• Closed • Vitam Efferare

[Mal]

Ashan 1st.

It had been many Trials since Mal had gotten to know the curious tribe of Ankila. Now that Cylus’ twilight had fallen away, the snow was beginning to melt. Already it was growing warmer, and signs of life were popping up through the lands. He’d flown several Breaks to the west in search of game, a sparsely forested hill teeming with prey he could see with the eyesight of his winged raptor form. A hawk, he soared high above, looking out over the horizon from time to time, then back down below to the small creatures catching his attention--rodents, mostly. Prime hunting grounds for predators. A small fox with a glittery tail blinded him as it pounced a rabbit he was watching, so he dove after it. Hurtling through the air at blinding speeds, Mal could hear the wind rippling by him as his speed increased, talons outstretched as the earth rose up to meet him.

It was all instinct by now, his Mastery over Becoming yielding a certain understanding of how creatures worked. By consequence, flying was easier. It didn’t take too much thought, and as his form crashed into the nape of that fox, it yipped in pain from the talons digging into its neck. Then it writhed, and Mal’s body fell against the earth, splayed feathers flapping as he dug his talons in and bent down to dig his sharp beak into the prey’s neck. The creature spilled all its crimson like a gushing river once Mal hit that vital neck vein most creatures seemed to possess. It stopped struggling slowly, the strangely bright fur of the creature matted with red.

Letting go and hopping onto the earth, the avian Becomer peered around before getting back on and sinking his talons into the beasts rib cage. Then he started flapping his wings, hard, echoing that incredible stamina the Obsidian Panther yielded for every breath. Slowly as the wind tousled the dirt and grass around, the fallen prey began to rise into the air, and momentum carried him higher and higher with every labored flap into the sky. Maintaining altitude was much easier once he got to the tree tops. His wings ached with soreness by the time he arrived at the Ankila cave where Sky would be.

Dropping the prey at the mouth of the cave from the air, he circled around once before diving down and landing, his form warping and shifting over a bit as he called upon the totem of a Lotharro within himself. The bird’s body warped and shifted, pain a concept that Mal barely felt anymore, or simply didn’t care about after such frequent exposure. It took only a bit for the body to elongate and become tall, a nude giant of a man standing before the camp. 6’ 8” tall with packed muscle, the burly Lotharro a form Mal had acquired seasons ago, a form that reminded him of how far Vuhl’mathi could go in manipulating him. Distance was the answer to his dilemma thus far.

“Food,” he hollered in a bestial voice out into the woods, head turning and carrying the sound. The meal of the fox was enough for three or four, maybe even additionally a pack of pups.

Savages, the Ankila seemed to care little for modesty, but being naked did not bother Mal at all. Bending down, he took the tail of the Glimmerfox and ripped it clean off with little effort, setting the corpse down at the cave entrance where red stained the dirt from several such prior occurrences. He liked how the prey blinded him when the sun hit it, walking inside and beyond to dedicate the raw, dripping totem to himself by pulling ether to it. Finally he sat down against the cave wall with his legs crossed, the furry appendage over a knee, focusing his mind upon it to create a familiarity. Doing so would open the door to Becoming such.

[Sky]

Much to his surprise the newfound creature did not run away; he had fallen ill and yet “Green”remained at his side. For some reason he did not bother to leave, and no matter how much the cave flooded he remained. The cold still remained, but the season had obviously become far more warm than it had previously been. Venom treated his illness, and Alexa watched over him as if he were a delicate infant. Sky finally rose from the bed that consisted of a Korowai cloak, a “pillow” made of grass bound together with a strong vine, and the cave floor. After he was essentially Cave-ridden for several trials he stretched and yawned aloud. He still wore his loincloth as per usual, but the moment he rose; The Savage threw the cloak over his shoulders, and allowed the vine-string to descend over his head and fasten it to him.

He picked up his necklace of human teeth, as well as the mere-club he had used in the last season. He was surprised at how well it continued to function despite the several murders it had seen. Sky directed his attention from the cave floor, over to the opposite side; where he saw a large man. Perhaps this was the man that could change the shape of his body. Sky might have questioned why he was still here, but when he looked to the entrance of the cave the answer was before him. The man visited his hunting grounds, and found a kill. While Sky was intrigued; he was also fearful of the fact that another man existed among him and his women.

The Savage took a moment to inhale and fill his lungs until they could no longer be filled. Followed by which he exhaled, and enjoyed the taste of fresh air. While Sky was not opposed to Green existing alongside his people; he was opposed to that form. Men were competition, and he grew increasingly uncomfortable as he kept glancing from the corner of his eye. Alexa had not arrived back yet, and Sky suspected that she went out on a hunt. He hoped that she would return soon, but not before Sky spoke to Green.

