Arc 1: Seclusion

A figure is surging quickly through the partially moonlit treetops, humanoid in shape as it launches forward in a gently roiling pulse. It's body is using cargo fatigues and black uniform boots covering the legs and feet as it halts on a tree branch, revealing the white fur covering his entire body as it glows softly in the moonlight against the scars and tattoos, highlighting his' wolven muzzle and slim but muscular upper body. His' ears follow the design of feral bloodlines on his head as they shift towards a sound on the ground past a thick gathering of oak and elm trees, followed by an outcry of swearing in the silence.

Crouching on the large branch partially hidden in the shadow of the trunk, he watches as another figure step out into a thin beam of light below and hold a paw up towards the faint moon shining directly down on a feminine face. Cautious beyond what is needed, she steps closer to the tree that he is in and leans against it, a crumpling sound echoing as the bag on her back slides against bark while she slowly collapses to the ground. Settling into a crevasse among the tree's exposed roots, she sighs softly and curls up against a large root, laying the side of her head against the back of her paws.

"..... I miss him."

She says, the words curling up and around to the male above in a sultry yet crisp vocal rhythm that claws his hardened chest as she shifts against the tree, with soft, even breaths sounding out moments later. Maintaining his crouch, he looks down at her for several moments then silently grips the branch he is on within his digigrade paws and sliding his lower body off, placing his feet on the next branch below then releasing the branch above. He continues doing that until he is stretched low on the branch above her. Shimmying over to the trunk and planting his feet against it, he tenses his body and lunges off, landing within the wild flora a short distance from her.

Looking up, he turns and checks over her face for any sign of waking as he rises slowly, brushing off his fatigues after noticing no sign of waking. Studying her features, he notes her black fur with blood red ends, the slim wolven muzzle, how the long sleeved sweatshirt and mountaineering pants fit along her attractively muscular figure and hightened the appearance of her curves and moderately-sized breasts.

"... Damn it. You never should have come for me."

He says in a rumbling deep voice followed by a sigh as he approaches her, kneeling down on one knee scant inches from her. He rubs his temples then slides his paws behind her head knees as he lifts her gently, easing her head against his bare chest as he starts walking deeper into the forest.

The male holds her gently within his arms as he walks smoothly deeper into the forest, his upper body barely shifting with each step. She sighs while shifting her head closer against his chest then goes still, her breath heating up the already warm fur on his chest. He softly chuckles through his chest as he feels the gentle motion of her breathing against him, just as the trees fall back to allow glimpses at his humble abode.

Widening his stride past the ring of trees, he quickly closes the distance between him and the surprisingly modern design home:

single sheets of thick glass frame three sides of the building to reveal the inside, where the simple T-shaped structure wall dead center of the building blends almost perfectly into the treelines that it covers through opposing window, while a plain off-white table and chairs stand obliviously in the Northern space. The steel roof matches the pattern of the treetops in coloration from aerial view, while the solid but beautifully etched metal door reveals where the center of the structure is against the forest.

Stepping up the three steps and the short width between the concrete base to the outer wall followed by opening a tab on the door and turning the intricate combination lock inside, several clicks echoing out before the door leans open with a faint sigh. Bumping the door open further with his hip, he moves into the little open space before the T-wall and balances on one leg while using his now free foot to close the door. Turning right to face South, he smoothly walks into the living area where several chairs and a couch are spread throughout, a mediocre desk with a quietly humming computer shoved in the corner of the T-wall left of the only couch. Crouching down on one knee gently by the couch, he eases the female down onto the cushions with soft movements then slides his arms out from underneath her, hoping to let her rest.

The female moans softly then turns onto her side, capturing his arm against her chest by wrapping her arms around his with a firm but gentle hold. He tenses up and waits for her to open her eyes then scream piercingly against his overly sensitive hearing, but she nuzzles his arm and sighs again in contentment as she lulls back into full sleep, much to his surprise. Chuckling softly to himself in a low rumble, he gently slips his arm from hers and studies her features again in the soft wall edge lighting inside his home, raising his paw and setting it against her cheek in a wholesome caress. She sniffs and nuzzles against his palm softly in her sleep.

"Hmmm..... White..... Please..."

