The howl touches her ears as her head is dipped for a drink, cupping forward as she listens. At first, she does not respond, thinking nothing of it. She goes about her business, lapping at the water until her thirst is quenched and she licks her lips. Droplets fall from her muzzle when she picks her head up and looks in the direction the sound came. Slowly, she thinks of her missing son and realizes the connection has been there this whole time. She blinks yellow gaze several times, shakes her head, and when it finally settles in, she moves quickly to the borders.
Lava had left Drageda without a word, uncertain where he’d been all this time, and she’d made some effort to search for him but she does not know this land well and he’d hardly been part of the pack to build anything for himself. Even as she became leader, she could not spend much effort on him as she would have liked and to know that he’s returned (whether or not he’s allowed to stay), relief fills her system and crests when she lays eyes on her younger child.
Slowly, she comes to a stop and looks upon him curiously, restraining herself from closing the distance to welcome him home. She scents the air for blood or infection but steadies a hardened gaze upon his for explanation.
He had decided to patrol the border today. He hadn't done it since arriving, and he felt it was somewhat required of him even if no one had actually said as much. It kind of went without saying that helping to protect Drageda included making sure the borders were marked and free of intruders. The howl came from clear across the territory, but he recognized who it belonged to immediately. His younger brother who had just left with no word to anyone. Being that East held duty of high importance, he hadn't been too happy to hear of his brother's disappearance. Still, he wasted no time heading that way, but it took him a little bit to actually get over there.
He arrived to find Lava and Helix in the midst of what appeared to be an uncomfortable conversation and a boy quietly sitting a short distance from Helix. He had not heard any of the words spoken between the two, but he didn't need to; he had a pretty good idea. He walked up to the pair and took a position next to his mother. East deliberately kept his gaze from Helix, feeling guilty that he had been avoiding her, although that wouldn't stop him from continuing to do so. Lava,
he said, unable to keep the disappointment from his tone and sure it showed in his expression as well.
helix's call summons her quickly -- she isn't far to begin with. blix arrives at the scene, carrying herself properly high, and draws to a halt in near them. helix and eastwood are both there (tux the commander does not notice yet) and -- ah. helix's other son. she'd assumed he'd left with nomi, but from the expressions on his kin's face, she guesses that she was wrong.
(the overcast sky above makes her think of bat, briefly. her mouth pulls into a frown.)
in trig she says "hello. lava, right?" glancing at helix, she adds, "what happened?"
Helix remains silent until Blixen shows up, staring across the way at her son. She doesn’t know what Blixen will do with the information, if she’d turn him away and brand him against Drageda. She doubts anything will happen to her (perhaps if Heda had been here, she may pay for her son’s actions). When the acting commander steps up, she turns her yellow gaze in her direction and bows her head slightly. Behind her, Eastwood shows up and she lingers upon his form for a moment, though he seems to only have eyes for his younger brother.
Lava shifts his form in the fiery girl’s presence and offers his explanation rather quickly. He elaborates a little more, if only for his feeling, and she closes her eyes and looks away. The fleimkepa does not say anything for or against his favor, uncertain what she truly wants out of this, and waits for the verdict (or the chance to offer advice, if Blixen chooses she needs it.
He silently listened as the commander asked his younger brother what happened, eyes momentarily moving towards the movement of the child walking next to Blixen before resting them back on Lava as he waited for his answer. He wasn't sure what excuse he had expected to hear from his young family member, but he hadn't really expected him to have left because of some fleeting attachment to a female. He felt a little bad that Lava had been hurt by the girl, though he wouldn't express that now. He was more disappointed that his younger brother had abandoned his duty and his pack and wondered what the commander would have to say about it. Whatever consequences were in store for Lava, East felt he certainly deserved them but maybe it would a lesson learned for him.
there's no excuse for running from your duties, blix thinks, but -- but, a girl is as close to a good reason as you can get. she frowns, trying to decide what she should do. nomi always struck a balance between fair and firm -- but lava has not been with them long enough to have proven his loyalty -- but he is helix's son. if she is too generous will nomi think she is a weak leader?
but -- furi -- furi is here now, too. and furi would .. probably be disappointed in her for being too cruel. there'd been a moment where she'd almost run away to chase after furi, and furi hadn't even liked her at that point, even if in the end her loyalty to drageda had held her firm. blixen takes a breath and holds it, glancing at helix for a moment. she lets it out and speaks. "you should not have abandoned your post," the commander scolds, "especially not for an outsider you just met."
her frown lightens slightly. "but if helix thinks you can earn our trust once more, i'm willing to give you a chance." here she looks again at her fleimkepa, hoping for some guidance -- she's never had to dole out punishment before, at least not in a way that didn't involve teeth.
She glances over to Blixen as the decision falls upon her. She had tried not to think about what might happen either way the commander chose, that it surprises her a bit that she is on the spotlight. Her jaw tightens and she turns back to her son, avoiding any look from Eastwood while she tries to settle on something.
Everything she has been taught conflicts what she wants. She should be able to turn her son out on his mistake. He’s old enough to care for himself, smart enough to make his way, but his quiet question touches her ears enough to sway only slightly.
“It better not, branwoda,” she says, firmly enough so her decision is understood.
He listened silently as his mother and the commander decided on his brother's fate. Lava stated that it wouldn't happen again, and Eastwood was inclined to believe him, but he would need some time to really trust that his brother wouldn't leave his pack again. Helix finally agreed to let the wayward male back among the ranks, but it was clear that he would hold the punishment rank to show he was currently unworthy of being here. He thought that it was good decision, and had he been really speaking to Helix, he would have made sure to tell her so. It was hard to consider family members without bias, and he did not envy her having to make that decision. If East were forced into a similar situation, he wasn't sure what he would do.
He gave his younger brother a stiff nod, clearly still disappointed but willing to eventually give him a second chance. It's not like he got anyone killed after all, he thought, bronze gaze briefly drifting to Helix.