everyone deserves a second chance {darlos/open}

[ADVOKATE | katie]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,430,true][atrb=bgcolor,#000000] many wouldn't believe that life traveled to the very dwelling of death. it would blow them away to know just how often she actually did, however. crystle's love for her creations was unmeasurable. she treasured each and every one of them. wolf goddess as she was, it was the souls of the canid that she watched as closely as a newborn child. in the youngest days, all souls returned to her. but as the world grew, and the other gods' touch corrupted her creations, more and more became misguided, finding their way to darlos. it was his job to keep them caged, to teach them sorrow and empathy for the crimes they committed. however, crystle had no interest in justice. no matter how heinous the acts, she always forgave. it grieved her to lose a soul to the ashen prison. it wasn't a battle she could even begin to fight, however. it was a system that worked much like time, a match for neither mortal nor god. every now and then, however, a special soul struck tragedy and equally plucked her heartstrings, causing her to descend past the greatest tree to confront the god of death. such a situation had arose, and crystle found herself at the doors of hell. this creation had the name of cancer. his affliction began when he was born. a cannibalistic pack birthing litters to feed their horrific cycle picked only one of each to survive to keep the pack's numbers strong enough to oppress the feeders. by the self-sacrifice of his mother, the boy was able to escape. however, the world wasn't exactly welcoming. living in vain, he grew up cold and indifferent to everything around him. he joined ranks of power-seekers, and climbed the ranks by crushing others under-paw. never an issue, for he never witnessed the suffering he caused. just before the summit of influence, he gave his life for a mother and her fatherless whelps. it was his actions throughout life that damned him. potential saturated his soul, seeped out freely. circumstance had temporarily turned him sour, but crystle was certain that another go could turn everything around. and that was her only argument. walking on charcoal, the ever-flowing tears dripped down her cheeks and hit the charred floor to sizzle out and evaporate. her delicate green paw-pads singed and regenerated with each step. those depthless eyes, constantly-changing shades of beryl, searched desperately ahead. confidence filled her heart. she had won darlos over before, whether it be through axioms or simple pleading. and if there was one thing life never lost, it was faith in herself. "darlos," crystle called out. "we have a soul to discuss."

[lidarose]

"I don't know why I ever leave this place," Darlos said to one of his most trusted souls. "It's so nice here, and there is no place like it." He smiled broadly, hoping his mate, Martial, would show up and find him. That was always what he hoped for. If she didn't arrive, he'd go straight to her lands to leave her some flowers. Whether she liked them, he didn't know, and couldn't really stay long enough to find out. As he sat there, wagging his tail and enjoying the comfort that was his home, he heard Crystle's call. He turned to the soul again.

"That's why," he said with a chuckle. Every time Crystle came over, it was to discuss a soul who she thought should go with her into what was essentially heaven for wolves. Sometimes, Darlos would agree with her, but that was a rare occasion. After all, he wasn't some push-over. He was in front of Crystle in a flash, something that would creep out a mortal wolf, but a goddess such as herself wouldn't even bat an eyelash at it.

"Another one?" he asked with a sigh. "You know I can't give a soul back to you just because you ask for it." Okay, maybe there was one or two times he did in the past, but that was then, this was now. He wouldn't be so generous unless Martial was around, which was unlikely. The fact that he hadn't seen her in a while (a short while, even to gods, but still) made him on edge, and more likely to snap than usual.

[Rivaxorus]

"Save us!
What have we done wrong
Free us from this place
You forsake us!"

Martial ignored the souls, reaching their paws out to her as she passed through the halls of the dead. So much had changed since Minlo was broken from head god, normally a god would lead their own punishment on the wolves of their element who had done wrong, now all that had done bad and sinned in the world of the living had been sent here. Her sleek black form, it was beautiful as the giant goddess ignored the tugs of paws on her fur. Minlo's souls, the ghost wolves were all in cages made of authentic curses down in the lower levels which only she and Darlos could reach. It only seemed plausible for the encounter with him, that and the incident with the Fire god. She stopped at the end off the long hallway, Crystle seemed to be talking to Darlos about giving her a soul again. Martial's eyes tweaked a bit raising an eyebrow, as her skin melted into a Raven's feathers. The Raven floated over and broke apart, molecule by molecule. She melted back into her goddess form and looked at Crystle, dipping her head in a greeting. Then turned to Darlos, kissing him on the cheek before looking over at the gates to the waiting line of the wolves who wished to receive judgement.

