OPEN;; somewhere we went wrong

[risaisis]

Diego watched as Ryoker introduced himself. Silently, he disagreed with the lupe's words, but he didn't dare open his mouth to speak. Knowing from past experience that it was a bad idea to test his will power and control over his slight temper when it came to males, he just watched. Silently, as ever.

And then, the gray-white wolf was gone, simply slipping away and leaving behind an echo of his words. Ironically enough, Diego realized that the wolves who had arrived on the scene were leaving in turn. It would be him next, he though, glancing back towards Rose and Bandit. Rose was still staring after Ryoker, her thoughts invisible to Diego as her eyes drew up blank, emotionless voids. Bandit, however, seemed slightly easier to read, obviously annoyed at the sudden intrusion.

Now that Ryoker had left, Diego relaxed, blinking as he padded to sit closer to Rose. He wondered if he should just pick up and leave, now, not looking back, but then realized he couldn't leave Rose alone here, with an enemy wolf. Not in her current state. Sarcasm filled his mind as he commented on her probable reaction to being left alone to attack - indifference. But, as Diego had noticed when he had first arrived, he didn't think Bandit would attack, odd as it seemed.

So, Diego sat there, pluming tail curling by his flank, and waited.

[Paint]

Rose sensed Diego come closer, and she looked around at him boredly. He always seemed more comfortable around females. She was wondering why he hadn't spoken much yet, before realising she didn't care. So she just stared at him without actually seeing him.

Bandit stood up, as usual sure of herself and holding herself with pride. She was more comfortable when Ryoker had left. She didn't like insane wolves. She glanced at Diego, and then stepped back to appraise the two wolves. Perhaps Rose would be okay, after everything, and this situation had just reminded Bandit of how strong she could be for the sake of others' needs. Good.

"Look after her," she spoke softly, but firmly, to Diego. She stared at him with her fiery eyes, as if daring him to backchat her. "And you can let her father know; this changes nothing. Just because I wouldn't attack her when she was weak doesn't mean I'd save the same grace for him- some wolves deserve to die."

And with that parting growl, with a tone so full of ice and control, Bandit turned her back on the wolves and walked away. Rose turned to Diego and waited, to see if he would say anything, before finally opening her mouth to speak as well.

"Have you ever felt like everything has just fallen apart?" she asked him quietly.

[risaisis]

Diego sat in the silence, moving only when Bandit stood up. He glanced at her, meeting her fiery gaze with cool eyes. Tail twitching, he nodded slowly in reply to her message, showing no obvious sign of disagreement. He didn't really disagree, per se, but he wasn't eager to translay the message to Duke. Perhaps Diego could find some other way to pass along Bandit's message, clearly a threat.

Then, more silence, as Bandit left. Diego turned back to Rose, his fur ruffling in surprise when he saw that she was looking at him. Actually looking at him, this time, not looking past him. Her words surprised him even more, stealing his breath away. The wolf had to breath evenly several times in order to regain thought, and then to form a coherant response.

"I know what it's like," he told Rose, his voice just as quiet as he looked at her broken form, before looking away, closing the subject. He didn't want to talk about it, and, besides, he had no advice to offer her. So, he changed the subject.

"We should get going - if you want to . . ."

But Diego made no movement to get up, sitting there beside the most feared Alpha male's daughter, in No-Man's land, both wolves tending their small hurts. He wasn't sure if he wanted to go back to the Moon's land, not yet. Here, in No-Man's land, it felt as if he had a choice, not bound by any wolf, nor his pack, led only by the will to survive. His ear twitched at the thought.

[Paint]

Rose listened vaguely to his response. Yes, she'd thought it was something like that. They were all broken wolves, the Falling Moons. They were the wolves who had been thrown to the floor and jumped up biting again- the damaged ones.

See, damaged wolves are dangerous, because they know they can survive.

It was with this thought in mind, Rose turned her head to Diego and frowned slightly. It wasn't as blank as her other looks. The cogs were ticking in her head, spinning and whirring like they always did. She almost thought she could hear them.

"We're the survivors," she whispered, almost triumphantly but her tone was still dead.

It was with that lasting note, that she did get up, and stretch slightly. Every movement felt wrong. Curling up and giving in had been better, but Rose wasn't stupid. She knew life wouldn't wait for her anymore. She would go and curl up in the forest, alone, later. Where no one would judge her. She would sink into blissful numbness later, when Diego wasn't here to witness, and she wouldn't be tearing at his wounds as well as her own.

Without another word, she began to walk away.

[risaisis]

Diego nodded slowly, blinking even slower. He knew that Rose spoke the truth - they were the survivors. But was that something to be proud of? He thought that maybe, just maybe, not being a survivor, not having to go through that sort of pain, might be better. But the thought was quickly drowned out; he pushed it from his mind. This was better.

This way, he knew he could survive.

The gray wolf watched Rose go, his ears perked. He rose to his paws, taking two steps after her slowly. His tail swung behind him as he wondered - he was about to call after her, to tell her to give Duke Bandit's message, but then he stopped himself. He doubted Rose would tell her father about this encounter. And, anyways, Diego didn't want to be the one to bring it up, and drag Rose back into it.

If it ever did come up - well, Diego would tell Duke, then. Seeing as it might not even happen, he would leave it be, and deal with it whenever - if it ever came.

With a jerky nod, Diego stretched, his tail trembling, before he turned and padded away.