Set on April 21st, right after
this thread.
He wasn’t sure where they were going, but he dutifully followed his sister as she led her way deeper into the territory. Sadiq found the terrain to be similar to Aningan, just with less snow. He wasn’t really all that interested in exploring, alas he was only here for Takiyok. She was his only priority, despite his anger toward her Sadiq didn’t have anywhere else to go.
“Takiyok.” He called softly, hoping to pause in there journey to wherever they were going. He wanted to greet his sister properly. He slowed, coming to a complete stop and waited to see if she might come back to him.
She was eager to return to her children, not wanting to leave them any longer than she had to while they were still so young. She had interrupted their nursing and was worried that they were still hungry and at the mercy of their father who, unfortunately, could not help feed them just yet. She felt Sadiq's presence behind her, glad to have him here especially in light of how devastated Sia had recently left her. She had many questions for him, but she wanted to get back to the den before they settled down for what she was sure would be a long conversation.
She paused briefly when he called out to her, just long enough to explain where they were going.
I want to get back to my children before we start talking,
she offered before turning back around and resuming her pace once more. She assumed he had scented the milk on her and drawn his own conclusions, so her explanation hopefully wouldn't cause him too much surprise.
When they reached the den, she called out to the general, and when he emerged, she quickly introduced Sadiq as her brother so there wouldn't be any confusion about why she was letting him near the pups. She requested that they be given some time to catch up before the men got to know each other. Thankfully,
@Stigmata obliged, and when he had trotted away, Taki motioned for her brother to follow her into the den.
Once inside, she walked over to the mound of restless bearcubs; she could tell they were hungry, and she settled herself around them, allowing the four of them to resume feeding once more. When she was satisfied they were all eating, she looked up to Sadiq with a hesitant gaze, unsure what he would think about the fact that he was an uncle.
Tag for reference. Let me know if I need to edit the PP in any way <3
The man had indeed found the scent of motherhood upon the pelt of his sister, and although he wasn’t surprised, he was still hesitant. Tejal had been a very dedicated and protective mother, offering her children everything she had. Sadiq had no doubt that Tak would be the same, and was surprised that she would trust him enough to allow him near. Especially after spending so much time away from each other, it had almost been a year since she had left.
Her trust helped to eat away at the anger that was still present in his heart, the betrayal he felt at being abandoned. Sadiq dipped his head in greeting to the man, his thick scent mingled seamlessly with Takiyok’s he assumed the man to be the father. Although there were strong tones of Mahler about as well. They were obviously a tightknit group, something that Sadiq was grateful for, obviously she hadn’t been alone in this endeavor to bring children into the world.
As he slowly followed behind her, he paused at the den entrance. Slowly he entered, ready to bolt should she ask him to leave. The four bundles of pups were awe-inspiring, and his jaw dropped slightly and genuine smile coming to his features. There weren’t many things that could spark a positive reaction from the man, but babies were one. “They are beautiful Takiyok. Was that there father?” He knew his sister well enough to know she wouldn’t leave something so precious in the paws of someone she didn’t trust.
For the moment he was lost in thoughts of his nieces and nephews, they looked so similar to Silla and Nuniq, Sadiq nearly cried. “What are their names?” It would be hard to distinguish them for some time, but as a doting uncle Sadiq would endeavor to try.
She looked down at the pups adoringly as he spoke, her pride clear on her face as he complimented them. She had never been more proud of anything in her entire life, not even the day she and Sia had claimed the glacier. She never knew she could love anyone as much as she loved the four new lives she had brought into the world, and with that love came a fierce drive to protect them at all costs. She was relieved to see that her brother already appeared to be enamored by his niece and nephews; she couldn't really blame him. She shook her head in response to his question. We have not named them yet,
she answered, eyes lifting to focus on him. We are waiting until they are a little older,
she continued. It was a suggestion from their father, and she had no problem agreeing to it. She knew them well now, but the older they got, the more personality they would develop, which would help them select the right names.
She would love to keep talking about the children, but she had many questions for her brother. So she switched gears, studying his face a little before asking: What made you leave home?
