Just another day - Casual

[Jato]

Action
Thinking
"Speaking."

 
Jato was always a patient dog. He had to be, a boisterous, impatient, hundred kilogram mass of pure power wasn't something his master nor her neighbours highly approved of, especially if the so called 'dangerous animal' was in fact... Well, dangerous. At least to an onlooker. He had to admit though, the red eyed canine was without a doubt intimidating and a potential threat to humans. That is, if it weren't for the fact that he was a complete wimp.

The white canine lay with his  wide, mastiff type head lying flat on the (dying) grassy floor. His large frame stretched out, easily resembling a small polar bear pelt, with his black, scarred nose pointed at the grand entrance to his master's mansion. She hasn't been out in three days... She's coming right? She wouldn't leave me out here to wither away, would she? the thoughts wandered through his mind. He raised his head slightly at any sound he thought came from the building's general direction but each time his head would drop back to the ground, looking up with disappointment. Despite all she did to him he was loyal to his owner, she wouldn't abandon him. Well actually she might... But not without reason. Whatever she did to him was always his own fault. 

Afterawhile, Jato gave up, figuring she'd leave the estate in her own time. He padded over to his wooden dog kennel, crisscrossing awkwardly on massive, cumbersome paws to avoid tripping over his steel chain. He seated himself next to his empty food dish before curling into a giant white ball in front of his timber house. Sleeping was the best way to ward off hunger, something he learned from the many times his owner forgot to feed him. But he was a big dog, and big dogs needed a big meal. His master knew at least that much so she was bound to leave the house to feed him some time in the near future. 

"She'll come... She'll come...," he told himself as he shut his eyes, sweeping his feathery tail over his snout. For whatever reason, he tried to block out the scent of blood emanating from the draught drifting out of the house. It was just his imagination playing up on him. There was no blood, his master just decided to stay home with her boyfriend for a few days. That's all. 

[shadowthin]

Shadow: virusrising.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=tryouts&thread=101&page=1

Shadow had been leaving the inner town for a few days, and had headed to the suburbs. Suburbs were pretty different from the inner town. Less street dogs, meaning generally less infected as well, but on the other side there were more pet dogs, more humans, and they were rarely happy about seeing an unknown dog wandering in the streets. However, there were sometimes some infected who came in this part of the town, knowing that it was more saved than the inner town. That was sad to say so, but sometimes it was a way to find dogs who were somehow still alive and who wouldn't been turned into infected. Strange period, really...

He was running through the streets, between the pretty clean and well-aligned houses. There still were some where the garden was starting to look messy, and few which seemed to have been somehow visited. Nothing really interesting. He continued for a while, sometimes stopping near a hedge, listening, sniffing, at whatever could be out of the ordinary quiet streets.

He suddenly stopped short. There was an odd scent in the air. Something he's used to smell in many parts of the inner town, but he hadn't smelled yet since he had entered far into the suburbs. A scent of blood, and of something rotting, along with a slight scent which was undoubtfully infected's. There was also the scent of a dog, a male apparently, and surly big from what Shadow could hear. He remained cautious, and seeing the nearest neighbor's house was seemingly empty, with its closed windows and shutters, he decided that it would be a good way to go to check what was this scent. He jumped above portal and hedges without any problem, and landed in the garden, behind the house. A window was broken, and Shadow went into it, already knowing what he would find into it. This wouldn't be the first time... And in fact, the sight wasn't the best one. There was a lot of blood in one of the rooms upstairs, along with two bodies, already cold and rotting. He stepped down, and left the home, taking the same way he had used to enter in.

Still, he couldn't leave like that. There was a dog in the garden, with any doubt. And Shadow was well-placed to know that some dogs couldn't leave their house like if it was nothing. The hedge was pretty high, but nothing which would stop him from jumping above. He chose the further side from where the other dog apparently was, ran-up, and jumped it. He landed in the garden's grass, and immediately he looked around, cautiously. There was a kennel on the opposite side, and a dog into it. A giant white dog, maybe the biggest one Shadow had ever seen, actually not smelling fool or anything like the infected used to. That was a good thing already. Shadow made few steps ahead, then stopped in an alert posture. One was never too cautious. "Hello there", Shadow slightly said, his odd and broken voice making it sounding even like a whisper. However he was sure the dog would hear him. All he was hoping was that the dog wouldn't react to bad seeing an intrusion in his territory. He was ready to jump and run away if needed, anyway.

[Jato]

Action
Thinking
"Speaking."

 
The ovcharka suddenly opened his eyes, his head raising up high as a soft thud reached his poorly cropped ears. He glanced around quickly, blinking his eyes as they adjusted to the surprisingly bright sun. Jato lowered his head once again, keeping it hovering just a few centimetres off the ground and bunching up his muscles. He drew his legs underneath him in a crouching position and scanned the sea of green for any sign of life. 

