Xan had stayed true to his claim, sleeping in one of the entrances to the tunnels each and every night since it'd been made. He had been serious when he'd marked it as his own, finding it to be a suitable den for himself. After all, he would be joining the adult ranks soon, which meant he shouldn't be sharing a space with his father any longer. While he still sought the elder out regularly, asking him questions and acquiring his opinion on things, he did not spend every passing second with him. The boy was his own wolf, he believed, and felt himself more than ready to take on the world alone. In his mind, his decision to spend his nights by himself had proven as much, though in truth all that had managed to display was his lack of socialization skills. No matter, such was a thought that had never crossed his mind.
Presently, the young Inuit was standing just within the entrance, having risen moments prior from a nap. He'd remained there, stretching out his limbs and waking his muscles, before shaking his coat free of debris and making his way into the tunnels. Seeing as he now lived so near to them, he believed he should learn as much about them as he could—to the point where he could traverse them with his eyes closed, if such a feat could even be achieved. Whether it could truly be or not, he was uncertain, and that uncertainty only further drove him to try. Thus, it was with careful steps and his senses on high alert that he maneuvered through the winding tunnels, carrying himself deeper and deeper with each passing minute.
Ehe, maybe
@Burke? Since they've yet to have a good encounter lmao
SORRY! YES! Here I am! Can this updated to present time? :D
Burke was trotting through the forest. He did not have to only guard the borders. No, he would also keep an eye what was happening in the territory. The large male noticed something from the corner of his eyes and stayed closer to the ground, in the shadows. Xan, Kove's son, came from he tunnel system, yawning and stretching himself out. Still not doing anything useful did he? Burke let out a long sigh. Maybe the boy could be useful to him. But then again, was the boy even going to listen to him.
Burke decided to at least have a chat with him. He stepped from the shadows towards the grey wolf young, almost adult. The alpha kept is docked tail high. He was not going to accept any talking back, yet ever since that incident Xan had stayed low, which said at least something. But maybe this would interest the young boy. He had been loyal to Meldresi, and this was something related to her. Burke followed the male into the tunnels.
"Xan, come back here,' he called out for him. Seeing that he wanted to talk to him, and preferably with some light.
Before he'd made it too far, a voice had sounded from behind him, calling for him. He recognized the voice immediately, causing his ears to fall back and his body to tense up. Xan had stopped, freezing himself in place, and considered his options. To carry on and act as if he hadn't heard the other's voice was very, very tempting, but the possible consequences didn't sit well with him. However, the reasoning behind why he was being called in the first place unsettled him, causing his stomach to churn. Had Kendra tattled on him for his behavior? His words? It seemed like a possibility, even if a part of him didn't want to believe that such a thing was possible—that, despite his fears, she never would have turned him in simply because of the few things he'd said to her. In his moment of internal conflict, though, he came to the conclusion that he would never know for why he'd been called if he didn't respond, and so the boy turned and slowly made his way back towards the tunnel's entrance.
As he neared the opening, Alexander's steps slowed even more, bringing him to a stop with his back half still within the tunnel. It was insurance, more or less, for he wanted to be able to make a quick escape if things went south. "I haven't done anything," he'd proceeded to say, pleading his case as soon as possible. For, in his mind, the only reason for Peter Cottontail Burke to speak to him was to yell at him for some reason.
I forgot what Burke wanted him to do... hmmm.
Burke didn't need to wait long before the other came back. Yet his tone was something the male despised. But the male didn't show anything of it. He kept it all behind his calm mask. He watched the male come back and the only thing he could get from the male that he was insecure. The alpha kept his pale on him, probably not helping the boy with feeling easy.
"I did not say that," the male spoke with a soft grunt in his tone. Burke lifted his muzzle a bit.
The male cleared his throat then.
"I haven't seen you around for a long while. I just wanted to check up on you. Have a talk. You are an adult now, what do you want to focus on?," he asked. He had no clue what the boy wanted to do, and he would do a lot to get some recognition from the alpha. So far he had not been convinced yet.
