Shink had crossed the river for the second time, following the exact same steps he had taken with Aero as they had embarked on the short journey from Shadewood to the Isle. He heaved himself onto the opposite bank, shaking his fur to release tiny droplets of water that glinted in the late afternoon sunlight to form weak rainbows in the air. Before his departure, the rosy boy remembered the stocky alpha mentioning another fellow wolf of theirs that resided inside their settlement, one that had need of protection. Flicking his tail in thought, he made his way onwards, pausing for a moment to cock his leg and place his mark beside Aero's. Sure enough, the milky odour of another vixen was clearly distinguishable in amongst the various points added by him and the others. Curiosity drew him inland towards Malice's nest, huffing in annoyance as his nose lead him in a slight diversion towards the rotting carcass of a dead minnow presumably washed up on the bank due to the low level of the water. Instead of quenching his own hunger, he clasped his teeth carefully around its flaky form and began to once again trot away from the river so as to not arrive empty pawed.
Malice, though her body had gotten partly used to moving again, still rather slept through her days. She was no slacker, and never would she be one as she would later claim the title of Lady of RiverRun, but being a mother was rather hard. She had gotten used to the cotton balls being around her at all times, and she hoped they would soon learn to speak, but that seemed ages away. They lay at her stomach again, curled up, their blue eyes closed as they softly fed. Perhaps that was the most satisfying sight for a new mother, and while she still found it cute, it didn't hit her as hard anymore. They were hers, that was all and perhaps the only reason she cared for them, even though they had ruined so much.
This particular afternoon, Malice was not asleep. She was wide awake, thinking of how they would all live here together. Her children would grow up here, and perhaps they would have no memory of the hard times in Blackfeather Woods nor their long journey to get where they currently were. It had been right to leave so soon, for now they weren't traumatized.
The strange smell of a wolf she didn't know drifted her den in, and she protectively curled around her babes. She cuffed softly. Who goes there?
She knew they hadn't claimed the territory officially yet, but their borders were strong, and so was their scent on this land. Any loner who wandered in here could either not smell or had a death wish. She also knew of the new recruit they had gained, someone named Shink, but she had yet to meet the male. Could this be him, seeking out his new female leader?
His paws came to a rest a few feet away from the grand entrance of the hideaway, head dipped low as he tensed, unsure of what he expected to find within the forested confines. The milky odour flowing from the den reminded him somewhat of his mother; perhaps whoever lay inside was nursing a brood, the future generation for the growing pack. Though it could just as easily be a mothering loner however, judging by the strength of the marks he had explored moments before, he guessed the creature was the wolf Burke had mentioned. With the fish skin still clasped protectively in his maw, the boy angled his auds towards the gentle chuff emerging from the mossy entangles, listening intently as she questioned identity. "Shink," he replied, morphing his words around his salty bundle. Still, they turned out slightly muffled and he waved his tail in mild annoyance. "And you are?" As he formed his query, his mind informed him that he probably already knew the answer. Nevertheless, he unhooked his canines from the skin and nudged it forwards through the opening with his nose.
Malice was not only nursing the generation of Burke and her, but she was also furthering the bloodline of the Lanius family- Lucifer's family. It was horrible to think that her father could never see his grandsons, and even worse to think Avalon could never meet them. She knew she had loved Avalon in one way or the other, and sharing was what they always did. She wanted him to meet them, wanted to have him close, but his ass was probably still in LuciferPeak. She loved Burke in another way. His greatness, glory and handsomeness aside, she loved him being so stoic. She loved getting to know him, slowly unraveling his past while simultaneously building a future with him. She didn't care that they were 3 years apart.
Shink was the name the stranger told to her, and she remembered. He was one of them now, yet Burke apparently didn't care for her approval. Malice was used to have a second in command, and knew how to discuss such drastic decisions, Burke apparently didn't.
Malice Lanius, the mother of Burke's offspring.
She replied in her gentle tone she had been getting used to. She, of course, wanted to show off her kids, going against Burke's words. With Pyro in her mouth and
@Vassago being able to stumble in and out of the den by himself, her giant posture crawled out of the den she had claimed. She placed the smaller, black pup on the ground somewhere next to Vassago and sat down. It was good for the little ones to explore their new home.