It wasn't long before he spotted the light grey fur in the distance and with the changing of the wind's direction, he soon got a good smell. Another canine, male, and if his eyes hadn't deteriorated too much he was pretty sure the dog was a borzoi. He'd seen a few of them before, their rich owners parading them proudly down the streets. And for good reasons, there was a certain air to them, a feel most sight hounds seemed to have. Still, now was not the time to be thinking about such trivial matters. 

The Central Asian Shepherd's hackles rose as he stood up. He lowered his thick muzzle to the ground and drew back his lips  to reveal two rows of bone crushing fangs. Jato stood with his muscles tense and teeth bared, threatening to attack the stranger. The borzoi was within attacking distance. He was just at the edge of the hedge, just where the white dog's chain would become taut. Although being a borzoi the intruder could easily outrun him. Which actually wasn't a bad thing, it meant he'd leave sooner. But, the real question was; would he call his bluff?

When the other male took a few steps forward, Jato took a few steps back, growing more nervous with each step. His snarl sounded more desperate and his overall body posture seemed to lower. I don't understand. Most of them run away... he thought worriedly, his pit bull crop now pinned flat against his skull. Jato's eyes never left the borzoi, trying to read his body language (having had very little interaction with other dogs this was a difficult task for him) and watching his alert stance. He braced himself for whatever the male did next. The grey and white dog was smart, fast... He'd cover the distance from there to his kennel in two seconds flat. What do I do... What if master comes out? She won't want a strange dog on her property! I need to get rid of him. But... I can't...

For whatever reason, Jato wasn't expecting the other male to speak. He was almost startled by the low voice, having expected a cruel, mocking insult as opposed to a simple greeting. He... Didn't seem dangerous? But even so, he didn't let his guard down, at least completely. He remained tense but he stopped growling, he lowered his blood coloured eyes even further and was taking on a slightly more submissive posture. 

"H... Hello sir..." he answered unconfidently in a quiet voice, flicking his tail from side to side with anxiety. Why did he reply? It would undoubtedly do him no good. Jato lowered himself into a crouch, stepping back slightly and backing away.

((I ramble on about every unimportant detail XP))

[shadowthin]

Shadow carefully watched as the other dog stood up. As he's thought so, the dog was the biggest he had ever seen. A pretty magnificent one, with an entirely white fairly long fur, and stunning blood-red eyes. An apparently a good and pretty fierce gardian. With nothing to guard anymore Shadow thought, remembering the mess and the two bodies he had seen upstairs in the house. How would he tell the other dog? Guardian dogs were somehow territorial and strongly attached to the place they've been called to keep safe.

Shadow was prepared for anything bad which could happen as the white dog tensed up, baring his tooth in a pretty dissuasive way. The dog was seemingly ready to protect what he had been told to. if he knew... It was fifty-fifty, but Shadow thought that he would be fast enough to step back if the other dog would aim at him. He stepped forward... and things went odd. Instead of standing on his position like any dog on his own territory and therefore sure of his rights, he stepped down, and seemed to grow nervous, remaining to lower a bit his body. And it became even more evident when Shadow said him hi. The dog didn't entirely dropped his guard, but he stopped growling, remaining in an even lower and somehow submissive position. Shadow's ears startled at the unconfident greeting. "H... Hello sir"... No-one ever called him "sir", and what guardian would even call an intruder "sir" on his own territory... And the dog lowered himself even more as he stepped away. A hole would have been there, Shadow was now sure the big white male would have tried to hide into it. That was just so odd...

After a few fractions of second's thought, he eased himself quite a bit, and he continued to step up towards the other dog, not fast at the beginning, then even more and more slighter as he was coming nearer. He could see the dog tensing more and more as he came nearer, and he also saw the scars across the white body. One across the left eye, an other on the left paw... and surly some more. Maybe that would explain his behaviour. He felt the dog tensing up even more as their nose almost contacted, almost jerking away. But except if the dog could cross the wall behind him, there was no away where to go. Shadow then starting to lick the nose in front of him, in an attempt to calm the white dog's fear. Because it was fear, as odd as it could look like from such a giant dog like the one there. "I'm Shadow",he slightly said, hopping the other dog wouldn't be scared by his odd and broken low voice. "What's your name?" He hesitated a bit, then decided to ask, lowering his voice even more: "Why are you still chained here...?" He remained licking the black nose in front of him, waiting for a possible answer.

[Ridge]

Amor

Amor sighed and grumbled at the same time. This time of day was not her forte, and she felt fairly resigned. Her temper neither flaring nor presenting itself at the slightest indication of human life. Life that was hidden from her by glass windows... Mere pieced of human craft that barely gave the girl a challenge. HA pathetic two legged, man animals, 'humans' she sneered to herself, lip curling in amusement at the sight of figures moving from one window, from the thin sheet of curtain, the light to drastic inside the house to hide the silhouette. Her white tongue flicked over her teeth, trying to spark the will that would force her through the glass and create an unexpected slaughter on the household. Not even a rise, not a tremble of anticipation from her invincible body. It must've been instincts telling her the game was to week. The multicolored mutt assumed she'd out grown amateur killings, she needed a challenge.

