Hunting for new members

[Klara Maradith]

"I don't understand why she brings us all the way out into the village square," one rough looking man said to a smaller one that simply leaned up against the statue, both men watching the auctions for slaves happening right before them. The smaller man simply shrugged as he eyes fell upon his Ulfric who stood in the back of the crowd, watching the people being sold. "Maybe she's looking for a lost soul." He dropped his voice, knowing that his alpha had an amazing sense of hearing. "Maybe she's trying to rekindle that old flame of hers. You know, before she was wolf." Suddenly Klara's smooth voice filled the air before them and both men jumped at the sight of their Ulfric so very close. "I do not wish to remember what it is like to be human." Though she did remember the night of her change so very clearly.

"I only wish to see who it is we should be getting for our pack. We need new members and none of the humans that the vampires have been sending to us are worthy." She turned from them, her eyes locked on a larger slave. She allowed her boys to continue on with their chat as she pressed into the crowd. She got half way into the crowd before releasing a very low growl. Low enough, that most people wouldn't have even heard it but they would have felt it. The bones in their ears would vibrate violently and soon the whole crowd around her pushed away, leaving her alone in the center. "I'll pay ten crowns for him and nothing more." The seller's eyes fell on Klara and instant understanding of just who he was messing with click. "Ten crowns! Sold to the great Ulfric." She turned to look at her boys with a nod. They sighed and walked towards the stage with her, the people scattering away from them.

By the time she was at the stage, many of the buyers had left. The slaver did not like his buyers leaving but he could not hope to go against the Ulfric. "Here you are M'Lady." He said as he handed the chains of the human to one of her wolves. The bigger man grabbed the chains and go to work on leading the man off the stage. "What brings you to this part of town?" The seller asked and Klara did not answer him. She simply turned to her wolves. "Do we have him?" She asked and the larger man grunted but held up the chains. Klara nodded. "Ten crowns as promised." She handed him the ten copper pieces and he frowned before taking them. He would have gotten much more for such a slave like him but then again, his life is more important than his money.

With the slave paid for, Klara began to lead the way out of the town center and towards their forest where she would get to work on making the slave into a wolf and adding another powerful member to their pack. Lately, humans have been pushing into the Forest and hunting her wolves. It was those damn gypsies, unable to control themselves during the full moon. They always cause so much trouble for her and her pack. Her wolves were running thin and it was usually the larger wolves who were taken because they would stay back to protect their pack and end up being killed. She needed big wolves and this man would produce quite the wolf. Just what they needed to chance the hunters out of her forest.

[ambrose]

Slate gray eyes stared out from the thick of the trees. Hidden within the shadows like a phantom; with no sound of rattling leaves or twigs begin broken under his step. Ambrose was keen when it came to stalking or keeping hidden. It was a game to him after all, one that he enjoyed playing since the day of his 'change'. Watching in silence as others like him returned to the forest with a human at hand. The chains were a dead give away that this brute of a man was a slave bought at the market. A risky thing to pull, but he knew better.

Stepping closer to the wolves his sent would become more apparent to those who actually paid attention. It wasn't like he wanted to jump out and surprise them after all. There was no need for it. So instead he watched from the shadows, fallowing along the tree trunks until close enough to smell the human's stench. He hated the smell of slaves. It was like a mixture of urine and sweat all piled together. But still even though it was a slave, he was an impressive site. An if he knew the Ulfric, she was probably going to turn him. Ambrose couldn't help but grimmest at this thought, remembering the pain he felt when he was 'changed'.

Ambrose was close now, and if his presence wasn't known by now his cool collective voice would make him known. " Another 'new' member I presume?" he asked in a questionable tone.. Lightly stepping out from behind the tree he was hiding behind. Sandy blond hair resting agents his features while his coat hung loosely on his shoulders, threatening to fall. Gray eyes staring at her followers with a slight chuckle of amusement.

( Sorry it sucks. Kinda busy at the moment. >.< )

[Evelyn Moore]

Far behind the group of Wolves and the newly purchased slave, a large clamor could be heard. Men shouting and a few high-pitched screams of women pierced the quiet of the edge of town, and the commotion could be perceived drawing nearer. The screams soon died down but the shouts of the men persisted. Several people running on foot, shoving anything or any one in the way to the side, burst through the streets, closer and closer to the edge of town. Soon the cause of the ruckus became clear as a nimble young woman, Bridgette Rowland, leaped into view from a narrow alleyway. Her look was one of wild determination, her eyes open wide and her mouth agape in a snarl, breathing hard as she frantically looked about for a way out. She leped over small carts and boxes with ease and climbed over wooden fences with little difficulty. Behind her, too close for her comfort, followed several guards the Wolves would recognize from the slave trade. Some of them carried swords, other carried rope and shackles. None of them were as agile as their prey, but their strength allowed them to merely topple their obstacles and peruse the girl.

