The Silent Moon

The Silent Moon
Date of Scene:	29 November 2012
Location:	Hollow Bastion, The British Countryside
Synopsis:	Hati and Katyna meet.
Cast of Characters:	Hati, Katyna

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Hati has posed:
It's night. The moon is full, hanging like a great, watchful eye over the towers of Hollow Bastian. It's late enough that even the most maniacal of those who reside here has already gone to sleep, or back to their own worlds. Not Hati. It isn't the moon that keeps the werewolf here, although the solace of it certainly reminds her of other days which she would like to forget. The songs of her people ring in her ears - the sound of her mother's howl the night she left - the night her father left her for dead.

Once, she had looked at herself in the mirror - bearing the marks of his cruelty, and she had asked of her new master one thing: to take away her memories. For all that he had kept to that bargain, the anger had remained. It lingered beneath the surface, but with no reason behind it to give it purchase. It seethed and drew her further and further into the darkness. Now, with Serrak gone, there is no one to stop those memories from returning - along with the pain that comes with them.

So, tonight, Hati is curled atop one of the statues that line the courtyard of the great castle. She's got one of Serrak's journals in her lap, although she's not truly concentrating on it. For a time, one of the stories had captured her attention - a lead to someplace she hadn't been where he might have gone into hiding, but the entry ends with that world being destroyed. Another dead end. So, she's resorted to other things in order to keep herself entertained.

Just below the stature, a small group of heartless are... making a bit of a rukous. Some smack into each other, others fall and squash smaller ones. The thread of darkness controlling their actions clearly leads to the girl up atop that statue, one hand lazily outstretched, plucking the strings that control the Heartless. There is no humor on the girl's face, although she must find this entertaining somehow. Mostly, she just watches them with those keen, mismatched eyes. It certainly answers the question: What does one do in the depths of the night, when they have not even the solace of their memories.

Katyna has posed:
Katyna had returned to Hollow Bastion only a few moments ago, leaving Leida in the infirmary before searching the grounds for her Mentor, the Shadow Lord Fessner. She was quite surprised that he could not be found anywhere in the old and creepy castle, to the point where she started to worry. Fessner had always been somewhat sympathetic towards her. He wasn't quite as cold and heartless as the other Shadow Lords. He also had not returned from his latest mission for over 6 months. For all that she had promised herself she would cease to care about anyone anymore, still she worried. What had happened? Why hadn't he contact her?

With a soft frown, she wanders out into the castle courtyard, peering up at the moon thoughtfully and sighing. No, she was never one much for contemplation. Rather, she preferred to beat things to a bloody pulp and to resolve her inner conflicts that way instead. Katyna does not immediately notice the wolfish girl sleeping upon one of the statues, partly hidden in the shadows of the night as she is. Kat DOES notice the small group of heartless that seem to be causing something of a ruckus in the center of the courtyard.

She grins, pulling out her sword as she advances upon them. "Heh, who's havin' a party and didnt invite me?" With a chuckle, she moves in amongst them, attempting to 'play fight' with them, smacking at them with the flat of her sword, trying to goad 'em into fighting her back. Of course, these heartless probably belong to someone or other, and so she does not attempt to destroy them outright - it'd do no good to infuriate some tempermental Shadow Lord...

Hati has posed:
Maybe it's just a matter of coincidence that Hati's own mentor and father figure, Lord Serrak, had disappeared largely around the same time. Oh, certainly the life of a Shadow Lord is fraught with peril, but to have more than one of the more powerful Lords just up and vanish? Of course, Hati had never been the sort to go and seek out others, and while she might have caught whispers of other, darker things at work, she has been single-minded enough about her task of finding Serrak that noticing the plight of others has fallen to the wayside. That is, until recently. Curse those invasive memories trying to weasel their way back into her mind.

So, when Katyna decides to come and join the marauding Heartless, the werewolf lowers her head, tilting her head and watching with a distant sort of curiosity. One ear flicks, and with a quick motion, she closes the book in her lap with a dull thud of heavy pages. These two have certainly crossed paths before - with both of them working for the Shadow Lords - sometimes training along side one another. It had been quite some time since they've spoken, though. The wolf has been... preoccupied. "Feeling restless tonight, Katyna?" The wolf growls from her perch atop the statue, shoving the book into a dark, shadowed place out of sight, and crouching there like some beastly thing - all glowing eyes and unearthly highlighted hair where the moon catches her in the light.

"I doubt these would serve as much of a challenge." Heedless of the distance, the wolf launches herself from the statue, landing in a crouch. Without her pulling the strings on the Heartless, they cower back, a couple of the weaker ones sinking into the nearby shadows. "Come with me. I'll show you a real fight to quicken the blood." It's the sort of challenge that seems to come naturally from the small wolf, but perhaps this is her strange way of reaching out and trying to help, while also trying to shake off her own growing feelings of dread and unease with her own master having yet to return.

With one hand, she makes a circle in the air, forming a portal as if it took barely a thought. She motions with those clawed fingers, inviting the other woman to go through first - testing her bravery when it comes to whatever unknown Hati might have in store for the both of them on the other side.

Katyna has posed:
Indeed, in this line of work, it was not uncommon for Shadow Lords to turn on each other, or to be defeated at the hands of some greater enemy. Afterall, there were a lot of worlds out there, and many of them contained a vast number of rather powerful heroes. Katyna should not let it bother her really, afterall, the most important thing to being a heartless was being..Well, heartless, wasn't it? It was something she still had to work on, something that prevented her from becoming a full fledged Shadow Lord..

"Oooh?" She pauses in her play-fighting with the heartless. Indeed, they are nothing compared to the true threats out there, such as that jerk Vespar, whom she could have finished off if LEXUS hadn't stopped her. "Ooh.." She clenches her fists, although relaxes a bit as Hati makes her presence known. It is true she has trained with this one before, although she doesnt' know her too well outside of those training sessions. Afterall, they were here to learn to fight, to become soldiers for the heartless..Did that also make 'em expendable? Were such bonds beyond functional alliances forbidden even? She knew not, but, she was curious about this one.

"Oh heey, It's really been a while, hasn't it, Hati?" She grins, "I guess our masters have been keeping us busy, eh? Except.." She bites her lip, "I guess there've been some things that made me a bit restless. Y'know, having to be bossed around by other Shadow Lords, not being allowed to finish off some cocky jerk..And Lord Fessner's gone missing." she seems a bit upset about that, even though she shouldn't be, really. Just to prove it, Katyna forces a grin, "Ooh, but y'know what? I saw another wolf guy like you..Err, a Skoll I think his name was? Guess he likes to hang out with the shard seekers a lot, or somethin'." She shrugs, not really knowing much about the overly polite wolf weirdo.