Her lithe gait moved steadily on the hot ground of the road, her face untroubled by the heat, or the open, vulnerable position she put herself in. She could withstand anything, she was of a new generation, a new evolution. She was one of the strong, not deluded by the fear the weak had of her gift. Her amused lip turned into quickly bared teeth, to no one in particular. Or to the weakest of them all, the ones who could not accept the gift, the ones regarded so highly by the weak, the fearful breed of mongrels that dared oppose the amazing leap granted to her and her kind. Her kind often referred to as 'infected'. If what she had was an infection, it was spreading, her body only grew stronger, her pack growing with her. All of them finding the worthy individuals to grant the blood gift. Few came to present themselves. They must be sought after.

Another reason for the lean, skinny frame of the fae to be wandering out. The first reason being boredom and the need for amusement. The smell of blood casually drifted to her nostrils, a puzzled look coming to her face as the scent of canines followed, however the three scents were not mixed.Her face quickly turning to a confused grimace as if she hadn't gotten a joke directed her way. Her light paws carried her forward, nostrils flared, ears raised as she sought the source of the smell. A small lighted her lips and murderous, yellow eyes as she heard a brief exchange of two male voices. Her trot easily becoming a sprint as she ran to gain some help as to move over the hedge barring her sight. She wan't to sure she'd make it, she was sure, however, that the leap and its faults would do her no harm. Her upper body scrambled to gain ground as she was cut off by her midsection, gashes opening up on her abdomen as she finally scrambled up and down to the grassy ground.

She exhaled in relief, cast a brief, unnerving smile towards the two males and headed toward the base of the chain the large, white canine was connected to. "I'll tell you why," she cast a brief glance to Shadow, she'd heard his question as she scrambled over the top of the hedge, "I wasn't here to spring 'em." She trotted happily to the base and began gnawing away at all the was around it. She even went as far as to lean into her work, and try to pull it up, a pout forming as her invisible eye brows pulled together, blood welling in her mouth, over her white tongue.

She took a step back as if looking to the two for approval. "Any better?" She was oddly at ease, the excitement stirring her body, her heart rate accelerating, anticipating their reaction. Would it be disbelief? Amusement? Anger? Confusion? Her skinny frame was almost wiggling with the excitement shivering down her spine, her tail wagging at a level height. It wasn't a friendly or encouraging gesture. It was one meant to send the unease towards the males, the feeling that would only boost her confidence and get her to have some fun. Start a new game.

((ooc: I hope that was okay ^^; ))

[Jato]

Action
Thinking
"Speaking."

 
The borzoi now stood, barely a centimetre away from the large dog right now. Jato had completely thrown his intimidation method out the door by now, instead he cowered closely against the grass, barely moving an inch and remaining in a submissive, lie down position. He would've rolled over but... Well... He had learnt the hard way that it was best to overcome instinct and stop himself rolling over. Exposing your vital organs to someone's foot was something he'd never do again. 

Expecting a sharp bite on the nose, Jato nearly jerked away. It was a strange experience to him, being comforted by someone as opposed to being yelled at by them. He found the borzoi's voice a bit of a relief, the low and quiet tone was a nicer compared to his master's loud, high pitched cursing. 

"Jato, sir," he replied quietly. He continued to use the title 'sir'. Afterall, this dog was older than him. Maybe by two years or so? He thought for a moment about Shadow's next question, not quite sure how to answer it. Before he could finish mixing and matching the right word combination, his attention was grabbed away. Jato raised his head, there was a loud rustling sound coming from the reasonably tall hedge. He dropped his muzzle to the ground again as yet another dog approached. Female this time, was she a friend of Shadows...?

The white dog watched silently as the mixed breed female approached. Something about her scent made him feel uneasy. Something about the way she moved, the look in her eyes. Her... Black and yellow eyes? She didn't look... Healthy. In fact, her coat was drenched in the scent of death. A sickly smell as though something was dying on the inside. Up until now, the large male had been fairly oblivious often the threat of the 'Infecteds'. Not many ventured into this area and what he did here about them were usually conversations between house pets he happened to be eaves dropping (a bad habit of his but curiousity always got the better of him. The outside world was a subject he was always eager to learn about, although actually stepping out into that world was something he'd probably never do). 

For whatever reason, he didn't react to what the mixed breed female did. Maybe because he didn't feel it was a huge accomplishment, it was something he could've done easily. Or maybe the idea of having a five  metre chain dragging behind you was one he never really thought about until now and his kind decided to space out. The best conclusion though, some small, suppressed voice in the back of his kind told him not to, told him reacting to the situation would get him nowhere. 

