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Post by Soriddo Wolf on Feb 14, 2008 14:04:17 GMT -5
Ruskin grunted to himself, climbing up over another slimy, fallen tree-trunk. "Fuckin' jungle," he muttered. He was a wolf used to the industrial areas of his region, not some log-and-tic-infested shithole in South America. His brothers and sisters all referred to their parts of the world by odd names, now... He knew what they once were, and refused to call them anything but.
As he climbed over a small mound of rocks, he gripped them tightly with his claws as to avoid falling. He was so focused on this that he forgot to watch out for which rocks were stable, and soon found that the rocks he clung to had come loose. Falling upon his canine ass, he growled. "...I'll say it again: Fuckin' jungle." Grunting, he got back up and climbed over the rocks.
The region that this wolf hailed from was the kingdom of Vauraun, or as he called it, Africa. The central fortress from which he ruled was the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt. Before the Third World War which had ended mankind, Egypt had become a flourishing first-world nation. Now, it was devoid of life. The buildings still stood, as the inhabitants had been wiped out by a Neutron Bomb (a bomb which only destroys organic life with super-heavy neutrons on a cellular level). His was one of the last places where technology could still be found and utilized. He had even -come- to this continent on an old, human freighter. The auto-pilot was a nice feature for those without the ability to control technology with humanoid hands.
Finally, after much journeying, he arrived at the mound of rocks (or 'temple') from which his sister governed her land. He was unsure of what she'd taken to calling it, or herself, these days, as he had not seen her in some time. By the human calendar, several months. To her, many a moon. His growing frustration with her was that she did not understand science of yet, and continuously applied a mystical spin to all things. He, rather, believed in good ol' science. A wolf of no god, he was one to question everything and accept only that which he saw with his one good eye.
Using his paw to push the bandanna from his eye, he looked around. "SISTER!" he called, throwing his head back. "Come greet your older brother!" He watched, waiting for her to show herself. He smirked, watching other, younger wolves come padding out of their shelters. "C'mon, before I have to whoop your ass as I did when we were pups!"
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Post by Eztli on Feb 14, 2008 14:23:36 GMT -5
Many moons had actually passed since she had seen any of her dear siblings. Well, the ones she held close to her heart, anyway, which definitely excluded Eden and Ceres, whose hearts were too dark for Eztli to even begin to understand. But that was another topic for another time. For the moment, out of sight and out of mind was the method by which Eztli lived regarding those two. She had, however, been expecting a visit from her brother, Ruskin. Such was her gift, which of course, the one-eyed wonder would always scoff at.
Traveling towards the heart of Khuno, the site of ancient ruins once demmed Macchu Picchu, Eztli stared out towards the valleys, lost in her thoughs and memories. She had no desire to remember the technology that humans once thrived on; it was hard to care when you had no thumbs, and when everything had fallen into disrepair. Also, she being a true child of the gods, she was much more interested in the natural side of things. But she still loved her brother dearly, despite their obvious differences in beliefs and thinking. He was her brother, after all.
'SISTER!' She heard a deep voice shout, the words bouncing rather sporadically against the mountain sides. 'Come greet your older brother!'
At that, Eztli snorted. Demanding, as always, despite the fact that he was hardly her elder. With a good natured smirk, the Coya hopped down from her perch within the old over-growth-covered temple, long slender legs carrying her down its countless steps. Hospitality at its best, even if her brother was a bit cheeky. Then again, it would be a lie for her to say that she was not the very same in nature.
'C'mon, before I have to whoop your ass as I did when we were pups!'
At that, sunset-orange eyes flared with amusement, her look warming distinctly. Of course, only Ruskin would be allowed to get away with such taunting. It was what she loved him for, after all.
"Whoop my ass, dear brother?" She quipped in mock-surprise as she leaned her head over the ledge she stood on, peering down towards her brother. An unmistakable grin shone in her eyes, her shorter tail wagging amiably behind her. "Perhaps you should save your taunts for level ground. You are in unfamiliar territory after all."
Still wearing her impish grin, the wolfess dropped down from her ledge to land nimbly at Ruskin's side. Orange eyes took in her brother, eyeing a few new scars before she stepped towards him. "Do you need a boost up, Ruskin?" She snickered, macking a move as if to help shove him further up the treacherously rocky mountainside, to nuzzle his shoulder affectionately instead. "Come, I'll show you an easier way up, old man."