Still, she follows after Hati as she heads for a portal, arching a curious brow. "Ooh? What do you have planned? Hope it's something I can sink my teeth into!"

Hati has posed:
Certainly, Lord Serrak had not been quite the usual beast among the Shadow Lords. To him, the Heartless were a tool to something greater. They were a way of dragging the worlds down into darkness so that he could create something new from the ashes. Normally, this meant that matters of the heart were not really his concern - and yet, he had taken in a girl because of some bit of sympathy that remained in him. Something that had made him bring her under his wing - not just under his control.

"It has." Hati replies with a nod of her head - mismatched eyes cast into shadows by her strangely highlighted hair. She didn't have that before - a recent addition that certainly makes her look a bit more like a punk kid you'd expect to find on Manhattan's streets than some servant of deepest darkness. Her tail gives an irritated sort of swish behind her when Kat mentions being bossed around by other Shadow Lords. Serrak has always let this one have a bit more free reign than others have with their 'toys', which is probably part of the reason that she'd stepped almost completely into the mage's shoes now that he'd disappeared. "It goes both ways, though. Busy and bored out of my skull. This is the later." It's easy to see the restless quality in her, the way she can't seem to stay still - those little twitches of the body.

"But you're right. Some of the new 'Lords' are hardly worth following." She speaks the word 'Lords' as if she found the term humorous, especially in regard to some of those who certainly should not be considered equals to those like her Master. It isn't until Katyna mentions that her own Master had gone missing that the wolf freezes. It's a stark contrast from the way she had stood the moment before. Those eyes turn cold, ears slicked back. "Lord Serrak is gone, too. Do you know where Fessner went? Do you know if they left together?" There is a sort of intensity in Hati that would certainly unnerve a lesser person - the way her whole body seems tense - ready to strike.

Then, it breaks as she mentions the other werewolf. This isn't the first time that she's heard this, so it doesn't have quite the same effect as it had the first day that Avira had told her that she wasn't alone. With a low growl, the girl's stiff posture breaks, and she draws back, crouching on her toes in a way most humans would find uncomfortable. "So I've heard. Unless he's a great black giant of a wolf with a ripped face, then he's no concern of mine." But there is something there... that name. Skoll? Where had she heard it before? The wolf seems to look puzzled for a moment, and then shakes her head as if dismissing a fly buzzing around her head.

The portal still waits, and all this talk about her lost master and other werewolves is bringing back the anger in her. Her claws flex. "Oh, I think this might be right up your ally, then." She waits for Katyna to walk through the portal, and then follows.

On the other side is a familiar place. During their training, there were plenty of times where the Shadow-girls had been taken to the lairs of their various masters, and this forest is the place that surrounds Serrak's domain. "I've been tracking a herd of unicorns. Disgusting creatures." Hati growls, crouching as she sniffs the air, touching the ground. "Their blood is part of one of Serrak's spells, and - of course - with him gone, Malificent's lackies expect me to be able to pull complex magic out of my ass." She rolls her eyes, rumbling to herself. "At the very least, they're a challenging hunt."

Katyna has posed:
How strange, the irony between these two girls, and their Shadow Lords! To think that such sympathy could exist amongst such dark creatures. But perhaps that would explain the mysterious disappearance of their masters. Afterall, compassion, sympathy..Even the faintest inklings of affection towards another were certainly traits that were severely frowned upon within the heartless faction. Such emotions are ones that Katyna had been struggling with herself, for a very long time. It hadn't helped that Lord Fessner had instilled in her an unusual sense of honor and compassion, even for her enemies.

She smiles at Hati, nodding in quiet understanding. It wasn't something to be safely discussed openly, but she was sure that the wolf girl understood exactly what these shadow lords meant to their respective proteges. "Heh, love the highlights. You're lookin' good! We should train together again. I mean, it's been a while, with our respective missions an' all but.." She chuckles and nods at her next comment, agreeing wholeheartedly. "Yeah, you're right. I mean..It's hard to find a happy medium, isn't it? I guess it's part of the reason why I'm here, to sort out some..Personal stuff." The way she hesistates suggests Katyna is reluctant to go into much detail about that.

Instead, she is happy to focus on Hati's concerns, shaking her head with a sigh. "I have no idea where Fessner went, but I know he was last seen with Serrak. Perhaps they DID go off on some...Secret mission together, but, I wonder why they were so vague about it? I hate to say, but I'm a little worried, especially since there have been a few disappearances in Shadow Lords lately." She grimaces as she follows Hati towards the portal, but pauses thoughtfully when Hati expresses her disinterest in the world. "Hmm, dont think he had a scar..Of course I've only seen him in his human form. Quite remarkable in his ability to bounce back from some pretty nasty attacks but.." she shrugs. If it's of no concern to Hati or any of the other shadow lords, it's none of her concern either. "Heh, I'll keep an eye out for a giant wolf with a ripped face though. Old friend of yours, is he?" she grins, tilting her head as she regards the other girl curiously. Sadly, Kat still hasn't managed the tact of keeping out of other peoples' business.

Finally, stepping onto the other side of the portal, she peers around, then back at Hati. Yes, this place is familiar training ground. It's one of her favorite places for training, however, she is curious to hear about these unicorns, though Kat lacks any hint of disgust in her reaction to them. Rather, she seems more curious about them, but not really concerned for their wellbeing. "Ooh, unicorns, eh? So they really exist then?" She grins, a greedy glint in their eye. "And what about their horns? Is it true they have power over life and death, or was that just a myth too? Hmm..I'll bet whoever could possess one would be REALLY powerful..."

She's already rubbing her hands together, imagining what sort of power she might gain from such noble beasts..Although her face falls when Hati mentions Maleficent's desire for them. "Ooh. So you need to collect their blood to perform a spell? What kinda spell?"

Hati has posed:
The wolf rumbles something akin to amusement, blowing a breath at her highlighted hair. "Got tired of the white." Much like her brother, Hati has those strange silver-gray guard-hairs in her wolf form that manifest themselves in her hair in her more humanoid appearance. The small change is just one more expression of her rebellion against what it is to be a werewolf. They were all about nature - feathers and totems and tribal ritual, but Hati... well, she's given up that sort of existance.

Unlike Katyna, the wolf doesn't ask about her personal issues, not right away, anyways. "Well, maybe the hunt will help you sort things out. I find it helps me focus." The hunt is just that - a predator and prey. For a short time, she can set aside her anger, her grief, her nightmares. "Still, you know you are always welcome to test your metle against me. I found a great mountain trail to run, too." There are two sides to this wolf-girl: one part that relishes in the fight and the race, and another that is more stealthy and clever, but the Shadow Lords rarely call upon her for that.

