Hey There, Little Red Ridin' Hood...

[Theo]

It had been weeks since Theo had left the den to seek out his solitary time in the forest. He loved his little fox family, no doubt of that: Vixyn, his younger adopted sister, was his heart and soul...but he was not Fox. He was Wolf, and that meant he sometimes needed to break away from his pack and be by himself. The Foxes understood this and accepted it; they knew he got a little stir-crazy when he stayed in one place for very long, and so they took his leaves of absences with a grain of salt and wished him well whenever the urge came to him.

Now, however, the time had come where he longed for the familial bond again, and he made his way back in his more natural form, which was that of a large dust-colored wolf. Loping across the rough jungle terrain, he kept his head low to the ground, catching scents left and right: warm-blooded mammals scurried in the safety of the brush, birds nestled with soft fluttering sounds in the trees as they slept, and from many miles away, Theo could feel the burble of the river beneath his paws. His senses as a wolf were incredible and in his human form they were only slightly less sharp...but he still preferred his canine form more often than not.

The sun had fallen for the evening, a blanket of velvet indigo blanketing the earth in soft darkness, the only light being that of the stars in the sky and the low, wanton moon.

[Nightshadow]

Lena was on the hunt again. The femme was in her white pelt tonite, the moon reflecting off like a halo of light against her pure white fur. She smiled to herself as she let out a howl. This place was hers, if only for one nite. She spent more time away from Vincent lately. The wolf inside her needed freedom, and their were other callings of the nite no vampyre could satisfy. Still Lena never got to see males. All she saw was her master's femme, and she was getting used to the idea of loneliness. All off this was coveyed in that one long lonely howl she sent into the starry sky

[Theo]

As the howl resounded off the trees, Theo stopped in his tracks, one front paw raised in mid-step, his skilled ears suddenly swinging forwards to focus on the call of the other wolf. Normally, he would have just kept going and not paid it much mind at all, but here there was a problem: this howl was close and they were in fox territory. And aside from himself, no other wolf chartered here; this was known far and wide.

Wolves were known to hunt and kill foxes, due to their smaller size and large, easily-accessible numbers. And any threat posed to Theo's family was taken seriously.

Dead seriously.

He swung back around and headed towards the source of the howl, not bothering to hide himself or the sound of his paws on the ground. He had no worries of others--he was confident and self-assured. As he approached the clearing at a steady, sure lope, he caught sight of her: a pure white wolf, a lupus alba. He could tell she was a female from her scent, and if not from her scent, than her appearance as it differed from his.

Whereas Theo was large and packed with muscles, she was smaller, sleeker. She had to weight considerably less than he did, too.

It was then as he scented her that he caught onto another important detail about her:

She was a Vampire's pet.

She wreaked of Vampire, of enslavement and entrapment--it leaked from her every pore--and to Theo this was even worse than if she had come to hunt the foxes. If she had run away, her master would soon come looking for her and would stumble upon the foxes...and if she had NOT run away, then her master possibly had sent her out to find more pets.

Thinking of Vixyn and the others enslaved by silver and treated so cruelty, set a fire burning inside of him. Theo's hackles raised as he lowered his head, his ears slicking back against his skull tightly. He did not growl just yet, but stood firmly between her and the path that would lead back to his den a few miles off.

Speak, female, he ordered, projecting his thoughts into her mind in the way that their people could do. His voice carried with it a soft accent of English nature, as though he had been born in the place formerly known as Britain. Distinguished, defined, delectable. You tread dangerously on Vulpus territory and you carry the scent of a bloodsucker. These two things alone make your presence most unwelcomed. What is your name and purpose on this land? His question was posed as polite as could be but was most certainly a demand regardless.

[Nightshadow]

Lena had heard the paws of another wolf. They were heavy, and she had no fear as the male appeared. He reeked of fox, just as the very earth she stood on did. Why was this male in fox territory, and why did he care that she was there?

I can hear that you come from the land of ladies and lords, so speak to me like a lady you brute. Lena would not be talked down to. Even Vincent wasn't as rude to her as this male. He treated her like she was going to attack, when really all she was doing was having some fun

That I keep with the vampyres is none of your business. From your scent you keep with the foxes and I find no danger here. She stepped forward her paws crunching the grass as she walked to him. He was a brute, but definitely a handsome brute with his dusty cut. It made him look rugged, but this was no time for her to admire him. She had too look strong even if she did keep staring

[Theo]

Theo didn't twitch of form a snarl at all, whereas most other wolves would have simply attacked her. Instead, he stood his ground and held his stance.

