In the past month, Vassago had shot up like a weed, but unfortunatley he was still as clumsy as he'd been before on his gangly legs. Three months had passed since his birth, and there was little the boy could even remember from before their journey to Arthendal.
At three months old, the boy was able to wander further than just outside the den, but not much had changed otherwise. The chestnut boy, ever lightening to a sandy color on his underside, was exploring the world as he knew it today. Loneliness gripped him, though, and he tipped his head back to call for anyone to keep him company.
@Pyro,
@Malice,
@Burke, or any of his packmates, he wasn't picky!
Today found him close to the Southern border, laying on the shore and smacking a paw against the cool water every few seconds after the fleeting silver flash of minnows. His last trip across the rushing water hadn't been forgotten: the bear had saved his life then, but he hadn't seen hide nor hair of the white beast since then. It also hadn't crippled his love of water, though since then he hadn't been more than elbow deep in the cool liquid. Maybe that was for the best, considering the chill in the air. His fully changed yellow eyes were bright, and his ears were on a swivel for anyone to talk to- speech had become more and more easy for the boy as he grew, too.
Burke happened to be on patrol when he found his son at the southern tip of their territory. The male watched how the pup splashed his paw. He was three months now, and even though he couldn't really cross any of the two rivers perhaps it was time that he was taught how to swim? Burke was not sure if it would be in their benefit because that would mean that their young could explore further than their own territory.
Burke approached him and then sat down next to his son. "Vassago," he greeted him and turned his head a bit and offered him a smile. Perhaps, swimming lessons should be discussed with Malice. For now he could perhaps tell Vassago about the world outside of the territory and what was expected of him. Or rather what he was not allowed to say when he was outside of the territory.
Eventually, someone did find him. His father, in fact, which Vass was happy with. When Burke's voice called his name, the boy's head lifted and turned to the massive grey man with a grin. His little halftail wiggled like a worm, thumping on the ground almost silently. Yellow eyes sparkling, he copied his fathers tone and greeting.
"Dad."
Burke sat next to the chestnut boy, and Vassago wondered what his dad wanted. Had he really just happened across Vass, or had he come to the howl for company? Either way, he was elated.
Burke looked over the river to the other side before turning his face more towards his son. "There is something I must tell you," he spoke, which sounded very serious. And in a way it was. "Perhaps sooner than later it will be easier for you to cross this river, and you might want to explore what it out there. Which is fine by me. But there are some things you must know about, Vassago," he explained to him
The father wanted to be more of a fatherly figure and he had the idea that he was doing better with Pyro and Vassago at least. "Do you want to hear about it?," he asked, because he knew very well that sometimes kids did not feel like listening. He wouldn't waste his time talking about something while his son wasn't even listening to him.
At once, Vassago felt a more serious turn to the conversation, which was both bitter and sweet. He'd wanted to have fun today, but it was an honor that Burke would talk to him in such a way. So the sand bellied boy stilled, his grin fading into a stoic mask of understanding-he was ready for whatever Dad would throw at him. First, it was about the river-for a moment he thought that Burke was going to scold him from his first dip in the water- but it evolved into much more. Burke seemed to imply that there were dangers out there, but that was something Vass knew well-again, like his dip in the water.
Sure, he'd thought about crossing the river again, on more steady paws. Hell, he dreamed of it, but the last experience had made him more prone to explore every inch of his home first. The massive grey man offered to teach Vassago, and at once he nodded vigorously.
"Bad things?"
Burke watched his son and shrugged. "Not all are bad things out there," he admitted. He wouldn't want his son to feel trapped here. He wanted him to be here because it was his home and didn't want to leave. "Your mother and me. We are wanted, searched for by another pack. A pack I was once the alpha of. It is a complicated story. But I must ask you to never mention me or your mother's name outside of these borders," he explained to his son.
"I go by the name of Thor and your mother is Absinthe. Also, never mention our pack's location or its name. We keep to ourselves mostly because we do not want to be found. If we are found by this pack then it would end badly for all of us," he explained to the young one. He needed to know at least a bit of it. Not boast who is family was. Keep a low profile. He should be okay.
