Phoenix Maplewood taken away to the dark side

AW but @Goldhawk will be joining. NWF wolves looking for an audience with Saena if possible.. (babies!!) but obviously AW

They had finally arrived at the borders of Phoenix Maplewood, and while it had occurred to the males that this Goober fellow might have managed to place himself among their ranks, Scimitar was willing to risk being seen by the agouti wolf just to ensure Saena and her pack were well.
 
He had purposefully avoided Jade Fern Grove – and even though he had caught glimpse of the creek, the dark agouti Frostfur had kept to his pace, pushing aside the sick wave of nostalgia that threatened to pierce his heart. iBazi.
 
But Eshe was his future, and despite his ache for pleasant times of the past, he was not willing to go back to those days ever.
 
He maintained a respectful distance on their borders, his nose skimming the nearest foliage, testing to see if he could recognize whether or not Goober might be among them. It was impossible to tell – he simply did not know the man well enough, and the scents were far too overwhelming. With a glance to @Goldhawk, Scimitar tipped his muzzle back, releasing a short cry across the lands of the Maplewood – seeking out @Saena or Reek.

From her place in the dark of the den, Saena could hear the howls of her wolves and decipher their locations, but the rest of the world was a mystery to her. She tended to her babes with a fumbling inexperience, frequently dropping them or rolling them in their own shit before realizing it was there, and these tedious tasks consumed her days. She tried to entertain herself by making them fight, pitting Milo against Indra primarily with the vague hope they would actually kill each other and she would be free of Fox Jr. and Reek Jr., but their strength was pathetic and they took turns winning. Sometimes Indra would emerge victorious by playing a little dirty. Sometimes the bulkier Milo would overpower her. Sometimes they would gang up on Pinky, but because Pinky was her favourite by virtue of not looking like someone she hated, she often intervened. They were only roly-poly babes, though, and this was only so entertaining.

When an unfamiliar voice called across the maplewood and she determined its significance was for her (and also Reek, she noted with a sour expression), Saena took the opportunity to get out and stretch her legs. She left Luke in charge of the cubs, knowing full well he would probably handle them better than she often did, and began to trek across the maple wood. Her eyes were a little sunken from sleepless nights and her teats and empty belly both sagged, telling of her condition immediately, but the woman was able to walk more freely than she had in over a month. That alone was refreshing.

Still, she felt weak and undignified as she met Scimitar and his companion with an expression of pleasant surprise. She supposed she ought not to be surprised to see Scimitar—the wilds were immense and he could've been anywhere within them—but she remembered her haunting experience with the bear chanting about a skull kid in his former pack land and couldn't help but say, "I thought you all died or left for good. It's good to see you." Then, with a quiet sigh, she told him, "if you're looking for Reek, you'll need to go west. Rumour has it that bastard's not far from your old place these days." It was no rumour, for Spring had scouted them out herself, but she left it at that.

Hope it's cool I PPed Goldhawk being present. Post whenever!

All good ty!

Goldhawk was proud to be at his Lord's side, but also curious. There was not much he knew about this Goober chap, but what he was soon to learn was quite unrelated. He knew some of the Neverwinter wolves had connections in this region, far more than he did, and was honoured to be privy to some of them. One was Charon of Moonspear, of course, and next up was Saena of Phoenix Maplewood. It seemed Neverwinter was beautifully positioned in its web of friends, and Goldhawk was lucky to be a part of it.

The gentlemen were met by a lovely maiden whose appearance was quite unexpected by the warrior bard, who had been expecting a more matronly type of leader. He recovered quickly from the surprise, though — after all, Eshe was lovely too. Marm, he greeted with a respectful and soldierly bow of his head, but said nothing else, chatterbox though he was. It wasn't his place to fly into a whirlwind of introductions, and it seemed these two had some catching up to do first. Something to do with a wolf apparently named for stinkiness.