“I am going to tell you this once, and once only. If you are to remain at my side you must change that form... You can change your body? Change into something smaller, or a woman is what I prefer. Men are competition.” He spoke in a firm tone directed toward the individual who seemed to play about with the animal tail. Sky noticed the fact that one of his previous animal forms had been female, and that was what he preferred. Other men had a tendency to attack, and become threats to everyone and everything else in their path. Until Sky trusted Green more; he would not allow the form of a man within the walls of his cave. Especially not a large man; those were the ones with the most advantages, and possessed quite a bit of brute strength.

Sky spoke again

“You have two options, Green. Your first option is quite simple! You can stay with us if you undergo the rite of trial. That process is simple, I will gore your flesh with a hot blade, and you will complete the hunt with the flesh cut. “ He concluded the first option, and gave a moment of rest in between as he transitioned into the second.

However, he focused for a moment during the brief pause, and his lethroda aura expanded only to come in contact with the man before him. He continued to receive thoughts, and as he received them he transmitted one back. “Second, Second, Second” Sky transmitted over, and over again until his eyes snapped open and he proceeded with the second option.

“Your second option is to teach me that secret of yours. I have seen it once before, and a Bear became something that was far beyond anything that I have ever seen. If you do this; you will indeed not only bypass the rite of trial, but you will be one of us and you get the privilege of being a teacher to the Chief. The rules are simple once you join. My women are mine, and my Queen is of the highest priority. We protect one another with our lives, do I make myself clear?” Sky concluded his speech

[Alexa]

Whether her affinity for wolves was inborn or a product of Karem's blessing, Alexa could never be sure. Nonetheless, she'd taken it upon herself to raise the three Krome Wolf pups she'd rescued with Sky one particularly ruthless, cold trial in Cylus. Perhaps it was the image of their wolf mother lying there slain before the desperate yip of her young that tugged at Alexa's heartstrings, leading her to make an executive decision despite the savage man's hesitation to welcome true beasts into his cave. One might suppose cause to be an irrelevant factor at the end of the day. For now, Ankila was graced with the challenging endeavor of raising the animals. While Alexa knew little about their species compared to that of a common wolf or her familiar, the Burhan native refused to fall discouraged. Between caring for Sky and tending to the pups, Alexa had become consumed with her responsibility as a leader and caregiver within the tribe. At least the wolves tended to obey her commands absolutely.

"There's one," Tala, her black wolf familiar, communicated through the bond to Karem's favored with nose pointing in the direction of a bright white rabbit. It twitched its little nose and batted at its cheeks with its front paws. Alexa gaze her gave upon the creature while the wind billowed gently at the ends of her cougar Korowai cloak. Still, the rabbit did not stir. "Fang," Alexa murmured almost inaudibly as she extended a pointer finger in the direction of the unsuspecting creature nearby. "Catch." The simple command sent the deep grey Krome pup careening from hiding after the white rabbit, which panicked and took off into a sprint moments too late. "You two follow!" The remaining pups yipped and followed after their brother with youthful zeal. The wolves chased their prey as it twisted, turned, and juked about the trees. All the while Tala and Alexa served as watchful guardians standing by to ensure no greater predator arrived on the scene.

After some time the pups indeed managed to exhaust the rabbit into making a fatal error. Fang seized the creature and tore it asunder with proud snarls. The pure white fur stained red, and it was just before the jealous siblings made a move to challenge their luckier brother for the kill, Alexa raised her voice. "Enough! All of you come back." The trio paused and looked to the Velduris-gifted woman before they relented to their alpha's demands. She gave each wolf pup a pat and rounds of praise before she bid Fang to relinquish his victory to her hands. The hunting knife was procured, and as it carved away bits of the rabbit, she found it necessary to will the three to keep from snapping their jaws at the carcass. Before long each were rewarded with a hunk of meat to serve as their reward. "Stay close. Tala, let's head home."

The hunting excursion was only a short distance from the cave the Ankila tribe resided in throughout Cylus. Only about twenty bits of trekking was required through the damp Ashan forest to make it back. Yet when they had, Alexa quickly came to the realization something wasn't quite the right when they did. Tala's instinctive growl ripped through the quiet before the Burhan native spotted the anomaly. When they broke from the treeline, it was a stranger's bare ass that greeted the Queen first. Her golden eyes went wide and she found herself turning her head away from the sight, shock riddling her features. The pups paused at her heels and dropped the bones of their reward, gnawing at the remains rather than taking notice of the events going on around them. Sky's easily recognizable voice rung out around the vicinity though from a distance his exact words were hard to distinguish.