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Post by Soriddo Wolf on Feb 14, 2008 15:40:54 GMT -5
Ruskin waited for a short while before his little sister finally showed herself.
"Whoop my ass, dear brother? Perhaps you should save your taunts for level ground. You are in unfamiliar territory, after all."
"Ground is of little consequence when one's adrenaline is pumping," he replied with a smug grin. "As your feet will barely touch it if you are truly swift."
Watching his sister's bouncing, pup-like nature as she greeted him, he gave a good-natured grin and chuckled. "Still a hyper little pup," he observed, shaking his head. "Lead the way, o' queen-of-the-shittiest-continent." Padding after her, he followed her into the ruins of Macchu Picchu. "You do realize that there are things called escalators you could install here to save time, right?" he pointed out. Of course, he was joking, be he did so love to taunt her with their differences.
Since they were pups the two had played the game of "who can get who's goat quicker," and it seemed that neither had caved just yet. He suspected that the day one of them did would be the day the world ended. Even before their respective packs, the two showed little to no reverence for one another, despite all the respect they held for each other.
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Post by Eztli on Feb 14, 2008 15:57:34 GMT -5
'Ground is of little consequence when one's adrenaline is pumping... As your feet will barely touch if you are truly swift.'
Always with a touch of philosophy and a wise tone, Ruskin. Usually however, Eztli merely snorted at him, and today was no different. "Perhaps you should try starting at the bottom and running straight up. Then perhaps we can see you float, Ruskin." She teased in turn, tail twitching behind her in humor.
With the comment of escalators, Eztli snorted yet again, rolling her vibrant irises heavenward in mock exasperation. "So dependent on the remnant of technology, aren't you, brother?" She grinned back at him, to show she was simply playing, nipping at the heels of his metaphorical goat. Just like old times again. It was good to have her brother back again.
Stepping lightly and quickly over the thin planks of boards that made up the least-treacherous way into the heart of her home, Eztli stopped at the other side, watching her brother, head tilted to the side. "So, oh dear brother of mine, what brings you my 'shitty continent'? Are you simply visiting, or are there other things on your mind?"
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Post by Soriddo Wolf on Feb 14, 2008 16:09:13 GMT -5
He merely snorted as she nipped at his goat's heels, his functional eye lighting up with a kind of happiness and brightness that had been absent for some time. It was good to see his sister, as it made him feel younger again. Although he wasn't so much older than she, he looked it, as the years had been far less kind to his beaten form. Even when they were young, he had always jumped in harm's way for her. That's what an older brother was supposed to do.
"So dependent on the remnant of technology, aren't you, brother?"
"Dependant, no, but learning of it as to not make the same mistakes is invaluable," he told her. "Technology isn't a mistake, mis-use of it is." His tail swished a bit.
"So, oh dear brother of mine, what brings you to my 'shitty continent'? Are you simply visiting, or are there other things on your mind?"
He smiled a bit before looking over to her. "Well, as you know, dear sister... My continent was hit by two different kinds of bombs... The "clean" bomb hit Giza, where I now live, and the "dirty" bomb hit down in Cape Town. The desert surrounding my home is now full of new creatures... Dangerous ones. They aren't up to strength yet, but I fear that within the year there may be a movement on our capital, he informed her, sincerely. "...We have the power plant up an running again... And we have some defenses... But there is a secret that I have learned of in the desert.. something with which we may defend ourselves from these creatures."
He knew that she would not receive the idea of human weaponry well, so he paused for a moment, but continued before she could protest. "The creatures of which I speak are changed, sister. In horrible ways. Nightmares more powerful than you, or I... My people cannot stand up to an attack of this magnitude, even with such a thing as divine intervention, if such a thing were to be had... I need someone to make the journey with me to this secret, and I'm hoping that maybe it will be someone I can count on..." His tail swished uncertainly. He hated bringing up the matter like this, but it was something of immense priority for him. His people were like his family; he loved them. Perhaps not so much as he loved his sister, but close.
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Post by Eztli on Feb 14, 2008 16:23:39 GMT -5
Pierced ears perked, metal tinkling faintly as she listened to him. Despite always rolling her eyes and snorting at him, Eztli knew that her brother truly was wise, and would always let him speak his piece, where some others would hear nothing more. But Ruskin was her brother, and though she liked to think that he was just coming for a visit, she knew that there was something more behind his appearance.
