Crack Your Whip (OPEN)

The ash and smoky chrome cloaked cub ambled at a leisure pace, her ears laying almost horizontally against her crown as her dull zircon glinted optics remained focused on what laid ahead in her path. She hadn't been associated with the Rūju Tribe for very long, perhaps two to three months, but even then, the young pup, almost a yearling, was growing- and she was more than glad to be doing so. She noticed how ruthless these wolves acted, and was aware of their overall thought process and mindsets. Quartz wasn't a stranger to her mentality, and instead was very familiar with her mind and thoughts. It's a prime reason why she can easily sympathies with others, and dislikes seeing others damaged in any way, shape, or form. The young she-wolf had seen how the older, many novices of the tribe had tattered the russet hued brute during combat 'training'. The poor male had looked defeated and stripped of every spark of dignity he possibly owned. Quartz had never killed anyone, however she knew that was going to have to change if she wished to remain a specimen of the Rūju Tribe.

She looked up, breaking away from her hurricane of a mind and noted the older looking brute, laced in dark hues, such as herself, however his owned more dimension and... character. He looked strong and masculine; intimidating, much, and potentially held an authoritative position. However, the young one wasn't a fool. She knew how the tribal leader acted, and only wished to see his group thrive in strength and members, and would not tolerate a novice- cub, even, becoming damaged due to an older wolf out of sheer spite. So for the most part, the scrap knew she would be safe.

Quartz inhaled and took a step forward, her eye level positioned just below his, thus not making direct eye contact, but keeping her approach submissive. She offered him a brief nod, as in 'greetings' though wasn't expecting one in return. Possessing a limp tail, she proceeded forward toward the svelte male and soon would take a seat next to him. She avoided eye contact, however kept her posture straight and poised, just reminding herself not to reveal weakness- especially in front of one of her peers. There, she waited. Waited until the dark brute retorted to her entrance. She already knew he was aware her presence before she even encountered him, so Quartz was embracing herself for him to spat something completely cruel and cold-blooded.


(OOC: Hope this is okay? Also, the 'russet' male she was referring to was meant to be characterized as Storm. Hope that's alright as well!)

She kept her blunt, washed away expression set ahead of her, her ear flicking every other second, awaiting to hear the vocals of the male. Though, to her surprise, the older male hadn't spat words of poison, and instead addressed her as a civilized canine. She allowed a few seconds of sheer silence wash over the two, as that happened, the young female was audiating her response, heedfully picking her words with great consideration. Quartz shifted her skull, as in turning down his question, though then decided to use her vocals, considering she hadn't in awhile, and was questioning if she even still had a voice to communicate properly.
"No sir," The cub retorted, her vocals falling low and smooth. "I just wanted to learn about my peers. If I intend to become one with this tribe, I'd better begin now." Quartz added, altering her snout up toward the inky brute, tapering her brows, just to assure the male that she was indeed being earnest about her decisions. Perhaps since she was already here, she could get a few answers out of the older canine- however Quartz decided she'd save her breath, at least until she received a reaction from the male. Though she was careful to keep her full intentions undecipherable.

Quartz lowered her glare as the male began on speaking, her ears flicking toward his every word. She offered him another nod, agreeing as he repeated her former statement. However her expression hadn't flinched toward his abrupt alter in tone. She shifted uncomfortably on her paws, though attempted to conceal her unease through a vocalized response. "I..." Quartz lingered on the word for a brief moment, plucking her words heedfully. "I want to learn the ways of the Rūju Tribe," she attempted to conceal her previous mention of 'intend' if it were to just ease the male's nerves. Though finally, the cub had picked a selection of words, in which she thought could reassure the older wolf. "I have no intentions on fleeing, and even if I were to, I'd have no where to go. I've... I've never really found much enjoyment in 'pack-life'." The young one wasn't so certain she found full sincerity in her words, though managed to convince herself otherwise. Scrap she auditated to herself, ducking her eyes in clear irritation with her own self.

Malikai nodded toward the approach of his dominate, yet make sure not to break his stiff sitting position. "Titan," was his only response along side the dip of his head, his voice in similar contrast to that of the slick-furred leader.

The dark-muzzled wolf flicked his ears occasionally at Titan's words, casting the cub a few glanced as well. So her name is Quartz, he thought, glad he didn't have to bother with asking for her name. The assassin offered up another slow nod, as in agreeing with the tall male on his other flank. He knew Titan would easily deal with Quartz if she showed signs of weakness, he had certainly offered the pariah a beating once or twice merely as a battle training tool and self pleasure in causing pain to the once mighty alpha. There was a part of Malikai that felt slightly bad for the russet colored wolf, yet that didn't stop him from joining the occasional taunts.

Malikai threw his attention back to the moment, eyeing Quartz and waiting to hear an answer from her.

From the moment his weak legs had been able to bear his weight, Viserion had been upon his
feet all day everyday. Everyday he spent an adequate amount of time playing games designed to harden both his strength and his desire to become a ruthless wolf. Today had been like every other day since his eyes opened and he gained the ability to walk- entertain himself, find some remaining scraps of a leftover kill, and steer clear of all the older wolves; he hadn't been in the mood to lose and ear for approaching an older wolf. Although today something different had caught his eye- another cub seemed to be speaking to a pair of older wolves. As he drew closer to the small group, he was able to nearly immediately recognize the hulking form of Titan- the Dominant of the Tribe. Since his birth, respect and fear of Titan had been ingrained in him till it became a large part of his personality and dictated most of his behavior. Trotting up to the small cluster that contained Titan, Quartz -whom he vaguely recognized from previous encounters when playing with the other cubs-, and the strange, dark male whom he didn't actually know. 'But why should I know him? Most of the older wolves 'round here just snap at you for even looking at them!' He reflected with an internal scoff, feet kicking up small scuffs of dead grass as he hurriedly closed the distance between himself and the group, just in time to hear Quartz's final words. 