"Thank you, Miss..." he replied politely to her gesture, although he remained wary. Jato glanced at Shadow, he didn't know why but he seemed to be trying to ask the slightly older dog what the heck was going on. Still, usually he would've panicked by now. He was freaking out visibly but his mind was already racing with ideas and probable scenarios about the outcome of this encounter. 

((It was fine :3))

[shadowthin]

Shadow quietly listen as Jato presented himself, looking over the body of the giant white male. From where he was he noticed numerous of scars. Apparently the dog had been regularly beaten, surly from his master. That would explain his reaction towards Shadow, seemingly acting like the guard dog he was meant to be, till someone would come nearer, and see the fearful nature of Jato. At least he had calmed down now, but Shadow could still feel the dog's uneasiness.

Suddenly a noise came from behind. Shadow didn't turn his head to know what it was. His nose was enough to tell him what was behind him: an infected. His shoulder's fur bristle as he slowly came aside to Jato, in order to face the fae. A slender brown, black and white female, with the usual black and glowing yellow eyes every infected had. He remained cautious. The female didn't seem that threatening, but you would never know, from an infected. And nothing was telling Shadow that she was actually alone. He knew he could outrun her, but what with Jato, he couldn't let him here with some with such a not so good company. But the infected surprised him, although he let nothing appearing. She suddenly came straight to the base of the chain Jato was attached with, and started to gnaw at it, managing soon to cut it.

As the infected female steeped back, Shadow seemingly eased himself a bit more. But inside, his mind was racing. Infected were not doing things just because it was kind to do so. Generally they had some harmful trick in their rotten brain. However he would see that in time. He glanced at the white dog. "You're free now, Jato. Nothing still ties up you to this home. There's nothing left inside you have to fear anymore", Shadow slightly said with his low tone and broken voice. His glance came back on the infected female... He was knowing that he wouldn't have to fear anything bad if she'd bite him. But what for Jato? He didn't know. Polite or not, the best thing would be to go away from her... But he wouldn't let Jato behind like that... Hard choice indeed.

((Pffft sorry for the time it took me for this crappy post >.<))

[Ridge]

Amor watched with clear amusement flickering in her yellow eyes as Shadow came to the white canine's side. Both were large dogs, extremely large dogs at that. The formal tone the white canine came up with left a musical, dark laughter come from her maw. Eyes alight with the possibilities of mischief and the clear distrust of the one with the odd voice. Both seemed great hosts for the virus but... Her eyes narrowed inconspicuously at the Borzoi, he wasn't exactly not scarred, and not many of them were from years past. No matter, she'd wait to see, bide her time and assess her options. " A formal one, huh?" More laughter chimed from her throat, her skinny frame slinking slightly closer, paws shuffling quickly so the movement looked like she'd merely glided. "Funny for these kinds of times eh Borzoi?"

The fae's bright, anticipating eyes glided from large white canine to the other large, thinner frame of the grey and white borzoi. She wasn't one who liked to be over look. She was an attention hog, true it came with one with such a hot temper and jealous nature. She was in no ways perfect, actually she was the farthest thing. She just didn't know that. As far as she was concerned she was a superior being, spreading the gift that she'd graciously received. She imposed her beliefs and slaughtered those who would not follow in the footsteps ahead of them. Simple as that. She could feel the Borzoi's uncomfortable, wary body and eyes, and it delighted her. His overlooking of her, however, did not sit so well. So she was now deciding to engage both in conversation, come up with her master plan and have some fun.

"And yes, Jato, " She tasted the name on her tongue, mulling it over in her mind, "you're free!" A devious grin gracing her muzzle and curling her lips up to reveal her black gums. "And hopefully chivalrous. 'Miss' 'Sir'" She quoted, nodding her head approvingly though her voice had a mocking edge to it. Her mind and body were moving at a comfortable pace. She was invincible. They could do nothing to harm her, surely.

Her paws moved as if with a mind of their own, trotting gracefully in a circle around them, behind the dog house and back into view. Her long legs rigid as she looked at the two, tail waving over her back in a misleading, friendly gesture. Ears were perked slightly, alert at every little sound in the vicinity... and the stench of blood. Her grin widening ever so slightly... If this dog felt so strongly for his master's possessions... maybe. It was a long shot maybe, but if she could provoke the white dog... Her eyes had a malicious glint in them as she returned her wandering eyes to the males. If it didn't work she'd go back to the barn with a few more handy knick knacks.

