Coyote or Gargoyle

[Midori]

Midori's paws twitched restlessly and her hindquarters were sore from sitting too long. Her ears were tuned to the conversation happening in the room whose windowsill she was perched on. Nervously she kept checking over her shoulder to see if anyone could see her that may give away what she was doing.

That was it really, what was she doing and why she asked herself. If she were to be caught listening to the king as he spoke to one of his guards she would be lucky if she wasn't tried for witchcraft or treason. Muscles that were use to being stretched and worked to their full limit began to complain loudly as well, adding to the doubt of the intelligence of this most recent spot she found herself in. Then again the weather was so blah lately that she was happy of the relative dryness and comfort of her spot. If only she hadn't insisted on staying for so long.

Inside the conversation seemed to finally be coming to an end anyways. Inside the King of the Canines was giving some final orders to a member of his guards. Certainly this was something that happened every day and shouldn't have garnered any special attention, especially from one who couldn't care less about the political world of wars and such. But this particular guard was a dashing fellow of fine cream color fur that shone in the sun and who blue eyes held Midori in a trance from the first time she had seen him. Sure they were too different breeds, he a wolf and she a coyote, but in her mind's eye she could see them courting and eventually coming togethor as mates. She watched the wolf salute the King with a flourish before turning to leave with a swish of his fluffy tail. Midori had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from uttering a heartsick sigh as she jumped down before she could be spotted by her love interest.

[Zion]

The young king let his eyes lazily sweep over his newest guard member, a pup who in his opinion, was still wet behind the ears. Not that he was much older, but the male in front of him was two, three years, no older. There was only a two or three year age gap, and Zion felt as if he had so much more knowledge, so much more understanding of the world (which, in all honesty, he probably did). Why he had felt compelled to choose such a young one to be apart of those who guarded his life was a mystery to the brute. The other male's baby blue eyes and fluffy coat did little to aid the aura of inexperience that hung around him. However, he was not completely disadvantaged, as proven when the king had watched a sparring session between him and another of his royal guard. He was... promising, to say the least. With time, he could be molded into a fine piece on Zion's playing board. Returning his focus to the real world, he felt the fellow squirming under his steely gray gaze, admiring of the wolf who was the epitome of his line, yet fearful of his gaze. He had quite often overheard comments on the intensity and coldness of his eyes. The general opinions of the castle's inhabitants varied, from seductive to haunting and a menagerie of other ridiculous adjectives. He, on the other hand, preferred to consider it a token piece of his court face, the mask he carefully built and still cultivated. A few more moments of silence passed before lordling spoke, his voice a smooth dulcet. "You."

"Y-yes sir!"

"...Patrol the castle." He said. There really wasn't any errands that the wolf needed done, and he wasn't really feeling generous enough to make something up for the newcomer. He watched the younger brute's reaction. While it seemed he was trying to hold it back, he watched the slight droop of his ears, the soft outtake of breath. The king's eyes narrowed, though after a few moments of careful consideration he decided to let it slide... this time. Next time he would not be so kind. "Dismissed."

"Yes Lord Zion!" The wolf barked, before sharply turning and exiting the room. Zion relaxed slightly, sitting back on his white haunches. A flash of grey caught the king's eye, and he followed it as it leaped from it's place from where he assumed was the windowsill of the throne room. He let his eyes drift to where the guard had gone and he smirked, dozens of possibilities and connections forming in his mind. Perhaps one of them would be right. Standing back up, he made his way out, his thick white coat protecting his sleek body from the chill of the morning air. The sunlight highlighted the purity of his coat, and he heard several admiring whispers from others as he passed by, his gait elegant and refined from years of practice and a natural talent for such things. He turned sharply around the corner, his eyes searching for what he assumed was a small canine.

[Midori]

Why did she think that such a creature would be interested in her? That was a good question yet she pushed it back to the darkest bits of her mind as she followed the striking male she had been spying on. While she didn't fall for this "light" hallabaloo that her species was so sucked into she could almost make herself believe that such a fine beast had been created by some higher power. No his mere presence wasn't enough to convince her of anything but luck and simple mating of the right beasts togethor had born such a fine specimen of canine.

Although she was graceful when she ran, going about her duties she took so seriously as a messenger, she was very clumsy while walking. While she was so entranced with the guard she didn't notice a small tree that seemed to spring up out of nowhere. The impact of her face hitting the bark made her see stars for a moment and she had to shake her head to clear her thoughts once more. Almost instantly she could feel, or at least thought she did, a bump the size of a robin's egg grow on her forehead. She gave the tree a low bark of defiance, followed by a slash across the bark with her front paws before moving on once more.

