight to the death.

But it hadn't come to that yet...no... But emotions were running high. The scent from the man, the mild wolf tinged with the musk of a human male. His eyes continued to meet the man's own. In response to the man's question/statement, he nodded his head ever so slightly, keeping his eyes on him, watching his movements. He saw what the man was putting in the bag. He was a thief, much the same as Shadow was, but not quite so good at concealing it.

He stopped a few feet away, a canine tooth showing ever so slightly as suspicion turned gradually to aggression. It hadn't taken hold yet...but all it took was one wrong word spoken...one wrong move.

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[Leaf]

The black beast shuffled out of the bushes tentatively, keeping the two eye to eye. Leaf kept his gaze upon the careful wolf. Tension was nearly palpable as it hung in the air as thick as fog. If either of them were provoked, they would be at each other's throats. This would be something he would not want to get into. Although he did not know the opponent's skill, it was still a risky chance. Leaf relied on speed and agility, and even in human form, he was an adequate ranged fighter. However, a close up brawl was never a good thing for him.

The forbearing presence of the black wolf seemed to press against Leaf's mind. If he had been a normal human, he would have been petrified with fear. The thing was, he wasn't. Being the cunning thief he was, he knew how to keep his cool. He knew how to face the most terrible opponents with his wit still intact. After all, he was experienced in dealing with difficult situations. However, this time it wasn't human nor demon that he was dealing with. This was a werewolf, much like himself. A beast that has pride and yet no overcoming hubris of a human. He seemed much more of a beast than being. That made it harder, much harder to deal with. If it was as intelligent as a human and yet as powerful as a beast, Leaf was unsure of his chances to win.

The hint of fang could be seen, gleaming in the maw of the opposing wolf. This feeling of aggression was being revealed. Leaf knew that he could be in deep water if he gave the wolf a single reason to attack. The atmosphere was stiff and the two werewolves stood, neither willing to break the malicious glare that hung between them. Leaf could only intensify his gaze, trying to push back with his presence, but only found himself struggling not to cower. It was so ominous, the black gaze that he stared into and stared back.

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[Shadow]

>Wolf<

Shadow continued the piercing gaze. In a way, it was a nonviolent way to prove who was stronger; more dominant. Shadow had been born fighting, and he wasn't about to lose this one. Whether the other werewolf thought it was a fight or not. He could feel the pressure from Leaf, could feel it pushing back, trying to conquer Shadow in the same way that Shadow attempted back, but it was devoid of one thing that made all the difference: The bestial feral side that Shadow now brought to bear. The wolf was much stronger in this fight. Turning to a human dulled your senses, cut off the full potential of being a wolf... And would eventually mean Shadow's victory.

Shadow pushed harder, moving closer and closer until he stood less than a foot away from Leaf, gazing almost directly into the man's eyes from less than a few centimeters away. A quiet growled rose from Shadow's muzzle, both fangs showing now, his muzzle tensing, his eyes showing the barely controlled rage pent up inside.

It wouldn't be much longer now. One of them would have to back off or there WOULD be a fight.

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[Leaf]

The stare was so intense it felt like flames leapt between their eyes. The black wolf had approached so closely that Leaf could not see anything my the dark muzzle. It was becoming overwhelming; the dark, fast gaze. The eyes seemed to bulge, as if restraining a rage like an overflowing dam. The feral gaze seemed unfazed by any of Leaf's attempts at pushing back. It was as futile as trying to break a brick wall with an egg. In fact, when you pitch an egg against a wall, the egg is the one that cracks, which is exactly what happened to Leaf's aura when he threw the force of his only mildly feral gaze into the cyclone of a stare. 

Leaf scrambled backward, pulling his sack backward. He had lost in their competition. So be it. Now was not the time for a brawl between beasts. And yet, the black wolf didn't seem to be done. The tension was still malleable and thick in the air. The dark eyes still bore a hole in Leaf's mind. Leaf felt that he would only be assaulted if he turned tail now. He couldn't move. Am I shivering? Well, two could play the game, but on even ground this time. It was the only way he could even get a chance at victory.

