Although the pups kept him busy much of the time, they were growing quickly and didn't require as much round-the-clock care and supervision now. This gave Peregrine more time to focus on pack matters. Everything was more or less steady with the caldera pack, yet the Alpha had a bone to pick with two of his lowest-ranking members. They hadn't bothered coming by to meet the pups, nor made much of an effort to integrate otherwise. It was time for them to shape up or ship out. Peregrine wouldn't tolerate his subordinates living on the fringe, barely socializing or contributing to their small society.
He left Fox with the boys, though he didn't go far, ranging to an open patch of hillside below the caldera's outer rim. He planted his feet, then threw his head back to howl for
@Mazi and
@Nadie. Peregrine's tone brooked no argument. He expected them to show and explain themselves. If they didn't, they were no longer part of this pack.
Mazi had been hunting a rabbit, when the sound of Peregrine’s howl, made Mazi freeze in her hunt. She felt very nervous as too why she was being called on and completely forgot about the rabbit as it scampered off. Instantly she began making her way towards her Alpha, looking very submissive, as she did not want to upset him at the moment, she never really wanted to upset him, so she really hoped that she hadn’t done something stupid. She scoured her mind trying to think of why this was happening. she was also slightly curious as too why Nadie was being called too. About five minutes later, the outline of her Alpha male came into view and she slowly approach. Keeping her submissive posture.
The agouti female now stood a few feet away from Peregrine, with her tail tucked, neck in his mercy, ears laid back and a submissive look in her eyes. She didn’t say anything though, as she had not been given permission to speak. She would wait until she was.
He still expects Nadie to show but he's going to go ahead and address Mazi since she's here. :)
When Mazi appeared, he gave her a critical look. He appreciated the submission but it did nothing to alleviate his agitation with her. He didn't understand why such a promising member made so little effort to fit into their family here. The Alphas hadn't wanted many people around the den the first few weeks, yet the pups were now more than a month old, named and everything. What was her excuse?
"Why haven't you come by to meet the pups?" he asked, cutting right to the chase. The disapproval in his tone was thick.
The Pups...
Mazi felt beyond stupid. How could she have forgotten such a thing! Was she really that pathetic? How would she ever make it up to their father. To Peregrine, her Alpha. “I’m so sorry.” Mazi began with a whimper. “I can’t believe I was so stupid. No it goes way further than that, I’m beyond stupid for missing the meet and greet. Peregrine I’m so sorry. I should have been there, I really should have.” Mazi took a breath before continuing. “I’ll do anything to make it up to you and Fox. No, to everyone here. I will show my true potential. I’m really sorry Peregrine I am.”
The agouti’s eyes fell to the ground with dismay as stress filled her. She should have been there. She really should have. The past was the past, it was gone now. Whatever Peregrine decided, she would respect. She would always respect him. Whatever choice he made, she would go along with. He was the Alpha here, she was only his subject, his subordinate. Yet still she didn’t really want to leave the Caldera it was lovely here. She couldn’t dream of anything better, whatever happened today she knew that this place would always be her home.
Mazi immediately began apologizing, yet made no effort to explain herself. The Alpha squinted, licking his chops in a displeased fashion. After she fell silent, he waited, still expecting some sort of explanation. Yet none came.
"What's your excuse, Mazi? We introduced them several weeks ago. I know I warned you to keep your distance when I accepted you, yet that was an open invitation for all pack members to come meet them. Not only did you fail to make an appearance, you also haven't come by any time since then. What's your excuse?" he repeated.
Mazi felt her blood turn to ice. She had no excuse. None at all. The wolf felt intimidated and weak when she could not think of a good answer that applied to what Perry wanted.
"I don't have an excuse Peregrine. I will not lie. I know I should have been there, but I wasn't. If you give me a chance though I can make things right." Mazi responded in a quiet, hushed and submissive tone. She held her submissive position.
He appreciated her honesty but still hated her answer. That she couldn't provide any sort of reason really rankled. Peregrine growled to make clear his displeasure, his dark tail lashing through the air. He contemplated telling her to get out of his sight, pack her bags and go. Yet he remembered how promising she had seemed at her acceptance and it gave him slight pause.