Upon hearing that someone wanted his parents, that someone could possibly want to hurt them, Vassago's lips curled back to reveal sharp little fangs. A growl rumbled in his throat-but he stayed quiet, listening intently, ears cupped forward, to what his father had to say. But when Dad told him not to mention them, that they had other names, they couldn't even talk about their home....His face fell into a mask of utter confusion, even flashes of anger, and his ears flattened back.
At first, Vassago didn't understand. Even from such a young age, the boy was proud: he knew who he was, and he knew what he wanted in life, even if the details were a little fuzzy. He was Vassago Lanius-Rochester and he wanted the world to know it-secrecy just wasn't the growing boy's thing. Ending badly-even the young boy could imagine what that meant- was a thing Vassago didn't want to happen, though, and for a while after his father was done speaking, he was silent. His yellowed eyes glared visciously down at his paws, and his stump lashed once or twice in irritation. When he did speak-softly-, he didn't move, but his ears raised once again to show attention.
"Who are they?"
Burke looked at his son and then slowly shook his head when he growled cutely. Their oldest son was really someone that was involved in their family. Pyro seemed a bit more on his own. Burke didn't want Vassago to know too much about Black Feather, it should not be a shadow that loomed over his life. No, Burke wanted him to live and not think so much about something his parents caused.
The male slowly shook his head. "It doesn't matter. It is my fault and you shouldn't carry that burden. Hence why you should never tell anyone the true name of your parents," he explained to him. It would make his life a lot better in Burke's eyes. Soon he wouldn't be there anymore and he couldn't protect his children in a way he wanted to, so they would need to know how to hide well.
Burke's lack of an answer irritated him-how dare he tell him that he should keep his heritage a secret and then not tell him why- and Vass was not hesitant to tell his father this.
"That's not fair, Dad. Can't tell me there's stuff I gotta know, then not tell me."
The young boy shot a glare at Burke, snorting without shame and unafraid of being too cheeky: his dad clearly thought he deserved to know, or it wouldn't have been brought up. Vassago also threw out the only words that might just help him so he thought with full intentions of carrying out the promise.
"Or I'll go look for them myself, when I'm a mercenary."
Burke instantly growled when his son protested. His word was law and he disliked to be talked back to. He found that he was older and wiser than some pup. He lowered his growling muzzle as a warning to his son. "You will do no such thing," he spoke instantly towards Vassago. "Do you want your mother to die of a heart attack? Or if that doesn't kill her her sad mourning will," he pointed out.
"I am telling you because if you go out there you won't get taken and tortured. The full story you can know when you are older. They are bad wolves and they will kill you. They are assassins and spies. You can have your mercenary but they are trained to kill in seconds. With your mercenary skills it might take them 20 seconds instead of 2," he pointed out to him. "If you manage to get out there alive they will torture you until you talk of our location and they will murder us all. Me, your mother and Pyro... dead because you wanted to prove to yourself that you could defeat them."
His words might be harsh but Burke was not having it. "No. Vassago. I won't have it. You are NOT going there." He needed to protect his family but that was awfully hard if his son didn't want to listen.
At his fathers growl, the boy rose, baring his fangs and taking a step back; his little tail raised the best it could, but it barely got higher than his flared hackles. His ears flattened, and his hardened yellow eyes glared at Burke - but he listened to the Lord's words.
The only reason he didn't answer was because he was already plotting his escape - how dare Burke try to tell him he'd fail? Backing away further, the silent boy turned and hared off into the woods and howling for his mother.
I'm going to save them all.
Burke watched the pup storm off, at least inside the territory. But he would have to be vigilant after the pup earned his mercenary trade that he wouldn't go running off. Besides, Burke hadn't given him a name of location so he hoped that his oldest son wasn't being Stupid and going to call out their names. He could see the brown pup do something like that.
Burke was not pleased how he just ran off and Vassago would get disciplined later. He could run all he wanted but Burke was not going to be treated by his son like that.