"Though I do wonder about that over whelming stench of blood. Maybe there's something nice in your home..." She paused for dramatic affect, her eyes widening in mock realization, "Or maybe a quick snack." She deliberately took in a deep whiff of the blood, licking her chops and began to sprint, jumping over the hedge once more and through the broken window. A tinkling of glass could be heard as they sank into her paw pads and clattered against the side of the wall as she continued to sprint through the home. her paws and teeth attacking all in her path, tearing up and creating as much provocation as she could. Her side swinging out from a corner to knock against a table. Her rush was to great and she sprinted to the room that held the scent of blood, tipping the door slightly ajar and hiding around the corner. A dangerous, traumatizing game of hide and seek.

Her body was practically shivering with anticipation and hope. Hope that the great white canine would come. The scene was ghastly, bloody, and familiar maybe? It was not the first bloody death of humans she'd seen... or caused.

[Jato]

Action
Thinking
"Speaking."

 
"There's nothing for me here... Nor is there anything for me out there..." he repeated to himself. The white dog was still trying to process his situation. He was free now. Free. He never thought he'd ever have the choice and privilege to wander where he pleased, to do whatever he wanted. Honestly, he figured he'd simply basically freeze to death when he was old and broken, rusted chain forever bound tightly around his neck. However, now that he could do more with his life... No. I can't do it. I won't survive out there. I can't hunt, I can't fight, no human would take me in and what use is cowardly stray to a pack of dogs? I'd just be another mouth to feed... He was already highly doubtful of his predicament. Afterall, he hadn't set foot off the property since he was considered 'cute'.

Jato snapped back into reality as smooth, amused laughter escaped the jaws of the strange smelling female, the stray who's coat, or rather pelt, contained the unmistakable scent of blood. A scent he knew all too well. He watched the mixed breed canine with a look of slight bewilderment. He'd never met a dog like her ) then again, he'd never met that many dogs other than the odd street cur hoping for a challenging fight against a seemingly impressive guard dog). There was something about her he knew he couldn't trust, and glancing over at Shadow and seeing his wary state only confirmed this. The fake tinge of sweetness hiding the almost arrogant tone, the confident and cocky attitude, the feeling of invincibility. Now that he thought about it, she kind of reminded him of his master. 

Surely it's not that strange strange... he never thought he was being particularly formal. He didn't have too long to think though. As she began circling around the two males, Jato rose to his paws, feeling noticeably uneasy around this female. Strange personality aside, the yellow irises and black gums were a dead giveaway that something was wrong. A disease most likely, one definitely that affected the mind. 

What she said next got a noticeable reaction. He flinched, his muscles tensing up and beginning to shake beneath his thick fur.  

"Please don't..." was all he could manage to plead. It was a futile effort. He stood frozen as she began to run, up and over the hedge and into his master's mansion. He stood like this for a second before bolting, a voice in the back of his mind telling him to run. He covered the distance fairly quickly due to his long stride only to come to a halt in front of the house. Jato paced in front of the house, glancing back at Shadow and pawing at the front door. He hadn't set foot in the house since... Ever. The house was not his home. It was forbidden territory and yet... His ovcharka instincts told him to break that rule. 

The large dog didn't bother jumping over the hedge and through the window. He obviously couldn't make it with his bulky frame. Instead, taking a few steps back, he slammed his shoulder into the wooden door. The gold coloured hinges split from the (not very) well maintained door frame, timber splintering as the door slammed down onto the ground. Jato ignored the pain as an old shoulder wound reopened once more. Instead, he peered into the hallway, hesitating for a moment. No, he couldn't take the first step... The loud crashing sound of an overturning object was became the catalyst to him finally taking his first step into the house. And that first step was all he needed. Jato followed the path of destruction, carefully maneuvering his way around the various fallen objects. The overwhelming stench of blood became thicker and as he neared the room where the scent was thickest he stopped. The slight crack of the open door just barely hid the sight of the massacre. He knew the sight of blood well but nevertheless, there was no way he could go in there. 

Lowering his head and backing away slightly, he found his flight instinct fighting with his guardian instinct. She's in there. In your territory with your master. Attack her!
It's too dangerous. Don't go in there, it's a trap! Two conflicting ideas were messing with his state of kind. Usually, he'd run. But he couldn't leave his master alone with the deranged female. He had failed to protect her... Or, had he simply refused to do anything? 

((I gotta stop rambling on D; Sorry about the not very straight to the point post >.<))

[shadowthin]

Shadow followed as Jato got up and headed to the house. The female had something odd in her mind -But what infected wasn't it the case with?-, and he wouldn't let Jato entering there alone. He waited as the giant white dog slammed on the door, making the hinges breaking. He entered after him, following him to the room his master was -or at least his, or was it her, dead body was now-. "You're free. Not only from your chain overthere, but from your master as well. Was it her who gave you all these scars? Why do you even care about her then? She's dead anyway. You - are - free." Shadow's voice was still low, almost as a whisper, but it had sharpened compared to when they were outside. He was perfectly knowing how the things were after the door: two dead bodies, one male and one female, half nude, half devoured also, with blood everywhere. The room was nothing than a big mess.

