Wolf RPG

She didn't mean it. She was probably just kidding, Galaxy told herself as she huddled beneath an overhang, trying to avoid getting caught in the sudden downpour. But what about what she said about singing? her inner voice countered itself. She said it was stupid! She called you stinky and fat! The youngster's pink tongue poked from her mouth and ran slowly along her bottom lip as her eyes peered out at the sheeting rainfall. And now you're lost!

The sound of the sudden onset rainstorm drowned out the voice in her head as Galaxy let out an uncharacteristic sigh and slumped onto her belly, her chin plopping none too gently on her left foreleg. She didn't know why Vela suddenly appeared to dislike her any more than she knew how to get back home to the den. After the rain tapered off a bit, she might try to howl for help. In the meantime, she sprawled there in her makeshift shelter, trying to process these unusually negative emotions.

Hydra had been patrolling when she noted a rain cloud overhead. Remembering that she had made a promise to @Alya on how to track things in the rain (for her scouting expedition), Hydra howled to her before moving into the territory again. In no time at all it began to downpour, and Hydra moved along, undeterred and unbothered. A too familiar scent permeated the air, though, and Hydra was given pause quite near the overhang Galaxy moped within. She licked her chops and pressed her nose to the earth, ears flicking.

She breathed deeply of the humid air, eyes peering dully at the watery world beyond the overhang. The air was thick with falling rain, yet she saw a shadow moving around out there and lifted her head. Galaxy's nostrils flared and she felt a little leap in her chest when the recognized the scent—somehow amplified by the water rather than washed away—that filled her nose.

"Hydra!" she shouted, pushing to her feet. She took a breath and plunged her head out into the open, blinking rapidly against the onslaught of cold water to the face. "Under here!" she called half-blindly, swiping a white paw through the air before retreating back under the shelter of the large stone and wiping at her face.

Sooner rather than later her suspicions were confirmed, and the source itself validated her. Hydra at once moved beneath the overhang to meet Galaxy, and she wasted no time in sniffing the entirety of her to make sure all was well. And then she grinned. Got away from mom and dad, huh? Hydra let out a howl, informing her family that Galaxy was presently with her. Alya, Lyra, and I would always try to get away to explore the mountain. We were always caught, though, of course, three children missing who were also the life of the party was far easier to detect than, say, one, but still—after all that had happened, Hydra was surprised Galaxy had gotten far at all. That wasn't to say she got very far, but still. How'd you do it?

As soon as Hydra stepped beneath the overhang, Galaxy pressed her nose to the underside of the older wolf's chin, licking at the wet, bristly fur there. Her tail whipped to and fro, sending a spray of droplets along the rock face behind her. After sniffing noses, she scooted back to make more room for her older sister and plopped onto her haunches, still rubbing at her face every so often to wick away the last of the moisture clinging there.

"Huh?" she said initially in response to Hydra's conspiratorial tone. She swallowed, wondering if she would be in trouble. "I didn't mean to," Galaxy said. Truthfully, she hadn't given it much thought; she had simply followed Vela. "I was following Vela," she added. She's going to be mad that you told on her, the pup's inner voice immediately added and her teeth dug into her lower lip.

"I found her, but..." Galaxy tried after a moment, though she didn't want to do any more snitching. Instead, she looked down at her feet, shuffling them a little sadly, and said, "I don't think she likes me anymore." And that hurt her feelings, especially because the slender Omicron couldn't think of why Vela felt that way. What had Galaxy done wrong?

The others honesty was adorable, and fine with Hydra. Had it been Korei telling on she and her sisters, though... she'd have to give Galaxy that advice, and prepared to. Only tell things like that to Alya, Lyra and I, she wanted to say. Her father had never appreciated tattle-tales, she believed. He preferred the kids to deal with their issues themselves so long as it wasn't life-threatening. But perhaps this was. Vela? Who was she with? And where did you last see her? She grinned. I won't tell on her, don't worry. But we do need to make sure you guys are safe, and not going too far alone... any adventures you wanna go on, you tell me, or Alya and Lyra. Not Korei. Korei'd get her killed... again. 

At Galaxy's admittance, Hydra tilted her head. What makes you think that, Ax? She hated to see her so down in the dumps, because it reminded Hydra of Korei feeling bad for herself... but Hydra knew that now was the time to turn Galaxy's situation and reaction around. Galaxy already showed herself to be way cooler than Korei had been, and she would not see that growth stunted.

Hydra fired several questions at her and Galaxy's ears splayed as she attempted to answer. "I heard her talking to someone but I don't know who. She was in a cave further down the mountain from here." She appreciated the reassurance her sister offered. The pup hadn't meant to be a snitch and she sensed that if Vela discovered her tattling, she would be even more on her litter mate's bad side.

When Hydra pressed for more information about that, Galaxy shrugged self-consciously. She didn't want to tell on Vela, even to their older sister, if it might make matters worse. With that said, the pup couldn't help but blurt, "Hydra, am I stinky?"

Further down the mountain... Hydra licked her chops. She'd have to check and see for herself, she knew—Alya wasn't here yet, but when she did inevitably come Hydra would direct her to find Vela. The others question was one of the many things she assumed Vela had said to the suddenly self-conscious Galaxy, but wanting to know the truth of it herself Hydra moved to sniff Galaxy. Then she sniffed herself. If you're stinky, I'm stinky, she reported back, offering a forelimb for Galaxy to sniff at. And Hydra had recently groomed herself. What else? she asked, and slid down to her belly. Don't worry, this is between you and me, Ax, Hydra was no counselor. Hell, she was the biggest bully in the game. And no one messed with anyone on her playground without her say-so.

