<div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_u"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 24pt;">)+( <span class="bbc_u">Mute</span> )+(</span></span></strong><br/><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">The Furtive Spook</span></em><br/><em><span class="bbc_u">Location:</span></em> Main Densites, Kiowa Territory.<br/><em><span class="bbc_u">Company:</span></em> Jadene. <br/><em><span class="bbc_u">Perimeter Sense:</span></em> Vitani and Bhaltair. <br/><em><span class="bbc_u">Rank:</span></em> Kiowa Ingyanga <br/><br/><br/><br/><strong> "I see them, the souls that struggle with the dark...</strong><br/><br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/UC3G1Iem.jpg)</div><br/>"Whoa whoa, what do you mean Tsuki likes Mute?"<br/>"Nah, no way. She's gunna be Zuya's girl at this rate."<br/>"F****n' called it!"<br/>"I mean, yeah, who'd claim that inferior freak anyway? He's a living gargoyle, a walking dead-thing."<br/>"Well, I think he's nice. He was always paying the pups a visit to drop off snacks and support the sitters-"<br/>"My a**, he's just too weird! I mean, look at him now, all banged up to hell. Can't even do his damn job. All the females will be out of heat before he fully heals."<br/>"Pffft, as if he ever had a chance; never ONCE has he shown interest in-!...wait, who's that?"<br/>"Jadene?"<br/>"What's her deal? Bringing food to that misfit? Don't tell me she likes him. She's gotta be as diluted as Tsuki, Vitani, and Slash."<br/>"Misguided fools. All of them. They still have Renyu's brain-rot in their heads. Ha, maybe she'll claim Mute out of pity!"<br/>"Yeah, some sick pet-pity-project. Maybe she's into that-"<br/>"Shut up, the lot of you! Listen to yourselves! Jadene wouldn't sink that low. She just feels sorry for him."<br/>"...yeah...and sympathy is just sugared poison."<br/>"..."<br/>"...shit."<br/>"What is it?"<br/>"Pecado's brother and sister just got back...and they don't look too friendly."<br/>"Aw f**k, shit is about to hit the fan. They're making a beeline to Mute's den, kekekeke, this outta be good~"<br/><br/>When Mute's hopeful eyes rose to meet <strong>Jadene's</strong> deep peepers, he could only turn his head away with a shy scowl. In all honesty, her blunt relayed intention of kindness made him feel bashful just now. As if he could ever trouble anyone just to feed him. It was bad enough <strong>Tsuki</strong> had been nursing him back to health as dedicated as she had been lately. In his shame for letting his condition get as bad as it had; wasn't he just a bother right now? The dark circles under his eyes did little to hide how ashamed he felt. But also...how surprised he felt that this huntress came out of the blue just to service his needs like a true team player. Well, according to his stomach, an absolute savior.<br/>He bid her a temporary farewell as she left to fetch him a bite to eat. Such an admonish-able fae. Admonition: as in the sense her very actions were gently reprimanding him for thinking he was truly alone at times like this. Inadvertently, she could very well be scolding him for allowing the cowl of victim-hood seize and block out his usual confidence. In truth, he could only be glad the pups he loved to visit could not see him like this.<br/><br/>For a few moments. Mute tried to force himself to smile. He reminded himself he need to seem more thankful for what he had. After all, if it weren't for <strong>Vitani and co. 's</strong> daring rescue...Pecado and his lackeys may have succeeded in killing him...instead of...him killing Pecado to save <strong>Tsuki.</strong> No, there was no guarantee he'd harm her. He was an unranked wolf, while she actually held a position. His lackeys may have held him in check on that note. Well...maybe. However, <strong>Vitani and Slash</strong> would have surely come to save her in his stead. Right? Mute's smile seemed to falter against the gentle breeze; the bitter cold dragging it down. Once again, Pecado's defiled corpse in the murky cavern flashed in his mind. Mute sternly shook his head. A fear of "what if <strong>Jadene</strong> ever found out" arose in his weary mind. What if...she ever discovered who he really was? Like <strong>Tsuki</strong> nearly found out in his old cave, atop the mountain? His real name, the name given to him by his adopted parents, the name he left behind when Renyu gave him a new one.<br/>Yeah...Shiloh was gone. He wasn't Shiloh anymore. He hadn't been for over a year now. "Mute" was what the wolves of Kiowa called him. It suited him better. Like calling a bear "huge" or a stork "tall." He was a wolf without one of a wolf's most important tools.<br/><br/>Once again, Mute wearily shook his head, and upon hearing <strong>Jadene</strong> draw near once more he did his absolute best to wear a thankful smile. A truly, grateful, smile. His eyes stung with moisture. And as soon as she laid the offering near him; his composure nearly shattered. The facade of "the grateful host" he tried to portray became riddled with cracks. Mute's ears drooped , as slowly, gracefully he laid his head to rest against her front, right leg as she stood before his prostrate position. It was by no means planned, but he pressed his forehead against her leg tightly, because it was the closest thing this pathetic brute could do to embrace her for what she had done. Even if only to her, it was a small, kind gesture. Mute gritted his teeth. A few droplets kissed the snow; a tiny number of escaped convicts from the prison of feelings he held for ransom deep inside his aching heart.