The small bit of information - that Serrak and Fessner had been working on something together - is enough of a thread to help her search. It is tucked away for now - something to look into later. "An enemy." She growls to herself stepping into the open as the portal closes behind them. "One that I would relish sinking my claws into." She had her doubts that her father had made it through into this world, but any time she thinks of that wolf, it makes the scars on her face and side burn like fire.

"Not the fairytale sort, I'm afraid, but beasts of a different sort of color." Hati explains, crouching down and balancing on her toes as she sniffs at the ground, looking for the trail she had found earlier. "Still, they are creatures of light. Which makes them particularly useful for spells." She rubs a bit of dirt between her fingers, then slowly pushes herself to her feet. "The horns are particularly good ingredients for potions or protective spells, and the blood is used for scrying."

It does answer the question as to what she needs the blood for, but just what sort of thing she could be searching for is unclear.

Katyna has posed:
Katyna chuckles, "Heh, well it's a good look for ya!" Kat doesn't know the underlying reasons for why exactly Hati made those changes, nor her rebellion against all it means to be a wolf, but right now her mind is wandering over other thoughts. Like the disappearances of their masters..And tracking down unicorns. She nods as she continues to walk along side the wolf girl. "Heh, nothin' like a good fight to get some blood pumpin' to the head, that's for sure! It sure does help to get me focused too..Helps relieves stress too y'know?"

Well, it seems she's in a slightly better mood by now, just thinking about it. "Hmm, it's been a while since we've sparred. i'd be happy to show you what I've most recently learned, althogh Lord Fessner hasn't been around to train me recently..So I've been pretty much on my own, just fighting all those silly goody groups to test my skill. I guess it's a better match against another shadow knight though, dont ya think?" She shrugs, "I dunno why they keep preaching about all this 'goodness' and 'loving kindess', constantly fighting against the heartless as if their lives would be better if they keep resisting. I mean..I learned out the hard way that sometimes it 's just not worth fighting for anyone but yourself.."

Another shrug, no. She doesn't want to go there. Feeling sorry for herself. That's why she's here afterall, trying to become stronger so she can banish such weak thoughts from her mind. She grins though, when Hati speaks of this scarred wolf as some kinda enemy. "Hmm, sounds interesting. Well..I'll keep an eye out for this guy. I guess he must have really done some big wrong against you, eh?" Yeah, she heard that growl..

She continues to wander through the forest, admiring the scenery, but mostly keeping an eye out for these unicorns. "Hmm, different color you say? So what exactly do they look like? I'm curious now..Whatever they are, I guess they must be pretty powerful. Will you use their power to search for this scarred wolf then..?" Hmm, now that's a thought. She has people she is searching for too..

Hati has posed:
"It's a change." Back when these two had first met, both as fledglings under their respective masters, Hati had long hair, which was braided down her back. The shorter-haired look is quite a bit different than how she'd looked back then. Then again, since she's never gotten any taller, this look at least tries to dispell the incorrect assumtpion that many make that she's just a child. "I was thinking of going to red for the attack on Manhattan, but since the Shadow Lords require me elsewhere, it doesn't seem I'll be going."

The wolf shrugs her shoulders, indifferent. She has no great investment in the fall of that world, and the last thing she wants is to end up stuck with Negaduck or something. If triumph, well - she'll still have reason enough to celebrate, if they fail - well, she avoids having to be involved in the angry aftermath that will likely happen. Still, the offer of a spar draws a wild sort of grin from the girl. "Not tonight, but you can be certain I'll take you up on that. I'm not one to pass up a challenge." There is a flash of those wolfish fangs. "Tonight, we hunt."

As she begins to lead the way, Hati is careful, stepping through the woods with a practiced sort of ease. She doesn't seem to mind the other girl's talking, which implies that they've got quite a ways to go to catch up with the herd. "Most of them are hardly a match for us. I met one of their leaders, and he's just a boy." She shakes her head, remembering the way that Reize had stammered at her. "I plan on testing him later, but he might be more fun to use as a plaything." If nothing else, she could think of ways of making him at least an evening's entertainment.

It isn't until Katyna mentions about the wolf and the 'big wrong' that Hati stops. Her eyes narrow, and rather than answering, she just tilts her head, showing the series of scars that run down the side of her face, marking that one mismatched eye. "You could say that." The answer is clear enough - she has a lot to be angry about. As she turns back to the trail, the wolf smirks slightly, "You ask a lot of questions." It doesn't seem that she minds too terribly, though, but this time it is the wolf who asks, "Do you happen to know what your Master was working on before he left?"

She's still looking for leads, even as she crouches, testing a branch and then changes course into a thicker part of the woods. "Nothing so interesting. One of the Shadow Lords wanting me to track down some girl. Maybe a lead on a Princess of Heart. I wouldn't know." Then, she raises a hand, covering her lips as she moves forward. It's just a short distance more to a rocky outcropping, which looks down over a clearing filled with white-maned horned beasts. They'd found the unicorns.

Katyna has posed:
Ahh yes, that long hair of hers. Shame to see it all go. But then Kat was never one for long tresses herself. Or maybe her hair was always this short. Who's to say for sure? She certainly seems to enjoy dressing and acting like a boy though! Even her features are somewhat androgynous looking. Whatever the reason for keeping it short, it's probably different from Hati's own. "Hmm..I guess with my Shadow Lord absent, I dont really have any specific orders after rescuing Leida. But.." She shrugs, "I suppose that leaves me to go wherever I please until I get some new orders."

She grins, seeming to enjoy that thought. It sucked getting orders to stand down from a fight with that Vespar jerk once LEXUS came into view. "Heh, I guess one of these days, I'll come lookin' for Vespar to even our score..But until then, I'm sure I'll have fun in Manhattan. Y'know, sharpening my skills n' all." She sighs, "I'm sure my master would be proud if he saw me.." Her own reasons for wanting to invade are more personal. She doesn't care much about killing people or destroying worlds. For her it's all about personal growth, strength and survival. Hati is given an appraising nod and chuckle. "I'll look forward to our little duel, show me what you've learned during our short separation!"

But for now, back on the hunt! "Alright! Now..Where are these unicorns..?" She peers around every so often, although Hati's words do draw continued interest from the girl. "Hmm, that Reize kid's a boy, and pretty darn clueless, but..There's a mysterious power about him..Definitely someone to watch. I wouldn't underestimate him, if that's who you're talking about?" She grins, "He is amusing though, I'm tempted to test his limits myself, but.." But..I dont wanna kill him, she thinks. Why should she feel protective towards him still? Was it because he reminded her of a dear childhood friend? How annoying! These weaknesses..These feelings of compassion. Is this why she was unable to become a fully fledged shadow lord?!