You are the new recruit.
She explained to herself.
Vassago, in truth, hadn't realized that anything was amiss until his mother moved, pulling him from his meal. With a grunt, he followed behind as the last out of the den and blinked his little blue eyes over to Shink. His little ears swiveled for a moment, trying to figure out whether to perk in interest or flatten at the newbie.
In the end, it seemed curiosity got the better of him, for he took a few tentative steps forward. He was a smart boy, learning fast: new people weren't trusted, no. Mama and daddy didn't allow it, no, but this one apparently was different. Vass had never seen this man in his life, and yet Malice brought them out. Turning his head to keep both the newbie and his mother in his sights, he looked at the dark woman as if waiting for her to call him back before rushing in this time.
It didn't last long, for in the next moment he was prancing towards the stranger, modeling his fathers proud, tall walk as well as he could.
The yearling nodded as the voice from the nest spoke once more, drawing his tongue around his black lips as he paused to listen. He wasn't at all surprised that Burke was the father of the woman's litter, it only seemed fitting that a king should rule beside his queen. He relaxed back onto his haunches as the magnificent figure of Malice emerged from the thicket, swishing his rosy tail in greeting as she proceeded to recline near to the entrance. Bending his head down low, he found his gaze drawn to the two pups as they tottered around, his nose flaring as he breathed in the scents of each in turn. A small smile of amusement flickered across his features as the lightest of the two sauntered towards him, eyes glinting warmly as a quiet chuff of greeting escaped his maw. "It certainly seems they've taken after their father already," he chuckled, flattening his ears as his gaze slid from the pup to graze that of the dark dame. "And yes," he began, straightening his back as he turned his full attention to Malice, "Aeronwyn, I think her name is, approached me at the edge of the pine forest along with Burke."
Perhaps before the scarred woman called herself queen, as she was the daughter of a king and now had started her own little kingdom, but never would she again. She had disgraced the title of queen by leaving her wolves and her home in the quiet Phantom Hollow. Burke, however, had a different story. She barely knew anything about his family, only that it was big and complicated. Perhaps Malice didn't even deserve ruling next to him, but it wasn't like her spot in their band could easily be taken away. She did feel like this was going to be a much nicer pack.
She giggled at Vassago's actions, acting to fearless in front of a stranger truly made her proud. It showed he really was a Lanius-Rochester, for both his parents were quite fearless.
They really have. Perhaps Vassago more so than little Pyro here.
She gave the darker fluff ball a lick on his head, her little
@Pyro. She had no real favorite in her litter, though if she was forced to chose, she would go for Pyro.
What were you seeking at the edge of the pine forest?
The new packmate was less than Vass had hoped for, turning his attention to his mother instead of playing with him. Well fine, he'd go off and find something else to harrass play with! Namely, Malice, or at least her hind leg. Charging on over to his mother with an excited woof, the little chestnut faced boy pounced face first into his mothers leg, paws wrapping around the grey furred toy. He gnawed on her knee with sharp little milk teeth, giggling all the while. It seemed the more mobile the little hellspawn prince grew, the more confidence he gained and, in turn, the more trouble he got into.
He watched out of the corner of his eye as the chestnut pup seemingly lost interest in his new 'play toy' and waddled back towards the Queen, a huff of amusement sending dust particles swirling within the forest. The fish skin lay forgotten in amongst the mossy branches that concealed the opening to the nest and the rosy gold boy flicked his ears in surprise. Malice was obviously caught up in greeting him, the new recruit or so he was called, but perhapse the two youngsters would eventually stumble upon its salty remains and make some use out of it. By the looks of their slightly dishevelled pelts, they too had been trapped in the tail end of the famine yet, much like himself, they had managed to pull through. Even if the pups hadn't fully accepted him as one of their own yet, he guessed that the other three already had. A fond twinkle created a sheen across his dark copper orbs as Vassago charged forwards to wrestle with Malice's leg. Nevertheless, he dipped his head in consent, glad to finally hear the names of the duo be spoken. "I departed my old pack when the conditions were at their worst," he voiced briefly in reply to her question, "I guess you could say I was searching for a safe place to reside after the turmoil of the famine.".
