[img]https://i.imgur.com/q9Hq2SQ.png[/img]
[color=gray]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/mApeJL0.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/rUzyFdp.png[/img]

[color=ee82ed]Race:[/color] Silver-Wolf Shifter
[color=ee82ed]Class:[/color]  Arcane Mystic
[color=ee82ed]Location:[/color]  Bar
[color=ee82ed]Interactions:[/color] [@potter] Arya/Stella, [@princess] Phia
Mentions: [@Funnyguy] Minerva/Miris [@Tae] Meiyu [@oso] Bastion

[color=ee82ed]Equipment:[/color]
[hider=Equipment List]
🐾 Special Magic Item: A magically enchanted Haori garb of snow🐾white fabric made of a mix of various creature materials and what few rare magic crystals scrounged. It enables the haori’s internal temperature to be adjusted to keep the user at the optimal temperature within a feasible degree and minor elemental resistance of the basic 4 elements imbued.
🐾Oruna tribal moon bracelet: a charm bracelet made in pairs, sharing a deep bond. Those of the tribe share them with a close friend, cherished family member, or lifemate who holds a fanged tooth, one for each of those most trusted and loved.
🐾Small pouch holding emergency dried meat and any fresh fruit picked
🐾Small pouch of freshwater
🐾Sewing kit 
🐾Small tool kit 
🐾Small gold pouch 
🐾A partially started personal journal
🐾A personal dear drawing hidden on his person
🐾Dark Crystal Shard-left Eye[/hider] 
[color=ee82ed]Attire:[/color]
[color=ee82ed]Gold Balance:[/color] 27
[color=ee82ed]Injuries:[/color] 
[img]https://i.imgur.com/q9Hq2SQ.png[/img][/center]


The wolf studied Captain Beckett, curious to discern this prince’s aim and motivations that drew so many to such a hidden port, though held doubts of the man’s words, expecting only vagueness. 


[color=peru]“Borrrring.”[/color] Minerva commented with an eye-roll. [color=peru]“My turn! What's your type, Captain Beckett?”[/color]

Minerva’s cutting interjection turned his scrutizing eye back to the feline with a sharp huff of his nostrils, ears flicking in disbelief.*[b][color=ee82ed]Again, you insult my manner of approach. Then to waste time with this pointless type farce.[/color][/b]* Fighting back the urge to scowl, sensing a similar intense glare from Minerva’s direction after following up with a reminder to be truthful.

 She held a strange, smug animosity when glancing his way, which left him further irked and confused. For what reason did she keep challenging his attempts to learn and gather details to aid the group? He could not say; parts of him suspected her of possibly working with the pirates. Her sudden appearance still left mysterious questions; the continued dismissal of him, and the volunteering of Phia to them made such doubts worse. 

Glowering back at the feline shifter, thinking of how she had stuck to Arya during their trek. A sense of unease had been felt and had since worsened from her conflicting antics.

Turning his attention away from the feline with the reminder that she wasn’t the threat, and with a slow rumbling exhale when glimpsing Arya to find her smiling sweetly at him. The unexpected, cute sight took him by surprise; the warmth of it reminded him of Phia, but there was a sadness..a loneliness behind it as well, perplexed by what he might have done to warrant it, but comforting despite the curious, queer tilt of the ear as he observed the tiefling. 

Regretful that he could not have helped her, Minerva’s closeness made doing so difficult: keeping the pirates wandering too close was the most he could risk.  As long as the risk to Phia’s life persisted, shackling his actions more than any cheap rope or chain could.

[color=#77adff][i]”What...What.. Do you want.. With us?” [/i][/color]

His ears twitched at the shy, squeaky voice Arya had let out, hints of holding back tears, signs of her struggle to speak up. Yet, she managed to do so despite whatever fears followed hers. Such bravery was commendable. A simple question, but straight to the point and the key point to figuring out why this prince would care enough to waste time with random travelers. He gave a small appreciative nod and a hint of a smile, thankful to get a sensible question. 

