Sketching Regret

[Bodb]

Sketch woke from his fitful sleep abruptly, feeling the weight of his regrets come back to greet him after he had dreamed of things best left in the past. Things like war, death, and the blood and gore that came with it. Dark regrets weighed him down, literally. He had dug himself a little hollow in the ground that day to sleep in since he traveled by night. Sketch rarely stayed up past dawn and rarely slept past dusk.
He stretched out his limbs languorously, wondering why he didn’t sleep longer. He was weak from hunger and weary from traveling, and it would be nice to sleep a little longer. Being idle brought him no joy. Sketch had to move on or he would end up killing some poor creature for breakfast, and he was afraid that might arouse his lust to kill. He was always afraid, afraid that he might wind up killing someone again. The former demon heaved himself to his paws with some effort, and started moving. Slowly at first, and then faster until he had reached a gentle lope. Something pushed him on. Fear, maybe, or perhaps the regrets that constantly haunted him. The forest around him was thick, lush, and snagged his fur at times. Damn the thorns, he was getting tired of them. He was getting tired of traveling, of the dark, and of living itself. He almost considered killing himself, but shuddered away from the idea. That would just mean hell all over again.
An opening in the trees towering above him caught his attention. Sketch’s one eye, in all its green glory, was drawn upwards and he halted. The full moon shone down through the trees from its place in the night sky, bathing everything in its milky white light. Thousands of little night creatures twittered, hooted, and scratched. Some thought the night was a part of evil, but they were wrong. The night was very much alive and thriving with good. Sketch could almost taste the goodness of the place, and couldn’t help the sorrowful bay that erupted of its own accord. The moonlight washed out his features, sharpening them into full definition. His thick red fur was dirty and matted from his days of traveling, paws covered in mud, and his ribcage stuck out from lack of food. He was riddled with angry red scars, and the place where his right eye had been was a gaping, ugly hole. Sketch’s wing, the one that hadn’t been torn off, hung limp at his side, an ugly mass of shredded black flesh and ebony bone. He was huge, with two pairs of gleaming horns winding back over his head. It was amazing that he managed to keep it up. Two studs glinted in his torn left ear.
The soil was moist and cool under Sketch’s paws, which he liked quite a bit. He was almost relaxed when they appeared. A couple of little angels peered down at him as if he were intruding on something and attacked without warning.
Why did they always go after him? When would they understand that he wasn’t evil anymore? Sketch growled his frustration and avoided the first couple of blows, but received a sharp slice from the smaller one. He yelped not from pain, but from anger, and ran. The angels nipped at his paws, leaving tiny tooth marks that made Sketch leap in the air and whip around, growling and panting. He didn’t know how much longer he would last. Surprisingly, the angels had retreated about five feet from him and were pacing back and forth. They occasionally growled low frustration and charged, but stopped as if something was bothering them. Eventually, they left.
It wasn’t like angels to just leave him alone. They didn’t usually stop attacking him until Bacia or another angel interfered and told them off. So what was holding them back? Sketch sniffed casually, and smelled the lingering scent of other wolves. Was this another wolf’s territory? He tasted the soil listlessly and then spat it out immediately. Sketch had wandered onto good land, the territory of a different kind of angel. A mortal angel. It would be rude of him to delay any longer in alerting her of his presence. Sketch barked shortly, and then turned it into a deep, guttural howl.

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Juventas {Hiding the P A I N.}


Juventas’s ears perked when she heard the loner’s howl. The alphess tilted her head forward and closed her pink eyes. She was surprised that a wolf would be calling for her at this time of night. However, duty was calling for her. She pushed herself off the ground and gradually made her way toward the forest. Juventas was an odd site to see at night. Her bright pink markings stood out even more in the night time. She looked more like a two year old then a full grown alphess, Juventas was used to it of course, after all she was the Goddess of Youth. It didn’t take her too long –despite her short legs- to make it toward the forest and found the one that called her.

Her heart dropped when she saw him. Juventas was one to think of others before her self, and the wolf in front of her seemed in very bad shape. She took a few steps forward, her head held up high, however her ears were slightly back and her eyes were staring at him with much dismay. She shook her head and forced herself to let out a small smile, it wouldn’t be very good if she began to bug him with questions she would wait to see what he wanted; maybe she wouldn’t even have to ask.