She listened to his speech on the bombing that had riddled Africa, now Vauraun, his territory. Brows furrowing at the mentioning of creatures, Eztli slowed her pace, ears now keenly tuned into every syllable that left Ruskin's maw. Biting back a disapproving sigh at mention of the power plant, the Coya kept her silence. Always, she would hear her brother out, before she would speak her piece.
As he finished, Eztli turned her head towards him, orange eyes holding a distinct edge to them as she studied Ruskin's form. She could see the concern in his one good eye, and the discomfort at bringing such a thing to lay it upon her table. But just the fact alone that he had come to her, Eztli held in high regard.
"You know how I feel about the humans' technology, Ruskin," she started off, normally kind voice cold and distant. Ear twitching again, she continued to stare at her brother, before slowly shaking her head and releasing a heavy sigh, lids lowering halfway over her vibrant gaze. A moment passed, and Eztli sat, now that they were away from curious eyes, the air around them both having changed as they had walked. Finally, her eyes opened again to look at Ruskin, head lowered thoughtfully and tilted to the side as she took to studying him again.
"You know that I will do anything and everything I can to help you, brother. Tell me what exactly it is that you need, and you will have my every effort to see that you recieve it." She lifted her head a fraction, orange eyes remaining locked on his one good blue iris. "You may have your pick of a company to take... I myself would go with you, should you simply ask it."
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Post by Soriddo Wolf on Feb 14, 2008 17:09:44 GMT -5
"You know that I will do anything and everything I can to help you, brother. Tell me what exactly it is that you need, and you will have my every effort to see that you recieve it. You may have your pick of a company to take... I myself would go with you, should you simply ask it."
"That's exactly what I'm asking," he replied. "I need someone I can trust... And when I say that, I mean you." The grizzled old wolf gave her a long glance with his working eye. His dead one tried to adjust and focus, merely expanding and retracting the iris uselessly. "I understand your feelings on human technology, but I will do whatever must be done to protect my people," he said. "Surely you understand that much... If you have a better answer that your 'gods' can supply, by all means, but else, I shall rely on what I know." He gave her a soft nuzzle to tell her that he was not so much attacking her beliefs as saying that he didn't have enough faith to leave this to a divine intervention.
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Post by Eztli on Feb 14, 2008 17:19:37 GMT -5
'And when I say that, I mean you.'
She remained silent as he glanced toward her, her own eyes taking in his grizzled form. If he loved his people even a fraction as much as he loved her, then it was a simple decision for Eztli. She knew that even if she flat out refused to help him, he would jump in harm's way on his own. That was just Ruskin; he sacrificed himself for what he loved. And Eztli could completely understand that, and definitely she could respect that.
"And I understand your love for your people, Ruskin. That alone is enough for me to put my feelings for your technology aside." Finally, Eztli stood upon long slender limbs and looked towards her scar-riddled sibling, softness shining in vibrant eyes. "I am the answer my gods will supply you, brother. I am their hands."
The Coya knew that Ruskin's faith remained upon what he could see, what he knew could be relied on to function successfully towards his cause. All this talk of gods was nonsense to him, as it was her own mate. It had taken her quite some time to understand that notion, but she had accepted it, as she had accepted many other things. Whether he believed in her gods or not, Eztli would not push that debate; it was useless. But Ruskin knew that she would be there in a moment's notice, and that she was reliable, and she would do everything within her power to help him. It was what siblings did.
"I'll be the closest thing you'll get to divine intervention," at that, she paused to flash him a warm, affectionate grin, showing no hard feelings towards his comment involving her beliefs. They had their differences, but they were different beings as well.
"So, brother," she gave a gentle twist of her head, motioning with her snout for him to walk along beside her, "Tell me what it is that you require of me. I'll jump in blindly to help, but if you have some information, I would be interested to hear it."
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Post by Soriddo Wolf on Feb 14, 2008 17:28:32 GMT -5
He smiled with her, seeing the grin cross her maw. As he had expected, she harbored no hurt feelings over their differences, nor did he. They both did what worked for them, and in her case it just happened to be ridiculous to him. His ways were reckless in hers, so it all balanced out, in an awkward sort of way.
"...-if you have some information, I would be interested to hear it."