She falls silent again, lost in thought, listenning quietly as Hati explains the wolf she wants to track and shrugs. Hmm, so a nemesis of her own perhaps..? A fellow wolf? Interesting..Until she comments on Kat's incessant questions! "Ooh! I'm sorry! I guess I'm just really curious! You're a really interesting person. I've never met a wolf before, asides from you and Skoll, so..." She shrugs, "But of course I barely know him. Ooh, and there was another wolf girl too. Sassaral, I guess her name was. But she's trying to be some noble heroine I guess, protecting a bunch of 'innocent' homeless people, as if anyone would miss them. I mean..Seriously? You gotta be kidding me.."

Another chuckle before Hati speaks of some girl she is tracking down. "Hmm, princess of heart, you say? Any leads so far?" another shrug as she continues to peer around. "I guess..Having that unicorn horn would be mighty useful. You could track down your nemesis, our masters, and this girl.." But, they could also track down Morgan. No, Kat didnt want any harm to come to her though...It was best not to bring that one up...

"What was he working on? Huh.." Kat bites her lip, pondering that one over. "He was pretty secretive..Even towards me. It all started right after he attacked and raided a village, mentionned that it was a village from his homeworld. Then he started talking to me less and less. It was strange, his sudden turn around. Then suddenly one day he just told me, 'Be strong, no matter what, survive..Live!'"

She sighs, "Then he left, said he had something important to do, had something he had to find, that it was personal and that he could not divulge secrets even to me..I'm..I'm not sure what he was doing, but I guess it must have been dangerous, enoguh that he didnt want me involved."

But Kat had her suspicions. She knew he had been searching for his wife and daughter, in hopes that they might still be alive somewhere..But..He wouldn't just..Up and leave, would he?

Hati has posed:
There is part of Katyna's words that certainly do make the wolf re-consider if she should be involved in Manhattan. Fighting against the most powerful people the 'light' can muster would be a challenge, and then she could really see how her strength holds up against those who consider themselves heroes. Then again - would she really want to risk having to work with the insane duck? Urg. There's time to think about that later.

"The Shadow Lords always seem to have errands to do, even with Lord Serrak gone." There isn't much information about why the two Shadow Lords had left, but there is one thread that connects them. Serrak's daughter - his real daughter - the one who died before he took in Hati from Wonderland. He believed she could be reached through the land of dreams, maybe... just maybe the two had some plan to break them free from the other side? "I think Serrak might have been trying to find a way to bring Cassia back."

The name might have been familiar to Katyna - or at least mentioned in passing during those training days. It was Serrak's obsession, beyond his magic and aquiring the power to make one invulnerable. He wanted to have that power to bring someone back from mere dreams and memories, and many of his experiments were about bringing dreams into reality - even if they mostly turned out as nightmare creatures.

Hati doesn't say any more on that subject, though. She doesn't seem to mind the questions, or the curiousity. It's better than the nights spent in the dark of Serrak's tower, pouring over his notes for any sign of what he might have been intending to do. When she goes on to talk about those other wolves, Hati's ears slick back, "There aren't very many of us left." That name, though - Skoll - why did it sound so familiar? And the girl, where could she have come from? So many questions that she'd have to investigate later.

She doesn't comment about Reize - the wolf had her own strange experiences from the boy. He tended to make her feel... strange. Something about him. She would test him and see just how deep the boy's strength goes. But there are more pressing matters at hand. Her eyes look to the herd of unicorns - one larger male and three smaller females. She looks at them with a hunter's eyes. "I'm not sure. For all I know, it could be some rogue girlfriend. These Shadow Lords aren't exactly good with the ladies." The wolf smirks slightly, showing those fanged teeth. She shrugs, "It's not so easy a task, though. The Princesses are well guarded by the light, and it takes practice to even find someone nearby."

A clawed finger points at one of the mares, "That one. Do you think you can drive them this way? Try to split the group. I'll come in for the kill." The predator in her has that craving for blood, but she's clever even at that. Wolves in the wild work together to bring down prey, and there is trust that she has to lay on Katyna's shoulders to work with her like this.

Katyna has posed:
How very strange, the depths that these girls' lives mirror each other. Stranger too, when Hati mentions Serrak's own motives. "Hmm, perhaps that it is then..Seeking for those loved ones that have been lost to them. Hoping there might be a way back to them.." She smirks, shaking her head, "But if that's the case, then they're on a wild goose chase. You cant get back those you've loved and lost. It cant be done. Why are they so stubborn?" She growls, clenching her fists. Clearly this bothers her a lot. "I've lost too many people, and banked on too much hope and faith..Ooh, but y'know what? I DID spy another werewolf too. I didnt catch her name, but.." She then proceeds to give a detailed description of Sasaral. "Tried to defend a bunch of homeless people when I let the heartless on them. Guess she's our enemy though. Better keep an eye on her."

Katyna merely smirks in amusement at Hati's comment regarding Shadow Lords. "It certainly seems that way, doesn't it? I guess the girls are generally smarter that way.."

As they continue down the trail, Kat quickly softens her voice when she spies the unicorns, eyes widenning in sudden wonder and awe at the beautiful sight. Such Incredible creatures. Such incredible power, and yet..So pure and innocent. She shivers at the purity emanating from even here. Were these like the Princesses too? Could they repel darkness the way the Princess of Pure Hearts apparently could? Atlhough she had yet to test such a theory, Katyna was curious. But at the same time it made her angry. To see such naieve, perfect little creatures, untouched by the cruelties of life that she had to face. Living such an innocent, happy life without a care in the world. How dare they?

Her eyes darken to deep blood red as she watches them closely, crouching in the darkness. Good thing she's not wearing her bulky armour today, having traded it for her lighter tunic and legging attire. With a nod to her hunting partner, she steals through the long foliage, creeping around the other side of the perimeter so she is opposite of Hati. She grins at her, giving her a thumbs up before giving a yell as she suddenly erupts from the brush, sword raised above her head as she unleashes a burst of brilliant blue-white flames from her sword, slamming it into the ground that causes much of the grass to burst into flame, cutting a line of flames roughly down the center of the herd.

It's enough to startle anyone, hopefully, moreso such wild, flightly creatures at the unicorns...

Hati has posed:
It is, perhaps, a sign of the sad state of the world that these two do have such similar stories. There is a great deal that lies different between them. "The old stories show how foolish a task it is to try to bring back the dead. Those who would try to bargain with Hades always ended up on the losing end, and there are some even beyond his realm." She has no first-hand experience with the so-called 'Lord of the Dead', but she is wary of anyone who traffics in souls. The wolf's expression is serious as she watches the movements of the unicorns, still considering if this truly could be the task that her master had set out upon. "I have heard that when you love someone, they become something worth fighting for, even if it is hopeless. I don't know if it's a romantic ideal, or a foolish one." Hati shrugs her shoulders.