“Hello,” She said in a some-what cheery voice, her fluffy tail lingering above her back, “I’m Juventas, alphess of these parts. How man I help you, sir?”

[Bodb]

Sketch faced the small alphess, showing the proper signs of respect due. He flicked his tail down between his legs with a sheepish grin that slmost had to be forced. Sketch vaguely wondered why she hadn't asked his name in turn. "Juventas," he murmured, dipping his head. The murmur came out as a deep, good-natured rumble. "I was traveling through and hoped that maybe I could stay a while. Perhaps recuperate?" Fat chance. She probably wouldn't let a wolf like him stay for any amount of time. "i've been traveling for a while, you see, and I'm not exactly in the best of conditions." It was worth a try, though. Sketch glanced back over his shoulder to make sure the impish angels had disappeared. When he was satisfied that they were gone, he looked back at the alphess. Perhaps he could convince her to let him stay somehow. Maybe she would let him if he offered her some kind of service in return for her hospitality. "I will repay you in some way if I must," he added, licking his lips.

OutOfCrime|| he'll eventually ask to join, just not yet.

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Juventas {Hiding the P A I N. }

Juventas slowly nodded her head as she listened him to speak. When he finished talking she nodded her head quickly. “Oh, yes of course!” Juventas said with a smile as her hot pink eyes scanned him. “You can stay as long as you want…” it then hit her that she was so wound up in worrying that he was alright that she had completely forgotten to ask him his name. “Oh forgive me, what was your name again?” She asked him feeling slightly foolish, that was one of the first things that she should have asked.

“Do you need any help?” She asked him. “I mean...medically. For I know how to heal pretty well,” Juventas would have gladly done anything to help someone else, that was her, always thinking of someone else. That was one of her many perks in her personality, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have her downfalls, which she did – many in fact.

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[Bodb]

Sketch worried the open wound on his leg, then shifted attention back to the alphess. "My calling is Sketch Deadmoon, alphess," he said absently. He was listless again, travel-weary and starved. His ears flicked up, and he listened to the sincerity in her voice. The kindness fairly warmed his heart. He looked her over without actually looking at her, really taking her in for the first time, and spoke warmly. "You are too kind. Please, do not worry yourself about me. I will be fine." Sketch almost always spoke in old-fashioned ways. After all, he was a very old wolf. He would be fine if he ate, but where would he find something that was already dead? Sketch sincerely doubted that anything on those lands was ever wasted, and he didn't want to kill. He might get a taste for blood that he couldn't get rid of.

Sketch silently watched Juventas out of the corner of his fathomless green eyes, furrowing his brows. She was far too kind to strangers, especially to a suspicious old loner like him. Why did some wolves have to be so trusting? Juventas looked happy with where she was, happy with what she was doing. He wished he could have that kind of freedom. All Sketch had were his regrets, and they weighed him down like a stone in the sea. The wolf went back to caring for his wounded leg, bravely showing none of the pain he felt.

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Juventas {Hiding the P A I N.}


“Well, it is very nice to meet you, Sketch.” Juventas said truthfully with another small smile. Juventas was known to be kind, optimistic, care-free wolf who didn’t have a worry in the world. Then again, Juventas hide those negative feelings quite well. She felt sadness, anxiety, negatives – all those feelings that ate away at one’s heart and soul if they held on it for too long. Juventas never really let those feelings go, she just pushed them away. She knew it wasn’t healthy, but she felt she shouldn’t feel those feelings, for the sake of the whole pack.

“Are you sure? It would be no burden to me.” Juventas told him, but decided not to press the subject. After all it was none of her business and he was old enough to take care of himself, but she couldn’t help but worry. “If you would like I could get you something to eat that is if you are hungry – I caught a small doe this afternoon and I couldn’t finish it. I’d be more then happy to share with you.” She said with a small nod of her head.

[Bodb]

Sketch was amazed by the alphess's kindness and hospitality. It wasn't as if she had to ask all of those things, after all, and he wasn't used to being treated so well. He had begun to tremble against his will, and he knew if he didn't get something to eat soon he would probably collapse from sheer exhaustion. Sometimes it was hard being mortal. Still, he was reluctant to accept her offer. "I can't... I couldn't... I-I... I mean... i-if you don't mind," Sketch finished lamely. He hated showing weakness, but in his state he couldn't help it. He also hated accepting proffered help, but he couldn't just say no, either. It would be rude and arrogant of him to not let her help him. There was a way he could feel comfortable with her helping him, though. "I will pay you back in some way. I promise." That was his way of showing thanks for her help and her hospitality. "I will stay until I find a way." He would be true to his word, no lies, no tricks, and complete truth.