Menzai-


[hider=Shadowed wolf, a cold summer morning][color=ee82ed][center]Flashback:[/center][/color]
[center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jJO0SV19l8] A dark summer [/url][/center]
(song found/credited to na)

A pair of icy dark blue eyes blinked open, partially blinded by the intense morning summer light, softened by the shade of the tree towering in front of the young wolf. A lithe, young form that kept to the shadow peered around at a hut. Small, fluffy, white normally perked upright, drooped as if deflated, almost hiding in his messy violet hair. The vibrant, lustrous purple appeared faded and lanky, as if washed out or drained, matching the paling skin that stood starkly against the sunlight seeping through gaps. 

The morning air felt cool and crisp with an abundance of various scents of fruits and plants, musty earth, and wildlife. Activity buzzed all about with bugs whizzing and buzzing about, the flap of some unseen bird's wings followed by the faint chirps of chicks feeding. 

Menzai paid no heed to them; nature’s beauty had lost its allure, the smells and sights that had made him curious, the unknown mysteries that made exploring captivating, the sound of laughter that warmed up the heart now only felt empty. All the colors and wondrous sights; all appeared grey in the boy’s sunken eyes. An empty sadness and bitter grief peered cooly through the greyish gloom past the tree to the small hut nestled a short distance from other gathered huts. This had been made to give the intended patron a bit more privacy; little good it did with the group of young cubs, of varying ages, consisting mostly of boys, though a few girls mixed in, crowding their way around the vine-covered entrance. 

Their loud, curious chattering voices blended, making it difficult to discern who spoke, although he didn't try much. He found little need in trying or much in anything. Without Trinity, what worth was there in life? 

A bitter thought that persisted in his every thought.  Each day, life grew a little duller and waking a little heavier. Sometimes unsure if he was awake or in a nightmare, though most times felt as if both. 

How or why he bothered to find himself there was difficult to say, as things tended to be a blur; walking merely to walk for staying still left his mind vulnerable to stray ideas or hallucinations. At times, he might catch glimpses of his little sister in shadows and dark corners, the soft, giggly whispers of her voice on the wind. 

A torturous reminder that bitterly stung freshly at the sounds of the kids' excitable laughing, flinging their questions without rhyme or gaps of time to answer into the room.*[b][color=ee82ed] Hngh…look at them..swarming around that elf girl like she’s some kind of attraction. Not like they haven’t seen elves before.[/color][/b]* He thought with a bitter huff. Though for the younger generations it was.

The sallow-skinned wolf was perplexed and confused by the village's strange fascination with this elf kid. She was an outsider, wasn’t she? It made little sense to accept her when the tribe was still recuperating and adjusting to the jungle. This was no place for an elf.

And yet, hardly could anywhere in the village without hearing rumors and talks about her; of what a miracle it was for the poor girl to be carried safely through such dangerous territory. She needed a place to stay and be kept safe, that was clear, and none of the Oruna tribe would turn down any lost traveler in need, certainly least a child.


Still, to see the tribe nigh obsessed over the girl’s wellbeing, the way the kids showed no decorum in obnoxious questioning. The claws of his right hand scraped and dug into the tree’s bark, watching the group.”[color=ee82ed] Tch, bunch of nosy mewling pups.[/color]” He muttered under his breath with a low growl, his solemn expression hardening into annoyed disdain; a part of him wanted to go over and tell them to bug off as they were bothering the neighbors with their obnoxious overzealousness. 

“[color=ee82ed] And she’s still recovering, isn’t she? How they expect her to sleep with-[/color]” Muttering his disdain lowly, shifting to step forward, but sounds of someone pushing through the blockage had him halt as a new voice had spoken up through the chatter; familiar, female, though not until the voices calmed down did he realize it to be Dawn.

There were only a few that could manage to calm a group of excitable cubs, and among them, Dawn was one of the more calming presences. She was often viewed as the big sister to the kids and a friend who repeatedly sought to help them, but received silence at each turn.  

He still saw her as a friend, but seeing her only brought him painful memories of Dawn playing with his sister; her voice, her scent, it brought imagery of the pair laughing, braiding each other's hair while he was busy fretting and worrying; her poor health made most activities too strenuous. Her coughing fits were frequent and easily incurred, though the girl, older in experience and a motherly understanding, knew to be gentle.  The pair did enjoy teasing his worrywarting ways, which he hardly appreciated, but the smile it gave Trinity made all the frantic near panics and scares worth it. 

