His patrol was finished, and no exciting things had happened. Where Teagan was was a mystery. Perhaps the void had sucked him up at last, and his body had yet to be found. If so, at least he had Kunkun up there. Still, he wasn't at all happy with all these changes. Warbone was as good as dead, and the chances of him returning were scarce, Kunkun was gone so Trick had no one to bitch with, and now his favorite gay lover was gone too! He growled lowly to himself. It did not matter whether it was his favorite time of day (dusk) anymore; nothing would cheer him up. The pack had been handed over to dumb women with even dumber kids and husbands. Well, at least Tavi.
The sky was already a dark purple when he reached the opening of the Crook. It smelled like pups everywhere. Stupid mothers and their dumb kids...
He murmured softly as he stayed outside. Never would he sleep with everything so crowded with youthful spirits. He huffed and fell to the ground near the entrance, his green eyes observing the sky that was now sprinkled with stars.
Finding her lover and attempting to hash things out had taken a toll on the already weak old woman, and as the sun sank below the horizon and left only pale light to let her see her creamy paws, Nova put it all out of her mind to relax. Padding lightly towards the entrance of the Crook, she noticed the shadowy male known as Trick placed for bed just outside. It was clear he was irritated, but she'd missed his mumbled words. The creamy queen stopped beside him, glancing down in question with her ghostly silver eyes. She bothered not to speak, but tipped her head and thought it obvious that she was curious about him not sleeping with the family.
Perhaps he'd been feeling as separated as she? Nova knew of the newly appointed alpha, and though she had yet to really meet any of the new members and hadn't judged any of them,, she was skeptical about making one the head of the group so quickly. Was Warbone never to come home? What would happen if he did? Would Harlyn be dethroned, or would he be forced into submission to her and the stormy woman he'd let come into his newly appointed home with her son? Would Tavi expect her co-alpha to step down for the Marauders rightful leader, or would she side with Harlyn to keep their reign together? Should it come down to it, Nova Rose knew her loyalty would be to the brute man who'd licked her wounds clean and offered her a home.
Trick tried to remember the wise guy he had met one time, the one with a broken leg. He had known so much of the stars. He said he found it easier to travel at night since he knew the map of the heavens so well. What a lucky -or unlucky, if you only looked at his broken leg- guy he had been. He had died in Trick's care after he had promised that when he was fixed, he would teach Trick all he knew. Trick gritted his teeth, removing his gaze from the early night sky. Damn it, damn it all.
Just as he was done hurting himself with stories of his past, the ghostly face of Nova Rose showed up right above him. His green eyes that now sparkled with the stars' reflections widened at the sight- not because she was ugly, but because of the sudden attention. He followed her actions, tipping his head with her, a soft chuckle leaving his throat at the thought of how ridiculous they might look.
Miss Nova Rose? Do what do I owe the pleasure of your company on this... lovely night?
He questioned, a sigh leaving his mouth soon after. He lifted himself up into a sitting position, finding it quite rude to stay the way he had been before. His eyes did not rest on the older female though, instead drifting off to the night sky, to one of the brightest stars he would now call Kunik. Or perhaps that small one, just beside the big one, would suite her better.
Nova Rose gave the smaller man a warm smile, plopping her own hind end onto the earth below. Trick wasn't happy, that much she knew, but why was the question now. He didn't seem displeased to see her, however, and so she fixed him with her spectral eyes after a quick sweep of their surroundings to ensure privacy.
"Good evening Trick. I was planning for a walk, perhaps, to find a good drink, but you seem a little down. Wanna bitch about it to someone who could help?"
Even if her helping was simply letting him rant, or even ranting with him, or something like going for a walk or giving advice, Nova strove to feel useful once again. Tavi's repeated rejections and harshness still stung her heart, and with Warbone and Kunik both gone she found Trick the only real friend she had here, except maybe Teagan. Grace was her anchor to here anymore, for with the food her paws ached to go.
Trick's eyes flickered when he heard the other sitting down too, but was not at all displeased with her being here. He had never had something against the woman, and now; with the famine and the new recruits that thought they owned everything and everyone here, perhaps he even liked her. Not in a romantic way though- no, not ever, and friends, well... Let's just say he was inexperienced with having them.
He sighed at her words. He, indeed, wasn't happy at all at the moment. What exactly was bothering could be anything. It could be his feelings finally showing, him caring, something he swore he would never do. It could be because of the absence of both Teagan and Warbone, or maybe it was the famine as a whole. Maybe, just maybe, he was sad that Kunik had passed away so soon. But his belief was that what was bothering him was that the new faces were ruling now. Tavi and Harlyn were terrible rulers, in his humble opinion, and it had cost the true marauders the petite Kunik.
but instead of telling this all to Nova Rose, he kept silent, staring at something in the distance. He let out a long sigh. There are too many things bothering me at the moment, and I would not like to waste your hours of sleep...