He nodded with the slightest of smiles. It was a major relief to know that she would be at his side for this. "Information will be provided, as much as I can, but not here. I would provide it, providing the information was with me," he said. At the querying look she gave him, he continued. "...The information was gathered by a computer onboard the freighter I used to get here. The computer is most helpful; wait until we get onboard and you will see." He gave her a slight nudge. "Hope you're not uncomfortable with having to use technology to change continents," he chuckled.
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Post by Eztli on Feb 15, 2008 23:41:04 GMT -5
With a truly exasperated roll of her eyes, Eztli soon fixed her brother with a hard, though not cold, stare. She was more unamused, than anything, with her brother's quip. Nose wrinkling as she shook her head. "Though I may be a beast in favor of simplicity, I am not in my position for nothing, old man." His jest was met easily with one of her own, and she nudged his muscled shoulder in return.
Taking in a deep breath, Eztli gazed towards the sky, orange eyes studying the heavens and the sun's position. After a moment, the Coya returned her gaze back towards her grizzled brother, and offered a smile. "I hope you've hidden your silly little contraption well. Such a sight might send my people into a bit of a fit, you know."
With a few steps placing her just a pace or two ahead of Ruskin, she gave another motion of her head, a gentle invitation for him to walk with her yet again. She waited for a moment, making sure he was coming, before she faced ahead and began walking, her pace slow. "Tell me, how far is your transport, brother. We have most of the day left..." She paused to glance curiously over her shoulder at him, "Am I to assume that we will be leaving as soon as possible, or do I have time to tell my Cheveyo of my trip?"
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Post by Soriddo Wolf on Feb 17, 2008 1:58:25 GMT -5
He merely gave an unimpressed snort at her own jesting before shaking his head with a grin and a chuckle. Figuring it best to let her think she'd won (for now), he said nothing. He knew that she, herself, knew better than to think she'd gotten him beat, but Ruskin would let the peace stay for now.
"My transport is well-hidden," he replied. "At least, for a gigantic hulk of a ship. In other words, as well as you could hide your nose from your field of vision." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Don't worry, it has its own defensive measures... Non-lethal for your people, I assure you."
Watching her as she stepped ahead and motioned for him to follow, he waited a moment before falling into step beside her. "The ship is about four hours' run from here... Six if we walk. I'd say there's enough time where you can tell you're second-in-command." He refused to call her second a "Chev-rolet" or whatever she was calling 'em now, only on the grounds that all her names for things confused him. "Shall we begin that whole process before heading out?"
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Post by Eztli on Feb 19, 2008 12:11:04 GMT -5
Wearing a bit of a frown at his somewhat sarcastic words, Eztli stared at her brother. With luck, none of her people would take it as an ill omen. With even more luck, none of her people would even see the damnable piece of machinery. Giving her head a small shake of her head, Eztli sighed, almost as if in resignation.
"Very well.. So long as it does not cause me any trouble, your hide stays intact." Despite her displeasure with having such a lumbering piece of metal within sight, she still found it within herself to continue joking with Ruskin. Desperate times called for desperate measures. And she was still rather honored to be the one that her brother came to. No sense in letting some old ship ruin that.
"Four hours." Orange eyes again glanced towards the heavens, the female's mind working through their time frame. Again, she shook her head, this time to answer his final question. "No. Just so long as I return before nightfall tomorrow, my advisors should be able to keep things from falling into disarray."
The Cheveyo knew that Eztli would sometimes disappear without warning. They were in their position for that very reason. Sometimes, actions could not be explained before-hand. Though mostly her disappearances were simply to give herself a moment of peace in order to breathe. However, this time, she would rather just get it over and done with, and explain herself later. It was for her brother, a very good reason all by itself.
"If it will take us that long, I suggest we head out now. You lead the way, o' dear brother of mine."
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Post by Soriddo Wolf on Feb 19, 2008 16:41:15 GMT -5
"You're... kidding.... right?" he asked. His astonishment was clear in his features. Granted, his sister had never journeyed to his continent due to limitations in how they could move from area to area, but she clearly had no scope as to how long it would take. "Ezzy... Vauraun is far from here. It will take us nothing short of a week, assuming we don't stop for rest," he replied. This was the reason that he felt that they needed to keep in mind the events of the past, as that was their only way to ensure they did not make such costly errors in judgement, even in something so simple as a time frame in which to complete a task.