Feeling a cold tightness in his chest, an icy hand gripping at his heart, then a vehement shaking of the head with a panted gasp for air. Panting and grasping to catch his breath, his vision blurring briefly as a flash of lightheadedness struck him. The young wolf found himself leaning more against the tree, his body fighting through hunger, despite the villagers' attempt to get him to feed; his appetite turned to ash. 

His heated forehead pressed against the rough bark, cool to the touch; the sturdy trunk offered him familiarity and stability.

He struggled initially, starting slow and small, working in a little bit of air with each quick inhale till he was drawing a deep lungful, his chest rose, shaking off the coldness that nearly choked him. 

As his breathing settled, a glint of amber from within the hut peeked through the vines; unsure if he saw it or felt it, though his head pulled from the treetrunk towards the hut. Blinking in disbelief as he peered at the doorway, thinking he had glimpsed a hint of color peeking out. In that tiny glimpse, he felt a sliver of comforting warmth. 

Menzai stared in cold befuddlement when his tilted ears found that things had quieted down some inside. Enough for him to catch snippets of Dawn’s voice and mention of name? His ears perked in understanding.* [b][color=ee82ed]Her name? What..what does that matter?[/color][/b]* He huffed ruefully, intending to turn his ear away, but instead found himself almost straining to catch the elf girl’s words. 


[color=#f97fca]“Ph… “[/color] 

His strained ears could only make out a small part of her soft voice, the words appearing to falter. Agitation crossed his face as he sought to focus more, but found managing this much too taxing on his hunger-tired body. 

A scowl overtook him then as he realized what he was doing and stubbornly turned away.* [b][color=ee82ed]Grr..what are you doing? She’s no one, just some elf…Ph…what did she-[/color][/b]* Catching his curiosity creeping and ceased it with a low growling huff, excusing what he thought felt another of the shadowy tricks. What matter did he have to care what an outsider’s name was? How do they so easily and readily accept her? 

A sharp exhale through his nose as he lifted his gaze to see that he faced the tree; there, he would take notice of his small, clawed hand clutching the trunk. Trembling fingers dug deep into its bark, cracked around the scraped fingers with beads and streaks of red, the knuckle poked out harshly white from the intense strain.

Gingerly pulling his claws to gaze over the scraped fingers, taking in the indents, dark holes hinted red. But in place of pain, he only felt numbness, though as he studied the damage he caused, his face softened with shame. 

* [color=ee82ed] I..what am I doing?[/color]* His brows furrowed into a frown with a mournful sigh. The tree had done nothing to him to deserve such wounds, just as the elf girl did not deserve his ire. And yet, turning his attention to the hut, he felt conflicting anger; the source of his animosity escaped him, and a curious envy, an urge to join them. 

But his body refused to move from the shade, the way his hand unconsciously fought to stay in place. Still, this strange little pull persisted, and his rage began to boil even when he saw no reason to be.

Before he could let the confusing rush of emotions take hold, the tired wolf forced himself to turn around. His back pressed to the trunk with a small grunting panting huff, the pounding in his chest ebbed with each forced gasp.” [color=ee82ed]S-stop it! There’s..you got no reason to bother her…she..she has Dawn with her.[/color]”His breath hitched and came out shaky while partially peering around his shoulder, peeking at the group laughing and prattling about sleep. Some he thought spoke her name, but the jumbled voices covered conversation. 

His expression saddened with a tired, meek shake of the head.*[b][color=ee82ed] Better her than..than..[/color][/b]” Sharply inhaling, glancing at his trembling hand once more, sniffling as tears threatened to well up against his wishes. 

[color=lavender]“ I-I’m scared..big brother! I-I can’t…your hand.. It's slippery…bro-”[/color] A tired and scared voice whispered on the breeze; a high-pitch scream of terror shrieked in his ears as flashes of a muffled face stuck in horror.

A visage burned forever into his frozen eyes; a night terror that stalked him relentlessly. A failure he could and would never forget. 