Bridgette soon saw her prize, the edge of town and the beginning of the forest. Sprinting like a madwoman, chains attached to a metal collar around her neck flailing wildly behind her, the young slave began to laugh out loud, her freedom soon at hand. She began to loose focus, her victory all but won, and she looked behind her to grin at and mock her followers, when her foot struck a rock on he uneven ground and she was sent tumbling to the forest floor. She was mere feet into her destination, and now this? Shocked for a moment at the sudden impact, the girl lay there, regaining her bearings. It was just enough time for the guards to catch up with her. As they formed a loose circle around the girl the lot looked apprehensive, eager to catch the slave but weary of what might happen if they tried.

Bridgette leaped to her feet, and at this point to could be seen that the front of her potato-stack-like burlap dress was spattered with blood. Not her own, but that of the mistress of a Manor who, about to purchase her, got one step too close. Bridgette had taken her chance after hiding a small blade on her person and slashed the woman's throat. In the panic and confusion that followed, she made her escape. But now it seemed like it was all for nothing; the circle of brutes crept closer and closer, their swords thirsty for her blood.

"Get away from me!" she screamed, her voice dry and hoarse from all of the running. Her tone was not one of fear but of rage. "I will kill every last one of you! I dare you to touch me!" Accepting her taunt, a guard grabbed her left arm from behind and raised a hand to punch her square in the jaw. The girl dodged this blow and instead sunk her knife into his unarmored side and pulled it towards herself, sending the man shrieking to the ground. The other men took this cue and simultaneously pounced her, landing blow after blow onto the girls writing and struggling body. She fought them hard as well, scratching, punching and slashing anything in her vicinity. Some of the men were disfigured, but their determination at this challenge led them to hold their prey and batter it into a broken pile on the forest floor. She was no match for so many at once, and as soon as she no longer resisted them, the men rose, spat on her quivering body and left her, patting each other on the back for a job well done. Surely she would die, she flesh bruised and torn, bones broken, and her will crushed. Well, her body had been defeated anyway. In her mind she was a screaming wreck, begging them to come back and fight her like men. Her pain and delirium played out a new battle in her head, one in which she destroyed each of them in turn, and the shattered girl began to laugh and shake, and then gasp for air as her throat filled with her own blood. In her mind she had won.

[Klara Maradith]

Klara was aware of the battle between slave and master just as she got her own and was moving on. It was of none of her concern. It was a woman. Women do not last long in a wolf pack. And plus it was only a matter of time before the girl was caught and brought back to the master who had probably paid handsomely for her. What she had not expected was the slave to escape as she did and get so close to her homeland. But this didn't come to her attention until she had brought the slave into the forest and was already questioned by her Mahessa, Ambrose. "Our numbers are dwindling quickly. He would be a good addition, no?" She turned to look at the slave when the flash of flesh caught her eye, far past where she was and just outside the barrier of her forest. She frowned before slowly walking towards the edge of the forest where she saw a girl, apparently the same slave girl that had broken free from her master, being beaten to death by guards.

She said nothing, did nothing. She only watched as the guards left the girl to die just outside of Klara's domain. Quietly she pondered, her eyes scanning the girl quickly. There was obviously some power to the girl, maybe enough to allow her to survive as a wolf. But to take the girl from where she was and back into the forest just to be changed could be considered a break of the pact the wolves held with the vampires. She had a very difficult decision to make towards this girl.

Slowly she peered back at her packmates before looking at the girl. She made up her mind and stepped out of the woods, peering around to make sure no leeches would see her doing this. Slowly she picked the girl up in her arms, as gently as she could without hurting her. She quickly made her way back to the wolves, the two she brought with her looking down at the girl with a frown. "Quickly," she said as she led the way through the woods until she came to the Hollow, the wolves' sacred grounds. She gently laid the girl on the ground, testing her pulse. "We need to move quickly." She said before rolling her on her side and exposing her shoulder. "If we don't, she dies." And with that, she bit down on the girl's shoulder, pulling away almost as quickly as her fangs pierced skin. "Ambrose, handle our new member will you." She said as she waved towards the slave. "Make sure he's comfortable during the change."