Chosovi had made herself busy by grabbing whatever she could to deposit near Saena's densite so that the alpha female would be good and fed. Though she wasn't much of a guardian, upon hearing the call from others for the (presumably) indisposed alpha female, Chosovi trotted toward the border. She'd not say a word of the alpha females status, not wanting to betray the vulnerability there, but she'd let them know the leader was busy at present and would get to them when—

Wait a minute! Chosovi sniffed the air loudly. Saena! Her pace doubled what it once was and in no time, she was there behind the bobtailed femme... and staring at an incredibly handsome man. This was the Brad Pitt of wolves, and Brad Pitt was in his damn prime. Chosovi moved closer to offer back-up to the alpha female and also to stare at the eye candy, perfectly unaware that this man was mate to her cousin, Eshe. She chuffed a greeting to Saena and lingered in the backdrop, her eyes turning next to the other handsome companion that had come with the Brad Pitt wolf. Where the hell did they come from? What water were they drinking?

They waited – Goldhawk was quitter now, and the cinnamon wolf cast a quizzical glance to see if he was alright – it would seem that despite his constant chatter, the man was not only rather pleasant to be around, but also a genuine soul.
 
One he hoped to keep within the ranks of Neverwinter Forest.
 
While he let his thoughts keep him silent for the time being, his own paws already itching to return home, Saena made a quick appearance to them, and upon her words, Scimitar’s stoical mask upon his features instantly broke, allowing a smooth grin to fall to his lips instead. The words had been anything but humorous, given the events that had transpired their leave of the lands, but it was simply good to see a friendly face in the Wilds for once.
 
Yet something she spoke of piqued his interest – Reek was no longer with her? He paused then, his eyes studying her with concern. If he had ever had an ally in life that had not remained in his ranks, it was the woman before him. “Are you okay, Saena? What happened?”
 
Goldhawk remained quiet for now, and a silver she-wolf slipped forward. His muzzle tilted curiously in her direction – open to her presence as a guest at her borders, but his attention remained focused upon the regal before him.

Saena's eye drew to Scimitar's impeccably groomed golden companion when he uttered what she took to be a greeting. Having never been called "marm" before, she couldn't be sure, but dipped her head to him all the same with a genuine, if tired, smile. Her ears twitch back to register the sound of steps, and a sidelong glance reveals the trim figure of Chosovi, but like her former taiga companion, Saena's attention remains on Scimitar primarily. She does, however, spare a moment to tell her subordinate, "Chosovi, this is Scimitar, a fond friend of the maplewood."

"We're well enough here," Saena continued in reference to her pack, "but Reek, well, we got pregnant because I thought we both wanted a family and were stable enough for it, but it turned out he wanted another woman more, and I caught him with our former Beta." She didn't need to tell him what the end result of that was. Reek was long gone from the Phoenix Maplewood pack, and that spoke volumes on its own. "I've three healthy children, at least," she revealed, unable to hide a smile that faintly beamed beneath her weary exterior.

"What brings you two here?" she wondered. "I went to your grove and found it empty, save for a bear that might be insane." Said bear had certainly frightened Saena with her talk of skulls and death, though, and she shivered at the thought.

Far be it for him to miss a nice reunion, Goldhawk was momentarily distracted by the approach of an agouti wolf behind Saena. He twitched one golden ear curiously, but blinked back to the main event as introductions began. A pleasure and a privilege, he said to them both — Saena first, of course, who apart from being the Alpha of this territory also had the added kudos of being a friend of Goldhawk's own lord. Sergeant Horatio Finnian Sanders, at your most marvellous service — though the troop back at Neverwinter all call me Goldhawk, he concluded with a smile.

Only once the pleasantries had ended did Goldhawk fall quiet (he did enjoy pleasantries), listening with interest at all this talk of bears, and pregnancy, and betrayal, and adultery, and other such drama. But the thing that interested him most of all was mention of a grove. A kingdom before the Forest, perhaps...?

Permission was given to skip Chosovi to keep the thread going.

A light nod was given in recognition to Chosovi, who in turn, remained rather quiet for the time being. Goldhawk introduced himself formally, and Scimitar withheld a small grin, knowing the golden wolf to be quite the character in comparison to the rest of Scimitar’s pack, who Saena was more used to dealing with.
 
He listened to her story, wincing within at the closeness it held to his own recent past. The only difference was that when he had taken Eshe as a mate, he and Bazi had agreed their own mateship was done – and they only remained within the same pack as an attempt to rear their children.
 