She never expected to see him here. He was more devoted to their father than even she had been, and he had not been happy about her decision to leave. She had sought him out the night she left, and he had tried to change her mind. But Taki was stubborn, and there was just no way she could serve their father any longer. She wondered how bad things were in Aningan for him to leave in search of her.
He could have sat and admired the small family before him all day, and he would have gladly ignored the elephant in the room. The maternal pride that had adorned her face faded to the back ground, and was replaced with her more serious side. The side that reminded him of Siarut. A scowl adorned the northern mans face.
“He’s dead Takiyok.” Devoid of emotion, Sadiq relayed the information she was fishing for. “He died in his sleep a few months ago, some sort of injection from a hunt gone bad.” This didn’t exactly explain what had happened and why he had was here now. But it was a start.
She stared at him blankly at first, unsure she had actually heard him correctly. Dead?
she asked first, slightly surprised; she had almost expected him to live forever, running on spite and obstinate pride. Most would probably feel sad to hear their father was dead, but not Taki. Once the words really processed in her mind, she realized she felt nothing. He had been dead to her for a while now, so to hear that he had actually met his end was almost satisfying. After a few moments of silence, she raised an eyebrow and coldly replied: Good.
She had nothing else to say about it, and he hadn't really answered her question. But his death wouldn't bring you here,
she pointed out. What else happened?
She was afraid of what he would say. Shila came to mind then; she would certainly be the type to use that as a way to take over and terrorize everyone. It was no secret that no one in Taki's litter got along with their sister; she was strange and cruel even as a child.
He bit back a growl at the disrespect shown their father, only the children prevented his reaction. He forced himself to sit down, knowing that he couldn’t let his emotions rule him. Not this time. He had a tendency towards violence when upset, but just as always, his family settled him if only so he could continue to be a part of their lives.
He couldn’t look her in the eye, instead he looked at the small babes nestled against her chest. Slowly he shook his head, an horrified look broke through his normal gruff exterior. His sky blue gaze took on a haunted look, shifting toward a stormy grey in appearance as he thought of what to say next. His lip quivered. “Mother and Father broke tradition and had a litter this year. You know how much mother loved having children, and the joy it brought her.” Surely being a mother herself Takiyok would understand, “Silla and Nuniq were born toward the end of winter.” He looked away from the Sandraudiga brood, and focused on the wall of the den. He had seemingly wandered off on a tangent, randomly spouting of new his sister had missed.
“She killed them Tak. They were only a month old, and she killed them.” Sadiq’s head dropped, he stared at his paws, and tried to make himself seem small. He was distinctly uncomfortable, and obviously sad. Neither term often used to describe the normally strong man.
She could see the anger rise in him at her response, and she froze, waiting for him to calm himself. She wouldn't tolerate his temper in here so close the children. Family or not, she would swiftly kick him out on his ass if he snarled or raised his voice to her in here. His loyalty to their father had always been unwavering, even in the face of his cruel, unfair ruling; Taki hated it, and she knew it would be a source of conflict for them. But he seemed to calm just as quickly, refusing to look at her as he continued to speak. He informed her of her youngest siblings, born earlier in the year even though it was usually not allowed at their parents' age, and she briefly regretted not being able to know them. Despite the longing to know her younger siblings, she couldn't help the flash of irritation at hearing of her parents breaking tradition. Of course her hypocritical father would bend the rules to fit his own needs. But when he continued, she froze again, and anger coursed though her. She killed them?
Taki asked exasperatedly, knowing exactly who he was talking about without even needing to hear her name. Why?
She couldn't help but imagine her own children in that situation; they were almost the same age now. The thought of someone hurting them was almost too much to think about, and her stomach churned at the intensity of her emotions. She just couldn't believe Shila had murdered her own family. She could tell Sadiq was rattled by the ordeal; who wouldn't be? And she wanted to comfort him, but something told her he wouldn't welcome it. Unwanted, thoughts of Sia came to mind; he had always seemed more comfortable with her affection, but Sadiq always only seemed to tolerate it for her benefit. So now, when he was already radiating discomfort, she felt like giving him some space would be best. Plus, she knew the awful story wasn't over yet.
slight pp hope its ok, I can edit.