<br/><br/>It was times like these that being unable to say how he felt was a literal hell of frustration and torture.<br/><br/>Yet, sooner than later, Mute reminded himself he was being awkward. And likely making his guest feel uncomfortable. This was not behavior fit for a gentle-canine. Ironically, he retracted his head without looking at her, fearful of what estranged expression she was most likely making at him right now. And weakly, he began to chew. No later had the taste of valuable protein hit his gums, did a shot of vigor hit his muscles. Food! Mute took an enormous bite! His appetite, at last, breaking through his bought of depression and anxiety. Oh, if only he could remember how to hold someone close as to possibly show how much was welling up in his heart! Yet, even the mere thought of trying to repay the huntress with affection caused his cracked ribs to wince. As if a harsh reminder from his fellow pack mates not to move and possibly make the injury worse. But by the moon, if he could-! For all these wonderful fae had done for him so far, if he were large enough, he'd hold them all against his chest and weep and smile!<br/>...<br/>...but...<br/>...sadly...the feeling would be all but squashed...as an all-too familiar scent hit Mute's nose: blood. No, not the piece of kill in front of his teeth. No. Wolf's blood. A very familiar wolf's blood. Mute's nose twitched as his head shot up from eating as a wave of great concern washed over him. "<strong>Jadene...you need to leave please.</strong>" was what he wished he could have said as he looked at her, his mouth slightly hanging open. It was concern. Soon, four wolves loomed into the clearing. Like four bad omens. Two, front in center, a male and female. And two hanging back, heads lowered in a snicker of retribution...not much different than hyenas. Mute recognized them all. The two in back...were Pecado's lackeys...the cowards who fled during the avalanche. For lack of a better word: snitches and a bully's side-kicks. But the two front and center were more worrisome, and for two reasons. Pecado had two older siblings in Kiowa. Both held rank equal to him and the hunter standing beside him. An older brother and sister. The fae, Hannorabi, likely at least knew of <strong>Jadene</strong> because she too was a huntress in the pack. She had a reputation for being a loose cannon, an aggressor, not to mention the least favored to work with in a team due to her selfish tendencies to hog the glory in getting the final kill. Like both her brothers, she had a flush orange coat with oaken hints of fall, and sported a crude scar that spread over both eyes horizontally. Her wild-wide eyes clearly communicated her rage and unhinged feelings.<br/>Then there was the oldest brother, Mataro, a warrior. He was built a bit more sturdy than his younger brother. But while Hannorabi and Pecado had sported the same angry brown eyes, he had inhereted his father's icy blue eyes. Cold, cunning, calculated, emotionless, and dangerously intelligent. He was as calm as stone; nearly at all times. However, he harbored no sympathy or empathy for anything or anyone. If wolves had ever grasped what a machine was, they likely would have thought of him. Cold like ice and steel. A warrior ever possessed by his own pursuit of perfection. SO much so, he never even bothered to notice the fae who fancied him. Yet, now, for the more worrisome element: their paws were soaked in Pecado's blood. Mute's nose recognized it instantly. His eyes clarified what Hannorabi and Mataro suspected.<br/><br/>They knew...even if it wasn't the entire story...they knew. Pecado's desecrated body in a hellish state was fresh in their minds.<br/><br/>Mute could only frantically ponder if they had slowly trailed Pecado's last known location upon hearing he never returned, after <strong>Slash's</strong> report. Yet, how they found the scent after such a recent blizzard was beyond him. Hannorabi gave a low, threatening growl as Mute raised his head a little higher to address them. "<strong>Jadene...be a dear and make yourself scarce. We have private business with the inyanga.</strong>" Hannorabi's sickeningly sweet voice barely hid the threatening tone underneath. It was a poisonous anger she hardly struggled to reign in. Her brother took a calm step forward. "<strong>We just need some information Jadene. We wont be long.</strong>" he lied with a sincere visage of restraint and nobility. Like a nobleman come to claim first rights to a peasant's newlywed. Twas only his birthright to have his way.<br/>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><div style="text-align: right;"><strong> ...I see them, my silence beckons them, yet they do not come.</strong></div></div>