“I’m sorry,” he offered gently, his muzzle giving a soft shake. It went without saying that his friendship extended to Saena, rather than Reek – he hadn’t dealt much with the man before. “But congratulations on your litter. You don’t need him to be a great mother,” he rumbled then, knowing it was not the same as her children having both parents – but at least they had her.
 
At her next query regarding the Grove, Scimitar’s muzzle gave another slow shake, a gentle sigh releasing from him. “We moved. A bear attacked my family – my son lost both of his eyes.” His heart ached at the loss – both then, and now, as he wondered how they were doing at the Ridge. “So we went outside the Wilds and away from the troubles here.. but it didn’t fix anything. Bazi and I couldn’t fix the strain in our relationship.. So we separated. We tried to stay together in the pack for our children, but it didn’t work out.. So some of us traveled to Neverwinter Forest and laid claim there.”
 
He paused then, his gaze drifting to Goldhawk, who likely had no history upon him. “Which leads us here now. We had a fellow visit us – Goober. He seemed amicable enough.. and he sought out your pack for a friend you both had in common. After he left, we found out from Moonspear that he had raped one of their own – so we were quick to come.” He studied her gently for a moment, his ears pulling back to his skull. Never again would he trust an outsider with the locations of those he considered friends. “I wanted to make sure you were okay and he didn’t come here.”

Skipping to keep the thread going.

Saena agreed silently with Scimitar's sentiment, though she did feel rather strangely to think so with such confidence. She wasn't even sure she could be a good mother with help, let alone without it. What she did know was that she didn't need no cheating son of a bitch to taint her children's minds and convince them that sins go without consequences, which was the prime reason she drove him away and kept him away now. "Thank you," Saena breathed, glad to have someone uninvolved on her side, if only for a moment.

Her eyes shifted to the resplendent Goldhawk and her smile tightened at the corners into one broader. "That's quite a name," she granted, and she could understand and appreciate the use of a much shorter one. "Is it from a long family line?" It must be, she thought. No wolf had titles and so many names all in one if it wasn't a familial trait, or so she assumed.

Her attention promptly shifted back to Scimitar and she moved uncomfortably as he explained what had happened to Jade Fern Grove. Her heart thudded in her chest as she remembered her twin encounters with a bear: once when it rampaged through her home and severed the remainder of her tail, and once when she wandered to the grove on the tail of a spectral hallucinatory hawk and encountered it there. "I think I've seen that bear," she mused, but left the subject alone as Scimitar continued.

So he and Bazi had split as well, for mutual reasons, she assumed. The parellels with her own situation weren't missed, but Saena was spared details about Scimitar's new mate, not that she would've judged him anyway. If he and Bazi had split on mutual terms, then there was no foul play in seeking another. "I'm sorry you and Bazi didn't work out," she said quietly, "but how are your children now? They must be nearly fully grown. Have they come with you?" They were quite small when the former Nova Peak pack had briefly sheltered in the maplewood. While she couldn't claim to remember anything about them, Saena wondered after them anyway. She pondered asking after the one who lost his eyes, but thought it might be rude and left it open in the more general question.

And then they came to the reason for this meeting: a fellow named Goober who had mentioned the maplewood. Saena's face scrunched as she tried to remember if ever she met such a wolf, but a name like that was unforgettable. "I'm really sorry, but I haven't heard of him," she said regretfully. "I would remember a name like that. I'm not sure how he knows the maple wood, but I've never met him... and thank god for that. I hope whoever he assaulted is okay."

Although more prone to melody and ballad that serious tales of real life, the bard listened with great interest as parts of Scimitar and Eshe's pre-Neverwinter life were unveiled. Indeed, to Goldhawk it all linked in with Neverwinter, for the Alphas were the pack's most powerful lifeforce, and their history would effect the pack's future. And so while he was proud and smiling as he replied to Saena —a long family line indeedy — his focus was quick to return to the subject of Scimitar's past.

As it transpired, Eshe was not the original Mrs Scimitar — a surprise to Goldhawk, who saw the regal pair as quite the epitome of true love. Scimitar and Bazi lived in a grove with their pack, and when a bear savaged their family (the Lord had a blind son from a previous marriage...?), they left Teekon Wilds. The pair split, and Scimitar ended up with Eshe in the embrace of their new forest home. Fascinating indeed, and a good distraction from a new revelation: the nature of Goober's attack.