She has no issues with speaking such things around Katyna. For others among the Shadow Lords, the idea of even mentioning such a thing might be a bit of an anathema, but Hati has always spoken her mind, especially about things that she is curious over. "Besides, it's not as if we aren't stubborn in our own ways." She smirks, but does listen to the description of this other werewolf. Something about her... "They're only our enemy if they make themselves. What's the loss of a few Heartless? It does nothing to weaken the greater whole. There are always more." At least, this is how Hati sees it. They are mindless creatures, and sending a few to their deaths is something she has no great qualms over.

As her hunting partner goes to take the other side of the herd, Hati crouches down, drawing out one of her daggers. While she is quite skilled as a wolf in hand-to-hand combat, where she truly shines is in stealth and subterfuge. The girl is a natural thief, and her hunting instincts make her dangerous. So, when the unicorns are spooked, she lies in wait, ready for the moment to strike. The herd splits, leaving the chosen female stranded on one side of the fire. She rears back, the mare tossing her head from side to side before trying to run for the trees. The trees where Hati just happens to be hiding.

It happens in a flash - quick enough that if you blink, you'd miss it. The mare is brought down with one smooth swipe of the blade and a heavy thump of the body. Hati is already there to collect the blood, "To the hunter, half the spoils." She motions towards the horn, giving that particular trophy to Katyna, it seems. "If nothing else, it will fetch a fair price. I only need the blood." She finishes filling one flask, and then starts on a second. "Although, I do wonder if unicorn steaks would be tasty."

Katyna has posed:
Hati's words of such romantic notions do immediately register on Kat as they work, although she focuses upon the task at hand first, stepping in front of the frightenned mare, blocking its escape route as Hati delivers the killing blow. As she watches the other girl work, she smirks softly. Yes indeed, they were vastly different in many ways, in their fighting style and personalities. Still, something had brought them together, some common thread, curiously enough.

Kat does not know Hati as well as she would like but she is intrigued by her theories of 'love'. Such a lofty, idealistic concept though, and one that is even quite surprising for Kat to hear from another shadow knight. Why, was it even possible for such creatures of the dark to love? No, not likely..Not ever. She sighs, shaking her head slowly. "People are so foolish, to waste their life, fighting in the name of someone else. That is why my father died..And that boy that looked like Reize..And the noble paladin who taught me everything about knights, honours and oaths..." she laughs then, shaking her head as if to show that she didnt really care about the only people in the world who showed her such compassion..Friendship..Maybe even love? The only people who risked their lives for her and the died for it, leaving her all alone...Now there is no one..

Hah! As if she cares. As if she needed them. She doesn't need anyone, anyone at all..!

Her hands clench around the horn that is offered her although she is momentarily silent, watching the blood trickle through her hands as she saws off the horn with her sword. It's crude, messy and awkward, and Kat's really wishing she'd brought a proper knife with her, if she'd known they'd be cutting up unicorns..How strange, she thinks, that the unicorn's blood is more valuable than its horn, but surely there was some value in its horn?

"Heh.." She finally speaks again, maintaining her infamous casual, devil may care attitude. "So, I wonder what powers the horn possesses? AS for the blood, do you know how to make the scrying potion yourself.?" another casual shrug. "Anyways, I could never love someone and risk my life for them. In the end, love makes you weak and foolish.."

Hati has posed:
Where Katyna's work with the mare is rough, Hati moves like an experienced hunter. She seems like one of those people who could prepare a kill within a matter of moments without so much as batting an eye. The hunt is part of life for a wolf, she doesn't have often human qualms about cute fuzzy animals. Food is food. Once she has the blood gathered, she goes about preparing the rest, quick and efficient with those knives of hers, speaking with that same calm voice, as if this were some conversation being had over tea, rather than over the body of a dead unicorn.

"I wonder if it is selfless, or selfish." The wolf doesn't look up as she ponders this. "Selfless to give a life for someone else, or selfish to say that you would rather die than risk living with them gone." Hati always has a bit of a strange way of looking at the world. There is always a darker side to most actions, something that a person thinks they can get out of a moment of kindness. Yet, there were those who acted truly selflessly. Alas, the many who act only for themselves and nothing else far outweigh these rare few.

"Maybe you could ask that mage. The one that the Shadow Lords brought in recently." Her voice has that tinge of something in it, as if she thought that Seith's arrival was meant to replace their masters, perhaps. Afterall, there was a gap left behind by the loss of two quite powerful Shadow Lords. "I've never worked with the horn, but I imagine it could be used as a weapon. Or ground into powder and used as a reagent of some sort. Master Serrak used to have me hunt them for the horns from time to time, but he never told me what he needed them for."

Hati shrugs, wiping her hands off and bundling up meat and hide. Even the mane and tailhairs are gathered. Little is left to waste at this wolf's hands, and what remains will be food for the smaller predators of these woods. She slings the whole bundle up onto her back, looking like a pint-sized packmule for all that she manages to carry on her small frame. "Scrying is one of the few things he actually began to show me. Serrak was always preoccupied with his own studies." She motions with her head back the way they'd come, clearly inviting Katyna with her. She's quiet for a time, though, before finally saying, "I could." But the wolf doesn't elaborate.

Katyna has posed:
Kat pauses a moment in her work to marvel at Hati's finesse. Obviously, it seems Katyna isn't quite the skilled hunter. In fact, in many ways she is still green. Sure, she's killed heartless before, or other monsters, but never humans, and certainly never a unicorn. Nor has she ever eaten meat in the wild. Back in the day, she'd steal food in the market place to survive, rather than hunt in the wilderness. Indeed, they do come from vastly different worlds it seems.

She wrinkles her nose a bit at the stench of blood and death, but at the same time, Kat seems mesmerized by the kill. "Hmm, I wonder what unicorn steak tastes like, anyway?" she chuckles, "I'm sure it's very delicate like Venision, I've tried that once..."

When Hati speaks of the selfishness of dying for love, she frowns a bit more. "Hmm, dunno. I think it could be pretty selfish and weak, dying and leaving them behind." She shrugs, "Not that I would know. I've never loved before. I dont think I'd wanna go down that road.." Would Fessner risk his life for her? Guess she'll never know now. And that brings her to the other topic. THe mysterious new Shadow Lord. Would he take Fessner's place? She snorts at the idea.

"Heh, I've heard of this Seith. He abandonned another Shadow Lord and set two people up against each other. I dont think he has much honor. But he's supposed to be pretty powerful. Maybe I'll see what he can make of this..As for this scrying business.." She arches a brow, "I guess I was never so good at magic beyond shaping the flames of my magic sword to my will. Fessner wasn't much of amage either, but...Ooh, if you could scry that would be useful. You think you could show me how?"