Last I checked, the fox did not hunt the wolf, little lady. He raised his head now in a noble fashion, his ears only slightly coming frontwards again; they were still slicked somewhat back, unsure of her. And the fact that you keep with Vampyres IS my business, because since you are here and you belong to one, he will soon come looking for you. Now, Theo WOULD stalk forwards, a steady lope.

And when he finds you in fox territory, he might decide to do a little shopping on his way back home to whatever cold and oppressive castle he keeps YOU locked in. He had now come within feet of her, his forest green eyes bright in the blue moonlight. That is my FAMILY down there, female. He nodded his head down the path that would, eventually, lead towards the fox den.

And there it was bared; he was not rude to her just to be rude--in fact, he could care less who was on his land. But it was the fact that she could bring harm to his kin that drove him to stand against her, and not even for a pretty one like herself would he back down. He did not want to fight her--that much was obvious--but he was defensive for his loved ones.

[Nightshadow]

So he was a part of their family? Lena found this amusing as he stalked forward. She felt no fear as she stood her ground her head held high. She would not let this go on for much longer

I am a slave to no one. I am a lover and lick no man's paw for food. I do as I will, and as for eating foxes...don't even make me sick. I don't eat my own kind, especially something that smells like it's already dead. Lena sent out a growl as her ears laid flat on her head. He was too close and she didn't like it. His scent was a distraction that she didn't want, and he was too close to striking distance

Besides if I was locked in an oppressive castle as you say then why would I roam out here? She gave a slight smile at her words. It was true and she felt like she had stuck a cord. She didn't care about the damn foxes or even Vincent right now. All that she was interested in was the male before her. She left looking for companionship, but this idiot obviously wasn't keen to her and what she wanted

[Theo]

Theo simply looked at her for a few moments longer, unimpressed by her growl and the show of her ears, then gave a careless shrug and turned away from her. Well...Hell, nobody ever said he was "keen" to what females wanted. He was a loner, what did she expect? He wasn't necessarily the best and brightest when it came to the females.

Perhaps you ran away. He pointed out, no longer feeling as though he needed to hold his ground before her. If she posed no threat, she posed no threat...and if she did, he was certain he could take care of it before she struck, one way or another. Or the more human wolfen half of you did. As for doing what you will...

He cast her a tiny glance over his shoulder, his eyes a radiant forest green like the trees that surrounded them. If you are so free to do as you wish, then how come I know that within hours, you will be back in that castle when truly, this part of you only wants to roam? He perked a brow at her and then shrugged again.

Good night then, female. Enjoy your temporary reprieve.

Theo just couldn't understand why a Were would want to be tied to a Vampyre, a Vampyre who only saw their as a possession, a toy, who kept MANY other pets, who kept them bound in silver. The concept just didn't click with him--he was truly free, able to go where he pleased when he pleased, and nobody would attempt to stop him.

Just...didn't understand it.

It's a shame, though, He added quietly as he walked away, his dusty figure slipping into the shadows, his footsteps falling with predatory, natural silence. A beautiful female of such worth deserves so much better than that...to be used as such.

[Nightshadow]

Lena pounced then. She knocked him over with the full force of her weight as she sprung at him. She was free, she faught for that freedom that Nightshadow would have her lose. She wasn't going back to Vincent ever, and she wasn't going to let Theo speak to her that way

I'm not going back! She knew it wasn't true. Vincent had told Nightshadow he would hunt her down, and Lena believed every word of that. She would never let him touch her again, but she was also fighting the fact that she didn't have a choice. Either way she would be back in silver as soon as Vincent found out she was gone

[Theo]

The second her paw pads touched Theo, he let himself be driven to the ground...only to kick his hind legs up underneath her to launch her off of him. It sent the much smaller female wolf sprawling away from him, but he made every effort not to harm her. As he climbed to his feet, he shook off the fine layer of dust that had worked its way into his grayish coat, then turned and stalked towards her, head low.