Although the pup didn't smell anything untoward—even with the rainwater enhancing everything, like a shower fart—Hydra's words somehow didn't placate her. But she didn't say anything more on that particular topic. The black she-wolf wanted to know more, gently coaxing Galaxy to spill the beans. The youngster felt torn between sharing what she'd overheard and getting into deeper trouble with Vela, even if she didn't understand why she was there in the first place.

"Is my head fat?" she questioned, voice unusually meek with reluctance.

The others question almost caused Hydra to laugh. Fat-head. Good one, Vela, she commended in her head... but remembered it was at the expense of Ax. No, your head is not fat, she informed. She did not need to even wait a beat to answer that. Hydra still remembered Galaxy when she was a tubby cub, and in comparison to that... no. Why do you think we've been feeding you more? That bear was giving you bad food... food not for wolves... which actually made you more little than you should be, her head lifted and she nosed Galaxy. You could afford to eat a little more, but you're making good progress toward where you should be, she comforted. Yeah, if anything, Galaxy was too little. 

And so she crossed one foreleg over the other. Don't let Vela push you around, Ax. You survived a major fall, and hung out with a bear and lived. You're strong—be strong. When people say mean things, you can feel bad about it, or you can show them who's boss, Hydra lifted her head and grinned. You think you can show your siblings who's boss? Her ears flicked atop her crown.

Once more, Hydra promptly responded in the negative. Her tone was so matter-of-fact that Galaxy felt a smidgen of relief. As her sister elaborated on her answer, she felt even more reassured. Unfortunately, it wouldn't stick as much as Vela's hurtful words would. For the moment, however, the little girl felt a little better.

Hydra reminded her that she was strong and she smiled, heartened by the positive feedback. But when questioned about showing Vela who was boss, the child shook her head. "No," she said. "Vela's the oldest. She's the boss." She was the highest-ranked puppy, anyway, even if it was only by merit of birth order. And Galaxy respected that, just as much as she respected Vela herself. That's why her words carried such weight and hung so heavily on the Omicron's slim shoulders.

Wrong, Hydra retorted, though not coldly. You'll see one day that age doesn't mean anything. Korei could be older than me, but she's definitely not the boss of me. And do you know whose oldest, with Lyra and I? I bet you don't, and she wouldn't reveal it either—mostly because not even the triplets knew. Power is power, Galaxy. You can be the boss if you want. But if you don't want to, that's fine too. But don't let Vela be the boss of you with mean words. In fact, Hydra squinted, I'm your boss. Mom and dad, too. Obviously now you know Vela was lying when she said what she said—you're not fat, or smelly. We'll get you nice and strong and I'll train you to be a guardian and warrior with me. You'll be my apprentice, and she waited for a moment before adding, if you want.

Her ears splayed again at Hydra's instant retort, though there was no malice in her sister's tone as she embellished. Although Vela currently held a higher rank, it didn't always have to be that way, per Hydra's explanation. And just because she was more dominant didn't give her the right to berate Galaxy. The youngster absorbed these words, nodding slowly, though she grew still at the yearling's unprecedented proposition. The sound of rain filled the space around them.

"I want to be nice," the pup replied, "and strong. But..." She didn't want to fight Vela. She didn't want to fight anybody. It wasn't in her nature. Neither was disappointing her elders, so it was difficult to admit, "I don't—I can't be a warrior, can I? Because warriors are fighters, right?" Galaxy's eyes grew wide. "I'm not a fighter, I don't think," she explained quietly.

Right, Hydra hummed. But warriors fight for good. They keep the pack safe. They only fight the wolves that would hurt their family, she informed. Her idea here wasn't for her to go at her sister, but to have a distraction and reprieve from her. It's okay if that doesn't interest you. Maybe healing does. Or scouting. Lyra is learning to heal, and Alya loves exploring. She waited a minute. She wondred, idly, if Vela was interested in being a warrior. Or perhaps Jarilo. You can think about it. I won't be mad if you say no. Disappointed, though. Hydra had big plans of commanding her Ax to do battle with herself and her sisters. But all plans could do with adjustments.

The Gamma put a spin on it that appealed to Galaxy somewhat, though she still didn't think she was cut out for fighting. That should be left to more capable wolves, like their parents, as well as Hydra herself and her twins. By the sound of it, though, each triplet specialized in a different field. The pup's head cocked as she digested this information. She liked Hydra best of all and wanted to please her, though it may very well end up that Alya or Lyra would make a better mentor. Or even Korei Julia, who clearly knew much about the stars.

"Okay," Galaxy said, feeling immeasurably relieved when Hydra insisted she wouldn't be angry if Galaxy didn't follow in her footsteps. She already had one sister mad at her, she didn't need another! "I will," she added, "think about it." She even sat up a little straighter to make a cross over her chest, her way of indicating that she swore to do as Hydra asked.

The rain was beginning to taper somewhat and hazy sunshine began to peek out from behind the rain clouds. "Will you show me the way back to the den?" Galaxy asked, suddenly wanting to get back to the safety and familiarity of the whelping den and her relatives there. She wanted to curl up in a warm, dark corner and think.

Good, she responded, lifting a foreleg to fondly attempt to noogie her sister. She then stood on all fours, noting too that the rain was thinning. Definitely, she responded, tail waving. Let's go! And with that, she moved to show Galaxy the way home.