heads or tails?

The days were growing shorter as autumn rolled in with a fanfare of red, brown and gold crisp leaves. It meant that his working hours were longer under the cover of darkness. He dared not risk going out in broad daylight. He was too easily recognised, too exposed and that was dangerous. There were many superstitious wolves out there, ones who were willing to kill something that they didn't understand. Colburn wore the darkness like a protective shroud, keeping his presence minimal and contact with others limited. His crew was the exception, but they had proven essential for his survival.

The all black wolf settled into the shadow of a redwood, black eyes scouting his surroundings for movement. In the darkness out of sight of the moon's glow Colburn was perfectly camouflaged and lying in wait for someone to come along. Many nights he sat for hours on an empty stomach and skulked back home with nothing to show for it. Tonight could be the same, but he didn't let it disturb him. He could wait for as long as it took.

The screech of a hungry owl echoed through the trees causing his head to snap up and tear his attention away from the ground for mere seconds, but that was all it took. It was an amateur mistake to lose focus like that. It distracted him long enough that someone was getting close. Shit! Had the guards caught on to what he was up to? He shrank back into the shadows, body tensed and ready to run.

code by wallflower & art by raptor

ACE SINCLAIR

The forest is so red, Ace could've sworn he walked into a forest of blood. Thankfully, that isn't the case, but it's just more vibrant than anywhere else this autumn. He has to admit it's pretty compared to where he came from. Everything there seemed so much more dismal. Even the people were boring.

Here, everything is alive. Tucked in the forest are the whispers of the Fae and in the streets are those whispering rumors of the King. Apparently he can't spread the seed, what a shame. Ace isn't sure if it's any of his business, but it sure does get a few laughs out of others.

He's just risen from a nap and now the woods are bathed in moonlight instead. It seems like an entirely different world now as he walks through. He only hopes this time he doesn't run into another grump from the army. The man's stomach grumbles and it's clear that he'll have to risk that in order to find something to eat.

In the distance there is the screech of an owl and it appears he's not alone for a late night hunt. The noise seems to have startled something in the brush though. Ace's ear twitches and he turns to where he thinks he heard it. Could it be something to hunt? Is someone watching him?

Well, only one way to find out.

He walks closer, making sure each step is slow and quiet. Then when he gets right up to the brush, he peers in and sees… shadows. There is a scent in the air though, so he's not totally convinced he's alone.

"Hellooo in there…?" he calls, wondering if he'll make out any movement by speaking. Though as his eyes adjust, he swears he can see the shape of a wolf. "You okay, buddy?" he asks, just in case his hunch is correct.

"Speaking."

table by rae - image by yellwolf | @Colburn

He was still, stiff as a statue. A blob of onyx hidden among the dancing shadows. All it took was one single owl to stir him from his stillness enough to expose him. The cloak of darkness was stripped from him and his camouflage was compromised. The movement drew someone close and he saw a muzzle poking into his hiding place. Two bright eyes sparked in the darkness. If he was quiet enough the man might lose interest and move on.

Hellooo in there…? The voice stirred his hackles, tingling down the length of his spine. Could he see him? Colburn was close enough for the man to touch. He dared not move, even breathe unless it gave him away.

Something heavy pressed down on his tail and he grimaced. The stranger's large paw accidentally stepped on the very tip of his tail.

He hissed under his breath. You okay, buddy? The man looked directly at him and addressed him. So much for staying hidden. "Who's askin?" he questioned the stranger, suspicious that his friendly act was a trap. He could be one of the imperial army patrolling the woods. The imps had been sniffing around too much for the thief's liking lately and he wondered if it was his fault. Maybe he'd been working too close to home and this was karma biting him in the ass. "You an Imp?" he asked, standing to his full height which wasn't very impressive so he stood on the tips of his toes to add an inch or maybe just half an inch.

code by wallflower & art by raptor

ACE SINCLAIR

It's clear this dude isn't too happy that he's been found. Whoops. Ace has his keen hearing to thank for this one.

"I'm Ace," he introduces himself, but takes a step back just in case this guy is a little off his rocker. "Who are you?" He doesn't know much about the natives here, but anything could be possible. There's all the tension with the army and the king, so he doesn't totally blame him for being suspicious.