[Evelyn Moore]

By the time the Ulfric reached the dying girl, her harsh laughter had subsided, leaving only choking and gasps. Her eyes stared blindly upwards, wide and scared. With her fantasy ended, all that was left was death, and option which didn't please the mind of the young slave. But this mind was quickly slipping away. She didn't notice her savior as she was carefully removed from her bloody spot on the grass and carried away; her senses were now dulled and her eyes slowly closed to the world. Any pain the movement caused her was masked by the excruciating pain she already felt as broken bones ground against each other and tore her muscles. But even this sensation was beginning to fade.

Once in the Hollow her breathing was quite shallow, almost unnoticeable. A doctor of the time would have pronounced her dead, though while they would have been wrong, they were not far from the truth. She felt not the bite to her shoulder that would save her life. Her body, blood drenched, black and blue and pale, lay unmoving upon the ground for a long moment, still and silent. But just as she reached the brink of death, as her heart was ready to beat it's last, the "disease" took hold. Working frantically, it pulled back together what it could, just enough to begin her transformation. Something sparked in her brain, like a jumpstart, and the slave's eyes snapped open; moments later she took in a deep, raspy breath. Her new-found powers were healing her, her body now on over-drive to save what was left. As soon as she could, Bridgette let out an agonized cry as her senses returned to her, and she desperately tried to curl up into a ball, terrified and confused as to what was going on. No longer on the brink, her body began to transform itself for the first time; bones and flesh twisting and growing in ways no human's were ever meant to. With a second strength the slave turned and rose to her knees, doubled over and clutching her stomach. She let out another scream, her eyes closed tight and her lips in a grimace. As her nerves were repaired and re-charged she felt everything, every new bristly hair which pierced through her skin, every new sharp tooth which emerged from her gums, her bones re-arranging themselves and her claws growing forth. The pain was almost enough to drive her to madness, and the confusion nearly took her there.

Soon it was done, the new werewolf stood gasping and panting, it's eyes wide with anger and fear. Her clothes had torn and fallen to the ground, along with her metal collar and chains. What was left was a light brown pattern of coarse fur and a heaving, hunched and wolf-like figure. It was then she finally noted her new surroundings, and she let out a deafening roar as a warning to anyone near. Her newly keen eyes found Klara and locked onto her. The slave's animal rage blinded her to any possibility except for murder, and she fell into an attack stance. Like a scared animal backed into a corner, she tensed her muscles, ready to spring forth, but then, her body remembering it's still life-threatening injuries, her brown eyes rolled back and she fell heavily to the side and passed out. Taking again her human form, Bridgette began a heavy sleep. She was out of the woods so to speak, but the energy needed to get her there was too much; she was drained.

[ambrose]

There was nothing Ambrose could say or do to change the Ulfric's mind. It was a habit that he was beginning to practice, seeing how Klara never changed her mind. Eyes like stone watched in silence as the events started to unfold. A human slave who had escaped from the clutches of her master now caught the attention of his Ulfric. It was almost like a dramatic play, something that his former self once used to enjoy.. Now it was becoming something a little more bothersome. This was not something that was rehearsed or practiced. It was real and Klara was putting all their lives in danger for a human girl.

Ambrose said not a word to Klara as she chomped down on the poor girls shoulder. Nostrils flared with the scent of blood fuming off the young slave girl. What was Klara doing!?! Females were rare, but hard to keep alive. Humans would come after the new wolf eventually. Something he had witnessed time and time again. Biting down on his bottom lip Ambrose passed the other two wolves and stood by Klara's side. His pale features looking more like stone than flesh. " I hope you know what you are doing..." Ambrose spoke in a soft tone. Beautiful, thick hair tickled agents the back of his neck while a light breeze pasted by. No doubt with the breeze the smell of blood would carry. But that was the least of his concerns.

The slave girl had changed, her one humanoid smell now replaced with that of a wolf's. There was no mistaking the look in the young girls eyes. It was rage, a common thing that he was used to witnessing over the years. But to turn agents one creator? What a silly thing to do. As the newly transformed girl began to take attack position. So did Ambrose. Slate gray orbs lit up into a scowl, while sharp ivory fangs began to show underneath his lips. If the slave girl would attack so would he. But unlike her, Ambrose knew how to keep his beastly nature under check.