His trembling hand closed into a fist while pressing further into the tree as if afraid of an unseen phantom. An urge to hide overwhelmed him.*[b][color=ee82ed] N-no….i-its best I stay away.[/color][/b]” His mouth twitched angrily at the sight of his hand.*[b][color=ee82ed] Useless…a useless monster. You…you couldn’t even…[/color][/b]” Biting his lip, breath heavy on his lips curled into disgust as his off hand gripped the trembling on in a tight hold. 

He gave it a harsh squeeze, leaving fresh scratches along its back and knuckles, fighting back the hateful rage towards himself.*[b][color=ee82ed] I..I won’t…can’t let anyone get hurt cause of me…[/color][/b]* Sniffling back a small sob as he allowed his body to slide down along the tree till he sat under its base, where thick gnarled roots stuck out from the ground at his sides, where he huddled himself.

Sitting there, huddled in the dark shade, Menzai hugged his legs against his chest; hearing bits of laughter or chatter, a pang of guilt and envy weighed and coiled in his gut. His body shivered as if it had turned freezing. 

Amidst the cold chill, a tiny warmth could be felt at the small of his back. What or where it came from, the wolf couldn’t say; was it the elf girl? What the sensation was or how he felt it didn’t matter; it offered him a semblance of respite.

*[b][color=ee82ed] This…I don’t know, but even if it's just this then..then it will be enough.[/color][/b]* Finding himself relishing and leaning back against the tree, and for a moment felt as if he was in the hut with them.

“ [color=ee82ed]P…she said her name was P something.[/color]” Muttering his recollection of her name, only catching a letter, but remembered more the cuteness of her voice.”[color=ee82ed] …Sweet P…..rest well.[/color]” A muttered sniff, closing his eyes, remaining in the shadow, the sense of her closeness a blanket against the loneliness. 

[/hider]

[color=#f97fca]"There is someone else here,"[/color]

Menzai’s eyes opened with a startled start, his head turning partially to see Phia standing close, her whispered voice barely registering at first. Blinking briefly at a loss as Bastion soon came into view, the last he could recollect was checking to see if any others had questions when he caught a glimpse of Bastion, then…

Blinking the memory away, his mind left reeling as if waking from a dream. An unpleasant dream. 

The discomfort melted away in place of relief to see Phia up and rested. A few seconds later, her words registered; before he could speak up, the mysterious figure in question stepped forth, the snaketress, or to say melted out of the shadows to be more accurate. 

“[color=ee82ed] Hm, so it seems. To follow us through a treacherous jungle and manage to remain hidden, a testament to her skills of stealth.[/color]” Impressed as he was displeased to see the woman who had a hand in her injuries. 

Glancing towards the half-elf, a look of pride in his eyes at how well her hunting skills have come, and doing so after sleeping.

He had sensed someone tailing them early enough, but saw no trace or scent that told of traversing downhill, though to evade his acute senses was perplexing. An inkling of magic was involved. 


[color=#7dbc89]“I have a question.”[/color]

And she followed with a purpose in mind. Curious, the wolf stayed quiet to see what she might add. 

[color=#7dbc89]“You bind their hands, yet let them keep their weapons.” [/color]Her tone was calm–curious, even–but the curiosity of a serpent, not a scholar.[color=#7dbc89] “A fascinating choice. A thief would call it sloppy. A strategist would call it deliberate.”[/color]

She spoke with a sly boldness, her questions all but challenging, risky in the presence of pirates. He eyed the woman cautiously, studying the way she carried herself; quiet, difficult to read, but danger lurked in her every action and movement. 


[color=#7dbc89]“Perhaps it’s meant as humiliation. Mercy wrapped in mockery, so they remember who holds the leash. A way to cull the loud from the clever. Or maybe it’s a test, to see who’s wise enough not to struggle. It could even be theater, a performance of civility for your Prince’s court. A way to show the world how well your captives behave under your hospitality. Or…” [/color]her lips curved faintly, [color=#7dbc89]“my personal favorite, a trap waiting for someone foolish enough to believe you sloppy. The first fool who lunges gives you permission to bleed the rest. Fear spreads faster when the corpse is fresh.”[/color]

The snaketress seemed to enjoy playing her own games, the way she shamelessly challenged and called out on their meager ploys. How they allowed them to keep their weapon and gear was peculiar, while peering at the port, taking in their numbers, and the demonstration of cannons. The confidence was warranted, for they held all the cards…for now.