Harsh words were uttered as she continued to follow her "prey", stopping once to hide when the male paused to gossip with a fellow guard. For the most part she ignored them, after all she knew she deserved the harshness of the words when it came from the various victims of her past pranks, yet there were few times when these remarks cut as sharp as claws. She would tell herself that such comments about her made her famous, a prankster queen was the term she liked, and she should be happy that her packmates remembered her at all. After all the scrawny salt and pepper pup wasn't exactly note worthy. Around crowds she had no clue how to behave socially and couldn't imagine that she would know how to behave on any kind of date with her mystery man. Optimistically she told herself that was alright, after all she still had her dreams.

Midori's mouth began to feel as if she had swallowed a mouth full of sand after awhile and she begrudgingly decided to find herself something to drink. She was also getting bored and needed to find something more exciting to keep her interest up. Not that the white furred male was interesting enough but she had a feeling there was something more enticing somewhere close.

[Zion]

Pale eyes searched for their target, their gaze like a cold winter breeze, austere in their expression. He felt someone shudder under his hawk-like focus, and he looked away, his attention caught by a common sight that occurred around the castle. He watched a silvery-white fae berate a painfully thin jackal, the smaller creature cringing and trying to inch away. His usually well-placed fox smile twisted downwards in displeasure. He padded towards her, his frown turning into a spine-chilling smile. "Might I inquire as to what you are doing with one of my servants?" He cajoled, his smooth voice disrupting the fae's screeches. She whipped around, and he observed that she was prepared to give whoever it was that interrupted a tongue-lashing as well. But what she was not expecting was her lord and master. He smirked as she stopped abruptly, noticed the faint quivering that came to her limbs. Like a prey animal caught in a trap. "Well?" He prompted, and she fumbled for an answer. Had he not been so well trained the king would have laughed, like a cruel child who pulled off the wings of insects.

He stopped suddenly, and he narrowed his eyes, staring down the smaller wolf with icy eyes, his lips pulling back to reveal an impressive row of teeth. ""Don't touch what is mine, wench."" He growled, only speaking loud enough for her to hear. She nodded swiftly out of fear, and out of the corner of his eye the young king watched the golden-pelted jackal scurry away, saved from pain by someone she would have not expected. He allowed his expression to relax again, twisting the corners of his mouth into a "gentle" smile, as expected of a king. He watched her stumble over a hurried apology, scrambling away to avoid his wrath.

Fool.

He continued on, slightly miffed that he had been distracted from the task at hand. As he neared the perimeter, he spotted another flash of grey. A coyote it was, after all. It seemed this one was the little spy he was seeking. She seemed to be seeking something. He looked around the area, his eyes finally landing upon the new guard from earlier. His smirk grew as he pulled the pieces together. "How interesting." He said loudly, the words directed at the small creature.

[Midori]

Midori was bored, there was no denying such a simple fact. All around her others seemed to have some important task or some dire errand that needed their unwaivering attention. Yet what was she doing? The coyote was drooling over some unobtainable piece of meat. Okay so it wasn't that primal really, calling some beast 'a piece of meat' just seemed cruel, better to compare him to a high hanging piece of fruit. No that wasn't right either but since the 'yote was only mentally argueing with herself when it came to these comparisons it really didn't matter. It was best to find something to do before she got too mischievious for her own good as a certain flustered looking female was looking to be a very tempting target. Midori couldn't help but chuckle as she watched the lass wave her paws frantically while her tail was tucked tight between her legs and she was obviously quite upset. The unlucky young male she was talking to seemed to care more about picking fleas from his shoulder than listening to the tale she was blabbering. There was a look akin to sheer disgust on his face yet his companion seemed to be undetered. Yes this one would be an easy target and almost to good to pass up. That was until she heard the voice.

For a brief moment Midori was airborn as she jumped in the air. All four feet seemed to have a life of their own as she flailed slightly, spun around towards the sound, and landed once again. Before her brain kicked in and realization came to her of just who it was that had spoken to her she made her reply.

"Give a girl a heart attack why don't ye. No manners nowadays, that's the problem," Her voice was level and friendly without sign of aggression. Unfortunately there wasn't really any sign of respect either. "I have half a mind to demand an apology. After all....."

Her mouth hung open as she realized, alas too late, just who she was talking to. Immediately her ears flattened to her head and she lowered herself in a submissive manner. Sure she didn't agree with the religious views and such of the court but that didn't mean she was ignorant of the powers that ruled this land. Then there were the tales, true or not she didn't know, of what happened to those that even dared fart in the presence of royalty never mind talk to them as if they were some casual acquaintance. Midori took a couple quick glances around to see if anyone had heard what she said, though if they had they showed no sign of it. Then she turned back to the King.