Malice felt more protective of her little Pyro, and so had never developed a bond with her other son just yet -he was a real daddy's boy-. She was surprised to see him changing direction, this time heading for her. Her eyebrows raised above one good eye and one eye that would be forever squinting, and she stepped back just as Vassago charged for her hind leg. She let out a surprised yelp, giving the boy a glare that could have resembled burning coals, even though her eyes were as yellow as the sun. She shook her leg, eager to let the child not harass her knee anymore. She must've looked quite stupid with her ball of chestnut fur on her leg.
Safe you are here, but I hope you won't be departing with us anytime soon.
She said as her eyes still rested on Vassago in the hope he would give up. Perhaps later she would play with them, but she was talking to one of her new recruits now-not that she expected them to know everything already. The famine will soon reach its end, and that is when we will form. We will rule these new lands like no one ever before.
Vass was neither a mama's boy or a daddy's boy, in truth: he loved whoever brought him food or played with him. It might've been Malice, had she not been so worried about the pup who may or may not make it, since she was the one who meant food. As he developed, however, he WAS becoming more in touch with his father. It was clear that the little chestnut boy, despite his coloring, was Burke's son, if not because of his additude then perhaps because of his forward demeanor. He KNEW he was cute and he thought knew he was the ruler of it all.
Deaf to the language the adults spoke for now, Vassago was content to wrestle with his mothers leg. He felt her glare, saw it from the corner of his eye, but that didn't stop the little boy. His toy shook, and the eldest son lunged for it again, clamping his jaws harder around the resistant target.
Listening to the dark dame speak her words enlightened him from the inside out; his ears twitching eagerly and his tail beginning to thump rhythmically upon the dusty ground. Though her speech did nothing to quell the constant pangs of hunger that were slowly starting to dominate his slight frame and he wondered when, if he ever would, be able to once again have a proper meal. "I plan on staying." He was surprised to find that he truly did mean it, no need to feed the Queen any false belief. Not that her sly gaze would fall for it if he did form the veil. A twitch of amusement tugged at the corners of his maw and h slid into a playful bow, lunging his head forward in an attempt to gently tackle the pup off of Malice's leg. It certainly reminded him of Bluegrass and, should the Royal keep to her word, perhapse their growing band would be able to rise and conquer, becoming a magnificent empire like they had once been.
Think we could wrap things up with your next post?
Malice gritted her teeth as the little boy made a second attempt at... She had absolutely no idea what he was trying to do. Did he think he could tackle her? Perhaps he just wanted some attention. Malice did note that because she was so worried about little Pyro, she had not given her firstborn the attention he so deserved. She frowned, deep in thought until Shink spoke again. Good. I don't think we could miss you now that we have all met you.
She said as she tried not to hurt the ball of fur on her leg as she wiggled it around.
What happened next was a bit of a surprise and, as she saw Shink lunge for her little boy, nature told her to pull her leg back as she stumbled further to her den. She almost tripped and would've fallen back into the den had it not been for Shink not lunging his whole body. She didn't know if Vassago was still holding on, neither did she care. Obviously he wanted some play time, but that would not go well with the new recruit near. She was way too protective of her young, as a new mother should be. Her hackles, that had raised in the process of retreating, smoothed down. I'm sorry, I think I need to give my sons some attention before I can join you in conversation again. It was very nice meeting you, truly, sorry to cut it short.
She frowned again. I wasn't supposed to apologize...
She murmured, thinking of how Burke had wanted her to stop.
Of course! I'll archive here
His efforts did not succeed as no sooner had he reached out to wrestle the pup, the dark dame made a move to retreat. Upon seeing her hackles rise, the rosy boy instinctively plastered his ears to his scalp, shuffling awkwardly to retract into a defensive posture, the fur along the ridge of his spine beginning to rise up as a reaction.
"It's alright," he mumbled, tilting his head so that his gaze came to rest at the Queens magnificent paws.
"I should've realised that..." He trailed off, unsure of whether he had just startled her of perhapse triggered something worse. Tracing his tongue across his lips, the boy huffed quietly, drawing himself up onto all four paws, his cranium dipped but his deep copper eyes entirely focused on her only form.
"I guess I'll see you around." A smile forced its way onto his muzzle as he turned to pad away from the den, his attention momentarily flickering to the tiny pup apologetically.