"Who in the bloody Seven are you?" Alexa finally voiced incredulously. Her right hand wavered against the side of her face as though she wasn't sure whether she should fear the naked man turning to expose himself to her. Sky was the first man she'd even seen unclothed. Honestly, the savage man was ironically one that dominated many of her "firsts" in the realm of intimacy. Nonetheless, even he sported at least a loincloth on most occasions. "Wolves, to the cave." The pups yipped and scooped up their rewards against before bouncing in nearly comical strides with their giant paws back to the safety of their "den". "Not you, Tala," Alexa clarified when the black wolf moved at the heels of the Krome Wolves. For this moment she'd prefer her most trusted familiar at her flank. "Sky? Want to explain what's going on here?" Logic made her doubt the owner of the bare ass was a bandit or some sort of Krome-born ruffian. Still, she felt inclined to drop her right hand to free her hand-axe from where it was tucked in her belt.

[Mal]

With his eyes closed, Mal continued with his peaceful meditation until the Ankila leader known as “Sky” approached him. The shut eyelids flitted open to reveal startling canine irises like powerful citrines, and he breathed in a sigh of little care for Sky’s musings. The man was still on the cusp of being ill, and it had already been proven who was the superior in combat. The gruff, deep voice rasped out slowly in growled tones, carefully enunciated so the savage could understand. “I will not be a woman for you, friend, but I have no interest in your... mates.” Mal himself could barely understand Sky when he got heated, but he understood the gist of it.

Then Sky’s pause elapsed, and Mal found himself drawn to the tribal chief’s words even more. It was strangely enticing, but the thought of initiating someone was always horrifying to him. He’d only ever offered it to someone he loved--Nightshade Eld, but she turned him down once she understood the risks involved. Signals of apprehension, uncertainty and deeper fear betrayed Mal’s relaxed face as he cast his eyes downward at Sky’s feet. In that moment, his ears picked up the scuffle of feet at the cave entrance. He scooted back like a cornered animal until the warm stone pressed into his back, slightly hunched over with palms splayed wide over the surface.

Harsh words soon sounded once the stranger stepped just beyond the entrance. Confused emotions tousled through his mind, in turn signaling Sky a strange sense of burgeoning subservience already growing. “Uh, erm, Mal,” he let slip, relaxing and bringing his arms inward. He’d dropped the tail by now on to the floor just as the wolves went past him save for the biggest one, eyes watching each one of the many sizable, youthful members of this canine pack. His identity betrayed by the pull of this woman, he found himself strangely drawn to her despite the menacing ax on display in her hand.

Eyes darting to the wolf, then back at Sky, Mal found himself cornered by someone who made him feel a certain way he rarely felt. Why is her eye upon me doing this? He found it impossible to meet her gaze. That would be a challenge, he knew, and he could not bring himself to do so. Instead he shifted to face away from her, giving her another glimpse of bare ass as his body rippled with the crackle of muscle and bone, his form stepping out into the open to fill the cave with his massive, five-foot tall at the shoulders, ten foot-long form of vulpine power. Once in that form the feeling did not go away, and in fact he found himself laying down upon his belly and trying his best to look at every part of her except for the face, even turning his head away to look up at Sky.

Echoing the Lotharro speech, his lips moved in carefully construed patterns to create that bestial, rough tone of voice that sounded threatening to those not accustomed to it. “To do as I do comes with a price, in pain and in flesh. It is like being stabbed a thousand times over with an arrow while keeping your mind focused upon one thing, and failure would mean death. There are also consequences, as if I were to initiate you my enemies would no doubt become your own.” His nares flared, head rising from the ground. He glanced at Alexa’s chest for a moment to include her in their conversation, but it was brief and quick. “One of your fingers, or one of your three largest toes would suffice in the sacrifice--blood, bone, and hair of the creature are the components to become something, wrapped up into a ‘totem’ that contains the essence its being. Lose that totem as I have, and you will never return to your original form. It is dangerous, you must understand.”

A brief pause followed, but Mal felt it important to emphasize one of his points. “I must reiterate that the pain is unlike anything else. I have been stabbed, burned, slashed with claw and blade, bit, and even experienced illness as you have. Nothing has even come close to the pain that made me feel as if my heart would burst upon my first initiation. I succeeded, but only barely.” Provided Sky’s Lethroda aura still persisted, the sensation of intense chest pain could be perceived by him as Mal thought about it, his own heart rate doubling in quickness.

The Becomer found it strange he could not ask a question to this woman, waiting for her to ask something of him. It took great effort and a wellspring of willpower, but he managed to nervously look her in the eyes and utter such a thing at the same time; “you are Sky’s wife, yes? I am Mal, a Becomer...” he wanted to talk about how she was making him feel, but that was all he said before looking down again, adding a bit more. “I can initiate her as well if that is her choice, but once again I warn you of the danger. Perhaps you should rest until you have fully recovered, Sky?"

[Sky]

Sky heard Alexa approach the Cave, and Venom remained silent in the corner without a clue as to what went on. The Savage tilted his head to the right in bewilderment; why did he seem to change when Alexa laid eyes upon him? His order was defied, but clearly the creature got the point, and understood that if he wanted women they would not be found here. Sky knew that in close combat he was no match for a man who could become a beast, but if he were allotted distance the circumstances would change. The Savage was unsure whether or not the aura had any effect on the strange man yet, but he expected it to.