But the infected female hiding somewhere into the house was a problem. Shadow's nose was overwhelmed with the stinky stench of blood and rotten things, and his ears were hearing no noise but Jato's. This place was dangerous, and the fact that it was already at least half afternoon wasn't helping much. If the suburbs were a pretty quiet place during days... but it wasn't the same thing once night was there. It wouldn't have bothered Shadow that much if he had been alone. The female wouldn't make such a big threat apparently, and he was likely able to outrun most of the dogs. But Jato... He was an other story. Was he immune? Shadow didn't know, and wouldn't take any risk about that. And he wasn't the running type either... "What do you think you're doing? You can come with me, or you can stay here playing hide and seek with the infected in this house... Your choice." Shadow's tone had softened a bit, but was firm. He wasn't intending to stay here till night, and he was gently, but firmly, pushing Jato to make his choice. The sooner the best.

[Ridge]

Amor's ears heard the sounds of two more bodies entering the house, the breathing of the two dogs were here. Her body was almost vibrating with the excitement. The plan had formed in her mind. She was quick, strong, the two were no match for her, so why not play a little game before she was off to find a new victim? It seemed Jato's guardian instinct and his loyalty were his two largest faults. Two things bred into his mind and body she could use against him, overwhelm him with. A smile slowly curled to her lips, white tongue flickering to lick her muzzle in satisfaction. Her ears were pinned tightly against her skull, her tail tip brushing her back as its tempo increased. Light as a feather, she brought herself into the open, paws skimming over the pool of red as she stood in the midst of the blood bath and where both humongous canines could see her. She took a deep breath.

"You're free. Not only from your chain over there, but from your master as well. Was it her who gave you all these scars? Why do you even care about her then? She's dead anyway. You - are - free." That was something she could work with. Her eyes cast a sullen glance to Jato, shaking her head ever so slightly in disappointment. As if saying it was his fault. "Are you really free? Sure you're physically free... but," she paused as if this should be an obvious fact. Before the pause got to long for one to interrupt she began to speak once more, "are you free from the guilt? The guilt that you were here. You were right here, waiting, guarding. Failing." She let the word come out as a hiss of reproach and disapproval. Hopefully the shiver that went down her spine was mistaken as the distaste for being in his presence, not the excitement humming through every cell in her body.

"And why would you go with him?" She cast a glare at the borzoi, "he did nothing. He wants you to move on, leave the mess you made. Blame it on someone else." She twisted the words, curling her lips back as if a poisonous snake was beside Jato, not Shadow. Her tongue became suddenly sincere, "But I'm not playing games. I'm giving it to you straight, telling you what I [see, what I know." She'd played mind games so long, so much that lying could easily be the truth, the way the words slid out as soft as velvet, her words implying anything but sweetness.

"You did nothing. I bet the intruder who did this to your master, who gorged on her skin and let her red life leak from her body, I bet you saw him. You heard him." Of course there was the chance he hadn't, a silent, stealthy infected could have slipped in and out without a problem. The glass could have been broken before. She wanted to stir up anything, any memories he had of that night, odd sounds that meant nothing but now suddenly have a horrific meaning. Her eyes feigned the disgust for him not doing anything, while in fact she was thrilled. Thrilled to have a victim to her petty torture. She took a step beside the female body, pushing it with a paw, looking to Jato. "This. This is what you did." Her paw gestured to the mutilated body, hackles raised slightly as she walked a little ways away, the trail following behind her, dull red.

"So what are you going to do? Run like a coward, traitor? Leave this mess, no one ever to know what became of your lovely master besides the smell of death?" Her eyes brought a challenge when it was clear she wanted defeat. She was always careful to place the blame on the white canine, on him solely turning Shadow into the street mutt wanting him to run away. Implying the guilt and hopefully planting that seed in the canine's head. Her muscles were tensed, awaiting his reaction, whether he lashed out at her or fell in defeat. Her legs would give the occasional twitch as her muscles tensed and relaxed with impatience. This was a fun game.

((ooc: No Jato I love your posts! The more detail to me the better :3 ))

[Jato]

Action
Thinking
"Speaking."

 
He looked away and nodded slowly in answer to his question. He'd rather not admit it. Admit that it was her that caused him to become the pathetic creature before him. But a voice in Jato's mind told him not to bad mouth the woman, that he had no right to after what he'd done. Or rather, what he hadn't done. There's nothing else I can do. I might as well go with him... I won't survive on my own...

The sudden reappearance of the female made him direct his attention to the sickly dog. As the words glided off her tongue, he flinched, every syllable was a stake being driven through his mind. Every statement painfully true. His lack of self confidence did no part in easing the pain (it did quite the obvious) and the more she spoke, the more he began to wonder... Why was she doing this to him?

