The Wolf and the Lamb
- Locked due to inactivity on Aug 6, '16 3:54am
Thread Topic: The Wolf and the Lamb
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Cyrus's tattered clothing swayed lazily in the breeze as he strode up to the castle with his head high. His steps were full of pride in his pack, and as he arrived at the door he sensed that the rest of his pack had made it back in time to join him. His nose wrinkled at the smell of drying blood, and he paused to rest his hand on the handle. "Haven't I taught you manners? I'm sure we'll find a king here, and kings are all about manners." More howls broke into the air as the leader smirked and threw the door open. He wasn't sure what to expect beyond the doors, but he knew that they would get something of use soon, whether it was a few days supply of lamb meat or valuable treasure that could get them off elsewhere, provided they didn't eat the other animals at said elsewhere. Whatever it was, Cyrus wanted it bad, and he allowed himself to take the first step inside.
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Basil could hear it clearly now; Howling, like in the old stories, and it scared him to the point of leaning on his mother for comfort. He tried to relax, to remain calm for the kids, but they began to stir at the commotion. He could feel little confused eyes staring at him for answers, but he had none. All he could do was wait for his father to tell him it was safe.
The king, more a ram than a sheep with horns at the side of his head, made his way to the entrance with a few others at his sides. He wasn't nearly as afraid as he should've been. "Why do you disrupt our peaceful home?" He sneered at the scent of blood and glared. "And how dare you let your mutts harm my people.. Haven't you ever heard of negotiation? Probably not." -
Cyrus collapsed his hands behind his back- a habit of his when he was approaching anyone other than the rest of his pack- and stared at the glaring sheep. "Have you ever heard of the saying 'survival of the fittest'? Or, perhaps, 'you eat or be eaten'? You'll find that these pertain to me and my pack. It's a pity you'll never quite understand such, since I'm sure you could never lift a finger on us." He shrugged at the second part, his tail bobbing for a moment. His blue eyes glanced at the men behind him who were covered in the blood of the dead sheep they had scarfed down. "I think you mean kill your people. Don't worry, you might be seeing them soon if we don't come to an agreement. And.. Don't make me laugh." It was his turn to sneer and laugh at his comment. "I have. But my people are hungry, and I'm not one to stop them when we've been searching for a while for a food source. Perhaps the rest of your people will not be our prey if you can offer me something of value."
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"There's a strong difference between lamb and ram. You might be able to strike more, but I wouldn't dream of going down without taking you with me." The king exhaled deeply from his nose, staring hard into the young wolf's eyes. Though he was confident in himself, he was aware that the other wolves would interfere, leaving him at a disadvantage. Still, he wouldn't let dogs ruin their home. He felt a tug on his heart when the alpha mentioned the slaughter of his people. "Disgusting monsters... You're worse than fox. And you've come to the wrong place when it comes to material things. We have no need for these things."
One of the lambs shifted uncomfortably behind his king, stepping forward with a serious look on his face. "My king, there is one possible option. We've discussed this before, remember?" He sighed when the ram looked at him in confussion. "We should give them your son. He never grew horns and never will. So he's not needed as our king."
"How dare you say that about our prince!" The other lamb looked at his fellow in disgust and shock. "And it's not like one lamb will make a difference to a pack of hungry carnivores."
The king grit his teeth, frustrated by the conflicting lambs. "I know he won't have horns, but he's still my son. I'd never throw him to his death." -
"I don't think even you with your giant horns could bring me down with you. Perhaps you might be able to leave a dent in me, but nothing more." Cyrus moved his hands to cross his arms and stand with a space between his legs- his offensive stance. He didn't like the attitude he was receiving from the so called king, and although he was certainly a smaller wolf than the others in his pack, he was known for having a strong bite. Before he could form a response at what the old man said about foxes, his interest peaked at the mention of the king's son.
"You have a son now, hmm? My my, there's something I'd like to see. Would you mind showing me a picture?" The wolf paused, smiling, "I rather like to think of people as material things. Perhaps I might consider sparing your kingdom for this lamb prince." -
"We don't have material items, including cameras. And as if I'd ever let you lay your feral eyes on him. He's safe, away from you, and that's where he'll remain." But the moment the king finished, his disloyal subject moved away, going to show the wolf a painting. "What are you doing?! You think I won't banish you for treason?"
"So what if you do? We'll all die if you don't give up your unworthy son anyway!" The younger lamb spat and pointed at Basil. "He's older now, but that's our prince. Our hornless prince. I guess that's what happens when the queen is more lamb than ram.."
"I swear, I'm going to let them eat you.." The ram grabbed the lamb by his upper arm, thrusting him towards the wolf pack. "Since you're so concerned about their appetite, you can be the one to sate it." He found the words difficult to say, but he refused to hand over Basil at any cost. -
Cyrus ignored the lamb being thrust at him and focused on the painting he was holding. The prince that was depicted in the picture was surprisingly beautiful, and even though the upset servant had said he was older, the wolf wasn't sure if there was anything else he'd want from this castle. He took the painting, staring at the person depicted for a while before looking up at the king.
"I want him. I want your son, and in return, I'll leave your kingdom of measly sheep alone." Unhappy noises came from his pack behind him, but he ignored them, his eyes gleaming in the light coming from the castle. "I want this prince, and I want him as soon as you can get him to me. If you fail to comply, I'll let my wolves feast until they're full, and then we'll strike again later. And again. And again. Until you're the only one left, and maybe this lamb who was kind enough to comply to my request." -
The lamb flinched when the alpha reached for him, but relaxed when he only wanted to see the painting up close. He looked up at his king for an answer to the wolf's demands, expecting him to eventually give in. Though he gave up on those expectations at the look on his king's face.