And Beckett was a man who clearly reveled in his position, the way he toyed and mocked them since showing his smug prick face. 

[color=#1abc9c]"Questions, questions," [/color]he said, spreading his arms like a man receiving applause. [color=#1abc9c]"You lot are nosy as gulls. But I did say I’d answer, didn’t I? So. Let’s make good on that."[/color]

The man spoke boisterously, treating this all as a fun game, and had had enough of taking questions. His tone offered little confidence of gaining much, if any, useful intel.


[color=#1abc9c]"You asked what grand ambition our Prince holds? Simple. He wants it all. This island..." [/color]he gestured toward the rough skyline of Port Verge, a crooked sprawl of sails and smoke, [color=#1abc9c]"...is just the start. Give him time, and the rest of the Principalities will kneel or burn. The man’s got a taste for crowns, and lucky me, I get to be the one placing them on his head."[/color]

Menzai glanced in the direction and gestured, the sprawling of ships lining the port with clouds of smoke billowed and blackened the darkening sky. A show of force; a threat to peace, prepping for conquest. A grand fleet it appeared, but still no answer as to what methods the prince drew him to foolishly lofty ambition. 

Then a burst of raucous laughter bellowed from Beckett, who looked more amused and pleased towards Minerva’s question; one he held no interest in and hoped she had been dismissed with said laughter, yet the man’s face said otherwise. 

Witnessing the captain happily point to one after another, annoyed at the man’s casualness. His facial expression upon seeing him point at Phia; feral fury burned within with a hidden scowl, darkening still upon seeing him continuing, pointing to Arya next.*[b][color=ee82ed] If he so much as dares touch a hair on  the women, no army will prevent my wrath.[/color][/b]* The wolf fumed and, from the corner of his eye, could see Phia’s scowling expression, sharing his sentiment. 

[color=#1abc9c]"Can’t forget you, handsome." [/color]

The captain’s words took him aback as he took in the lazy finger aimed at him. A shiver of disgust ran through him, finding maintain his stoic expression, but it paled to the scowling anger demonstrated on the half-elf’s face. To see her so angry was a rare sight; one seldom done for her own sake. In that rage, he felt concern for Arya, for him. 

[color=#f97fca]"You will not harm anyone here." [/color]

Her chin lifted, wild hair catching the breeze, as if daring him to test her.
[color=#f97fca]"You do not wish to know what happens when you tease wolves." [/color]

Feeling her step closer, the wolf gently wrapped his hand around hers, giving a comforting squeeze and a small nod when she glanced at him.” [color=ee82ed]Let them laugh and jeer. Their number gives them inflated confidence. Patience, sweet Phia. Once their vulnerability reveals itself, so will their cowardice….they will taste our fangs yet.[/color]” He whispered to her alone, with the hope that the reminder would temper her anger.  

[color=#1abc9c] "Do I look like a man who plays games?"[/color]

He could do little else but help let out an exasperated eye-roll before catching Phia’s quick answer, which brought out an amused huff at her directness; a fitting reply to the man’s rhetorical question.


[color=#1abc9c]"Course I do. But not this time. You’re not prisoners. Not yet. The bindings were just a precaution. Keeps the journey peaceful, you understand. As for your weapons...we're not worried. This is Port Verge. Coming here unarmed’d be like fighting a Kraken in a canoe. Not fair. Not fun." [/color]He looked at Arya again, and Phia felt a rush of tension seize her once more.[color=#1abc9c] [color=#1abc9c] "And finally, to answer your question, love...I have no fucking idea what he wants with you. That's between my Prince and you poor, poor souls. Just know this...Ravic Dane is a man who gets what he wants. Which brings me to the rules he's given you lot. Here’s how this works…once you step into the Verge, you’re free. Do whatever your wild little hearts desire. Drink, fight, buy, steal, bed whoever and whatever you bloody want. No one’s stopping you. But understand this...Port Verge ain’t like the other nations. There’s no justice here. Only vengeance. Every action has a consequence."[/color][/color]