The boy went from being relaxed to having a look of fear upon his visage, and that forced a smile to surface across Skys lips. The Chief continued to observe and feel through the usage of his Lethroda aura; not only was he uncomfortable, but he seemed to panic for a moment. When he scooted back, Sky directed all of his attention to Alexa. He wanted to give her a wonderful greeting, and Sky looked down only to see the multitude of pups at her heels. Thus he decided to keep the greeting quite simple, and planted his right foot in between her heels. His entire body turned toward her, and within a split-trill his lips connected with her own briefly.

In response to her question he answered in a single sentence. He did not want to be distracted from what he could potentially learn about his newfound companion. Yet, the moment she entered he noticed that she said something peculiar and changed forms. “Mal” was all that Sky heard, and he instantly redirected his attention toward “Green”. Sky arched a brow at the creature through the process of the transformation, and it looked painful. His body shifted, muscle and bone cracked, and finally fur grew until he became the beast Sky had never seen again. The first night that he spent in the cave that was the very creature he saw; he saw something black as well, and that intrigued him too. Sky wanted to learn everything the strange man knew. Even if he had to exhaust himself to death using his Lethroda he would do so if that was what it took to learn his secrets.

His hopes were confirmed the moment he began to explain himself; everything came with a price in life and this secret was no different. The price in this particular case was unparalleled pain, and as he explained the multiple injuries he experienced; Sky knew just how serious he was being. He compared it to being stabbed one thousand times repeatedly, and trying to concentrate. To fail would mean that he would die, but Sky was willing to accept that fate. The same concept was true of nature; every day was a battle for survival, and if someone was too weak willed they would perish. This was nothing new to Sky, and he continued to listen for each and every word. The only reason he felt like he could understand the animal so easily; was due to the fact that the voice was comparable to his own.

He spoke about the fact that his enemies would become enemies to Sky too. What he was unaware of; was that Ankila were enemies to all that were not their own. They would fight tooth and nail until their death if it meant to defend one another. Yet, in the case of an outsider they would watch as the outsider was eaten alive by a horde of monsters. Sky continued to listen, and think rather than speak as he spoke of the consequences. One of the fingers, and or one of the largest toes on the foot was to be sacrificed in exchange for the secret. The totem was essentially what contained the person, and if it were lost he could never revert to being himself again. Sky cared little for the consequences when power was involved, and he was willing to sacrifice everything including his own life.

Yet, the moment that he finally spoke his real name and suggested that Sky rest; The Chief let out a chuckle. He responded without hesitation “ I'm not, a fucking coward and I don't care about pain or consequences. I survive each and every trial because I am strong enough to do so. I am in control of my life, and my death. No petty initiation will claim my life, nor the life of my queen. I am equally as strong as I have always been. We will start with me, and if Alexa chooses to do so she can follow as well” The Savage concluded his speech, and crouched in front of the beast.

“I'm ready, lets get this over with.” Sky spoke again.

[Alexa]

As though she were some ferocious creature, the naked stranger all but threw himself up against the comforting warmth of the firm cave wall. With fingers splayed and eyes adverting hers, the man uttered out some words on the spot in light of her surprised command. Alexa's brow tightened as she tried to make sense of his response. Her golden gaze took in his odd form as she approached the familiar cave. The intensity of her surprise and perplexity only grew the closer she came to the man, if he were truly a man at all. Eyes roved the novelty that was his inhuman eyes with wide eyes of her own. It was as though a part of her wished to reach out and touch him to see if he were real. Instead she elected to merely echo his response. "Mal?" she asked the man as she stepped within the depths of the cave that once felt far more like a prison. "That's your name?" It was an odd one despite the ease in which it rolled off her tongue. Yet there were matters far from pressing than the title of the stranger. She didn't even know what he was.

Within the depths of the cave where the two men squared off, Alexa was finally privy to the nature of their conversation. Their harsh speeches would've warded off a woman that wasn't already so accustomed to their sound as the Burhan native had grown to be. Nonetheless, she was utterly lost. This bestial "Mal" character was going on and on about some sort of process that would surely bring unimaginable pain of fantastical proportions. So dramatic was his description that part of her had to question whether he was a malinger or hypochondriac of some type. The more he seemed to repeat himself in an effort to make his point, however, the more uneasy the Velduris-gifted woman began to feel. Not even the savage man's kiss could deter her from examining the weird situation she'd stumbled upon. What are you getting yourself into, Sky? she groaned internally. The Krome Wolf pups began their romp of play to rival the serious voices with joyous, guttural sound.