Hati has posed:
"Like horse, but a bit more gamey." It's a strange sort of comment from a girl who many mistake for a teenager. Hati's small size often makes people underestimate just what she's been through. She had years as a werewolf, hunting whatever game came close to the pack's lands. While some might see creatures like unicorns as sacred beasts, or see horses as pets, to Hati, they are simply another source of food. "I'll cook some for you sometime. It's best when it's spit-roasted over an open fire." The thought of it starts to make her salivate, but the wolf swollows and just continues walking.

The wolf doesn't say anything when it comes to matters of love. "It's not quite the same for my kind. When you're in a pack, it isn't the individual that matters, but the pack itself. They say, that in the strongest of them, the pack would come to fight, even for the sake of the lowest member. Stronger as a group than as one." Hati growls under her breath. "It wasn't that way where I grew up. Our alpha cared only about his own goals. How many females he could bed, how much territory we could run." She snorts.

Those mismatched eyes look back to Katyna. "I have no pack now, but if I did, I would keep them safe. I don't care for his ways." Some might see it as weakness, but there is a survival advantage to having more allies. As she leads the way back towards the clearing, it becomes obvious that this is a place people rarely tread. The forest has all those natural sounds - nightbirds chirp, and crickets sing.

"I could try, but it's not something even I've mastered yet. Different sorts of blood are needed for different types of scrying. Your own blood works best." She turns her eyes towards her companion again, a wry smirk on her features.

Katyna has posed:
Kat smirks, "Heh, dont think I've ever tasted horse before either. But! maybe I'll give it a try.." She takes her comment seriously, regardless. Even if Hati may be a bit small, Kat has already learned not to judge people on size alone. It's skill that's more telling than a person's size in combat afterall, and thus far she has come to respect the other girl's ability in combat, her hunting aptitude, and her stealth tactics. There is much Kat herself can learn from the mysterious werewolf, so much more that she still doesn't know.

And then she starts to speak of her pack and Kat arches a brow, listening with intense curiousity. She always found the werewolves kinda strange but a bit interesting too. The way they worked and hunted in a pack, like some sorta extended family. Kinda like the way that she hunted with Katyna. "Hmmm.." She sighs, "Must have been fun. I'd love to see a whole pack of werewolves. So did you have a pack once then? Whatever happened to them?" Come to think of it, Katyna doesn't really know all that much about Hati. She's always been a bit mysterious, and not quite open to sharing every detail of her life with others the way that Katyna often does so willingly.

She nods however, considering, "Hmm, I guess it's good to have allies. Still..Knowing that you're responsible for taking care of everyone else, even the weakest in the pack..I dunno if I could do that. Maybe it's selfish, but I wouldn't wanna die protecting someone else who wasn't strong enough to fend for themselves. Isn't that nature afterall? Survival of the fittest? The weak get pruned out so that only the strongest can pass on their more useful genes. At least, that's what Fessner taught me." She smirks, "As for me, I guess I dunno much about teamwork or family..Never really knew my parents, I was so young. As for the Shadow Lords..Heh, they're certainly no pack. I mean, it's pretty much everyone for themselves. I heard how Seith abandonned Leida. Ooh, I wonder about SKoll and Sassaral though. Werewolves are pretty rare, right? I wonder if they're part of a pack? Maybe they even know you.."

But it seems she's getting caught up too much in her musings again. This scrying thing is what interests her the most right now, and she peers at the unicorn's blood as Hati gathers it up. "Hmm, soo..How do you do this, exactly?"

Hati has posed:
Hati rumbles a laugh to herself, the sort of deep sound that is the wolfish equivalent of a chuckle rather than real humor. "I hunt most of my own food. There's challenge in the hunt. It gets the blood flowing, makes you feel alive." Not long ago, she might have been able to just satisfy her days with her training, her runs in the forest, and serving Lord Serrak, but since his disappearance, the wolf has felt like things can no longer just return to the way they were. Apparently even the strength of his magic couldn't rid her of all of her memories, and their return has left her... confused.

Still, Hati barely shows this as she walks, moving on another path that winds into the forest away from the clearing from which they'd arrived. There are small stone markers on the path - familiar ones that lead to the ancient ruins that Hati and her Master call home. "I did." She speaks simply, "I was exiled for being too weak." Her eyes narrow towards her companion, but there is no real anger in the look. When those mismatched eyes look away again, Hati just tugs at the pack on her shoulder.

"If the strong never protected the weak, then there would be no offspring to carry on the pack. Everyone is young. Everyone is small. You learn to be strong not by abandoning the weak, but by teaching them to be more. In a true pack, even the weakest link is useful." This is what Hati believes, but she will never have a pack again. She is outcast, exile, and even if she wasn't, her world and almost all the wolves in it have been destroyed. "Our world was destroyed, that's what happened to them."

Speculation on these other wolves and if they are a 'pack' is meaningless to her. "If I wanted to remember, I wouldn't have asked Serrak to take those memories, Kat. It doesn't matter anymore." The trees begin to give way, revealing the stones of the old ruins. Their arrival heralds a bark from an upper room, and soon enough a young doberman comes running down the rough-hewn stairs, racing towards Hati. "Down boy." She smirks, then reaches to take oen of the cuts of meat from the pack, waggling it in the air and then giving it a toss. When did she get a dog?

For Katyna's sake though, the wolf-girl smirks, "Patience. All in good time." She slings down the pack, dropping it against one of the nearby walls. She'd worry about preserving it later. "Wait here." Then, the wolf disappears up the stairs, her tail the last thing seen before the sound of her footsteps treading up towards the rooms above.

Katyna has posed:
"Heh, that's pretty cool. Maybe some day you could teach me to hunt! I mean, I know how to fight monsters and all, but cooking and cleaning and gutting and all that fun stuff." she makes a face. Really, it's bloody and gory, but she thinks it'd be exciting too! And the way that Hati does it makes it seem so elegant as well. However, when Hati speaks of being exiled, Katyna's smile frowns somewhat. How...How sad. Kat tried for many years not to feel anything for anyone, but right now, she feels..Sorry for Hati, as much as it bugs her. To feel sorry for another, to feel compassion. What weak concepts. She draws a deep breath, moving towards her, resting a hand on her shoulder. "That's...that's really rough. Exiling you for that. But I cant believe that! Just now, the way you brought down that prey. And I've seen you in action before. You're no weakling. You just have your own method of fighting.."

She shrugs, and smiles, "So dont worry about it! I guess..Lord Fessner always taught me the opposite. Dont let the weak slow you down. But y'know, I think it's best to help the weak to become strong, rather than to just abandon them. I mean, clearly, you had some potential, or Lord Serrak would not have taken you under his wing, unless.." unless he merely pitied her, but..Kat just cant believe that! Right now, she just seems to admire Hati all the more. So much more than the strongest Shadow Lord. What was it about her that she admired, even when she admitted to being so weak?

