[ P ] caught in your vicegrip

"Fuck!" he snarled as he came to a stop. The border patrol had almost caught him and he'd lost his supply along the way. There was no way he could go back and retrieve it, at least not right now, so he was stuck here until the heat dissipated. A growl rumbled through his chest and he shook his head. This whole splitting thing was bad for business but his father seemed to love it. Maybe because he did not have to take on the risk, his kids did. What did Lachlan care if he ended up in the dungeons? He'd just forget about him, no doubt. If Declan wasn't making his father money, he was a loose end and that was the last thing the he wanted to be. He lowered his head and headed into town hoping the midday crowd would distract from his presence.

He grumbled to himself as he walked, weaving in and out of the throng of wolves that crowded the streets. Some looked his way but most ignored him. He slipped into a dark alleyway once he got deeper into town and decided to take a rest there. He sat against the stone wall, titling his head back and sighing. How was he going to explain this if he couldn't make his delivery?

An odd smell wafted over the tip of her nose. It tingled and twitched as she smelled the odd scent. She had smelled it before, but she smelled a lot of things in a lot of places. The wolves that had returned from battle smelled differently than those who had not. She had been around drug addicts before, and the smell was oddly close to that. But it couldn't be here... could it? She followed after it, deciding that now was not the time to go and collect herbs. She had gotten many from the Tiamats, as Sethos had paid for her stock to be refilled. But she could always use more herbs. The young female knew it was dangerous to be alone at night. She also knew that soldiers were always present if she were loud enough. The Jacobites all rushed to the north, once the war was over. It was more safe now than it had ever been, and yet - she knew better. Something was not right, that gut feeling that danger was present was there, but a nagging in her mind told her to seek it out. She was not a soldier, but she knew some and she knew how to get their attention. She moved down the streets, following the scent and her eyes stuck to her surroundings. What little light was available was enough for now. Finally she turned into an alleyway, and she found the image of a male resting against the wall. First analysis told her that he was very large, and very dark. It seemed only a small spot of white beamed brightly on his chest. Which drew the attention to the way he was breathing. It was quick hot breaths, usually from exerting one's energy. He had been running, but from what? In her mind, she knew only the guilty would run. But who was she running from? “Sir, what seems to be the problem?” She had to keep him here, at least a little while longer as she listened for the sound of paw steps that might be nearby. “Right before your eyes...” @Declan

His heartbeat began to slow as he gathered his nerves and just when he'd felt calm enough to maybe head back and pick up his stash, a woman appeared out of nowhere and questioned him. He opened his eyes at the sound her voice and immediately bounced off the wall he'd been leaning on to stand before her. He studied her for a moment before popping on a kind smile and shaking his head in denial. "No problems here, Miss..." he said, trailing off as he did not know her name.

Over the scent of the stone alleyway surrounding them, he could smell her. She smelled of roses mostly but that hint of stench from the Army was what really caught his attention. Fuck me... he thought.

Declan put on his warmest smile and sauntered towards her, his tail swaying behind him as he appeared relaxed and cool -- hopefully -- he wanted to seem like he didn't have a care in the world. He didn't think she was part of the border patrol that had tracked him down here, but he couldn't be too careful. Hopefully his luck wouldn't run out and leave him in a jail cell tonight.

"I'm right as rain," he chirped. He paused a few feet away from her, his gleaming gaze settling on her. He studied her, she was slightly smaller than him but that didn't mean she wasn't a skilled fighter. However, when he looked into her soft green eyes he wondered if she was a fighter at all. Not all Army folk were the fighting sort, he'd come to find out. Not all of them were on the straight and narrow, either. He didn't say much more than that as he watched her, trying his best to hide the wary glint in his eyes. He hoped he appeared as calm and collected as he was trying to look.