"He's submissive to you," Tala suddenly offered her observation up through their bond. The Burhan native blinked and looked down at the black wolf with bewildered expression. "What? Who's submissive to me?" she sought clarity through the shared stream of thought enjoyed by her familiar. The wolf's ears twitched. "The odd creature that calls himself Mal." Alexa cocked her head and eyed the being in question. She'd been around Tala long enough to know a thing or two about wolves. A singular familiar had never exposed her to the ins and outs of pack behavior though. Alexa couldn't pry her eyes away from the Becomer as his body twitched and adjusted to take on a new form. Her familiar never lost focus. "Watch the way he adverts his gaze from yours. The way he lays upon the floor and acknowledges you only with respect, the sort meriting an alpha." The Burhan native licked her lips and glanced from Mal to Tala, her mind reeling as she connected the man's behavior with the experience of her wolf. As an omega of Karem's pack, Tala would know better than anyone when submission was being presented. Despite this fact, Alexa simply didn't know what to do with the information. She was no experienced pack leader, and hardly a Queen in any essence more than title.

So deep did Alexa ruminate over the meaning of Mal's reaction to her presence and how it might be connected to Velduris, that the Burhan woman didn't re-enter the conversation again until she heard the bit about the requirement of sacrificing fingers or toes. Eventually it seemed Mal indeed found it within him to find her bewildered stare and properly introduce himself. "We're not married, but I am his queen," Alexa answered nearly absently before turning to seize Sky by his arm. Her bright eyes searched his face, uncertainty and concern blatantly characterizing her expression. "Sacrificing fingers and toes? What is this you two speak of, this becoming? Why is it so important you dare risk your life when you just nearly forfeited it trials ago?" Unbeknownst to her, her words became more potent with each question. And yet could she be blamed for caring? For feeling as though her efforts had been wasted when the very man she doted upon wished to throw it all away for some obscure reason she was yet to comprehend?

Alexa turned away from the savage man to find the odd form of Mal, this mystery that had all but stolen the entirety of her attention. "Mal, you said?" She freed Sky of her grasp and turned to him instead. With a few strides she was standing before the creature with furrowed brow, strangling the nervousness within her that existed as she took in the oddity of his form. Tala followed close at her flank with fangs bared. Alexa glanced down at her trusted familiar before finding Mal's face again. If this theory of submissiveness were true, now seemed the time to test it. "Whatever this ritual, you've obviously been through it before. Tell me the truth. Knowing what you know now, seeing what you've seen, would you let yourself initiate all over again?" she demanded of the man with an unwavering stare. Tala bristled at her side.

[Mal]

Under normal circumstances, the Hyx form made him feel confident, even safe. Alexa, however, was ripping him apart with her stare, each question answered quickly. “Yes, that is my name,” he affirmed quickly. Then the yapping sound of wolf pumps drew his attention, those wispy, tuft-bearing ears standing straight up as he turned to watch them.

Very little time passed before Sky did a fair bit of that macho yapping of his own, Alexa’s pull interfering with his rampant use of Temptation, though he still received impressions of Mal’s desires. The Hyx only looked up at him and seemed to leer in pain, recalling his own initiation. “You are my friend, but you are a fool. Respect the power or it will turn you into something else. If I am to be your teacher, it begins now!” He seemed to growl at the end of that statement. “There are things you do not understand yet. Becoming is not some tool, it matters not if you are a coward or not. You MUST be prepared. Now, you seem to be a Lotharro so this may give you an advantage. I was first human, but I lived in the wilds same as you!”

When Mal stopped talking, Alexa answered a question from before. Then he watched as that Queen went off on him. “Queen Alexa is rightfully worried,” he muttered quietly, not wanting to supersede her discipline of Sky. It was clear now, to him, who the true leader of Ankila was, or should be. When Alexa turned to him, he rose to sit on his hinds but kept his head bowed beneath hers, his eyes glancing down and saying “Yes” to her affirmation of his name. Shyke, why do I feel like this around her? Something within seemed to throw concepts at his befuddled mind, the Becomer mystified by what Alexa’s unknown Blessing had been telling him all along. Who is the Master of the Hunt, or is my mind playing tricks on me?

Of course, he snapped out of his wonder when the alpha shewolf approached with her aggressive-looking Omega and spoke once more, though he found it hard to retreat within himself with Alexa’s overbearing presence keeping him secure. He had no reason to fear her given their difference in size, but something told him she was ultimately superior. Now, she seemed to look into his eyes which only briefly met hers in occasional wandering up to her features to see if she was upset with him.