Blue eyes remained fixed on the adjacent wall, his jaw clenched furiously and he felt a tremor as his muscles constricted. Silent rage simmering just beneath his suddenly chilly exterior. “Because she’s a selfish bitch—” The words came louder than he had anticipated, and he cliped the sentence realizing he might wake/frighten the children. He looked over to check if they were alright, and then slowly glanced to Takiyok. “Sorry. Are they alright?” He wouldn’t dare more than a whisper, and his ears slicked back, obviously upset with his outburst.
With the affirmation Sadiq continued in a quieter tone. “She took over, when father died. Claiming her [i]right, she said.”[/i] With a deep eye roll, and a twitch of his tail Sadiq was still agitated. “Mother didn’t care, you know her, she not much a leader. I didn’t like it, but she’s our sister. What was I supposed to do?” The brute hissed, the thought of taking over himself had never crossed his mind. Not seeing himself as a leader, it had been engrained in him that he would always remain a follower. And as the dutiful son he was, that was where he stayed. One step behind everyone else. Covering their six.
“Mother left to grab something to eat, leaving Silla and Nuniq with Shila. I came back early from a patrol, and found her… Standing there above them. She said only she had the right to breed, that our mother had broken pack law. A shiver ran along his spin, and his stricken gaze looked down at the babes. Taking a step closer, wary of Takiyok, he simply checked their well-being for himself. Although he had only known them for a few moments, he was already deeply attached. The whole family knew what family meant to Sadiq, he was often the babysitter to the youngest within the pack. His stern exterior crumbling away in the presence of children.
The ordeal had shaken Sadiq to his very core, his family was the most important thing to him. And since Shivali had left, nothing had been the same. The moment his family split was the moment his own heart had broken. “It’s all my fault Tak.” And there in lied the similarity between brothers, the words so reminiscent of his eldest brother.
Her ears flattened at his outburst, and she glanced down at the children, but they had fallen asleep in their customary pile, none them even stirring at the sudden volume in his voice. There was a rebuke in her gaze as she looked back to her brother. They're fine,
she said. She was starting to wonder if maybe this should wait until later when she knew Mahler or Stigmata would come by, and she could slip away for a little bit.
But then he was speaking again, this time careful to keep his voice down despite the inflammatory topic, and she decided she would give him another chance. She listened with quiet anger as he finished explaining what their sister had done. She wasn't surprised that their mother had done nothing; she was weak. Taki, again, wished she had been home when this happened; she would have put Shila in her place, and none of this would have happened. She didn't blame Sadiq, though; he always was more of a follower, although she was pretty sure it was because their father had destroyed his spirit. That was her theory, anyway.
His last words tightened her chest painfully. For a few moments, she thought she was talking to Sia, and she couldn't bear to look at him. Her gaze fell to the sleeping pups for a few seconds. But he was not Sia, and this was not his fault. She sought his gaze again, only speaking once she had it. No, Sadiq,
she started. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine; I should have been there to stop her.
It was the first time she regretted leaving their home. But, she wouldn't have her children if she hadn't left, and she had been free of her father's suffocating presence, so it was hard to regret it enough to consider returning.
Is that why you left?
She asked quietly. Because you think it's your fault?
He purposefully ignored the blame she claimed upon herself. Sadiq wasn’t in the mood to argue, and he knew his opinion on the matter of her leaving would end in an argument. The hotheaded Yakone’s had legendary fights, all family knew to stay out of way when one of the siblings was in a mood.
“No, that’s not why I left. I know how to deal with my own problems.” Sadiq huffed, turning his head away. Finally his truth had made it’s way into conversation, the reason he had ventured so far from his beloved north. “I didn’t have a choice, the pack ran me out.” It hurt to say, the words catching in his throat. He let the words hang for a moment, before nodding his head slowly. With a sigh he felt his exhaustion creeping in, with defeat he slumped his shoulders.