Viserion let out a wordless bark of greeting and quickly dipped his head afterwards, making an extra note to not make direct eye contact with either the unfamiliar dark wolf and Titan, before he dropped down onto his haunches, slouching over slightly. Cocking his head slightly, he was slightly curious as to why the older wolves were wasting their time speaking to cubs, but didn't dare ask the question directly. "Why would ya ever disappoint 'em? every wolf with half a brain knows what happens then." He questioned, voice still squeaky and unsteady from his youth as he addressed Quartz's earlier statement, gazing at the she-pup with curious eyes. His words were naive- although he did know the punishment for weakness or failure, he still wasn't fully able to grasp the true severity of the penalty. Refocusing his gaze upon his paws, hopeful that he hadn't spoken out of turn or too brashly- although some would argue that losing an ear by Titan's jaws would be honorable.  

(ooc: was informed that it was cool to jump into this topic.)

Giving a curt nod to show that he accepted what the cub had said, Titan was glad that she at least had the will to show confidence in her words, no matter how young she still was. Cubs... they were definitely something else, being the youngest members of the pack and oddly enough, the most spirited members. What an odd way of life, being the smallest and most innocent wolves of the group, and yet, they had the most pride, the most eager spirits. Which in the end, made sense, seeing that they looked up to most of tribe and had something to work towards.

Swiveling his ears to the found of tiny paw steps, Titan turned his head to see Viserion, another one of the Tribe's cubs. Letting out a soft scoff at the young wolf's comment about every wolf knows what happens then. Well, she wasn't wrong.

"She's right," the low voiced male started, looking from Viserion and back to Quartz. "I mean, if you need a visual, just look at the Pariah," Titan commented, tilting his head towards the edge of camp where the former Bison alpha sat, hunched over and emancipated, clearly starving. Although most wolves would've had pity for anywolf in such a state, it brought the dominant a dark sense of joy to see the former alpha looking like he did.

OOC: pls try to stick with the posting order, thx!

The young pup released a cluster of air through her nostrils as she departed her dull gaze from the tawny cloaked pup, her irritation gradually fading away. She understood where he was attempting to get at, but even a pup with half a brain would know the consequences of their faults- or perhaps something they couldn't control. Her glare traced the horizon's line, her patience growing dull by the minute. At this rate, she could potentially just rise and exit the discussion without another word, however she couldn't.

Her tail flinched briefly toward the tribal leader's words in reply, and her zircon optics rested on his facial features; anyplace but the eyes. Though Quartz merely offered him a nod in agreement. She was aware of the Pariah's current condition, and how he came to earn it, and felt it would just be a waste if she questioned it. Although, a part of her wanted to know who he was, and why Titan was so keen on targeting him- when there were so many other wolves who could actually out up a fight. So why was that wolf so significant? "Who is the Pariah?" Quartz inquired, attempting to keep her tone straight and balanced, concealing the small sparks of concern that hid away under her vocals as she held back the urge to depart her gaze from the leader's.

Who was the pariah? Wasn't it obvious? Titan wanted to snap back a reply, but upon opening his jaw quickly shut it, realizing that cubs wouldn't know who Storm was and he might as well tell them. Besides, the more they knew, the better, right?

"The pariah is Storm, the former Bison pack alpha. He used to rule over the moorlands, but he chose to leave that life and now he's nothing more than a coward," the deep voiced dominant replied with a sneer, casting a glance to the older wolf who sat miserably at the edge of camp. Hmph, some alpha he was, leaving his pack with no liable reason. I wonder how the pack is doing without their precious leader. Hopefully rotting, he thought to himself, imagining Bison pack shriveling up into nothing but emancipated and starving wolves; a chaotic pack with no leader. Just the mere thought of that brought joy to the large wolf.

The young pup sat utterly still, her expression never fracturing itself. She was growing rather curious to learn who that loner was, and what service he served her-- other than being a chewtoy. She flicked and ear briefly, awaiting for the male's response, and once she had received it, her teeth clinched tightly together. Sparks of vexation sparked within her dull zircon glinting optics as her glare wavered from the dominate's and onto the russet brute, whom sat a ways down. Quartz could feel her chest churning, and continual waves of heat washing over her physique, causing fur strands to prickle, however she managed to sooth the unease. A coward who can't protect himself the ash cloaked she-pup thought bitterly, her gaze narrowing as she proceeded to cast her gaze toward the tattered male.

Quartz managed to drown out her 'what-ifs' awhile ago, only focused on something completely new. She looked over, breaking her gaze from the pariah as her optics landed onto the scrawny, older looking brute, laced in dark hues. Her brows remained tapered, though her reasons were undecipherable. Mongrels she scowled internally again, her eyes soon descending onto her paws as her ears fell horizontally onto her crown. It took her effort not to remark with something that might slide off as arrogant. It took her much effort. She could merely offer them a simple nod in return. These wolves only target weaker wolves because they know it'll be an easy fight her mind noted as Quartz lifted her glare, positioning it onto the tan pup that rested close to her her side.