I usually write things down in my notes to prevent that from happening, lmao. It works!
The gaze on him almost seemed to burn, making his skin crawl. It wasn't often he felt uneasy, but given past encounters, he couldn't settle his innards. His stomach seemed to twist with dread, while his mind tried to figure out what the elder wolf wanted. "I just assumed since..." His words trailed off and he gave a quick shake of his head. "Nevermind." The word had come out as a murmur, moving past his previous statement. If him being in trouble wasn't the reason, then what else could it be? Xan had been under the impression, and rightfully so, that Burke didn't like him. So that eliminated a friendly conversation from the list of possibilities, since no one in their right mind would converse with someone they didn't like just for the hell of it. While engulfed by thoughts, he'd shifted his weight several times, all the while trying to remained focused as well.
"I didn't think you ever wanted to see me," he voiced, glancing at him before focusing his gaze elsewhere. When the topic of what he wanted to do came up, he looked back again, but didn't let his eyes linger for very long. "I want to focus on becoming a Mercenary, a Warrior." He'd wanted to become a Warrior for as long as he could remember. Even since before he could leave the whelping den, he'd been set on becoming the best. "I want to rise in the ranks, too. I haven't given up on wanting to be the best."
Lol Yup. I normally remember, I think it is work that messes with my tired mind!
Burke kept his gaze on the young male, mainly because he was interested what the boy would want to do, not because he was plain right wanting to make him uneasy. The calm alpha inhaled softly. He was prejudiced, though, in his case the prejudice did came because he had been unwelcoming. Still Burke felt that he had been not too nagging or horrible towards the boy. Just a bit of a dislike. Kids.
"Assuming is not something I would promote for you to do in the future," he spoke, not sounding like he was judging.
"Well, there is a thing that is called 'Proving someone wrong'," he spoke, on that same calm tone.
"I thought you would be the one that would do such a thing." Burke wanted to sound encouraging seeing that the male was talking about climbing the ranks.
"Such a thing as climbing the ranks would make me notice that." Burke glanced over him, at least he had been growing and could be more useful to his pack now.
"So that probably means that you want to become a dark brother like your father too?"
Probably! Aha, hopefully you remember.
Though the decision to assume might not have been a wise one, he'd been unable to do otherwise. He was distrusting, still, certain his presence continued to be an unwelcome one. A part of him wanted to trust, however, but past experiences prevented him from being able to fully tap into that desire. It didn't help, either, that he currently stood before the very same man that had made him feel that way in the first place. As if he didn't belong, even after he'd been accepted by the late queen. So, nothing was said in regards to his previous choice, choosing instead to just drop the subject altogether. It was not the first time he'd assumed something, and certainly wouldn't be the last, especially when the leading family was involved.
To prove the other wrong had never crossed his mind, the need to protect himself having outweighed such thoughts. "I didn't want to be hurt again," he'd returned. "Or risk my dad losing his place here because of me." Those words had never left his mind, the forced realization that his dad would not let them be split up. That if he did anything wrong, his father would be the one to pay the ultimate price. Even after so long, the words could be found echoing within his mind, keeping him far from the alpha. He'd known from the very beginning that he couldn't do anything to worsen Kove's life. That, even if his ego tempted him towards one thing, he had to walk the other way. It was life, his life, it seemed, and he'd been living it in the same manner ever since that encounter so long ago.
When the Brotherhood was mentioned, Alexander was uncertain of how he should respond. Of course he wished to follow in his father's footsteps and acquire such an honourary title, but he wasn't entirely sure if he could—rather, he didn't know if he'd be permitted to. "I'd like to," he said, agreeing with the man's statement. "But don't I need a mentor for that?" He wasn't so sure. If the answer was 'yes', he'd remain without a clue as to what to do, for he was loath to seek out any assistance from Damien after their last encounter.