The warrior was careful not to show the shock on his face as he discovered exactly what Goober had done, and remained quiet, refusing to dwell on it, concentrating instead on the ample curiosities to be found within this friendly reunion.

Goldhawk remained silent during Scimitar’s discussion about Jade Fern Grove and his ex-mate – all details that the man had likely never heard of. Scimitar appreciated the silence for the moment, not reveling in having to re-live the more painful aspects of his recent life. “The children are good, I believe. Swift, the one who lost his eyesight, is talented in herbs and plants, and has stayed with his mother at our old home, outside of the Wilds. Allure, my daughter has come back here, somewhere – I had thought she would come to you. Whittier is also with Bazi..” He trailed off, releasing a gentle sigh. “Which is well, because we had a second litter together, outside of mateship. Not our smartest decision. But Bazi was determined to have me gone when she realized I had feelings for another, despite our separation. My other son, Pasha, also recently departed the Wilds to return to his mother and help her in any way he can..” He trailed off, the bitterness of the words he spoke stirring the shame that would redden his cheeks, had he not the fur to cover them.
 
The conversation of Goober stirred a mild snort from the man, and relieved that Saena had not seen him, it also meant the man was still abroad somewhere, and he offered a shake of his muzzle. “Given the nature of the man, it wouldn’t surprise me if Goober was a fake name.” He paused, his eyes studying her quietly, wondering if his recent history had stirred a withdraw in their distant friendship. “I hope she is too --- but if you happen to see him, would you perhaps send him in the direction of Neverwinter Forest? He owes us a favor, and he might not see the request as odd.”

Scimitar's account of his children was brief, yet heartwarming, at least until he got to the part about Bazi and his new litter. While she passed no judgment on him for accidentally fathering a litter with Bazi post-separation, her first reaction when he told of finding love in another was a shock of familiar upset through her stomach. It wasn't so different from Reek and Tavi, she thought, but it lasted only a moment as she reminded herself that their situations were nothing alike. Scimitar and Bazi had mutually split up. While her first thought was of Reek, Saena's second thought was of Peregrine and Hawkeye, and how she hadn't hated Fox for taking Peregrine away from Hawkeye because they were no longer mates at the time. That was the real comparison, and despite how she felt about her father and Fox, ultimately it was what kept her from feeling any animosity toward Scimitar for pursuing another love.

"Allure never came by here," she said after a very lengthy pause to digest her thoughts, "but I'm glad some of your kids stayed to help with the new ones. I'm sorry you're in that situation and that your children are not with you, though." After all, Scimitar was presumably barred from seeing his new young, so lacking his former young was likely painful for him as well. Saena couldn't blame Bazi for that, though. She was doing exactly what Saena was doing—protecting herself, and attempting to prevent her kids' heartache.

The subject shifted back to Goober, and Saena's eyes briefly roved over Goldhawk in an effort to include him. Chosovi lingered still in the background, still and very likely ogling Scimitar, which Saena would be embarrassed about if she had seen it. "If he comes by here I'll send him your way," promised Saena, "though who knows how many names he may use." Perhaps he had a dozen in reserve, and suddenly she was wary of the possibility that she was harbouring Goober and didn't even know it. But that was preposterous. Esaro was innocent and naive, much too soft to rape anyone, and Luke was... well, Luke. Casmir was family, and the rest of her pack was women. Surely there was no Goober hiding among them. "If he mentioned Phoenix Maplewood, might be that Reek knows something," she suggested, and let her words trail away at that.

Apart from anything else, Goldhawk was quite curious that Saena and Scimitar should speak so freely of their personal lives in front of their subordinates. But perhaps Scimitar saw Goldhawk as someone who would respect his private life, and perhaps Chosovi was to Saena what the bard was to his lord. Either that or neither considered all this private at all, despite the personal things being discussed. But certainly Goldhawk had no intention of including the specifics in a history of Neverwinter Forest he might share later down the line. For one, including Scimitar's past exploits in the tale of Neverwinter was a disrespect to Eshe, and for another the story included vital emotions that Goldhawk could not articulate himself. And so, in his head, he decided how he might word all this to an eager listener, and link it to the pack's history...