"There's... There's nothing I can do now..." It was too late. He couldn't fix this mess. He couldn't change the past. The ovcharka turned his muzzle to the ground,  thoughts racing through his mind. He could hear it. It was too loud. The sound of his heartbeat. This female's brutal truth, the lack of movement from the body of the one who had been his primary caretaker. 

Jato had been there that night. Afterall, where else could he had gone? It had been a night like any other, his master and one of her various mates (she seemed to change them every fortnight or so. This time however he was amazed it had lasted a month) had come home after a long night out. The stench of alcohol clung to the clothes of the pair of humans and he knew it was best to give them their 'personal space'. They had gone in without giving him so much as a glance and an argument struck out. This was a fairly regular occurrence, over time it simply became part of their routine. And because of this, he didn't even raise his head when he heard the glass smashing. Just then throwing glass bottles, he had been struck by them of occasion, better to stay away. 

It had been when the screams died out earlier than they should have that he became concerned. Jato had approached the house, sensed the presence of another being. And simply stood there, unable to move. The steel chain didn't allow him to move any further than just in front of the wooden entrance. So he simply stood, pulling on the end of the chain at first but in the end he just waited and assumed they went to bed early. He had subconsciously blocked out the smell of blood, having been so used to it. But now that he thought about it... He could've done something?

The make stepped back as she finally entered the room. He wasn't prepared for what he saw and was sure he would've run away if his legs hadn't stopped working. Jato took a step back, looking away from the blood and trying not to the image be burned permanently in his mind. 

"There's nothing I can do for her now..." he repeated. What did she expect him to do? Continue guarding a dead corpse? Strangely there was a small voice in the back of his head to do just this, but his flight instinct spoke louder. He turned to Shadow, his dark red eyes pleading for some form of help. Hopefully a shove to bring his legs back life.

((Sorry if none of this makes sense. It's 1 am and I'm tired and everything's blurry but I'm determined to finish D; I'll reread and add stuff when I wake up D;))

[shadowthin]

"Not playing games?" Shadow almost laughed, in a doggish style, but his eyes were serious as death, fixing the infected female dark hazel eyes into glowing yellow ones. "Since when some infected doesn't play a kind of game or an other?" His tone had turned into glacial and distrusting, his broken voice still low. He had seen too many infected in town, and except about one only, who was able to control the virus, he knew what to expect from them... Tricks, blood, sneaking attacks and poisoning words. In two words, nothing good. His glance to the female cooled even more if it was even possible. She was being irritating... Maybe Shadow would end up attacking her, eventually taking one more life. If at least one could tell about a life, concerning the infected. Their rotten brains and bodies weren't so full of life in fact, with their odd stench of something rotting.

Shadow continued to listen at the female's words, feeling Jato less and less at ease. His ears tickled as he heard her talking about Jato's lovely master. "Lovely, really? Lovely enough to beat you every time she had wanted to, for a yes, for a no, for nothing? Has she ever took care about you if not to beat you some way? This infected is just playing with your feelings, like they usually love to do. You can listen to her poisonous words, or you can just begin a new life, outside... Free." As Jato turned his head towards him, Shadow dove his eyes into Jato's magnificent blood red eyes, and gave him a lick on the nose. Then he turned his head towards the infected fae. "You seem to be pretty concerned by this house... Maybe are you wanting to stay here forever? I can't say "rotting here forever", you're already rotting however." His tone was quiet, detached even, but inside he was ready to attack, or ready for the female to attack. From outside, nothing else was showing but quietness, almost like if he was on an other strata of existence.

((What are you saying, it perfectly makes sense, and i really love your posts ))

[Ridge]

"No. There isn't." Amor said darkly yellow eyes glaring at Jato, a smile spreading across her sickly face. Her head flickered to the Borzoi. "We don't play games, we simply tell you all the truth you don't like to here. The truth of our superiority, what we see you cannot, what we embrace." She spat disgustedly at Shadow. Her paws glided closer to the two males, taking advantage of Jato's inability to move and Shadow's inability to leave the white canine. Her body muscles tensed and ready for the fight they craved. She wanted to know if she would be able to bring the magnificent specimen of a white canine into the open, to embrace the gift she and her pack had been given. A laugh echoed fro, her maw. Rotting inside? HA! A stupid thing to say by a stupid dog.

"I don't think you can call it rotting, you dogs have grown too soft, too cowardly." she barked out gruffly, tail wavering in an arc above her back, ears tucked tightly against her cranium. The skin and fur covering her long muzzle drew back, dragging her nose into a scrunched up shape, folds of skin forming on her muzzle and by her eyes. Black gums revealed her canines, her teeth slightly open to reveal the pale white tongue. Yellow eyes blazed. Without a moment's hesitation she lunged, the borzoi was no doubt a fighter, Jato maybe... Her body curled in on itself as she ran straight for the borzoi, her hind legs holding the ground for a few more seconds as if she was going to lunge for Shadow. At the last second however, she twisted her hips and angled towards Jato, teeth glistening.