"Uh, what?" At first, Ace is confused at his question. Imp? Like the fae? But then he realizes maybe it's just a slang term for the army. "Oh, no I'm not in the army. Just a commoner. I arrived here a few months ago and I'm still getting my toes wet and all." He lifts up a paw to twiddle his toes as if to emphasize it.

He takes another look around and it doesn't seem like anyone else is here. At least, besides the owl that is still hooting in the distance. There is a gentle breeze that rustles the last of the leaves on the trees, but otherwise it's quiet and they are alone.

"Are you in trouble or something?" he asks, curious about why he would be hiding at all. Is the army after him? Maybe he's a thief like Ace, but he won't ask that just yet. He'd rather keep his own ass safe for a little while longer.

"Speaking."

table by rae - image by yellwolf | @Colburn

Moonlight filtered out from behind the clouds peeling away his cloak of shadows and leaving the thief feeling naked and exposed.His presence was already rumbled, but the darkness had granted him anonymity and ambiguity. Now it was obvious he was nothing more than a small startled boy, all bark and little bite. He did not allow his bravado to falter, black abyssal eyes staring back at the stranger unflinching. A name was offered and Colburn was not satisfied. It could be an alias, something he was very familiar with. Only a few others knew his real name and not much beyond that despite the fact that they lived with him. This stranger, this Ace would not be one of them. Colburn was far too suspicious to trust someone with any truths about himself. Especially a stranger.

"It's a secret," the thief responded, black lips twitching in amusement. Like a child he enjoyed playing little games like this when he could. He liked to think that remaining mysterious gave him the upper hand.

His accusation was met with confusion. It seemed genuine enough, but Colburn wasn't the best at reading people. He preferred to avoid them. "An imp, a nose, a king's pet," he listed off several other names that he himself had made up. Nose because they were always sticking it where it didn't belong. The last one he hoped was self-explanatory. Ace eventually clued in to his meaning and explained that he was not. He was a newcomer with wet toes whatever that meant. Colburn squinted at the flexing toes and furrowed his brow. Eventually it occurred to him that Ace was not being literal and he nodded.

"Hah. No. I'm bein' good," he lied, lips giving a telltale twitch trying to surpress a grin.

code by wallflower & art by raptor

ACE SINCLAIR

The shadows slowly slip away as the moonlight becomes brighter and it reveals just how young this guy is. Or, rather, "boy" would be more accurate. What is someone so young doing out here all by himself? Then again, Ace had been an orphan on the streets learning to fend for himself. Perhaps this boy is facing the same way of life.

Already it's clear how clever he is just from how little information he's willing to give out. Ace gives him a playful grin. "A secret, huh? Well I guess I'll just call you little boy then if you won't give me your name," he teases, wondering if it's enough to make the little guy upset. If he's going to play games, then Ace has some tricks up his sleeve too.

Then he can't help but laugh at all the nicknames he's given the army wolves. He's not exactly wrong either. "They are king's pets alright," he said with a nod. They all blindly followed orders and seemed to never question if what they were doing was for a true purpose. Had any of them actually met the King?

Clouds began to hide the moon again and so the light slowly faded, leaving the pair back in shadows. It might be hard to see, but Ace flashes the boy a smile. "Ah, I get it now. You're scared of the dark," he teases once again and laughs softly. At least with this guy, if he pushes his buttons, he can't kick his ass as hard as one of the army brats could.

Suddenly, he can hear his stomach grumble. "Say, why don't we look for some food, eh?" he suggests, though not really minding whether he had company or not. "Or would you rather stay here alone in the dark?"

"Speaking."

table by rae - image by yellwolf | @Colburn

Dark eyes glittered in the night, catching slithers of moonlight in their empty grey flecked depths. Without a visible pupil it was hard to tell the position of his gaze, but he rolled his eyes with the dramatic slowness and exasperation of a very unimpressed teenager. Little boy. Colburn had hoped for something with a little more punch. This was barely a tickle to his ego, the slightest brush of a feather that only succeeded in disappointing him. It was so inoffensive that he was almost offended. "That the best you got?" he scoffed, arching an ebony brow so high that it ached. The question was meant as a challenge, to provoke Ace into insulting him again. It was exactly the sort of weird game that Colburn delighted in, even if it was at his own expense.