He had lived and breathed for Aningan, his whole being had been utterly devoted to the north and their father. Sadiq had never dreamed for anything more than that, than to live his life on the tundra surrounded by his family. Shila had stripped his entire life away, and left him to rot in the south.
Her eyebrows raised at his indignant words; his tone irritated her, igniting her temper a little. She was about to say something not very constructive, falling into their old sibling patterns, but his next words stopped her. What?
She replied angrily. Why would they do that?
She tried to come up with a good reason, but she could think of none; he had always been loyal to the pack, staying even when she and the other siblings had left to escape their father's suffocating rule. She felt like she could rip them all to pieces right now but, lucky for them, she was much too far away and a little busy with motherhood at the moment.
Exactly. Why would they do that… “She made them do it. Convinced them it was me who’d kill those babes. How could they think that Tak.” A bit of his soul peeled away the brokenness exposed to the dim lighting of the den. Just there hovering under the surface. The way and only a sibling pair might come to understand. Silently he prayed she could see the anguish clinging to his brethren’s furs.
The lost man seeking to find some validation that he was still loyal and the man he was always supposed to be. The shame at leaving home, even if the alternative was a much darker fate than simply living. A tear hovered at the corner of his eye; the only world he had ever known ripped out from underneath his paws. Dropping his gaze to the suckling kids at Tak’s side. He would never be so heinous. “How could they thing I would do that?” The pause he broke came from a stone cold unwavering tone that surrely he was asking a general query, but the ice that was held in his eyes fractured. “I didn’t really want to die, and so I fled, leaving the ice. I’m sure I would find one of you somewhere along the way.” When in reality there was no guarantee. And perhaps he had wished that he hadn’t wandered into someone elses adventure. How could he really be sure, unless he tried. His affirmation made, I will become my own person.
His hurt over the situation emanated from him, making her anger grow exponentially. This was ridiculous; how could they all have been so dumb and easily led astray? That's what happens when the leader is a tyrannical asshole: you're left with a pack that can't think for themselves. And without their father there to keep Shila in check, she had taken advantage of the situation and become the terror they all knew she could be. She huffed angrily. Fuck them,
she said bluntly. They don't deserve your loyalty.
Her expression turned cold and murderous. Besides, Shila won't get away with this.
Sia was probably already there now, and he would fix things. She would be angry with him for a long time, but she knew he wouldn't let the pack implode from stupidity.
Then, her expression softened some as an idea suddenly came to her. Sia returned there just before you came here, and I'm sure he'll fix things,
she started. You could return and reclaim your place there.
Truthfully, she didn't want him to leave, but she knew this was tearing him apart, and she wouldn't selfishly ask him to stay if he had a chance to return and resume his life.
Shameless GoT quotes ahead!
He was surprised to hear that she had indeed found Siarut, as that had been her goal upon leaving their natal pack. He was glad that she hadn’t been completely alone, despit the lingering anger he harboured for them both. “You found him? I’m glad to know you haven’t been alone this whole time.”
Go back? Shaking his head, that wasn’t an option. To stand beside family who had turned there back to him. No, he had worked so hard to be the wolf everyone needed and they had thrown him away at the slightest suggestion. “Sia can deal with them on his own, it’s partially his fault anyway. The state of things that is. I won’t go back. Leave you on your own? No. I’m not going anywhere.
Meeting her fiery gaze, he offered a small smile. This was his duty now, her and the latest generation of Ateneq’s. Even if they didn’t carry his name, they carried his blood.
She rolled her eyes and huffed a little. Well, I wouldn't exactly say that,
she said, expression darkening. We ran a pack together, and then he disappeared, leaving me to deal with things when a blizzard destroyed everything,
she continued, swallowing back the anger and hurt that always accompanied thoughts of the glacier. I saw him before he left, but we didn't really end things on good terms.
Her gaze fell back to her children as she sought to pull herself from the dark place that she always fell into when she though about Sia.
His last words, although probably meant to reassure her, had her flattening her ears. How is it Sia's fault?
Taki asked. He wasn't even there.
Despite her anger with her older brother, she wouldn't sit here and let Sadiq try to blame him for something that wasn't his fault.