"But I guess..Your pack believed in abandonning the weak. I dont believe in abandonning the weak so much as making them stronger. If a person has will and drive to be the best they can be, then that's good. But if they just surrender and give up, that's when I wouldn't bother with 'em. Still, I can understand why you would want to forget that. But..Sometimes dealing with these painful memories can make you stronger too, y'know? if you hide from them, run away from them all your life, then you'll never get to face your demons and you'll never be stronger for it. I'm sure with enough training and practice, you could prove to yourself at least that you're not weak..Not anymore."

She lets go of her shoulder then, not wanting to offer too much sympathy or contact. Kat doesn't want to appear too soft afterall.

When she speaks of her world being destroyed, Kat just nods solemnly. "That's terrible..But hey! At least you found a new home here, right? Even if the other shadow lords aren't your 'pack', you know you can always count on me, right?" She offers another cheerful smile, and then a dog comes and Kat lights up. "Ooh, a dog! How cute! Is he yours?" She reaches out to try and scritch the doby under the chin if he'll let her. And then Hati's suddenly heading upstairs, leaving Kat to wait impatiently below. Darn, she hates waiting!

Hati has posed:
This is one of those contrasting points between Hati and Katyna. While Katyna talks quite a lot, Hati listens, considers, calculates, then speaks. Her head tilts towards the other girl, mismatched eyes appraising. "Maybe. Of course, you'd have to learn to be quiet." She muses, and then chuckles to herself, obviously teasing. "The key is listening to the woods, taking in all the scents around you, and of course." She takes out one of her two daggers, flipping it around in her hands with an expert's touch, "A good knife."

Of course, her good humor fades just a little as she feels that hand on her shoulder. Hati growls to herself, pulling herself away from that touch. "I don't need your pity." Alas, the wolf doesn't have a good grasp on sympathy, or the measure of the heart that it takes to show such things. "Lord Serrak gave me the chance to become strong, and I don't regret leaving with him." Still, her other option... had been dying in the snow. What choice did she really have? It's that 'unless' that Katyna uses that brings a bit of a growl from Hati's lips. It's brief - just a warning.

"I don't need to prove anything to myself. I've always known that I'm not weak." Hati replies with a rumble in her throat. She has that measure of confidence that comes from someone who has worked very hard to become something more than they were. Small as she might be, this wolf is not helpless.

As the dog catches the bit of meat, he gobbles it down and then looks up, wagging his tail. Katyna is unfamiliar people, but as he isn't given any command to attack or guard, he just tongue-lolls and does that cute dog thing where his leg twitches when he's scratched. "That's Garm. He's one of the ones Negaduck took. I told him I was going to eat him, but I don't eat canines. The duck is just an idiot."

Then with that, Hati is gone up the stairs. She's not gone too long, her feet clattering on the stones as she brings down a large wooden bowl, carrying with her a few bottles of various colored liquids.

Katyna has posed:
Katyna frowns, pulling back quickly when Hati shrugs her off. "Uh..Hey! What's that all about?" She shakes her head. Was she being too compassionate? Even Fessner would admonish her. "Sorry..I just meant to say..I think I understand what you're going thru." She shrugs. "Like I said, I know you can pull your own weight around here so you dont have to prove nothin' to me. It's why we train together, isn't it?" she flashes another cheerful smile, hoping to lighten her mood a bit. Indeed, she IS a bit loud and a bit too friendly, way more than any Shadow Lord should be. Is that another reason why she never progressed beyond a certain point in her training with Fessner?

"Hmmm...Alright..I'll try!" Kat bites down on her lip, trying to keep quiet, at least, quiet-er when Hati speaks, nodding every so often. Listening, sniffing...Carrying a good knife. "Alright.." she pauses, awaiting the other girl's return, which isnt long. In the mean time she scritches the dog under the chin, entertaining herself with him while she's away. "Heya Garm, arent you a good boy. Wow, I wish I had a pet too!"

And then Hati's back already. She arches a brow atthe bowl and the bottles of liquid. "Oooh..All that for some scrying?" But then she shuts her mouth again, covering it with her hand. Right, watch and listen more, talk less!

Hati has posed:
The reaction from her partner isn't exactly what the wolf would have expected. Dealing with her is different than dealing with Serrak or with other wolves. People in general are not something that Hati understands very well, and those who don't pick up on those subtle wolfish signals always prove to be a bit of a mystery. Her ears slick slightly back. "You don't." She states simply, but it's clear that there is confusion on her features, trying to figure out just how to phrase something in a way so she'll be understood. "I don't want to be pitied, not by you, or by anyone. I've worked too hard to become strong."

It seems the right time for the wolf to go fetch those things, since it gives her time to think. It's different among wolves, where a growl, or a shift of body-language means entirely different things. So much can be said without words. When she returns, the wolf walks to part of the ruins where some stones that once formed the wall have toppled. They form an easy enough table. Garm follows at their heels. "There are a great many creatures in the world that can be tamed. As for this one..." She looks to the dog, and a fond sort of expression passes her features. It isn't often that Hati shows many signs of affection. The closest thing to joy that this wolf ever shows is when she runs. Still, "Better with me than with Negaduck. I don't care for his tendency to pick on young animals who can't defend themselves. It's cowardly." She clearly has no love for the duck.

Hati sets out the bowl and the various vials and pouches of liquid, smirking slightly as Kat covers her mouth. "Here, you can talk. Not out there when we hunt." Rather than starting with anything else, the wolf begins by pouring a strange golden oil into the bowl, "It isn't an easy art to master. The key is to clear your mind of all things, then allow the image of the person you want to find come into your mind slowly." The wolf looks down into the liquid, but for the untrained eye, it seems only her own reflection stares back at her. "Imagine a shopkeeper, or a commoner you buy food from. Someone common and ordinary. They're the easiest to find."

The wolf's mismatched eyes look towards Katyna, as if expecting her to give it a try. This isn't a task she's terribly likely to succeed at, especially the first time, or the second. It had taken Hati quite some time to learn how to clear her mind properly. "Serrak used to have me practice with oil. Blood is a more powerful tool, but it requires a finer control and ... a dark element that some can't manage to master."

Katyna has posed:
Katyna bites her lip as she observes the mysterious wolf before her. She hasn't hung around her long enough to know what is 'normal' wolf behavior or etiquette, and so it seems she has much to learn the more she hangs around Hati. quick tip, dont touch the grumpy wolf girl! She stores this at the back of her mind for future reference. For now, she just shrugs and nods. "Alright. I'll keep that in mind for the future. I too, wanna become strong..Strong enough to become a Shadow Lord someday..I guess, I wouldn't want someone to undermine all that work either.." Alas, unlike Hati, the mantle of Shadow Lord was not even offered her. It seems the younger girl has much more to learn, and Fessner's lessons were clearly lacking..