Ace’s laughter at the collection of names he had given the imps over his lifetime earned a self satisfied smirk from the small thief. He didn’t like the army since they were always trying to catch him and making it difficult for him to earn a living. So far he had managed to elude them, but he knew the day would come when they cornered him. Bet they’d roll over if the king said" he snickered, imagining the imps throwing themselves to the ground and wriggling around like flipped turtles. It was a strange concept to the wild ruffian, pledging loyalty to someone and blindly following their orders.

The man spoke again suggesting that Colburn was afraid of the dark. It was so ridiculous that the little thief couldn’t help, but laugh. If anything it was the opposite. He hated being exposed by the light where he could be seen for what he was. Hah. I am the dark," he laughed, flashing the man a winning smile.

He was lured out of his hideaway by the prospect of food, glancing at Ace suspiciously hoping it wasn’t some kind of trick. "Not gonna murder me, are ya?"he asked, only half joking. It would be just his luck to be murdered by a psycho offering free food in the dark in the middle of the redwood.

code by wallflower & art by raptor

ACE SINCLAIR

He had been expecting the boy to get all huffy like kids do, but he didn't. Much to his surprise, he challenges Ace back, wanting him to throw a rougher insult at him. Well, well… this guy is pretty cool after all.

"I could call you shithead, but you seem a little young for that one," he says, playfully nudging his shoulder. "Though you could use a bath, my dude," he adds, scrunching up his nose. The kid didn't smell that bad, but not great. Probably spent one too many nights out here in the dampness or he took a walk in the swamp.

"You are the dark? Oh nooo, I'm so scared," he replies, pretending to be trembling, but he can't remain serious. He does blend in pretty well though, so maybe he had the right idea being all stealthy.

"I won't murder you if you won't murder me. Deal?" He offers a smile and wonders if he's finally managed to gain the boy's trust. Either that or he's falling for a trap laid out by an evil little genius... Ace figures he'll find out sooner or later which it is.

"Speaking."

table by rae - image by yellwolf | @Colburn

Black alien eyes squinted judgmentally at Ace claiming he was too young to be called a shithead. So he didn’t know how old he was so he couldn’t argue that point, but he’d heard much worse hanging around thieves and other low lives. He was about to comment on that when Ace nudged his shoulder. It was odd being touched and he was unused to contact. He stiffened slightly, but he didn’t offer a complaint. The suggestion that he take a bath earned a look of disgust from the small thief. No way would he go anywhere near water. Ugh.

Still with poor hygiene came the opportunity for mischief. His lips drew together in a fiendish smile and he cocked his head at Ace. “Fraid of a little dirt, Princeypaws?” he asked, voice sing song on the teasing moniker. He lifted a mud encrusted paw and playfully jabbed at Ace’s clean pelt hoping to smear some dirt on him. It would be Ace who ended up needing a bath, not Colburn.

Ace mocked his self proclaimed darkness and the little thief snorted at him. “I’ll getcha,” he promised. Maybe not now, but soon when he least expected it he would give the man a fright to remember.

They struck a deal each promising not to murder the other. He didn’t know if it was to their mutual satisfaction, but Colburn knew he could find a place to hide if things got dicey. He knew these woods better than he knew his own paws, all the bolt holes he’d prepared were ready for him if he needed them. Where’s the food?" he asked Ace, impatient to fill his belly. He had expected the man to have some laying around, but he couldn’t smell anything other than himself and Ace. Was he sure he wasn't going to murder him?

code by wallflower & art by raptor

ACE SINCLAIR

He didn't expect the kind of nickname that came out of the kid's mouth, but he definitely didn't expect to get mud thrown on him. Ace lets out a scream by accident and quickly closes his mouth when he realizes just what sort of sound came out. Looking at the boy again, he narrows his eyes but it's more of a playful look than anything malicious.

"Good one, dirtbag," he shoots back and finds it hard to keep a straight face. His stomach grumbles again and it seems the boy is on the same page. "Let's go find some," Ace gestures for them to head off on a path to the right. It seems this would be the start of an interesting friendship.

"Speaking."

table by rae - image by yellwolf | @Colburn closing this here, I love them so much <3