Her aim might have been off but she hoped to at least have drawn blood, if he was vulnerable.... The smile only spread as she drew back and charged repeatedly, her long legs moving fast beneath her, her jaws snapping out whenever white or grey came into her view. A funny thing started happening, an amazing thing in her mind.

Slowly the room was dimming out but her body repeated its attacks mechanically. Her yellow eyes dulled and glazed over and while her mind withdrew her senses and instincts increased. It was like a second invulnerability had taken over. Her already deteriorated condition before the virus had increased and the rage syndrome came more frequently, lasting longer.

Her body tensed and sprang her jaws opening and closing with instinct and anger, blindly attacking. Her smaller body moving quickly but never getting itself too far out of range of the canines. Charging and nipping, ripping snarls hurling themselves from her throat. She charged mostly, trying to inflict as much force as she caught, her body hardwired into attacking anything, especially these two warm bodies that had presented themselves to her. So as she withdrew from her mind she relied on her physical shape and instincts to do the dirty work. While this was an effective way to find without minding injuries anymore than before she often found herself after the episode with wounds she had inflicted upon herself, whether she had attacked herself or had attacked something that had hurt her in turn. It wasn't uncommon and she was sure her multiplied strength from the virus was helping her deal with it. So while she attacked her mind sat back enjoying the break and strain put on its already fragile state.

[Jato]

Action
Thinking
"Speaking."

 
Free... That single word echoed in his head. Freedom. The ability to follow his own will, to do whatever he wanted without the fear of disappointing another... But all dogs were created for the sole purpose of serving man. It had been this way for ten thousand years, ever since their first primitive ancestors left the frigid wilderness to join man beside their warm campfires. They abandoned their savage ways and formed a (supposedly) mutual partnership with humans. However before dogs became the servants of humans... They ran with their wild brethren. And many have returned to their primeval ways. And they're thriving. The real question was, could he survive out there having lived like he had for so long?

As the female spoke, he began thinking carefully about her words. Superiority? That's wasn't right. How could you call yourself superior when you were clearly dying. Anyone with a good nose could smell that the female was rotting, sickly and insane. She was clearly withering away as they spoke. Her mind no doubt was deteriorating also, this was most likely the reason why her mind had conjured up a feeling of false invincibility. The reality was, she was lithe and frail. She, like any other dog was vulnerable to attacks, if taken by the throat could be suffocated, if stabbed in the skull would die instantaneously, if fought for too long would no longer be able to move. Although Jato didn't have any experience, he was a natural born fighter and had a keen eye for an opponent's weaknesses, strengths and the like. Despite never having fought in his life, he was born knowing the basics. Afterall, it was what he was bred to do. 

When the female snarled, he immediately snapped out of his frozen, confused state. He jumped slightly, enough to unglue his paws from the floors and stumble back a few steps. Jato turned his attention immediately back on the female, or rather where she once stood. He heard her long before he saw her coming and as such was able to quickly shift a little to the side to avoid the full brunt of her attack. A yelp escaped the male's throat as her teeth met his fur, although he cried out more in surprise as opposed to pain. 

The ovcharka didn't snap back despite the female's crazed attacks, he dodged what he could, keeping his head lowered to avoid  her fangs meeting his throat.  The male side stepped and backed away from majority of the blows, although he could still feel chunks of fur being torn and canine teeth scraping his skin. Her attacks were wild and relentless, however she didn't seem to be aiming for any vital points in particular, just any bit if flesh she could sink her sharp canines into. On several occasions he could've sworn she even attacked herself. The crazed look in her merciless, yellow eyes told him she wouldn't register anything he said next. She was no longer conscious, just an angry body of instinct and rage who sought to destroy the two males in front of her. 

The mixed breed female managed to tear a few wounds into Jato's coat, no matter how much he tried to dodge there was no avoiding her attacks. A new large wound on his muzzle was glistening crimson red now, he had received the wound after a strong lunge and bite from the deranged mutt. Thoughts were racing through his mind. What do I do?! She'll keep attacking until I bleed to death! I've got no choice... The wounds themselves didn't affect him too much, over the course of his lifetime he had developed a fairly high pain tolerance, but that wouldn't stop him from passing out from blood loss. After receiving a deep gash next to his right eye he decided to retaliate. 

Jato shot Shadow an unsure look, he didn't know if he was doing the right thing but other than that split second he didn't have too much time to think. Lowering himself into an almost lying down position, the female towered over him for a moment. It was at that moment that he shot his shoulder upwards, hoping to send her back and knock the wind out of her to temporarily stun her, maybe giving them time to get away if his provided enough force. It worked when his master kicked him in the chest, it should work on her too right? 

((Okay good. It's just that halfway through I forgot what I was writing and my mind blanked out XD))