She glances back at the dog, arching a brow as she tries to figure out Hati's mannerisms. Adopting such a poor creature, rescuing it from Negaduck in a similar manner that Lord Serrak rescued her from the wolfpack that rejected her? Kat cant help but smirk wryly to herself, carefully picking her next words. "Ahh, so..He is yours now?" She nods, "Can't say I know Negaduck well but..Attacking someone who is weaker than you..That's just wrong. It goes against every knight's code." Cowardly, yes. Was this strong knightly code instilled in her from Sir Kasrillen also another reason why she was not offered to become a shadow lord? She grits her teeth. Listen more, talk less. Yes, that's just what she'll do. Perhaps Hati can teach her a thing or two about advancing her own career..

She watches intently as the wolf girl sets her potions down on the table, peering at the vials each curiously, but careful not to touch anything. While not as clumsy as she once was, Kat still has a habit of breaking things unintentionally. The golden oil is poured into the bowl, and Kat steps forward, peering into it intently, eyes scrunched closed in deep concentration. Someone ordinary, everyday. Hah! As if such things still existed! It seems there are so many unusual people in this---SILENCE! Quit thinking so much, Kat! She makes a face, but says nothing other than to clear her throat, and tries again..

Yes..Let's see..There's the innkeeper at Traverse Hotel who's always having trouble chasing heartless out of his place after dark. Yes, yes..She opens an eye, peeking at the bowl..Did it work?

Hati has posed:
"To become a Shadow Lord..." Hati repeats these words, but it's hard to tell just what she feels about such a thing. Clearly, the wolf had turned down the offer to take Serrak's place among them, but why? Maybe because she hopes that the mage will return to take his rightful place. Or is it that she truly doesn't want to join their ranks? For now, the wolf just looks out from beneath those oddly colored tresses of hair, watching Katyna as if she were some sort of very interesting bit of prey.

The dog, for his part, seems well behaved, and sits himself down, tail wagging, waiting for instructions. The fact that his partner is a canine probably helps in matters of body language, but it's clear that he regards Hati as the leader of his 'pack'. "Yes. He's mine. I've planned on training him as a guard and attack dog. He's got a few more months before he hits full size, then he'll be a right terror to contend with." She reaches down and ruffles the doberman's ears, which are naturally floppy instead of the alert, modified type you see on some dogs.

"Negaduck takes pleasure in the pain of others. He's a coward, and an idiot. He gives all Shadow Lords a bad name, and I would roast him on a spit if I didn't think it would earn the ire of the others." These are certainly bold words, but Hati has enver been one to resist speaking her mind, especially when there are so few reprocussions. Even if Katyna were to repeat her words to the duck, it would be easy to talk her way around it, pretend to be sychophantic and get him eating out of her hand like a duck at a pond. At least - that's what she believes, anyways.

Hati quiets as Katyna gives a try at scrying. She smirks when that eye peeks open, "You can keep your eyes open, Kat. It's about clearing your mind, while holding one image there." This sounds like one of those trick questions - two things that cannot exist together. Still, Hati reaches out a hand and places it on the other girl's shoulder. "So much going on in that head of yours. It would do you good to practice some sort of meditation, or find some task that clears your mind. For me, it's the hunt. For you... it might be different." The oil still looks the same, reflecting her face back up at her.

Katyna has posed:
Kat arches a brow, glancing over curiously at Hati when she repeats that statement about becoming a shadow lord. "Yeah, that's what i want. To become as strong as I can, so that I dont have to fear anyone or anything..Not even death! Dont you want to be a Shadow Lord too? Now that Lord Serrak is.." She bites her lip, not wanting to upset Hati, "..Well if it were possible, wouldn't you want to be a Shadow Lord too?" what was the word Seith had used..Apprentice?

But even Hati knew about the darkness more than Katyna, surely. She glances towards the doggy, scritching it with a smile. "Hmm, I've never had a pet before. Must be nice. I'll bet he's really strong too.."

Katyna frowns a bit when Hati speaks of Negaduck with such disdain and nods slowly. "I'll keep that in mind if I ever meet him, but I'd be cautious what I say too. Who knows who might be listenning?" And warily, she glances around, just to make sure. It's not unheard of for one shadow lord to do in another, or to kill them on the basis of such a betrayal.

Afterall, hadn't Morgan's master been murdered for a betrayal of another shadow lord or somesuch? Kat didn't know the details, but...Indeed, there is much going on in her head and she nods. "Sorry, I'll try real hard. Perhaps you could teach me how to meditate properly?" She smiles, "Usually, I find my focus in fighting, altough I'd like to join you in hunting sometime too..."

And with that, Kat closes her eyes again, trying to focus this time upon the flames of her sword, visualizing their mesmerizing dancing red crackling waves in her mind. She remains silent this time for a while, totally focused..

Hati has posed:
Surely, there were some who simply assumed that Hati's decision not to join the ranks of the Shadow Lords was some measure of weakness, but this wolf had never been one to really back down from any sort of challenge. It seems that Katyna is probably the first to actually ask her the question directly, though. "Is being a Shadow Lord truly the greatest thing you can achieve?" She doesn't often speak of her own thoughts or beliefs, but they linger beneath the surface. Her way of speaking and of dealing with people is ackward, wolfish, and inhuman.

She growls softly in the back of her throat. "Now that Lord Serrak is gone." The sentence is continued right where it left off, but instead, Hati lowers her ears. "Since he left, all I've had are memories he was supposed to take from me. All I've seen is sad excuses for Shadow Lords who don't seem to know anything more than their own petty greed. They are imperfect creatures." That fluffy tail twitches once, "Maybe there's something else out there, and I would rather have my freedom to decide."

Years of being chained the an alpha have lead her to not wanting a new person to call master, and even the Shadow Lords seem to answer to the higher power of Malificent and her purposes aren't something that a wolf like Hati is privy to. "I'm not afraid of speaking my mind, or facing any Shadow Lord who sees fit to challenge me. Fear lets them have power over you, and I won't let them have any such hold on me."

As she takes her hand back, Hati seems to consider the prospect of teaching meditation, but then smirks as she shakes her head, "I've never been good at it, myself. I hunt, not meditate, but perhaps there are others who can teach you." As for the prospect of joining her on the hunt, Hati chuckles, "You have, Katyna. Perhaps not a truly challenging hunt, but one none the less. It's a start."

The wolf's eyes look towards the oil, her head tilting as nothing shows at first, but then a flicker of red passes over it. It's brief, but it's there. Maybe Kat might catch it too, when she opens her eyes. "I have to go meet with one of the Shadow Lords, but you're welcome to keep practicing. Just don't try the blood yet. It can be... dangerous." She leaves this bit of warning, and then shifts herself, forming a portal with a quick flick of her fingers on a runic pattern in the air.