The man prattled on, clearly one who loved to hear himself talk, answering the remaining questions. The indifferent mention of their weapons, a precaution, was it? A testing turn of his wrists, then a twisting pull, having the rope well since loosened by claws digging snap off, seeing no need to keep up the pretense, escape had he chosen to was a simple matter.* [b][color=ee82ed]Take our weapons? A wolf’s body is its weapon.[/color][/b]* 

Menzai shook his head with a derisive sigh, rubbing at his wrists, the rope burns itchy against his fingers, easing the numbness in his hands, glad to be free of the meager restraints.*[b][color=ee82ed] Allowing us freedom to move as we please within their port? Their boastful carelessness will be their undoing, I’ll ensure that.[/color][/b]* The wolf growled softly, glaring at the captain, a man who thought himself untouchable, but only as long as their prince stood on their so-called throne. 

[color=#1abc9c] "Two rules. That’s it. Don’t leave the city. And stay alive. Break either one…"[/color] Then he snapped his fingers.[color=#1abc9c]  "You die."[/color]

The terms were simple enough, unpleasant the thought of having to spend any duration at this sketchy port. To not escape and stay alive, Beckett enjoyed his teasings and with every word designated him his next main prey. His insults and indignity would not go ignored. Every man’s due comes.

Hearing the man finish with talks of seeking them when the prince was ready to receive them. For what reason they were here remained unknown. With the questions answered and dealings done with us, they departed, much to the relief of the group. 

Though with it, he could not help but find the whole thing peculiar, with this crash landing them at a hidden port city and a pirate prince who sought out a bunch of stragglers. Did this Prince Dane know of these strange, dark gem shards? Or if he suspects them of having hold of it, then how? 

[color=#f97fca]“I’m hungry,” [/color]she said at last with an expressive stomp to the ground.[color=#f97fca] “And thirsty. If this place is as dangerous as he says, maybe we should see what kind of beings live here… and learn more about this prince they follow.”[/color]

The harsh stomp pulled him from his musings to hear Phia state her hunger. A heavy grumble roiled in his stomach; the mention of food suddenly wrought a wall of exhaustion and hunger to plague him; no longer forced to stay in high alert, and the frustrating stress of the conversation staving it waned. And in its place, a nigh-starving hunger gripped him, made worse by the tiresome treks and his close call with death, left him drained. 

Placing a hand against his robed belly as if trying to settle the snarling beasts. A hint of embarrassed shame.*[b][color=ee82ed] Tsk..to forego eating this morning of all days.[/color][/b]* Grumbling his displeasure at his own recklessness. 

Before he could think to thank Phia for the suggestion, the woman had already begun walking on ahead.” [color=ee82ed]W-wait, sweet Phia![/color]” He called out, starting to rush after her, but stopped when he saw Arya and gave an apologetic glance.”[color=ee82ed] Forgive her haste, lady Arya, when hunger overtakes her, all other tasks are put aside.[/color]” Peering off towards the half-elf gradually getting further away.

Shaking his head with a wary sigh, placing a hand gently on her arm, only a light brush of the tips of his fingers.” I’m certain she has already offered, but please travel with us. I…we should stay close as a group.” Giving an assuring nod as he stepped back.”[color=ee82ed] Long as we travel together, I give my protection. Be at ease and join us in feast, or what little ease one can afford in this town. I’m sure she would appreciate a friend to shop with as well.[/color]” Turning his head upward over his shoulder to find that Minerva and the snaketress had gone off, whether together or alone, uncertain though this gave one less thing to worry about, for the time being. 

A slight shrug of his shoulders as he turned back to Arya and looked up to Stella, who still watched him with cautious suspicion.”[color=ee82ed] A grand determination to protect in such a wondrous bird, Miss Stella. I hope to have you join us as well.[/color]” 

A quick, friendly nod, then he turned to give chase to the half-elf stomping her way to hunt food. 


[/color]