She calls out softly, forcing a deep sigh from him in response.

".... I guess you're more honest with yourself when asleep than awake in my presence, Racheria."

He says softly, rubbing her cheek with his thumb then leaning over and softly kissing her forehead, rising after the deed is done and walking into the opposite side of the wall. Running his paw along the it, he flicks a barely noticeable switch up and looks out to the North while a single thick metal slab rises up quietly from a slot in the center of the double window pane, locking into the ceiling with a subtle click from each of the large windows as the same happens all around. Sighing, he moves close to the window and leans down near the floorboards, pressing on one and sliding the hidden panel up into the open position to reveal a flight of stairs leading down into another floor below, faint light shining out from the mid-wall bars of lights all around inside. He gives one last glance towards the person on the other side of the breaker wall.

"Good night, and dream of your magic Rach."

He says softly, then descends into the shadows below.

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"Overwatch, give us a fucking fire reference! Shit!"

The voice and sounds of small arms flying overhead crackles over the radio as White scans the surrounding valley walls for any sign of the enemy position through the Bushnell scope on his M14 EBR, a burst of sand or dust from a machinegun firing or someone peeking their shrouded head up to look, anything to give a location. Another burst of machinegun fire echoes out into the valley just as he notices dust billowing out from a slight defolade hidden in the valley wall, doing a rough range estimate with the mil-dots on his crosshairs for the distance. He looks right and whistles then gives a knifehand gesture in the direction for his spotter. After a moment the spotter lifts up a hand with four fingers up, then fists and pounds the air twice.

"Overwatch to Delta Actual, rock overhang bearing 3-3-0 from your location, range 400 meters. Blast it."

White says smoothly into the microphone hanging off his ACH as he tabs the VORC button on the radio. Several rifles and the buzzing sound of the M249 is the reply a second later as he watches the overhang be chewed into through his scope, portions of the stone and sand blasting away with each impacting round. Shaking his head, he glances over to his buddy that is holding up a middle finger at the valley wall and blasting out curses in rapid order towards the most likely scrambling hostiles, should any survived the hundreds of bullets fired back at them.

Sighing, he shifts his left leg back and continues to scan the hillsides for anyone moving down towards his squad below, both eyes open as he watches for movement. A form carrying an AK-style weapon sprints away from a hidden alcove that he latches his sights onto quickly, dialing in the scope for estimated range and squeezing the trigger firmly after shifting for lead. The thick thump against his shoulder gives a satisfying feel as the rifle launches out the 7.62 by 51 round, half a second before the person flies to the ground as a flash of blood bursts from his chest, the round piercing through center mass and continuing on.

"Overwatch to Delta Actual, one times runner is eliminated. I say again, one times runner is eliminated."

He says into the mic after tabbing the VORC again, nodding to his buddy who's eyebrow was raised while looking at White.

"How many does that make now, Phantom?"

Asks the spotter, glancing down his own rifle scope at the fallen Taliban.

"40, I think."

White replies, opening his rifle bolt slightly to check for a round in the chamber.

"Damn. Your snow-colored ass is climbing through the charts. And its' only been a month since we've been out here!"

He retorts, shaking his head at White.

White opens up his mouth to reply then looks up, a faint high pitch whistling sound ringing into his ears from above...

He quickly tabs the VORC.

"MORTAR FIRE! TAKE..."

His call is cut short by the falling round impacting a meter away from his buddy to the right, blasting them both into the air as everything rapidly fades to black.

-----------------------------

White snaps up from his queen comforter as he gulps the yell in his throat down, panting hard as he swallows while cold sweat drips off his fur. Taking steady gasping breaths and removing his extended claws from the now torn sheets, he glances over to his left at a clock on the bedstand and notes the time of 06:07, then slides his legs to hang out from the sheets, his night vision kicking in swiftly. Leaning over his legs, he holds his face against his paws and rubs his forehead softly to remove the feeling of that memory.