Feet dug into the ground, and propelled the human body into the air, but it was paws that hit the ground when he landed. The boy was gone. Instead, there stood a proud white wolf with golden eyes, quite the contrary to the night-shaded counterpart that stood before him. Death was very possible today, but Leaf was ready for it. He never lived a fulfilling day. Money and gold equated to happiness, but was never a satisfaction to his moral side. In fact, he probably didn't have a moral side. It was so neglected that it shrunk to a minuscule size. No one in the world cared about him. To him, Death didn't seem as dreadful as everyone thought it was. However, that didn't mean that he was going to bend his head to it without a fight. Once again, he glared his golden gaze back at the black canine. A fight was brewing slowly, it wasn't going to be another staring contest and the danger involved would be at a whole new level. This time, however, it was beast against beast, and that made all the difference.

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[Shadow]

>Wolf<

"There won't be any fighting, brother." Shadow's eyes faded from enraged to calm again, almost too calm. "You think I would have us carry out a pointless battle that would end up with either of us hurt and unable to survive beyond the day? I had to see. That was all." Shadow displayed his teeth again quickly, his ears laying back and his eyes switching to angry again. "Unless you want to, of course"

Shadow had decided something when he went after the werewolves scent in the first place. First he would test the man's dominance, and then he would test whether or not the man was actually a werewolf or not instead of just a petty thief. Being a werewolf was one thing, fighting for that right to be one was another. By standing up to Shadow even in the face of death itself, the man passed all the tests.

Above all, it proved that, like Shadow, the other werewolf was only stealing to survive. What methods they used didn't matter. They were of the same blood. Wolves by right and by chance.

But Shadow left it up for Leaf to decide. Would the other werewolf still choose to attack? Shadow wouldn't blame him, but he also wouldn't go easy on the wolf either. A fight between werewolves was not a joke. It was a deathmatch.

Shadow watched the other werewolf's eyes closely. What would be the decision? It was almost funny, the striking contrast between their two pelts. White and Black. Both would bleed the same though...

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[Leaf]

Leaf was taken aback when the other wolf withdrew his aggression. At least he did not need to engage in a fight. The thief smiled to himself and crouched his front legs a bit while lowering his tail. Showing his respect in this case was perhaps the right thing to do. "I rejoice at your decision, brother." He said, "The spilling of our blood would be nothing but a waste." Wolves are proud animals, but they were also great pack animals. They were social and not ruthless like most lone hunters. Both were both wolves and men. Both knew what was better for themselves.

It would be too much of a hassle for a constant switch in forms, so Leaf decided to stay as a wolf. No difference, really. He studied the black wolf. The dark furred canine seemed so much more ominous from the view of a wolf. Leaf found that the black wolf was perhaps a head larger than himself. Those teeth definitely seemed sharp and dangerous and the jaw looked strong. It was definitely a good idea not to challenge him, because Leaf would've suffered a real beating. Glad that he didn't let instinct take over sensibility, Leaf put a paw on his sack, making sure it was still there. It was a good reminder that he would've needed to haul butt mid-battle and leave his goodies behind. That was definitely not worth it.

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[Shadow]

>Wolf<

Respect. That was something new. Something Shadow hadn't gotten in quite a while. He liked this wolf. He liked him alot. He eased his own stance, walking over to sit beside the white wolf. In a way, the other wolf was just as strong as he was. He made up for what Shadow lacked; Speed, Agility. It might even have been a tie had they fought. And that would have been worse for both of them.

Shadow's eyes stayed on Leaf, but his attention rested on the sack under Leaf's paw. He could guess what was in there by what he had seen when he had came into the clearing. It wasn't important to him by any means... But with this wolf at his side, they could go places. It was worth the chance.

Werewolves were a bit different from normal wolves. Whether it was the fact of being persecuted by the humans, for good reason, or just the need or want to isolate themselves, they usually didn't form packs. That led to a lot of lone wolves and not very friendly ones at that rate. Neither he or Leaf had to create a pack, rather, the could have a sort of 'partnership' and help each other out. Similar to Shadow's thoughts about fighting between them, cooperating together would have the same effect. Double benefits. Who knows...it might even be fun.

Shadow considered it for a moment longer before proposing it. He gazed into the other wolves eyes, careful to keep his own devoid of emotions that could give away his own thoughts on the matter. What do you think about forming a little pack of our own?"