"I told you that I would kick you to the curb if you didn't prove your worth. You've disappointed my expectations by not making more of an effort to integrate as part of this family. Have you been doing anything worthwhile?" he wanted to know, voice incredulous and impatient.
When Peregrine asked her if she had been doing anything worthwhile in her stay, she felt a little relieved that she had. Her thoughts instantly processed how close she was getting to her mercenary trade. Maybe that could help her... maybe.
"Actually I almost have my mercenary trade." Mazi informed her Alpha about the one thing that she had been active on. "Me and Nadie spar together." Mazi added, for verbal proof that Peregrine could clarify with Nadie if he wished.
She claimed to be close to earning her stripes as a mercenary, a declaration which earned a quiet snort from him. He hadn't so much as run into her on a single patrol. That didn't mean she hadn't been doing them—the caldera was rather large, after all—but it meant she had a lot to prove in his eyes (or eye, rather).
"Nadie's on my shit list too," he rumbled. "Just 'cause you talk the talk doesn't mean you can walk the walk. If the leadership never sees you doing these things, then it's all meaningless fluff." Peregrine huffed. "Where is Nadie anyway?"
As Mazi listened to Peregrine speak her heart and hopes felt crushed, though she had already kinda guessed that Nadie was in a lot of trouble, since the other female had been howled for too. Suddenly an idea came to mind, although she wasn't sure whether or not it would work, the plan was worth a try.
"If you don't believe that I'm close to my mercenary trade, then I can prove it. I'll show you right now in fact. If I have your consent." Mazi offered Peregrine. All in all though it was her Alpha male's choice on whether or not she could have a chance to prove her skills.
At first, he shook his head. It was too little, too late, and he simply didn't feel like sparring with her (or whatever else she might have in mind). It also bugged him that Mazi hadn't answered his question, even though she probably didn't know. He rumbled under his breath when a thought struck him suddenly. He blinked his jade eyes, lips suddenly curling.
"Okay," he said, "here's what's going to happen. You and Nadie are going to spar once she gets here." And she had better turn up... "The winner gets to stay in Redhawk Caldera. The loser packs her bags and fucks off to be a dead weight somewhere else."
The one thing that she hoped would never happen was happening. She would have to fight her friend for a spot in Redhawk Caldera. Although Mazi deep down knew that it this wrong in some ways, she found that she surprisingly and suddenly didn’t care. So long as she had a place here. This new feeling was strange as it was foreign. Yet, she swore to herself at that moment that she would fight long and hard for her spot. No matter what it took, or if it included any bloodshed. She did not want to leave the Caldera. She needed to prove herself to Peregrine and this uneventful event happened to be the only way.
“I accept. I will fight Nadie, and prove to you that I am worthy of staying here. I promise.” The agouti female swore, then continued on with another matter. “And in answer to your question, I don’t know where Nadie is at the moment. I have not seen her today.” Mazi informed Peregrine. She felt a little more confidence building up in her. Maybe she would get a second chance.
Hearing the call, Nadie straightened upwards from where she had been trailing a doe and her recently birthed fawn. Her head cocked in confusion, why did Perry want to see her? Specifically her and Mazi? Nerves broiling in her stomach, she loped in that general direction, pushing her frame to move as fast as possible.
Panting slightly, she arrived and took notice of Mazi's submissive stance that bordered on shame. Her interest piqued as she neared, dipping her head respectfully. "Hello. What's this about?"
It really didn't matter if she accepted his terms; she had no choice. Peregrine didn't bother pointing this out to her, especially when Nadie herself finally made an appearance. She seemed baffled about being called here. Annoyance swept through him. Were these two really so oblivious to how poorly they were doing as members of this pack? He wanted to bark the same questions at Nadie that he'd fired at Mazi, yet once more he could not be bothered.
"You two are going to spar. The winner gets to stay in the pack and the loser's getting the boot." He glared at the top of Nadie's bowed head.
"This is what I've decided is fair punishment for neither of you bothering to integrate properly into this pack. One of you will get a second chance. The other is shit out of luck. Now go," Peregrine finished, stepping back.