Burke licked his lips as the younger one explained why he had been more quiet, and not proven himself wrong. Once again it was a valid reason. Burke really disliked the male in the beginning when he arrived. He saw it as unnecessary competition for his children, but seeing that he had stayed out his way, and not bothered too much with Kendra and Pietro, Burke was starting to get more reasonable now. The large male still noticed that he made the other uneasy. He would have to get comfortable with his alpha at least some time in his life. "Valid point. Though now you are an adult and you are more than encouraged to show your abilities," he pointed out to him. Maybe with those words it would give him some motivation.
Burke inhaled softly as the young male showed interest. "Well if you tell me you are interested then you will get assigned a mentor," he explained to her. "What would you like to do in the brotherhood? Assassin?," he wildly guessed, seeing that the boy was working on his mercenary. Burke might pair him up with Nemesis, then both could work on their DB speciality at the same time, and she could practice her mentor abilities. Yes, that might be a good idea for in the future. Burke looked at Xan.
A few words of encouragement had been sent his way, which had then caused him to question whether or not he was hearing things correctly. In truth, he knew not what abilities he could even begin to display, for he'd not yet had the chance to further improve upon himself. Sure, he had been training in the hopes of becoming a great warrior, but he didn't know if that really qualified for what the older male was suggesting. His navigation skills then came to mind, recalling how he'd grown far more comfortable within the tunnel system. He'd considered bringing that up, but had chosen not to after a brief moment of thought. Rather, he kept silent, giving only a stiff nod to show that he hadn't been ignoring Burke.
Truthfully, Alexander had put little thought into which branch of the Brotherhood he wanted to be apart of. Being a priest had, of course, been scratched from the list immediately, but that still left two other options. As a spy, he could probably travel greater distances, but felt it would dull his skills as a warrior. He'd grow rusty, for never would he have to confront someone. That then left only one. "Yeah," he'd answered with a nod. "I'd like to become an assassin." Killing couldn't be too hard, right? The albino was certain he could do it—or, if he got cold feet, that he could force himself to go through with it.
Burke nodded when Xan told him that he wanted to be an assassin. That was good because it would also give an opportunity for Nemesis to train someone and show her capabilities as a mentor, a teacher. And even as a future mother, if she wanted to prove that to Burke. Burke didn't know about the idea of children between Kove and Nemesis yet, but it would be something he would look at before deciding if she would be fit. Burke needed her, especially now she was a Beta. He could not be a mentor of all three branches and be alpha on top of that.
"Okay, good. Well, I would suggest going to Nemesis for training. I will also give a few of them, but she is the true assassin here," he explained. "Then you can work on your skills, have test missions and prove you can be in the brotherhood just like your father," Burke spoke to the young one, hopefully inspiring him.
The mentor that'd been suggested to him was someone he felt he knew well, and even favoured. She'd been kind to him, even when he'd tricked her with a story, and he liked to consider them as being friends. While being taught by her was something he was made eager by, he remained uncertain of Burke. Would he be like Damien had been? He hoped not. For the time being, he'd nodded, showing his acceptance of the advice given. Of course, he would seek out the beta when given the opportunity to do so, and perhaps even more often than the man presently before him. While the need for things to change between them was known, Alexander wasn't yet ready to act upon that. He needed time, still, before he could feel comfortable asking the larger fellow for assistance.
When test missions were brought up, the boy could feel a question tickling his tongue. It was not asked immediately, as he wondered if he was allowed to do so, but had eventually decided to voice his thoughts anyways. "How long would it be until I can do a test mission? And how far away would I have to travel?" He'd traveled away from the woods before, but it'd been without a true purpose in mind. When it came to missions, though, he'd have a reason. It'd become dangerous traveling alone, he knew, but was not bothered by that. The only thing that concerned him was how far he might have to go.
Burke was pleased to see that Xan at least seemed eager. The alpha watched him for a moment until another question was asked. The male nodded slowly, thinking about it. It would depend how fast his trainmen would go. Maybe have some test mission but Burke was not really telling him that yet.
"Well, depends on how fast your training is and what kind of things are happening at that moment," he admitted and looked at the younger one with some more sincerity. Burke didn't know what would happen in the future after all.
Gah short, sorry,mobile post!