If she had met him at any other time, she may not have felt the need to keep her name hidden from him. All of her instincts were shouting that something was off here. As he drew nearer to her, she could feel the fur on her back rise. Her tail stayed out straight behind her form. Her ears were alert, constantly listening to any that might be able to assist her. The moment that their eyes met, her stomach churned. Something really was not right. But she didn't know what it was that her body was trying to tell her. He didn't smell right, but he could have just been filthy. Although, it was terrible to assume such things about others without truly knowing them. He didn't smell like rotting flesh, but when he got closer to her, he did smell of an illegal substance. He had come into contact with it, whether through use or being around others who were utilizing it. The alarms in Calla's mind began to ring loudly, so loud she could barely process what was happening. She knew two things, he was a stranger and he was potentially bad news. But why was she not able to leave the area? Was her curiosity of this male bringing him closer to her, not allowing her to spend her time better? She was no soldier, and so she did not feel as though she had the authority to demand why he was here. Also... civilians were allowed to wander the streets. Maybe he was on his way home after work? Maybe he wanted to take a stroll? But why the alleyway? “What are you doing down here?” she asked him as her eyes locked onto his once more. “Do you live around here?” she asked him, trying to get as much information as she could. She would not impersonate a soldier, but if he assumed she was one - then that was close enough and she wasn't really breaking any laws. “Right before your eyes...” @Declan

He did not miss that she seemed a little nervous and he thought to himself that maybe he could use that to his advantage. If it came down to it, maybe he could frighten her into keeping her mouth shut about whatever it is she thought she knew but he didn't want to have to do that, not yet. He stopped a couple feet away and watched her as she continued to question him, asking what he was doing here and if he lived nearby.

"I was just resting is all and no, I don't live around here." he answered, one lie and one truth.

He didn't elaborate further as he began walking towards her again, stopping only when he was mere inches away. "Why all the questions? Can't a guy take a breather without being grilled?" he asked as he peered down at her, quirking a brow and offering a half-smile. She was blocking his path and that was the only reason he'd stopped at all. "Why don't you move out of my way, sweetheart?" he said, honey dripping from his tone as he used the moniker he'd heard his father use a thousand times over.

With him being so close to her, and looking down at her, an ordinary wolf might have ran away in fear. But not Calla. Something was off. If he was not guilty of some crime, why was he being so pushy now? Calla had met many different types of wolves: criminals, saints, and sinners. This male was not the innocent wolf he was trying to play off. “Out for a late night jog then?” she asked him. Her suspicion of this male was growing by the second. Everything in her was telling her to stand her ground. She was going to find out just why he was acting this way. It was late. Tell him to go home... She wanted to tell him, but she was unsure. Everything was telling her something was off. She realized she was blocking the path and her muscles tensed. Her eyes locked onto his. She would show him that she was not afraid. “You've never played twenty questions before?” she asked playfully. Yes, she was asking him a lot of things, but she could hear paw steps close by. It could potentially be someone of help to her. She just needed more time. “I am not grilling you... Do you feel grilled?” She asked him, though she knew it was the truth. Her mind rattled off tons of more questions, but then it occurred to her that she could delay him if she gave her name to him, maybe he would give it back. If it were a name she had heard in passing, she might be able to assess if he were an actual threat or not. “Calla Makris, you may call me,” she said softly. Trying to lighten the mood and stop the male from being able to get behind her. Never show them your back.. She had watched some of the soldiers crawling in the yard, noted their attacks and defensive postures they used. She was not going to be moving out of his way, and he was not going to just bully her to the side. There was a darkness in his voice, a sultry tone that usually might work on her. But she knew that dangerous males had many tricks to luring in their prey. She would not be one of them. “If not here, where do you live?” “Right before your eyes...” @Declan

"You could say that," he said, though it would be a blatant lie. He was not out for some simple exercise, he was out on a job... one that he had yet to complete. At this rate he'd be heading home empty-handed. He almost cringed at the idea of his father 'beating some sense' into him for it. He was much larger than Lachlan but that didn't mean he was ready to stand up to the man who'd been his biggest demon all his life. It was pathetic, even he knew that, but how was he supposed to tear down the man his mother loved? It was a twisted, fucked up mess that he wanted out of but only seemed to find himself entangled further in with every choice he made. He shoved those thoughts out of his head and looked upon her, a smirk lining his jaws as he quipped "You think I just woke up looking like this? It's a lot of hard work."

His ears twitched as her own questions took a more playful turn and he wondered if she was simply playing along with him now or falling into something more natural. "Can't say I have, actually. Does that mean I get to ask you questions too?" he posed, tilting his head slightly.