"Your majesty. I didn't realize. After all, I mean, ummm..." She stammered a reply and pawed at the ground.

[Zion]

His brows were raised in a mix of amusement and mild surprise. The female was an insolent one. It piqued his bored aristocrat's curiosity. Why a canine who was disadvantaged in every way against him act in such a way puzzled the strategic king. He had her life in his hands after all. One word and the little twit would be slaughtered by an eager to please guard. He was sure the shining young Adonis that she seemed to be so enamored with would be as willing as any other. A grim, but quite true thing. "Is it a trend among females, to speak to your lord in such a way?" He asked, eyes narrowing.

He watched her assume a submissive position, becoming smaller than she had been before. She, like the other female, seemed to have realized who he was. How dull. Her apology flowed through his ears as he stared her down, trying to gather what his mother had always called "his presence", which apparently, according to her, was an aura about him that seemed to exert an invisible pressure. She had always said it was a good thing, given his rank, had she not? It was hard to recall much of his mother. All he remembered was a kindly smile and a soft touch. The only wolf he could show weakness to in a court of smiles full of sharp teeth, and she had already left this world, leaving him with his lonely, high throne.

"I should hope that my appearance and voice should be more familiar to you... messenger." He said in his melodious voice, assuming that she was a messenger because of her species. He kept his steely gray eyes focused on her, his gaze cold and impersonal, and utterly unyielding. He briefly envied her life, being able to so freely chase after a canine of her choosing, spending her life as she wished, while he was like a caged bird, powerful on his solemn throne, so changed by his life in the court that he couldn't trust a single being. But the practical side of him took over again, and he dismissed the childish wish.

[Midori]

Slightly Midori bristled at the way he spoke to her though her mind told her to hold her tongue. The little voice, the wisest part of her that she so rarely listened to, told her to bow a few more times and maybe kiss his paws if it was allowed before slinking away to hide. Yes that might be the most reasonable thing. It was certainly the best move to keep her fur attached in it's proper place. She was also aware just how fragile her life was in his presence and how, with a simple strong bite, he could snap her neck to end it all. However Midori wasn't known for her best decisions. She too had dreams, though she wasn't privy to the King's desires, and she was sick of just letting them fall due to her breed. Would she be killed or tortured, probably, but she told herself in an oddly reassuring way, that at least she would go out with her head held high and feeling like she had done something.

"You're right, of course, M'lord." She said allowing her body to stand at it's, admittedly unimpressive, regular stature. Her tail hung close to her body though not tucked in. For a brief moment she allowed a thought of sense to scream in her mind that it was best to stop right there and walk away meekly. Best to fight another day, right? Plus what could she really do by being such an obnoxiously moronic, and sadly stereotypical, female? Nothing, that's what. No one was going to sit up and take notice of her, no social changes were going to explode into the pack's social structure, and the King would end up with a coyote skin to do with as he pleased. Why then would her muzzle not stay shut?

"Yet if you descended from your high place for but a moment of your time more often perhaps I would recognize you more. After all how could one lowly messenger, who hasn't even received a task from you in many moons and even then was done through a servant of your's, hope to know you. On top of that I dare not look when you do venture out for fear of offending you in some manner." Before the words were out of her muzzle the coyote knew she was done for. She kept her voice low but unthreatening as she didn't want to cause a scene. Midori dared not take her eyes off of him, better to see the last minutes of life and except the path chosen then to die in a pool of blood and regrets, so she couldn't tell if others were listening. Her ears twitched slightly and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

[castic]

Castic was bored. As many young femmes her age, boredom comes easy. But boredom comes easier when you are a coyote. A messenger. Her muscles fit to sprint for miles upon miles, in fact, she was ready for a run now! How amazing it would be to sprint through the forest at top speed, feeling the wind in her fur...
Her thoughts were cut short by a voice she rarely heard these days. The king has finally come out of hiding eh? Well well well...it's about time he entered the real world. It was then she heard a second voice, a voice of familiar pitch as her own.
Messenger!
Though her mind told her this messenger was in a trouble of some kind and screamed to hare it into the forest, it was her restless muscles that inched her forward through the corridor and into a hallway where an older coyote stood in fear before the king.

As she approached she could see the fire in the Lord Zion's eyes, whatever the coyote had seen, said, or done the king did not approve. Flattening her ears to her head, she padded through the shadows of the hall, only her hazel eyes gave away her position, gleaming in the shadowed light. It was here in the shadows she paused, fearing for her fellow fae. She decided to remain here until she was sure that this messenger was okay.