An inkling of their life was revealed, and Sadiq couldn’t say he was surprised. Their family tended to stick together, if there were enough of them around, he had no doubt they would try and stake a claim. He was sad to hear of mother nature stealing what they had built, but that was the way of the world sometimes.
What did surprise him, was the falling out she mentioned. Takiyok and Siarut not getting along, was like saying there was never snow in winter. They were as thick as thieves, the very epitome of brotherly sisterly expression. What the hell had happened.
This apparent discord didn’t stop her from reacting to his judgment of their old brother. It wasn’t that he hated the guy, quite the opposite, he wished that he could be him. Hoped that he could have grown up with a fraction of the pride and attention their father had showered upon him. The eldest son, the once and future king, blah blah blah.
Rolling his eyes, not concerned by his sisters anger. “Come on Takiyok, you know father wanted Sia to take over once he was gone. And then he just up and left. Tomkin always does stupid shit, he gets himself in trouble and then mother forgives him and all is right. There was no reason to leave.” Sadiq didn’t mention that their father had killed the pups, his grandchildren. It was only right. Only the supreme pair could breed. Swallowing thickly at his line of thought, flashes of his youngest siblings drowning in their own blood, Shila was the supreme ruler now.
“If he had stay, if you had stayed. Everything could have been so different.” There was an unknown sadness that settled in his voice, the last year had been torturous for the young man who could never live up to his fathers expectations. He could never be the right child. He was never the one anyone wanted. His mother called for Tomkin, or Tahani. And their father was to stubborn to miss Takiyok and Siarut.
She knew all of what he was saying was true, but he just didn't get it. You don't understand what it was like--the pressure...the constant criticism when you failed do something exactly right. There was never any room for mistakes in his eyes.
She shook her head, gaze still trained on the four now sleeping pups. I did everything he ever asked, and it still wasn't enough; the one time I went against his word, he cast me aside like a rotting carcass.
She knew Sia didn't hate their father like she did, but he had seen the error in his dictatorial ruling. You can't expect to keep the loyalty of even your own family if you treat them like they're expendable.
Maybe it was a mistake to leave, but there was just no way I could stay there under his rule for a second longer. He lost my respect and loyalty, and there was no way he would ever gain it back.
She rarely offered second chances; Sia was the only one who had ever received one from her, and look where that got her.
sorry for the crappy phone post!
Unlike his two older siblings his loyalty remained with their father. If he were still among the living Sadiq would be there right alongside him, just as he had been since the eldest litters and half of his had left. His blood boiled at the words his sister threw at him. A scowl settling on his lips, and his scrunching.
Had it not been for the pups, he would have kept into action. Demanding an apology, demanding she take back he words.
Show some goddamn respect! Echoed in his thoughts. Clenching his jaw, he shook his head.
“I don’t care what you thought of our father.” It was easier to lie than speak his true thought, no matter the bitter taste it left on his lips.
“But no matter what, your choice to leave, you derailed everyone’s lives. It was selfish.” And I doubt I’ll ever forgive you for it. He couldn’t voice his last thought, at least not now. Not so close to boiling over.
They had abandoned everyone. Not just walked out on their father. What did they think would happen? Did they even care about what happened to everyone else who was stuck with him as a leader. He had been furious when four of his adult children up and left within days of each other. The fury was like an untameable storm, lashing out at any who dared cross its path. Shaking his head Sadiq glances at the pups once more, before heading out of the den. He couldn’t take it anymore, feeling as though the walls were closing in.
You shush
Their father would continue to be a sore subject for them--a constant source of negativity tainting their relationship. But, they were both stubborn, and she knew neither would see the other's side of things. His words hurt. A lot. But, there was no way she'd give him the satisfaction of knowing that. She only lifted her lip a little, a faint snarl leaving her mouth. Anymore of a reaction might wake the pups, and she didn't want to do that.
He turned left, and she said nothing else, glad to not have to be around him right now when she was so angry and memories of Sia and her father were feeding into the feeling. She would just silently fume and let the issue fester until she could push it from her mind.