His own fur bristled when he saw that animal below snarling at him, growling so faintly in warning at the Omega that the typical ear could not pick it up, not really wanting the wolf to disrespect him in front of Alexa. A moment of this continued, and then to her experimental question, he thought for a moment and begrudgingly answered, a slight frustration in his tone at being leveraged but ultimately growing calmer with more quiet as he spilled his secrets. “Yes,” he said. “I wish the one who had initiated me had not forced me to take lives I did not want to take, and that he had not manipulated me into the service of a warmongering warlock and his armies...” He almost began to cry, his eyes feeling heavy as malaise marred his soul like a burning ointment. “If I were to Initiate the both of you, it would be for that bond. I don’t want to manipulate anyone, or treat them like a pet.” He looked down at the loyal wolf he regarded as Alexa’s pet, smiling slowly through his sadness. “Even you, Queen’s wolf.”

Finally, he sighed and shot Venom a rare glance. “That quiet healer who tends to Sky, can she dress a wound?” He nodded at Alexa’s ax. “Choose a toe or finger; the small toes will not suffice. The middle toe is about as small as a totem can be, in my experience, but the little finger will work.” He seemed to rise and turn away from Alexa, never keeping his head above hers though he clearly knew he was above Tala at the very least! “You will both present to me your fingers, tufts of your hair tied around them,” he said, circling. “I will impart upon your forsaken digits an energy of sorts, and then you will meditate upon them for a Trial, concentrating on everything you are, getting in touch with the idea of yourself, spiritually. Once you have done so, I will initiate you.”

He himself knew very little of what other mages called it, but there was a sort of ‘entity’ he could feel watching over him since the day of his initiation. He elected not to mention it, as no trouble had come of this ‘thing’ inside him him... yet. “I was going to take that totem of a glittery fox to make fur that shines so bright it can blind a predator, but you may have it following your initiation, Queen Alexa--if you wish to be initiated, that is.” He saw no issue in offering his rare, hard-won prize to the woman he had only just met. Even so, that question lingered in thought, his stubborn mind refusing to let go. “I get the sense that you are more important than you let on, Alexa, but I do not know why.”

[Sky]

Sky listened to every word carefully, but he still disregarded the fact that the process was a painful one. The first time he had ever seen a “becomer” was when he battled against one unknowingly. He perceived the person to be some sort of god. Before the encounter with Mal; he would have considered the power divine. Yet, if it simply required the task of remaining concentrated through immense pain; he was not certain that he could accomplish it.

However, Sky knew that strength was everything in a situation that did not favor a man. If Sky prepared himself for the pain he would face his success would come easily, but if he did not it would likely take him by surprise. The Savage scoffed at the growl at the end of his speech; he referred to Sky as a fool. He did not take kindly to insults, and in the back of his mind Sky knew Mal was the fool in the end. He came to the cave of a stranger, and befriended him over the course of a few trials only to share a secret with the leaders. Alexa spoke of how he nearly passed away mere trials ago, and demanded to know why he would willingly risk his life again.

Little did she know; Sky was raised to do nothing but obey, and fall beneath the foot of power. Power was everything in his household, and without it he was nothing. The Chief paused for a moment, and inhaled only to exhale slowly. He was prepared to accept the consequences of his actions; if it meant that he had to sacrifice a toe or a finger for something greater he would do it. The risk was not only worthwhile because of the power, but because of the fact that he needed to be stronger. How could he expect to lead a large tribe if he could not slaughter a beast like Mal? When he transformed his other forms were intact, and perhaps there was a way to regain what was lost.

He wanted the power so badly that he did not care whether or not he lost the head that rested in between his shoulders. The ritual that a person had to undergo in order to obtain this “Becoming” was obviously a brutal one. He listened as Mal mentioned the fact that he could become something else entirely and be lost. Sky did have something to live for, or rather someone. He could lose everything, but not his Queen.

Although his tribe was valuable to him, its foundation would not have been possible without her. If he were to succumb to the effects of the initiation not only would he lose his life he would lose everything he valued.

Venom looked shocked when Mal spoke of the consequences, and rose to her feet only to touch Sky in a strange fashion. Her petite digits coiled around his trapezious muscles on both sides, and he felt the warmth of her digits against his flesh. She spoke and asked Sky a series of questions again as to help him understand what he was getting into. He was not the most intellectual individual on Idalos, and that was one of his several flaws.

She rose atop the tips of her toes and spoke to her chief in the most gentle fashion he ever heard her speak in.

“Chief... I want you to understand what he is saying. He is not saying that you are a coward, or that you are afraid.. What he is telling you is that you could lose everything, and turn into something that you do not want to become.” She spoke as she applied a gentle pressure upon his tense muscles, and forced a cough out of him.

“You are still recovering, but you are fine. The fever has passed, and all that remains is the cough. I believe in you, but if you are simply doing this for power it is for the wrong reason." Venom spoke to him, and then rotated her small figure toward his front, and looked up into his eyes.

“Think, Chief...” She spoke again with a smile, and placed her hands upon either side of his korowai just above his pecs.