"How many has it been now, a hundred?" She spoke to herself, through her thoughts. She was talking about since Minlo sent chaos upon the mortal world. She flicked her tail and sat by her mate's side. "Don't mind me, just listening" She said solemnly to Crystle, partly to Darlos. She didn't want to intrude on their conversation, they were all equals here, just because she was their leader, didn't mean she needed special treatment.

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[ADVOKATE | katie]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,430,true][atrb=bgcolor,#000000] darlos' abrupt appearance gave crystle the leniency to recline back on her haunches, comfortable at the threshold of her fellow god. she knew he would argue with her; not only was it his job to keep the souls against all persuasion, but his personality befitted one who didn't move their ground. however, what being could resist the sway of words? all she needed to do was find the right ones, and slip them into the death god's ears. "i would never expect you to do such a thing," crystle answered him, a knowing smile curving her black lips. "i have proper reasoning to convince you that this soul deserves release." a third divinity approached the scene, filling her niche at darlos' side. crystle's small smile transformed into a warm grin. she was fond of her queen; truly, she had little issues with any of the other gods. there weren't many around to quarrel with anymore, anyways. the transgressions of the past war were forgotten easily by life, just as she forgave all things. her only grudge was with minlo as he continued to tamper with her creations and damn them, keeping them from reincarnation. "of course," crystle acknowledged martial's words. then she was all business. "you should recognize this soul as i speak of him. his arrival was recent, and i'm certain his punishment is severe. he has caused pain to others his whole life. but you would be wise to remember, darlos, that i create each and every one of the souls that slip down your throat and suffer here with select attention. cancer deserves another chance at life on our earth. if he is born into proper conditions, the progress he could achieve would atone for all the mistakes of his previous life."

[lidarose]

When Martial showed up, Darlos couldn't help but smile, licking her forehead right after she kissed his cheek. With her by his side, he was much warmer, though that didn't mean he wouldn't argue with Crystle on this. However, maybe if Martial was convinced that Darlos should let that soul go, well, he wouldn't hold it anymore. His mate's feelings mattered enough to him that he'd put his own aside for her. Honestly, he'd do that even if Martial wasn't queen.

"Ah, yes, Cancer. Born under unfortunate circumstances, dies a noble death, but causes more than enough suffering to others throughout his life that he is down here and not with you," Darlos said in response. "There are many wolves above, born under not the same conditions, but ones equally bad, who don't afflict that kind of pain on their fellow wolf. Might I also add that, if a wolf is capable of doing that sort of thing once, they are more than able to do it again, regardless of the environment in which they are born?" He looked to Martial when he had finished making his points, and relaxed, his smile returning to his face. "What do you think, my beloved?" She had said not to mind her, but really, Darlos wanted her opinion. If she thought he was wrong, then he'd back off and let the soul go without a second thought.

[Rivaxorus]

Martial looked at her mate with blackened eyes as normal. Then back over to the god of life. Her glossy fur rippled over her shoulders as she closed her eyes and got up moving over to Crystle, examining her features, Martial had been so busy Crystle seemed to look different. "Actually, it depends, on who this wolf is, let me meet him and then perhaps I shall then decide where his soul truly lies." She spoke sitting behind Crystle, before sinking into the shadows ending up in the bottom floors where the gods were being held hostage. She simply looked over them and then sank back above. A pile of burning ashes became a wolf and through itself at Martial, which she dodged easily by dipping her head below his reach.

"Reflexes are as excellent as always your highness" The wolf made of burnt ashes, and some of his body glowing a high red color, from the fact he was burned to death by another fire wolf as himself. The wolf smiled at the others, of course they knew him, the troublemaker of the place, the fact that he was the fire god's son everyone knew him. Although he didn't inherit the godly powers his father had, he inherited his mothers side of the family. "Afternoon everyone" Hunter greeted smiling at the much larger wolves, since they were gods and goddess's they had larger forms then the normal wolves.