He spoke calmly in a tone that was different from his usual charming one. This tone was a bit more broken, with actual feelings inside of it, finished off with a bow of annoyance.
Sleep, HA. As if this woman would sleep tonight. Often did she spend her nights wandering the willows, spending time with herself in the hours of the "day" she liked most. During the hot, hungry days, she napped in whatever place she'd found this time. It took Trick a while to answer, but when he did her head was shaking by the end of his sentence.
"That's cute, that you think I sleep at night like everyone else. Truly, Trick, it is not wise to keep your frustrations bottled up."
She knew not how hard she would push and prod to open him up, but based from the hollow feeling in her heart it might be easier to just shut her up.
She knew the mumbles, the doubts about her: that she would love nothing more than the fall of the Marauders, that she held no loyalty, and it broke her very soul to think that the pack she finally chose was going to turn against her if she didn't show she wanted to be here. Truly, she had from the beginning: the thought of leaving hurt Nova, but was not at all an impossibility. Would she leave, even then she would wish nothing more than the best for the family Warbone strove to create and was out there now protecting.
So you're an owl then?
Trick questioned out of the blue. What kind?
He asked, genuinely curious about what owl she would pick. Trick had seen them at night, mostly on his travels, but even here in Teekon they roamed. He had seen white ones at his trips to the north, big gray ones in trees of dark forests, even some brown ones who he could not really identify, for they all looked so similar.
He sighed one last long sigh, afraid to answer. But, in the end, Nova might share his concerns for the true marauders. I think my frustrations are caused by the new alpha females. They are despicable leaders. They have not been here as long as you and me, and still they claim the title of the upper tier, of Warbone himself. I am enraged that this is happening, but I can't do anything about it but just play along.
He rambled on with gritted teeth, his eyes not focused on the ghostly female.
I believe what Warbone would have wanted, was that one of us, the true marauders, would rule. We, who stood behind him like an unbreakable wall, surely are much more capable of leading this pack than those mothers.
Never had he talked so much truth in one go, but he felt good after.
Tricks question threw Nova, but she flicked her eyes up to the sky in a moment of thought. When she'd come up with a good enough answer, her spectral eyes turned back to the smaller man and she smiled.
"A great horned owl, I think. They're supposed to be wise and all that, right?"
Finally, Trick gave her the answer she was looking for: it was the alphas throwing him off that was the cause of his irritations. His own ranting set off her own, and soon her mind flooded with comments. Eventually, she settled on one that was not so harsh.
"Harlyn isn't one I've taken the time to get to know, and I leave the benefit of the doubt. Tavi, however, I agree with you on. She could do her job as a leader better, I'm sure, but then again who am I to critizize? Either way, you are perfectly spot on with one thing: neither of them had been here long enough to rise properly to their titles. The Marauders always have been and always will be Warbones: but I fear if he does not come soon, I will leave. I share your opinion that someone who was rightfully here from the beginning with him and worked to mark these borders our own should rule in his absense. "
Trick smirked. He knew a little story about an owl. A wise old owl lived in an oak. The more he saw, the less he spoke. The less he spoke, the more he heard. Why can't we be like that wise old bird?
He preached in his honey voice. I see myself as a whiskered screech owl.
He finally said. He never knew why he was always so philosophical around Nova, but he was.
He smiled as Nova Rose, the old lady he kind of admired for her age, ranted along with him. It seemed they could quite agree with each other for once. What can we do about it? You think leaving is an option?
He questioned carefully.
Nova listened and couldn't help a smile at his story, thinking now about the tiny owls Trick compared himself too. It fitted, she supposed, but his next words caused the smile to fade a little. The golden elder was not above leaving, not in the slightest. She would miss Grace, miss sleeping next to her warmth and explorations across the willows. The lessons would stop, and the little russet girl would have to find another teacher. It was all hurtful to think about, abandoning the Keep and her adopted daughter, but it would be better than dealing with what was going on within.
"Of course leaving is an option.... What point is there in staying when I hold no loyalty to these wolves? I pledged myself to our King, not to the deserter he brought up beside him because she was uncomfortable in the ranks with us. But it's too late now, too many of us have gone from the Keep and there wouldn't ever be enough backup with Harlyn's entire group on their side."
Trick hadn't really bonded with this land, nor with its leaders, and so it maybe would be easier for him to go than it was for Nova. He let out a deep sigh as he listened to her, his green glimmering eyes going to the ground. This game he had been playing all this time did not matter. He needed to get out of here, but what would he tell Grace? What would he tell Stark? Suddenly, a light popped on inside his head; He would go on a trip for knowledge. But when? I think I'd rather leave than stay under the rule of these idiotic wolves, but I think I should wait to see if the locusts show signs of returning. I think I'll go out to meet others with the gift of the earth; the ability to heal, and see if they can teach me anything.
He didn't know why he was telling Nova this, but hey- he couldn't help that his gay buddy was gone. I don't know when I'll do that though, but I hope it is soon.