"Why would I ever even consider giving him to you? I'm not going to let you monsters eat my son and heir." The ram huffed again, glaring and taking the painting back. He honestly didn't like or trust the look in the young wolf's eye. He even began to worry that his sweet Basil would face a fate far worse than being eaten alive, if such a thing were possible. He didn't want to know or really find out, but still, the words slipped past his lips. "I don't like your look.. What do you want him for?" -
Cyrus's expression went cold as he heard the ram respond, and he bared his canines at the king as soon as the response he didn't want to hear came. "How dare you reject me. My pack has worked to strike terror into hearts of men like you, and I take pride in my forest. Your meadow is only a small part of what I own, and you most certainly don't need to live if this is how you run your place. Not sacrificing one puny lamb when I know it's a small price for how much I can take from you.." The wolf dug his nails into the painting, wrinkling his nose and growling. "I want a companion. I love my pack, and they're like my own babies, but I want more than just them. And your son.. Looks like someone I could rely on- make fun of, too. Someone to take my anger out on, possibly. A.. A little lamb servant." He smiled at this, then nodded, more to himself than anyone else. "A lamb servant. That's what I want him for. Of course, I won't allow anyone else to harm him, and we'll certainly feed him. I don't take dead weight with me."
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The ram tensed with anger at the wolf's intentions. "You must be jesting, boy.. This meadow has belonged to the lambs long before your kind showed up in this region. It'd be fine to share the land with you if you had more self-control to not eat us, but no. You're disgusting carnivores that follow instinct and lack thought processing. Even if my son lives, I'm not giving him to you to become your..stress reliever. Companion you say, but clearly you lack knowledge of what that word means. You're sick... Making fun of him, harming him. I'd never give him to you with those thoughts in your mind."
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Cyrus stood there for a moment, regarding the ram with a distasteful look. He was well aware that he could not do much more than keep going back and forth with the older male. As much as he didn't want to, he'd have to either move on to other objectives, or he'd have to strike fear into him. Rolling his shoulders, he walked up to the king, staring up at him with an unhappy look. "I know what a companion is. I also know how to give up trivial things for my people. I want what you have, and if you don't comply, I'll do more than just this." Without another word, the leader turned to one of the lambs and sliced his throat open with his long nails. He beckoned two of the wolves over, and looked at the leader. "Your choice to watch me allow them to feast or for you to turn your eyes. I'm sure either one will make you realize that I won't back down from what I want."
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He cringed at the sight, the sound of the poor lamb choking on his own blood while he collapsed at the mercy of the pack. Part of him wanted to see the other off, but he couldn't keep his gaze on the gore before him. "...I'll never hand him over to a beast like you. I'd sooner die than let you have him."
Basil had spent the majority of the harsh conversation hidden with his mother and the young lambs, but his ears couldn't take anymore. Despite the queen's protesting, the lamb prince managed to say his discreet goodbyes, leaving his flower crown with the girl that made it for him. Now he was back upstairs, walking towards the entrance to the castle while holding onto the wall to keep his shaking knees from giving out on him. He was horrified by the blood mess, but spoke softly to get some form of attention. "E-Enough.. I don't...I want the peace to c-come back.." -
The young wolf leader glared at the ram, kicking the body of the now dead lamb and glaring coldly at him. He was far too stubborn for the wolf's liking, and he could feel the pack's irritation at seeing their food being toyed with by their alpha. His eyes locked on the lamb who had mysteriously shown up at the door and was now standing in front of his pack. The group dispersed, and Cyrus blinked in slight awe as he stared at the prince. He could see the resemblance of the lamb standing before him and the one he had seen in the painting, though he confirmed to himself that this version of their lamb prince was much more interesting. The wolf prowled over to him, scanning him up and down as he walked around him in a circle. After a moment, the blue eyed wolf barked, "Your father doesn't seem to want peace. Are you sure that's what you want?"
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His knees began to shake more when the wolf came over to him and the lamb pressed himself into the wall even more. He didn't like the way the other was examining him but tried to stay where he was, averting his eyes. "He wants peace. He just..doesn't want to lose me for it. Even though it's true I don't have horns. What kind of king isn't a ram with decent-sized horns? It's like a bad joke.." Basil managed to look at the wolf, though he really didn't want to, and made an attempt at a more serious look. He looked more afraid than anything. "I'll go if it means you'll leave my fellows alone. My family, my remaining citizens, our future... They'll all be left alone, right? You have to promise me they'll be at peace. Then I will go with you, your pack in front of us where I can see them."
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As Cyrus examined Basil, the pack moved to get a look at the newcomer, and their curiosity was not hidden as wolves pushed to get to the front of the crowd and see what their leader was seeing. A few of them broke into a course of laughter as Basil tried to give their leader a serious look, and even Cyrus himself snickered at the sight. He signaled to his pack to back up, to give them both space. Carefully, the leader said, "Yes, everyone else here you know will no longer be hurt by my people under these terms. I will comply with your request so long as it means I get to have you. Ah, yes.. I promise that as long as you are my companion," the wolf paused to glare at the king, "your kingdom will find peace from my kind." He mocked a bow to the prince, licking his sharp teeth. "Shall we be off?"
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