You two are welcome to decide an outcome among yourselves or you (or I) can roll for the results. Just let me know what you'd like to do!
Mazi wanted to stay in the Caldera, she really did. Yet something in her seemed to be holding her back suddenly. Truthfully at this period in time she simply couldn't be part of the reason of why Nadie had to go. She still respected Peregrine... for the moment, but this was just over the top.
"No Peregrine, on second thought I will not fight Nadie. I can't. I would rather die." Her words to her Alpha, now probably former Alpha surprised her. She could barely believe that she had stood up to him. She had never imagined herself doing this. Disobeying a direct order from her leader for the moment.
Her brows rose, her head raising to check if he was serious. Sure she had been distant, that was of her own fault she admitted that. No one made an effort to introduce themselves so she remained apart in response. She had been warned to stay away from the Alpha pair's den and so she had. Now he expected her to fight the only friend she had here?
She shook her head, hackles raising defensively as she glanced at Mazi. She wondered if her friend would actually go through with it. Her stance relaxed as she assured Peregrine that she didn't want to fight Nadie.
She glanced over him, watching for aggression. "I refuse," her words held all the honour and pride her old pack had instilled into her as a pup. "I will not fight her. You have lost two in your hope to rid yourself of one," she told him. Her words were not meant to be rude in anyway, it was only a fact. She waited to see if there was anything else that needed to be said. If not, she would departing the Caldera with Mazi hopefully by her side.
That works too! Haha. Thanks for playing. :)
Before Nadie had arrived, Mazi had seemed more than ready to duel her for a place in the pack. Now, suddenly, she declined to fight. Nadie similarly refused. Peregrine's eyes hardened. They were such a disappointment that it was no loss to the caldera.
"Get out," he told them both, punctuating the demand with a low growl as he arched his tail and moved forward to crowd their space. If they tried to give him any lip, he would gladly go for their throats. But as long as they obeyed him, he had no intention of laying a finger (or, well, tooth) on them.
Mazi stayed only a few moments before leaving. “I’m sorry to have failed you Peregrine, but I will not fight my friend. Only a coward would do that. Only a coward would command that.” Then the agouti female turned and fled away fast, not wanting to get murdered for what she had said in the Alpha’s face, although she would be surprised if it was attempted or played out by the powerful male. She believed what she said though. She would probably always respect her former Alpha for his decision in releasing her and Nadie, as they had really messed up... but Peregrine’s attempted solution was wrong. So very wrong.
She found herself hoping Nadie was following her. She hoped to stay with her friend if they made it out alive. Maybe they could start fresh and anew. In a better place that suited both of them better. She would miss the Caldera and it’s wolves, especially Eljay, since that was the only wolf besides Nadie that she had really connected with. Maybe some would miss her too, maybe not. Life would go on though, it always would.
Nadie had no words, having said all she had to say. She stood tall and proud, pride shining in her eyes for her friend's courage at having stood up to him. She nodded towards Peregrine before turning and fleeing the sanctity of the Caldera.
She followed after Mazi wordlessly, certain that if the girl wished for her to go she would say so. It made no sense for them to stand up to their former Alpha only to abandon each other. She had a feeling Peregrine would not attack only because he was outnumbered. Nadie was a large wolf herself, nearly his size and much bigger than Mazi. If he attacked it would be in favor of them.
She padded alongside her friend, hoping to find a fresh start. Perhaps there she could finish her mercenary training with Mazi. She was not too saddened by her departure, having her only friend by her side. The seasons would continue to shift and Nadie would move on. Her mind would not linger on her failure here.
He could have been angered, easily, by Mazi's accusation, but Peregrine found himself rolling his eyes. As she sprang spinelessly away, he shouted at her back, "Five minutes ago, you promised to fight her, you hypocritical bitch!" He punctuated the declaration with a derisive snort, tracking the fleeing females' backs with his good eye until they disappeared. He didn't forget about them instantly—he lingered, shaking his head, for several moments—but it wasn't long before the pair of freeloaders slipped his mind, never to be thought of again.