Do NOT attempt that again, please. He stated calmly, coming up close to her. I do not wish to harm you, I was simply stating a fact. He met her gaze and held it, and there was no threat leaking from him. Angry as you are, do not lash out at me. What is your name? I feel that perhaps we have gotten off on the wrong paw.

[Nightshadow]

My name is Lena. The wolf shook her head letting her fur settle itself. She had lost some of her anger and now almost felt bad for attacking him. It was true, and though he was a dumb brute he hadn't meant anything by it

And you are? She cocked her head to the side. With her calmness came a relax in posture. She wasn't threatening him anymore. Her ears and tail were relaxed as she watched him

[Theo]

He caught the train in her thoughts and visibly jerked back a little in indignancy. Pardon me, but I am NOT a dumb brute. I may look it, but I'm far from it. And...my name is Theo, He added as an afterthought, then shook himself off again. A fine mist of residual dust lifted into the air, and he raised a paw to rub at his muzzle where a leaf was sticking irritatingly to his nose.

If you wish so badly to be free, why do you allow him time and time again to capture you? You are Wolf, Lena. You could easily hide for good if you wanted, and no Vampire on this earth could find you. We are good at that. Some part of you must want him to...? The last part came out as a question. Theo was not like Lena; he did not have that other humane side to him that acted as its own personality. He was a balanced blend of both, working together in harmony for whatever he wanted. He could not understand her inner turmoil on that level...

[Nightshadow]

I was 17 when I was given to him as a slave. My parents were slaves and I'm sure that has been my whole family. The other part of me, Nightshadow, is in love wtih him. She would die for him. After all the years of torture and beating her and I just kind of split apart. That was about as good as Lena could explain for now. She sighed as she laid down on her paws and looked up at him.

He would hunt me to the ends of this earth. He...he cares about Nightshadow. Lena would never understand those two, but Nightshadow loved adn Lena had to listen. She tried not to think about it as she debating telling him she was sorry. She really didn't kind of think he was a brute, even though he really wasn't that dumb

I wish for freedom more than anything else in this world

[Theo]

Theo was appalled. He BEATS those he loves? He asked. Captive ones...he would never understand. Anger rallied within him, raging to the forefront as he padded towards her, nudging her head up so that she was at his level again. No. Do not lay down before me. NEVER lay your head down before anyone, Lena. You are stronger than that. He said, perhaps a little more harshly than he meant, then turned away from her, pacing a little. Irritation flickered in his blood like hot butterflies, wanting to lash out at something...at....

The Vampire.

When one cares about another, they do not BEAT or TORTURE them. He said firmly, with total conviction. There is no love in that, only possession and fear. It is BENEATH our kind Lena. And if it is freedom that your heart truly wants, then take it. It is yours. It is the inherent right of all living things to choose where they wish to be. I can protect you from him, Lena. I can bring to my den, with my kin. We can hide you. Foxes are very good at that. He will not find you...

[Nightshadow]

He is a vampyre lord Theo. He would bring the whole vampyre nation out just to find me. His love is perverse and painful, but it is the way of this. I was born to this and I will die to this. I will let no one else die for it though. Lena nuzzled him back. It was good to have one of her own around. He spoke so boldly, but he had been right. Freedom was never to be hers

I am not going to get you or your family hurt. She stood and shook herself off. She was growing tired of this wolf form. She was used to being a human and she changed under the soft moonlight. Her paws grew to hands as her long brown hair fell down over her shoulders. She hugged herself drawing her knees to her chest as she gave a weak smile

"These are my only moments of peace."

[Theo]

He was surprised when she shifted to her human form, and stood there for a moment stunned. She was gorgeous as a wolf, no doubt, and in her mortal form she was breath-taking; as aloof as Theo was around females, he could not overlook her beauty.

Realizing he was staring and perhaps making her uncomfortable, he cleared his throat a little (a strange sound coming from a wolf), and walked towards her. In a very canine-like fashion, he sat next to her, curling his large tail around his body. He did not change to his human form--he was more comfortable this way.

The way things are is never the way things have to stay, he assured her. When she mentioned his family, he glanced back towards the path that would eventually lead to them. They live in danger every day. Vampires, humans hunting them, rogue wolves...it is never ending. But they adapt.

The moonlight bathed her in pale light, catching the rich tones of her hair, making her skin glow as though with inner light. It pained him for a moment; she deserved so much more than what she had.