"This is not the first time our Lord Scimitar has claimed a pack here in Teekon Wilds. He once lived far to the east in a Grove — it was a family pack, and friends with its neighbours at Phoenix Maplewood. But when the pack was savaged by a bear, they were forced to flee. Many moons later, Scimitar returned to Teekon Wilds, this time taking up residence here at Neverwinter Forest alongside our Lady Eshe. And, it seems, his old pack's family values have carried over and will live on here among the evergreens."

Goldhawk was so involved in these revelations, and in fitting them into his picture of home, that he had (shamefully) almost forgotten about Goober. But when Saena's expressive blue eyes flickered his way, the gold-furred traveller was right back in there. Fur as brown as a pup in a mud bath, wouldn't you say sah, he decided Saena could do with a physical description. Bit heftier than your usual chap, agouti in pattern, brown eyes — that's how my Lady Eshe described him, wot. Albeit not quite in those words.

Allure hadn’t stopped by, and while the agouti wolf did not worry for his eldest daughter, he was curious as to where she might have happened by. Saena was the only pack Allure had been familiar with – where else would she have gone?
 
He did not continue that string of conversation, and instead offered a quiet nod of gratitude as the pale woman offered her condolences regarding the children. It was an unfortunate state he had put them in – but he did not shoulder the responsibility for it alone. Bazi had done her fair share.. and perhaps, in the end, it was all better this way.
 
Goldhawk gave a description of the man, and Scimitar’s gaze softened in mild concern, nodding in agreement to his companion’s words. “Please do, if you see him – but do not trust him around you or your own,” he offered quietly, releasing a gentle sigh at coming up empty handed.

"Absolutely," the haggard mother replied. The name Goober would remain in the back of her mind for days to come, and should she catch a whiff of a wolf of that name, she would do her best to send him along. What they planned to do with him was no business of hers, and Saena didn't care enough to ask. She could guess, if the tale was true, and she had no desire to tempt fate by attempting to do anything about it herself, though the temptation was there. Spreading the Phoenix name around after doing something so heinous was a good way to make an enemy of the Phoenix wolves.

"Is there anything else I can do for you two?" she asked, brows drawn lightly up as she looked from the ruddy Goldhawk to the regal chocolate Frostfur. She had brimming caches she could offer, and not a lot else, but she would do so if required. Scimitar had remembered her and their alliance, tentative as it had been, and she was happy to repay the favour.

Things were winding down, and pleasantly so — like an evening somewhere far south where the sunsets were slow and mellow. Goldhawk would have been quite content to stay and chat here for a long while yet, but the thing was that chat wasn't quite the word to describe it. Scimitar and Saena were chatting a little he supposed, and Goldhawk as invited, but there was a touch of seriousness about the whole occasion. Goober was their mission, and even discounting him there was the tender subject of what seemed to be Saena's failed marriage. This was what stopped the amicable bard from touching on any personal questions he was keen to ask. That and a subordinate air, of course — he was an underling, and on a stranger's borders no less.

Though he wouldn't call Saena a stranger any more. An acquaintance, yes. A welcome one.

And so this was why Goldhawk elected to remain silent, and at her question turned his russet eyes cheerfully to his lord to see if he had any final requests. This had been a very enlightening meeting. They hadn't learned of Goober's whereabouts, no, but they had warned the Maplewood of him, and, on a personal note, Goldhawk had discovered more about his Alpha Male than he'd ever known before. Neverwinter had a quiet, backlogged history that he had discovered today and would never forget.

Relieved with the knowledge that Saena was well, and content that the two had more or less caught up, the large wolf gave a shake of his muzzle at her question regarding if there was anything else. “No – thank you for your time, Saena.” Studying her for a moment, the cinnamon wolf waited to see if she too had anything else to add, his gaze drifting back to Goldhawk. The two would need to skirt further along now – perhaps see if they could catch trace of Goober from here, but the Neverwinter Alpha would not be able to stay away from his pack for much longer.

Goldhawk remained silent and Scimitar declined the offer for further assistance. At some point, Chosovi had melted into the background and slipped away, but Saena was heedless of that, if only because this was a meeting of leaders in the first place. "Safe travels," she bid Scimitar, who would always have the aid of Phoenix Maplewood should he need it, even if many leagues now separated them. As they turned to go, so too did Saena, aching to curl around her young brood once more.

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