She flipped it around on him, claiming she wasn't grilling him and that he was feeling that all on his own. Oh? he thought, his brow raising at the words. His guilt was that evident, huh? Well then he'd just have to play it cooler. She offered up a name and he debated for a second or two on giving her a fake name. "Declan." he said simply, deciding against it. He didn't know why he said his real name but he purposefully 'forgot' to offer a surname for many reasons. His father wasn't exactly unknown around Rionnach but Declan had always been told not to show he associated with him, especially on a job.

Finally, she asked one more question and he just stared at her. His lips curled slightly and then he ran his tongue over his teeth. He wasn't exactly in the mood to play games and they were still alone here in this alleyway. "North." he drawled, leaning in and saying the word in her face as he leveled his gaze with hers. She could assume what she wanted from that answer but it was plain to him.

At every turn, the words that came out his mouth were not averting her from her thoughts. It didn't matter how playful he could chose to make or not make his voice. Her alarms were going off, and she could feel the danger looming around her. But she was brave or stupid. She was fighting with herself which was more the truth. She could see that he was one for intimidation, as he had used it on her already. But she would not allow herself to be bent - not like this. She would hold her ground. “My, you must take a lot of time to look so sharp...” she said with a playful smirk. If he wanted to play, she could play this game too. Lure him into a false sense of security - like he had been trying to do to her. Or it seemed that way. Calla immediately noted his first name, and the fact that even though she had given her surname, he did not in return. He is hiding something... Her instincts were practically screaming at her the danger she had found herself in, but she would not leave. “You can ask me whatever you want.” Her soft green eyes stared into his sun-stricken orbs. It was not a challenge, more so to try and see what was behind those eyes. Were they ill intentions? Was there more to this "Declan" than he let on? She had to wonder. With her final question, something in him changed. The intimidation he had used before must have been a half-attempt. She should have ran then, but she wanted to stay. Something was not right this whole time. Calla heard in slow motion the single word that he uttered, his body language along with it was different. The soft look of her eyes changed, she was sure he could sense it. Her muscles tightened again and her tail slowly rose higher than it had been positioned before. She had never been in a fight before, but she knew it was within her. She could stand her ground - here and now. Locking eyes with the danger was a sort of rush for her. Her tone went deep, low, as she uttered her next words to him, “you don't belong here...” It was almost chilling for Calla as she had never taken such tone with anyone before. It was odd, but she knew it was necessary. The paw steps behind her were getting louder, and that meant that he might be able to hear them as well, if he were listening to his surroundings. She would have to be brave for just a little while longer. “Do they not give surnames in the.... North?” The word by itself could mean north of this specific place a few feet or miles, but the way he had said it - paired with his change in body language - she knew what he meant. “Right before your eyes...” @Declan

Declan could tell that she wasn't going to give up easily and he was beginning to think he was going to have to use brute force to move her out of the damned way. She continued to toy with him, all the while for some unknown reason. She wanted to keep him here, she wanted...

His ear flicked and he raised his head at the sound of approaching paw steps. Someone was coming and he had a gut feeling it wasn't someone coming to his rescue. "Fuck," he hissed, his gaze shifting back to hers as he looked at the dark dead end behind them. There was nowhere else to run but out of this fucking alley. "Yeah, I don't fucking belong here." he admitted, ignoring her request for his surname entirely. He'd not be giving that up, that was for damned sure. As he looked into her eyes he found himself with two options, neither of which were all that appealing.

"Someone is coming and I swear I won't forget your face if you don't let me go. Now." he said, it was not a promise it was a threat.

His body tensed as he looked at her, he was giving her a chance to stand down before he did something they would both probably regret. He didn't want to hurt her, but he would if he had to. "Don't make me hurt you," he said, sounding more stressed the closer the steps came.

It was all unfolding and as the steps got closer, Calla could feel the tightening of her throat. She could call out, ask for help. She could do nothing and stare danger right in the face. She felt the fear, but would not acknowledge it. I knew it! She would have wagged her tail if it had been any other situation. “Fine,” she said as she side stepped and moved out of the way for the male to try and run. But just as she had moved the figure of the approaching wolf was blocking the path. She didn't know who it was, but the scent that wafted off his coat was Imperial. A sense of relief washed over her. She would have to see what this "Declan" would do. “Right before your eyes...” @Declan