There was a slight form of releaf as the slave hit the ground. The amount of her injuries must of taken its toll. So taking a deep breath he began to calm himself before speaking again. " She will have to be trained how to control her temper. We don't need any unwanted casualties at this time." Ambrose sighed, scratching the back of his neck before looking at Klara. " Well looks like we have another member..." He chuckled looking to the other two wolves with a cheeky smile. " Well say hello to your newest sister." He mocked while walking to the other side of the slave girl, bending down to examine her injuries. " Looks like she'll need some attention. " Ambrose sighed, sniffing the air to make sure there weren't any more unwanted guest.

[Klara Maradith]

Klara did not have to look to know that her Mahessa Ambrose had come to her side. Golden eyes did not even look to him as she watched silently, the girl taking her first dramatic change. At first, when he spoke to her, she said nothing. She knew that eventually the wolf would be hunted down but frankly they were in terrible need of members and she had not seen someone fight quite like her in a very long time. It was a wake up call. Humans were growing stronger every day and her wolves were simply getting weaker and older. "We need her." Was all she said, her voice all too serious. Ambrose was her other half. He acted as the logical senses sometimes when Klara could not. Where as Klara is known for acting on instinct more often than not, Ambrose was always cunning and logical. He was a well chosen Mahessa.

When the girl finally changed and got aggressive, Klara could smell Ambrose's wolf rising to the surface and she allowed her hand to rise and rest on his thigh, an obvious sign that there was no need for fighting. This was a wolf's natural instincts and if she were to attack, though Ambrose was the Mahessa and protector of the Ulfric, it had to be Klara who put the wolf in her place. Otherwise, the dominance stance would go to Ambrose and the girl would not acknowledge Klara as alpha.

When the girl fell to the ground, Klara allowed her eyes to close, whispering a low prayer to Mother Moon before finally leaning over and feeling the girl's face, caressing it like a loving mother. When Ambrose barked out a sarcastic comment before turning to tend to her, Klara snarled, her eyes flashing. "Do not mock your kin." She said in a dangerous voice. She knew the mock was towards her and not towards the new wolf but either way, Klara was going to make sure he knew that you do not mock your packmates in her presence.

She nodded slowly at the comment of the girl needing attention. "She will be fine but she will be very hungry when she wakes." She peered up through the trees, looking to the sky for a time gauge. "You should go hunting. Everyone will be getting hungry soon anyways." She moved to sit next to the new wolf, watching her vital signs and making sure she would be okay. "I'll stay here with the new wolf." Leading the hunt was a big responsibility usually held for only the Ulfric but since she had a new wolf to tend to and make sure she understood the order of the pack, it was left up to the Mahessa to track down food.

[Bridgette Rowland]

Bridgette slept for a long while, her body recovering from the near-death experience. Over time her breaths grew deeper and her heart grew stronger; her shattered bones finding their places again to allow her body to work in harmony. As she slept she dreamed little, but the images that did make their way through were quite mixed. She dreamed of her childhood with her family, her many sisters and brothers and a loving mother and father; she dreamed of her life as a slave- of all of the people that tried to beat her into submission, of all the times she drove her owners to the edge and caused them to give her up again. She dreamed of this afternoon, replaying the events in her mind but in an exaggerated form; she flew from the auction block with angel's wings and dragons chased after instead of mere men. She struck her foot against a laurel branch and the dragons caught her, and then.. and then..

Then she had strange dreams, ones about the night and the moon, about shadowy creatures which hunted in the dark.. she dreamed she was one of them, fur and fangs and howling..

She would be achy for days afterword, but after only a few hours the girl was strong enough to open her eyes. For as long as they'd stay open anyway.

Her brain deciding to pick up where it left off, Bridgette sat straight up, eyes closed in a tight squint, fists swinging in a desperate attempt to hit anything in their reach "--off of me! God damn it let me go! I swear I'll kill every.. last.." something wasn't right. "What the Hell?" The slave jumped nimbly to her feet and opened her eyes to take in her surroundings. In a new location? Check. Strange woman nearby? Check. Not being beaten to death? Check. Magically healed? Ow. Sort of check. Not..wearing.. any..clothes? "Who the- Where the hell am I?" she demanded, backing away from Klara defensively. Last thing she could remember she was about to die.. what happened? Had she really been asleep that long? "And who the hell are you?"

(added a bit now that I'm less distracted :3)