With a groan, he stands to his full height of 5' 7", wearing only a pair of briefs as he walks past the end of his bed and opens a chest at the foot of it. Digging through the bed-width chest, he pulls out a pair of simple multicam dark ACU fatigues and slips them on, closing the chest with a noticeable thump. A sliding door built into the I-shaped concrete wall is on his right, which he pushes open and walks out from his large bedroom into the washroom. The room held an enclosed space for the shower, toilet, and sink directly on the Western side of the room, while the other side holds a massive washer and dryer with several hanging racks on the false wall space East.

Passing through the room towards the open doorway on the Northwest side, he walks up the stairs that lead down into the subterranean rooms and closes the panel for it,. Turning around, he watches as the thick steel protectors release from the ceiling and slide smoothly down into a slot between the two glass panes, hidden once more by a small flip cover.

Following the breaker wall, he moves around the wide top portion of the T-wall and walks to the sink just to the right of the doorway, flicking the cold on as he digs through the cupboard above. Pulling out a cup and a bag of tagless tea, he sets the tea into the cup then fills the cup under the cold water and shuts it off before it overflows. Moving carefully right with the cup, he walks around the fridge to the stove and opens up the microwave above it, sliding the cup inside, typing in a minute thirty seconds then pressing start.

-----------------------------

A soft beeping sound echoes inside her head as she groans and pushes up into a sitting position on padded material, keeping her eyes closed against the shining ambient light.

'Wait.... am I on a couch? This isn't that tree.... And what is that damned beeping noise?'

She thinks as her eyes open up, taking in the sight around her with a soft gasp. A massive window pane opens up an entire view into the softly glowing forest a short distance away, while in the corner of a short wall to her left is a moderately sized desk, while a softly humming and very modernized computer sits on top. To the right in the far corner sits a pair of comfortable yet modern single seat chairs, surrounding a small table without being crowded.

A click and the halt of the beeping from beyond the short wall snaps her from the enticing view back into now. She quickly stands and begins a mental runover of herself while raising her right arm straight in front, palm facing out. She rapidly focuses on a burning sensation in her mind, then forces the feeling out in front of her paw as a small but dangerous ball of roiling flame forms inches from her palm. Turning left, she walks as softly as possible, though barely a difference is made against the hardwood floor with each firm thud.

'Damn these hikers. Should have worn the rubber sole ones.'

She thinks while stepping towards the opening between the short wall and the window, where the sound of metal clinking bounces out from. She eases against the short wall and bends her arm into a V-shape at about chest height, watching the opening as the clinking sound stops on the other side.

-----------------------------

White finishes stirring the tea while listening to Racheria walk indiscreetly towards the spacer wall from the living room and kitchen, noting the soft swish and pop sounds of flame.

'She's likely holding it with her right paw in a modified liverbuster. That damn old man taught her well.'

He thinks as he continues stirring until the liquid is a dark brown. Sighing, he sets down the spoon on the counter directly left of the stovetop and looks over towards the doorway opening.

"You have a good rest Rach? Or at least something better than a tree?"

He says teasingly, chuckling softly as he raises the cup and blows softly over the steaming liquid then sips it, savoring the flavors as they wrap and blend around his tongue.

White waits for a few moments as he listens to the crackling sound fade away, just as Racheria walks into the doorway then turns left and crosses her arms over her chest with a snort.

"Only a dick like you would bring a woman into your home while she's unconsious. Asshole."

She replies, raising one paw to flick a middle finger at White who just stands there chuckling and taking another drink.

"It seems your temper hasn't changed from two years ago. Your sleep mumblings made me think otherwise, but....."

He says in a teasing rumble, lowering the cup to rest in both paws just above his mildly defined abs.

"Well if I knew a certain asshole from back then was still just sitting back and watching quietly as usual, I might have burned down the whole damn forest and dragged his ass out. Some things are private you know." She replies after a few moments of staring at him then nods towards the cup in his paws. "Drinking this early already? I thought you had more physical stability than that."

White merely shrugs then takes another drink.

"If drinking tea in the morning is an addiction, I'll point out the coffee stains on their clothes." He comments, nodding his head towards her as he sets the cup on the counter. "Anyway, do you want anything to eat? You are a guest within my home, as it is."

'And I hope she doesn't try to encase it in stone like that month in Missouri...'

He thinks while taking a step back and turning to face the fridge, opening up the large double door appliance to reveal a variety of chilled food stored inside.