A Haunting Echo (Open)

Midnight, the hunting hour; well, more like the haunting hour. A shadow crept silently across the land not a sound to be heard upon the ground. The patter of large steps would fall upon deaf ears. The vermin that called the land their home neither fled nor found any reason to raise an alarm to their fellow dwellers as for them there was no danger around. They were not wise enough to lift their heads up and check the skies for danger, even if they had, in a moonless night nothing would be seen in the sky.

It was for this reason that the knight had chosen this time of day to make his move and hunt. Prey would be on the alert but oblivious to the sky demons intentions. Thick leather wings propelled the fiend through the night sky like a hot knife through butter. He did not just fly like the birds of the day. He glided in a hidden show of aerobatics and deadly accuracy - riding the winds as a master of the sky. This was his domain and he'd be damned if anyone tried to take over his land.

Cyan eyes glowed like the stars in the sky as he surveyed the ground below in search of a grand feast fit for a king. Circling as a vulture does when it finds a carcass is worth feasting upon. Pupils were dilated - filtering in as much light as possible as he viewed the morsels of food below. It took a matter of seconds for the large wings upon his back to fold, body arching down, ears flattening upon a cranium of lush crimson fur as the air rushed over his body that made a V-line towards the ground. His prey a delectable young buck that was barely beginning to form his fall antlers. The beasts front feet were down first - striking the shoulders of the buck and pushing his front end towards the ground. Legs snapped and broke beneath the behemoths weight and surprise assault. Back legs collapsed as the monster pushed his back end down upon the spine of the deer.

If there was a moon one might have seen the glistening of ivory teeth in the milky rays but on this eve there was none. Only the sound of a scuffle and the gasping breaths of a deer that would never see the light of day again. As the dust settled life continued on around the impact zone. The knight had his feast - front paw on the belly of the buck and a low rumble in his chest daring any who thought they could take his feed away from him. Blood dripped from his muzzle as he delved back into the belly and fed off the vital organs and muscle rich in nutrients to sustain his colossal figure.  "speech!"

The massive brute barely had taken four full swallows before an dark aura caught his attention. There were many beasts, not unlike himself, who haunted these lands. Time and time again he had stumbled into them or they he; it was only a matter of time before the cardinal male's kill called a frenzy of scavengers wolf and alike to take his feast. That may have been at the forefront of his thoughts normally but this light, this specter, may have just been a ploy of other means. He had his fair share of enemies hoping to sneak up on him and tonight, when the moon was in hiding, would have been the perfect time to fulfill ones revenge.

With his ears and tail erect the mighty demon lifted himself onto his feet, stepping onto the deceased creature he had but moments ago been feeding on. Large wings folded themselves neatly against his side as he did not need them to appear any larger than he actually was. By far he towered over normal wolves and some rarities too - but too many had been intimidated by his looks alone for him to make a mockery of himself. A pink tongue darted out from beneath sheathed ivories; licking away at the coppery fluid that drenched his white muzzle and dripped down his neck. A low growl resonated deep within the caverns of his chest as he peered into the darkness at the spectre. From this distance it was hard for even he to make out if it was friend, foe, or perhaps prey. The wind was neither with him or against him which made this an odd predicament.

"There are no need for compliments. State your reasoning for disturbing my dinner." A smooth deep voice flowed easily past the lips of Mathias as he stood. His thick tail flicked behind him calmly as he awaited for whomever this was to decide if they were to stay to try and steal a peace or leave him be. He'd be happy enough if they took the latter of the two but at the same time he would need to see anyone who wished to band together with him. A smile crept across his features as he almost dared to coax the demons; however, he decided it was best to wait and see what he was up against before delving into that part of his psyche.

Nails curled like talons into the flesh of the deer, splicing through the thin layer of skin as if it were not even there. It was a way of preparing for a possible ambush. The muscles along his back and shoulders rippled beneath thick lush fur. Nerves sending little spikes of adrenaline into his body while his mind raced through a course of events that could happen and how he would react to them. Of course these were all theoretical for now until whomever it was, or whatever it was, made its appearance. Until then, bright cyan eyes looked on to the duo as the beast waited as patiently as he could for the intruder to make a move. He may have appeared out numbered but that was a far cry compared to what he could handle.

"speech!"

The male was an independent being and he expected his future pack members to be as well as long as they made their contributions to their adopted family. With the lands around them, in and out of the territory, it was not a surprise to him that two individuals, such as Blade and Callahan might find their way in his path. It seemed the drama between them was far more intimate than the male would have liked to see, but at least it gave some sort of entertainment. It may have been why so many left these lands that he had staked a claim too because there was too much depravity and despair. Or they had just been far to weak to handle what others call 'nothingness' of an apparent thriving land to him.

Massive body shifted, rocking the bull beneath him, as he became only slightly more comfortable. Bright eyes never leaving the form of the mongrels as he waited for them to answer his question. While he was in flight he saw very little that interested him other than his meal which he was now guarding. Leather wings jostled against his side as they re-positioned to lay more relaxed at his side. The man was a fright to look at, certainly the blood that stained his maw did not help his cause but he had grown up looking like a hellish demon and that was not about to change.

Are you two finished bickering as if you are an old mated couple now?" His boredom from watching and listening to their conversation evident in his tone. It was so boring that his maw almost relinquished a yawn of displeasure. Instead, cyan eyes looked upon the one named Blade with his cockiness of stepping forward. A growl, as deep as rolling thunder, rumbled within his gullet. A warning to the trespasser not to step any closer. This meal he had claimed, this area was claimed and protected by him in the process of gathering his meal.

An ear twitched as his mind took in what Callahan had spoken before he turned to loop at him. The golden wolf was much smaller than he and the shadowed behemoth but size was not to be taken for granted. "If the failed hunt is what brought him here, than what brought you here?" The kill was his by right now and it was quiet obvious who was the better hunter on this moonless night. A blood stained tongue swept out to taste the coppery liquid that clung to what would have been a pristine white muzzle as he watched the two.

"speech!"