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[ADVOKATE | katie]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,430,true][atrb=bgcolor,#000000] crystle listened as darlos spoke, patiently and with attention. however, the words he chose had no affect on her set mind. as she had stated, she knew everything about this soul, and she knew how her creations functioned within the world. without this knowledge, the death god's argument would have been pretty influential, but crystle's insight caused her to stand unmoved. she had her rebuttal ready, it came easily to the front of her mind, and waited on the tip of her tongue. there were so many dynamics to her beautiful children, and within this realm that they resided. so many factors to consider, to include, even to dismiss. crystle was certain that if both of their patience could hold out, the two gods would have the ability to argue endlessly and never run out of valid points and opposing views. still, in her divine heart she carried an answer that was absolute. however, darlos turned the situation over into martial's paws. this annoyed the life god slightly, as persuading two deities would certainly prove more difficult. she had been aware of this possible change of playing fields though. darlos' undying affection for his mate was well known even to the mortals. she dismissed her irritation, agreeing to the terms martial presented. when the queen chose to leave them for a moment, crystle set her eyes on darlos', with a look that perhaps could have said something along the lines of 'well played.' if darlos was distant, martial was completely unattached. winning her over could prove to be impossible in this situation, for she would be more likely to see the facts as black and white. upon her return, a shadowy soul took form and launched a harmless attack. crystle initially had expected it to be her cancer, however it happened to be one of the few souls she had not created herself. this one carried traits of a different god, the one of flame. to his greeting, crystle nodded her head in reciprocation. with the same instant of time, she willed cancer from the depths of darlos' cages. the ill-colored boy dug his way out of the ashes, unburying himself from the potent ages of suffering. his eyes carried the only colors on his body that stood apart from the charred landscaping of darlos' dwelling. one was a steely silver, and the other a halcyon blue. unaware of the trial that lay before him, he remained silent, gazing over his creator, his keeper, his sovereign, and the demigod. "cancer," crystle greeted him with the utmost warmth.

[lidarose]

As Hunter revealed himself in his usual popping up and randomly trying to attack the gods manner, Darlos couldn't help but growl softly in irritation. The last thing he needed was him starting to get false hopes, watching whatever happened with Cancer. As he noticed his behavior unseemly for a god such as himself, he quickly regained composure.

"I apologize, Hunter," he said, his voice calm as cold as ever. "But Martial, Crystle, and I are doing business here. We would highly appreciate it if you would not disturb us." He looked, then, to Cancer, the soul in question, who just arrived on the scene. "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes? You look like death!" He couldn't help but make jokes, hoping that would ease the tension. He wondered how the soul would react to his lame joking around. "Do you know who I am?" He approached Cancer to give him a closer look, then flicked his tail and walked back to Martial's side, licking her muzzle.

"He's all yours, M'dear," he whispered to her, then turned back to Cancer. "Do you know who the faes are? The other male isn't important." He was asking these basic questions, though the floor was still Martial's, as far as Darlos was concerned.

[Rivaxorus]

Hunter looked at the death god, almost tempted to stick his tongue out at him. It wasn't his fault he didn't have anything to do, "Things were so much more exciting when the demi-gods were around. Then again, we were all from two gods, I'm probably the only surviving true demi-god" Hunter whispered to himself. He liked that thought, he didn't think being a rare breed was being alone, it meant being unique. Even though, a lot of wolves he knew hated uniqueness. Hunter then looked over at Cancer, he could tell from all the years spent with Martial, she was fit for this job. She never let her personal feelings get in the way, her judgement was neither kind nor mean, it was more of she was balanced in a way that everyone respected.

Martial completely ignored her mate's note on the wolf's appearance. Appearance meant nothing, a simple lesson even her own single pupil could never learn, unless she did before the curse she had killed her. The goddess threw the thought of Velvet away standing she approached Cancer, lowering her head. She looked at him, with large eyes, sparking with no interest what so ever. She looked at Crystle, lifting her heads, her shadow engulfing her own body as she faded into the ground and picked up hunter by the tail. Throwing him above, as he went through the roof and onto the upper floor. She returned her attention to Cancer, she took in a deep breath and let it out. The room lit up in a brilliant bookie of silvers and grays. These strange rays of light surrounded Cancer, they whispered things to the wolf, things that would upset him. This was Martial's way of testing a wolf's strength of will. She sat and watched Cancer, for his reaction slowly.

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