"I'll give you time to get things settled," he told her. "Follow my trail when you are ready to depart - I will be waiting for you at the ship." He turned, getting ready to leave, but not doing so just yet without a reply from his sister. Clearly this would change her understanding of how things would have to go down from here on in, and thus her answer may be subject to change as well. He watched her, curiously.
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Post by Eztli on Feb 21, 2008 11:39:52 GMT -5
A sigh escaped Eztli's maw as she stared at her brother in a rather bland fashion. "Do you honestly think me that stupid, Ruskin?" Her voice was bland as well, carrying with it a tone of faint exasperation within her monotone words. With a shake of her head, the Coya grunted, taking a step away from her brother. "I did not think you meant to leave as soon as we got to your... vessel."
Standing in silence for a moment, Eztli grunted yet again at the options rolling about within her mind. She had never been as fond of her trips to limbo, as Eden seemed to be. Phasing out of thin air really was not something Eztli liked to do; it set her too far apart from her members. "How about you stay for just a moment, dear brother, and we will travel together. I'll only be but a few minutes." Her tone was resigned as she took a few more steps away from Ruskin.
With her brother being a Demi-God, he could not perform some of the 'parlor tricks' that Eztli and Eden could as Goddesses. Eztli was not even sure if her brother knew it to be possible, especially with his anti-higher-power beliefs. But desperate times called for desperate measures, and this desperate time called for swiftness. As much as she disliked it, she would have to, in order to be helpful to her brother.
There was no way for her to explain what she was about to do. Ruskin simply wouldn't understand, or would probably tell her she had spent too much time in the high altitude of Khuno. So she simply acted without speaking, orange eyes glancing towards her brother one last time. "Do not leave. Or at least do not venture far. I will be back soon, understood?"
She did not give him time to reply, only fixed him with a hard stare before her form literally faded. Transparent, and then completely gone, Eztli found herself in a place both she and Eden had called 'limbo.' A place between the heavens and the world they ruled, a place to watch, or to come for solitude. Or in this case, a place where traveling was concluded in an instant. She reappeared in the very peaks of Khuno, amidst her Cheveyo, which seemed to only vaguely startle them. And just as she had done with Ruskin, she kept her words brief, letting them know her plan, and the vague duration of her absence. No room to argue, only comply to her wishes. At least she knew they would listen better than her brother.
Orders having been given, Eztli offered brief farewells, and asked them to keep an eye on Acacitli. That wolf was more trouble than they knew, she was sure, but she would feel more at ease knowing him to be safe. They agreed, as they always did, and watched again as their Coya faded out just as abruptly as she had appeared. Nothing out of the ordinary, no panic. At least this time they had warned her.
Besides, they knew better than to argue. For Eztli to use that skill of hers, they knew it to be an important endeavor, and there would be no success in trying to talk her out of it. It was for her brother after all, and they could not blame her for that.
Back in limbo, Eztli suppressed a shiver. She hated the place. Empty and completely desolate, it was like walking along a completely barren dessert in the dead of the night. Only there was no wind, no sound, there was nothing at all but herself. She made sure her time spent within the plane was brief as could be, and reappeared in the general area that she had left her brother in. Orange eyes scanned the horizon around her. Not seeing Ruskin's form at first, she grunted.
"Ruskin!" The call was barked out gruffly as long slender legs began carrying her up the gently rolling hills of her land. She truly had been only a few moments. She knew Ruskin to be impatient, but this was a bit ridiculous.
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Post by Soriddo Wolf on Feb 26, 2008 12:07:00 GMT -5
He watched in utter amazement as his sister disappeared with no explanation whatsoever. He stared blankly at where she’d been, then began glancing around wildly, snarling. Was the attack already beginning? Something was in the vicinity… A buzz filled her absence as he stood there, his fur bristled.
Dashing into the trees, he checked around, sniffing the dirt, hunting for a trail of some sort. A clue… Anything… His fur waved a bit as something slid around beneath it, causing the ripples to move in an odd fashion. A sharp stinger slid out from the tip of his tail, swishing and whipping around him angrily. The bewilderment frustrated and angered him to no end… Normally calm and collected, he hated being surprised… Few things managed to do this, but his sister had just managed quite well.
”Ruskin!”
Growling lightly, he peered out from around a tree nearby. ”What the fuck was that?!” he growled. ”Where’d you go?!” His anger was clear in his voice as a mud-like substance filled the whites of his eyes, moving around in an odd manner, much like amoebas sliding around beneath a microscope.
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