Sky contemplated her every word, and knew that the consequences could be dire. Yet, what was a reward without a risk? He refused to let his decision be changed by Venom; despite the fact that her loyalty to him seemed to be unwavering. After yet another deep inhalation and exhalation, and listening to Mal regarding the process the decision was made. He would carry through with the initiation, but Venom was successful in changing his outlook upon it.

“I will do this, Venom. It is my will, and I would truly like Mal to become one of us. I do agree with the terms of the initiation, and I am ready... Alexa, ready your axe..” Sky spoke, and Venom nodded only to prepare to tend to the wound they were about to give to Sky.

“The toe in the middle, closest to the big one.. Cut that one off, and that will be what I use. Alexa... If I do not succeed. I love you and you are free to go.” Sky spoke again, and sat upon the ground with his lets outstretched and he directed his attention toward the cave floor. When they took his toe he did not want to look.

“Make it quick.. I do not want the pain to be overwhelming..”

[Alexa]

Tala might've been onto something when she accused Mal of exhibiting signs of submissiveness toward the Velduris-gifted woman, but truly it was Alexa that was standing there in that cave awe-struck. When she first arrived he stood before her on two legs in a form likened to that of Ankila's chief. Then, within mere moments, he had shifted his form into something else entirely that towered over her. Horror and wonder had seized her while she observed, yet it was admiration now that dominated her stare whenever it fell upon him. She might've thought him to be some sort of Immortal like Karem if Sky hadn't been so brazen about confronting him earlier. Even the bold savage was unlikely, in her opinion, to be so foolish as to challenge a being of that caliber. Still, there was no denying Mal was indeed a powerful man. The very concept of his existence was intriguing as she'd never met someone of his likeness before. Questions flooded her mind, but even then she knew they needed to be silenced in order to deal with the pressing situation at hand.

"Peace, Tala," Alexa commanded inaudibly through her bond with the animal. Reluctantly the giant black wolf ceased her overtly aggressive display. Her jowls relaxed back over once exposed fangs though the hair along her hackles continued to stand tall. Icy blue eyes continued to warily watch the far larger, fox-like beast. The Burhan native found herself hanging on the talking animal's every word, her mind reeling in an effort to grasp the details of an evidently perilous undertaking. It had to be worth the risks if Sky was so dead-set on acquiring it despite Mal's warnings. The very idea the powerful, shape-shifting man had been manipulated in connection to its acquirement and use, however, did little to ease her thoughts. Her lips turned down as she weighed the sadness in the great white and spotted creature's eyes. Even Tala noticeably stiffened when Mal addressed the familiar directly.

Mal's instructions prompted a quick response from Venom, who quickly flitted to Sky to whisper in his ear. Alexa's brow knit and she turned her gaze toward Tala. The black wolf needed no prompting to know exactly which inquiry the Burhan native intended to make of her. "She's trying to reason with him," the wolf familiar reported what her superior hearing picked up from the private conversation. "She wants him to recognize that refusing to partake in the initiation may be perceived as cleverness, not cowardice given the potential consequences." Tala's pointy black ears rotated forward again as her attention settled back on the only other adult, four-legged predator nearby. Alexa briefly smiled. Perhaps Venom is smarter than I've given her credit, she pondered. Nonetheless, Sky had once again made it clear he was not to be deterred from acquiring greatness. That much she did expect. What she didn't was for him to turn to her, bidding her to do the honors of relieving him of one of his digits.

"What?" Alexa shook her head in disbelief. She glanced from the hand-axe tucked in her belt to the savage man. For a bit words seemed to fail her. Not only was he asking for her to cleave off one of his toes, but he was offering her freedom should he perish. The very idea of the grant was silly in all honestly. After all, by what means could he hope to stop her from leaving the cave if he did indeed die? It had been some time since it was truly Sky that had been holding her there. Her time to have left his side was when he was too ill to hope to thwart her escape. It was the moral responsibility as a person with her abilities and as Queen of Ankila to remain to ensure Venom, Aomaru, and the pups did not starve. Sky was the only other capable hunter in the tribe, and with him incapacitated, her neglect would've certainly sealed the doom of the others. That was a burden she simply could not bear. She would never again be free.

Alexa blinked and turned again to the shifter when he addressed her. Her golden eyes found the tail he spoke of. Then she returned her gaze to his furry face, a small, melancholy smile momentarily spreading upon her lips. "I'm afraid not, Mal," she said softly. "I'm just a bastard girl that was born in a simple cabin in Burhan. Once I earned the Immortal Karem's attention, but I am no more than a huntress in these isolated woods." Her right hand dropped away from where it had been hovering near her hand-axe. "I appreciate your offer. I'm sure that fox would make a gorgeous form, if I'm to correctly guess this Becoming is your unique ability to change your shape, but you hunted it yourself. You should keep what you've killed."