[--> Susan{xoxo}]

Juventas {Hiding the P A I N.}


Juventas quickly shook her head. “No, I don’t mind at all. If you don’t eat it well then I’m afraid it will probably just go to waste.” She said with a small grin as she sat down upon the ground, wrapping her tail around her small frame. She knew she was small compared to him, but she was used to it. She believed she made up for her size. She was no pup, in fact she was older then many of the wolves that lived around there life span could not compared to hers – for hers was eternals.

“You really don’t need to pay me back.” She said with a small frown. “Getting plenty of rest and eating that doe will be all the thanks that I need. I really want to do this, I do.” She said with full honesty. She wouldn’t feel right if he had to pay her back. She really wanted to help. “You may stay and rest up and eat all that you want.” She said after a minute of silence.

[Bodb]

]Sketch's eye twinkled merrily in the dim light of the moon and he smiled in thanks. "Well, we couldn't have that, could we?" he inquired, and a mix between a coughing laugh and a low whine bubbled up from his chest. If he weren't so intent on traveling from place to place, then he would be content to stay there. If Juventas was alphess, then the other pack members had to be warm-hearted as well. Sketch's tail wagged, and he felt a kind of peace like he hadn't felt in a while. It was almost like home.

"Thank you for helping an old wolf like me. And as much as I would like to pay you back, I will respect your wishes and recuperate." It might have seemed funny to some for him to call himself old, because he looked rather young despite his scarring and starved appearance. He was old, though. Older than most wolves he met, at least. "It's extremely kind of you. I probably wouldn't have lasted the night without your help. And I'm lucky I didn't wander onto the lands of the wrong type of wolf." Luck, ha! More like he had a little divine interferance.

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Juventas {Hiding the P A I N.}

“No, we couldn’t.” Juventas stated happy that he decided to take her up on her offer. She had seen several wolves turn down a perfectly good meal because they wanted help. She shook her head slightly, most of these wolves were mainly in her family, but she could understand – but she was happy that he decided to let her help somewhat.

“Old?” She asked with a tilt of her head. He didn’t seem very old to her, then again she looked like she was two or three years old so she couldn’t be talking. “You don’t look old, but then again…I shouldn’t be talking? I look like a three year old when I’m actually over two hundred.” She said with a small laugh. “I guess it helps when you’re the Goddess of Youth, Mm?” She said with a bright smile. “I’m glad so, you take all the rest that you need, no need to hurry.” She said then slowly nodded her head to his next sentence. “Yes, it is good. There are quite a few evil wolves lurking around her.” She said her smile dimming down to a small frown.

[Bodb]

"Old as a... as something very old?" Sketch couldn't think of anything very witty to say. "I'm afraid I lost count after the three hundred mark. I guess I stopped caring how old I was and started caring more about the kind of wolf I would become." So she was a goddess? That would explain why the ground he stood on was so pure. She seemed to have picked a decent path, at least. Unlike I had, Sketch thought darkly. "Yes...," he started, but he was abruptly interrupted by a loud, protesting growl from his innards. Sketch stared intently at his paws, embarrassed. "Well, if you don't mind... may I eat? I am... rather hungry." He was afraid that he would sound rather rude asking, but he wouldn't be able to go much longer without eating something.

He glanced askance at the alphess, chortling deep in his throat. Sketch would have said something more, but a dizzy spell hit him and he stumbled to the side. Luckily, he managed to regain his balance before he managed to wobble too far off balance and the dizziness faded, leaving him feeling weaker than before.

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Juventas {Hiding the P A I N.}

“Yeah, I kind of stopped counting too.” Juventas said with a small nod of her head. All she knew was she was only a little over two hundred. She couldn’t even remember her own birthday, that might sound wrong, but when you can live forever – or even for a long time – you tend to forget simple things like that. “Oh, yes of course. Sorry, I’ve been keeping you from your meal…if you just fo—"however her voice went into silence as she watched him stumble. She hoped that he was alright.

“Are you alright?” She asked him with a slight tilt of her head as she watched him. “If so then the doe isn’t too far away.” She said as she motioned her head behind her. When he had called her she was only a little ways walk from here.