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[Leaf]

A pack? Leaf pondered the possibility. Of course, being a werewolf and a thief, he never had much partnership. He didn't really trust anyone to that degree, but this wolf could be a potentially powerful ally. He was strong, large, intelligent, someone who would be terrible to fight against. "A pack, brother, I believe would be an overstatement. Perhaps, we could form a pact. A companion like you would only be for the better." Wolves were loyal, but werewolves were, to the end, still part man. Leaf was a deceiver and criminal and he did not know how long he could stay with this dark wolf after he found out how valuable he was. There was no need to betray this possible companion and ally, however, if he was a true brother. Perhaps, this would be one of the longer standing relationships that Leaf would have a chance at.

"I have no objections, brother. Though our pelts are very much different, we are both wolves at heart. I see no reason that would hinder our alliance." Leaf said as he sat down and looked at the clear river before turning back to the black wolf. "We are like two sides of a coin. Complete opposite, yet the same. Since we are both strong in our own ways, only good will come out of this." He looked at the dark eyes in front of him sincerely. This was a good chance to bond with a fellow wolf and perhaps even have a friend.

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[Shadow]

>Wolf<

Smart... Very smart. This one had some practice. "A pact?" Shadow shrugged his shoulders, "At least I get that." The ends of Shadow's muzzle curled up into a smile, "It isn't often you get a werewolf who's willing to work with another, in any shape or form. A pact will be fine. However, the offer still stands if you wish to take it up later." Shadow shrugged again and looked out to the river.

Together they created quite the team. It would be interesting to see what they could come up with together. And...in the end. If they could get to trust each other enough... He knew it would be hard for Leaf to trust. He was a thief. The only law thieves knew was how to break them. Therefore, they'd see the same in everyone else. He'd have to prove Leaf otherwise.

"I agree to that. Needless to say, I'm curious to see what we can accomplish together brother." The smile was back again as he glanced over to Leaf again.

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[Leaf]

Leaf smiled in return when the fellow werewolf showed signs of friendliness. "I suppose we are a team then, brother. My name is Leaf. Pleasured to meet you." He said, dipping his head in respect. Something warm seemed to bubble within the deep depths of Leaf's heart. It was a nice feeling, as if his heart felt a bit fuller, but he ignored it. That part of him was already so separated that it was nearly numb, so he decided not to care too much about petty things. After all, he himself was most important than everyone else.

As an outlaw who lived by crime from a young age, Leaf knew respect, knew obedience, and he even knew infatuation, but he never knew friendship nor affection. From before until always, his concern was only dominate with thoughts for himself. Benefits. No one trusted him. He didn't trust anyone. That was simple and easy to live by. For the longest time, Leaf believed that that was the best code to follow. And he did. However, this new wolf, this peer has seemingly accepted him, was perhaps... Different than all the people he had met. Someone who was perhaps in a similar situation. Abandoned by society and left to defend only for themselves.

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[Shadow]

>Wolf<

Shadow wouldn't know the depth of Leaf's promise until they spent a while together. He'd get to know the other wolf eventually. Friends for now, hopefully to trust each other more later. It was uncanny what two werewolves could do...and yet, they were always loners. More wolves should try it out. But that was neither here nor there. He had made a friend and a brother today.

"You can call me Shadow." The black wolf stood up and stretched, "..and it's a pleasure to meet you too." He dipped his head as well after Leaf. Perhaps they would find a use for each other even beyond that of accomplices. Perhaps closer to the brother side. There was no telling what lay ahead of them, but for the first time, Shadow was uncharacteristically eager about the future.

Shadow took the second step a moment later, "So I've been taking small things, food here and there, just enough to get by. What are you into?" The black wolf nodded to the bag.

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[Leaf]

"Shadow..." Leaf rolled the name around in his mouth. Quite the appropriate name for a wolf of such color. He seemed to be happy about this new bond, and Leaf was quite excited for this experience as well, to tell the truth. He pawed at the ground for a little bit, scratching at the dirt. Then the black wolf inquired about Leaf's loot. That alerted Leaf slightly, but decided that Shadow would've condemned him a while back if he was here to arrest him. Of course, he would still need to be cautious.

"Huh? This stuff?" Leaf said as he patted the sack. "It's all gold and silver and whatever else humans hold in high regard. I take from them, everything and all things. He boasted. "It's my career, per sè. You might not see it highly, but even I am a revered figure among those characters who live amongst the shadows. As he said this, Leaf watched Shadow's expression closely. If there were any suspicious signs of attack, it would be a hint to turn tail. The thought was definitely a part of Leaf's caution, but he really wished that the wolf would accept him. He really did not want to lose this chance to gain a friend, a brother.

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