Only then did the Queen of Ankila choose to face the reality of her decision. Sky's legs were stretched out before her like some sort of sacrificial offering. She eyed the toe she was elected to sever, the middle beside the largest toe. Then she looked to the man only to find his gaze was directed elsewhere as though to neglect facing what was to come. The Burhan native ran her hands down her face before she turned on her heels. Moving past Venom's watchful eye, Alexa ventured to the back of the cave to rifle through her belongings. In a moment she returned with a hunting knife instead. "The axe blade is too big. If I were to use it I might accidentally sever a second toe," she reasoned with the man before crouching beside his leg. "I figure what's good for quartering something as small as a rabbit will be the best tool."

She licked her lips and glanced from Mal to Sky. Politeness might've dictated she should ask him if he was ready before she made her move. Instead she looked away toward the roof of the cave, settling her stomach when her ruthless mind bid her to imagine the gore that was to come. Alexa swallowed hard. Then, with a deep exhale, the Queen set to task. Using her experience severing bits of animals, she set the sharp edge of the blade against where she believed would be the space between where the toe met the foot. Quickly the digit was amputated and blood wasted no time spilling upon the ground. The sickening crunch verified her success. Alexa bit her lip and immediately found her feet to put distance between herself and Ankila's Chief. Her stomach threatened to turn at what she'd done. Venom wasted no time moving to action to tend the fresh wound. Another deep breath and the Queen looked toward Mal for guidance. "It's done."

[Mal]

Despite his submissiveness to Alexa, Mal relaxed and felt far less cornered when he realized Alexa was now treating him with simple curiosity. “Karem... I feel like I should know that Immortal, but then I only really know of Lisirra, Moseke, and Ashan.” They were a given, considering he had went to war against Rhakros and the fact he grew up within Ne’haer, a city split up into religious districts.

Seeing Venom convince Sky in a way he couldn’t brought a smile to his vulpine lips. The girl got the point across plainly, but Sky’s response invited a question to the Becomer’s mind. Should I really be doing this? His superior hearing caught every whispered word Venom uttered. “Bind the sacrificial wound immediately, you don’t want to lose too much blood.” He nodded to Venom, as if to say she should prepare a bandage.

“I would like to become a member of Ankila as well,” he found himself saying absentmindedly. It was easy to go along with it, the idea of having a group of Becomers with such a bond to protect him from the Coven should they discover him. At the same time, he had his doubts as to whether or not Sky would hold back when necessary to prevent Overstepping. At least Mal still had an ace up his sleeve; the bronze tusks of a Bronze Boar, and its metallic fur. He hadn’t shown the form to Sky yet, keeping the useful weapon a secret. Having claws, bones, teeth, and fur made from metal allowed for significant protection and offense.

Nodding to Alexa after spotting how unsure she was, Mal attempted to help dissuade her from worrying. “In the slight chance he fails, I will remain to hunt until my past catches up with me.” He didn’t know how long it would take, but ‘magic’ could find just about anyone with the right sorcerer pulling the strings! For now though, he stepped back and shut his eyes, reaching out into his totems and focusing his mind on individual concepts. The base to which he pulled traits to was the Lotharro totem, though he took the head of a Hyx, its powerful canine leg and arm muscles, the fur of a Bronze Boar, the endurance of an Obsidian Panther, and applied the bronze material to the long claw-like nails the Lotharro possessed. This half-Lotharro, half-Hyx monster man slowly formed over the next Bit of time, those same sickening and painful sounds giving an idea to the two of what Becoming was actually like. While it had been a secret up until now, he felt a certain kinship to Sky, and Vuhl kept so many secrets that there was a real danger involved.

Strangely, Mal still felt he had a whole lot more to give. Normally exhaustion piled on by now, but his abilities had been improving as of late. The better he got at Becoming, the more his totems seemed to be easier to communicate with, complexity getting cheaper with every attempt at pushing the boundaries. In this form he felt somewhat human, but also extremely powerful and safe. By the time Alexa had taken Sky’s toe, he was already stepping forward into the light to kneel down and pick up the appendage, charging it with Ether. Seeing that the toe was hairy on the top, Mal knew this was fully sufficient for a totem. He placed the digit in Sky’s palm and bundled his fist around it. “Concentrate, you will begin to feel a connection. Focus on that, it should take about a Trial.”

He rose, staring down at Alexa and her familiar with those piercing, bestial eyes despite the relaxed, regal form that looked strangely masculine. Thick, coarse fur covered his form, reflective and shiny against the flame. He knelt down and held a single clawed hand up, covered in fur but open-palmed to her. “I will do the honor of severing your totem if you so wish, my claws are at least as sharp as your instrument...”

Sky was not going to dictate what form Mal took without good reason, ever. Only Alexa had that power over him, as defiant as he was. Though Alexa made him feel strangely, and it may have been Karem’s influence, he trusted Alexa enough to follow her whims without too much disobedience or rampant introspection.