left behind empty walls [mason, open]

[Loki]

Thousands of stars were visible in the midnight sky, the barest hints of a half-full moon peeking from behind swiftly moving clouds. There would be no storms tonight, but come mid-day tomorrow this field may face a few stray bolts of lightning. Various contraptions and dummies littered the ankle-high grass, the tread of many boots and claws displaying quite clearly that each item was used regularly. Whether these marks be of many troops or a very few could not be readily determined, of course - but one could be led to believe that the Nightfall were growing in number. The terrain was a tad bit muddy, as it had rained sporadically for the past two days. Loki was not particular about his battleground; overcoming bad conditions could be a valuable upper-hand. The pitch black wolf panted slightly where he stood, his pelt splattered with thick brown mud. His long off-white teeth were stained with blood, and small wound marred his neck. His seemingly absent eyes stared straight ahead, as though he was completely unaware that his tail had been partially bitten off. Within his sights rested his molecular copy, its' own panting rasping in the eerie quiet. The best time to fight oneself is in the presence of no one, and thus Loki had come and birthed another him to battle as freely as they both wanted.

They stood still, as though waiting for something or someone, but within the same moment the two wolves stepped towards their right (obviously meaning to begin circling their opponent, resuming the game). Loki snarled savagely and gnashed his teeth together, the hair along his spine bristling. He paced eagerly across the slick ground, his large claws burrowing beneath squishy soil in as well of an anchor he could manage. Thick saliva slipped from black lips, his entire being seeming to radiate both darkness and heat. The demon lurched forward suddenly and startled his identical 'twin'; he reared on his hind legs and grasped the wolf around the head, his jaws snapping for ears as his forelegs gripped for thick neck. A bass growl erupted from beneath him, and he winced at the dive of teeth into his left shoulder. The wolf beneath him fell sideways beneath the onslaught, slipping on wet ground and depositing himself into the mud with his creator atop him. His constant growling wavered oddly like laughter, his body moving to end this once and for all.

His muzzle sought a densely furred throat, his hind-quarters swinging around so he could rest his left fore-paw securely against the chin of his prey - he held down his victim and began the process of sawing his powerful teeth through his own thick throat. But the large brute paused with his teeth when he was only pressing hard enough to be uncomfortable, his growl ceasing and his dark eyes lifting at the subtle noises of someone approaching. Loki released the wolf beneath him abruptly, his head lifting and his body turning to the intrusion on his fun. The scent of Mason crept into his nostrils, eliciting a huff from the demonic brute before he moved away from the muddy pit they had been sparring in. Behind him, he heard the staggered breathing of his creation, the mud-caked male having picked himself up. Loki's copy shook himself vigorously, flinging clumps of mud in a wide spread around him. He was panting slightly as he trailed along behind Loki - the copy was not particularly interested in doing a meet-and-greet with Mason right now.

Loki himself seemed irritated by his human's approach, though his demeanor hinted that perhaps he was adverse to what Mason may have just seen. His ears turned sharply backwards, his maw falling into the slightest of frowns. But in staring boldly at the human instead of turning his gaze away beneath scrutiny, the wolf displayed clearly that the two met as equals. The monster did not care whether Mason witnessed the worst of his doings, as Mason cared just as little. Well, if Mason cared he had yet to speak up about it. His lips twitched and his chewed tail moved restlessly. He wanted nothing more than to return to killing himself, to spattering his crimson blood across mud. "What?" rumbled Loki's voice, his lips barely parting to exhale the syllable.

[Mason Ashcroft]

He stood side by side with a black monster. Something dark and brutal. Something that's aura radiated 'get away from me'. This scene was recurring. Black and white. Dead trees and a crisp breeze. Wind that nipped at your cheeks, the tip of your nose. Mason's expression was one of determination. One carved from stone. The pair was never something to be messed with. Mason's fighting background and Loki's cold attitude.

The path before them was clear, 'cept for the dead leaves that had been well traveled over. The wind pulled a couple cadaverous leaves in front of them. A couple ink black silhouettes of what looked to be crows flew aimlessly a ways ahead of their path. The two avians lazily cutting back and forth through the grey sky.

Mason didn't have to let his eyes wander to know that a couple more beasts stood with them. This recurring was always Loki and his imaginary army. The thing that Mason didn't understand...was why they were so on guard during this. There was never anything facing them, and yet, the two always stood so boldly beside each other. One of the crows changed direction. Leaving the other, he glided in the direction Mason and his partner. Landing on the dead leaves before them.

'These things are not living?' It cocked its head to the side.

Mason rose a brow. This is the farthest he had gone through this scene. And it would be the furthest he'd make it.

His eyes opened. Confused, he blinked repeatedly before sitting up. His fingers curled and rubbed at his eyes. Running one hand through his short hair, he took in a deep breath. He went a little wide eyed, blinking. His lips pursing as he released the breath in a sweep. Shaking his head as if trying to clear it, he looked around his room. He dropped his hand and crinkled his eyebrows. Where had Loki gone now?

He threw the blankets off them and turned to drop his feet to the floor. Taking in another deep breath, he put his hands on his knees and hoisted himself from his sleeping spot. His hands reached above his head, stretching out as much as he could manage before moving towards his closet. Giving up on looking for clothes at the moment, he turned and stepped into the jeans he had on the day before, shrugging on a random shirt that happened to be laying around. His hands smoothed the cloth out over his stomach before he rolled his shoulders, tipping his head back and forth to stretch further.

He slipped on his shoes and moved towards the door. A heavy hand fell on the shiny door knob. And with a quick twist, he stepped out and made his way down the hall. Where had this wolf gone? Those he passed in the castle immediately stepped out of his path. He was a man on a mission right now, and his look clearly showed it. Both hands fell on the door to the outside world and pushed it open with little effort. His steps held authority, a small amount of irritation. But then again, Mason always seemed to have that look. He was like a spoiled child most of the time. Easily frustrated when something didn't go the way he wanted. Or if he was uninformed about something. Or...pretty much anything really.

His path led him to the training grounds. Somehow he just had a feeling his wolf would be here, training with out him. Fighting a copy of his. And he was right. Loki stood in the distance in a slight fog. Mason's eyes shifted up as he walked, looking at the night sky. Stars twinkled through the rolling clouds. His hazel eyes traced back to the black shadow that broke up the rolling in morning fog. The air felt heavy, wet. Rain would be falling in here in the next day or two.

Loki had seen him. The creature's already massive body grew larger and larger as he approached him. He seemed as though he didn't want to be bothered at the moment and was only approaching Mason because it was a contractual agreement or something. Mason's arms crossed, wanting to sneer at his wolf and the copy that trailed along behind him. Both of them were covered in mud. The thick clay smeared deep into their fur. Loki's rough voice broke the silence. 'What?' He always seemed so simple. And yet Mason knew differently. Mason knew the wolf held deep knowledge. Somewhere buried deep beneath his sarcasm and snide comments. But it was there. "When did you decide to take off?" Mason retorted, arms still crossed over his chest.