Etienne lurked near the edges stayed far away from Anselm. He maneuveredcthrough Paleo new berry bushes in his maw. These ones not urine soaked or ruined.
He hummed his sea shanty under his breath. Though it was muffled and hard to hear through the bushes. But he had already found a nice little spot to plant his herbs and the like so they were all in one place. There was even small shells and bark to steep chamomile or mint.
Taking some small liberties with Wylla knowing that something is up with Anselm and Etienne, but not precisely what.
@Anselm let me know if this assumption is an issue!
It was not lost on Wylla that since the newest yearling's arrival, one of her sons had grown more temptestuous. While she approved of her children growing more fierce, for it meant better protection for the hollow and their newborn pup, she did not at all appreciate tension being sown by outsiders. When she crossed Etienne's scent trail on a trip to stretch her legs, Wylla changed direction, meaning to get to the bottom of it all.
It was with shrewd, disapproving eyes that she approached the yearling from the coast. She knew almost nothing about him except for the glimpse she had caught of him with Tierra. She knew nothing of his aspirations or what he had thus far done for Paleo, but having ever been a wolf to play favourites, none of that mattered to Wylla. All that mattered to her was that since Etienne's arrival, Anselm had been on edge. That was enough for her to jump to conclusions.
Explain to me why there has been nothing but tension in my pack since you came here,
she said in a clipped tone, the end edging on a growl that warned against any tomfoolery on the boy's part.
Etienne had done nothing to garner the irritation and cruelty that the young man of Paleo gave to him. None. Yes they had not had a first meeting, but Anselm was cruel.
Etienne blinked when he was all but accosted and he quickly turned his gaze away and shifted into a more deferent postion.
He lay his bush down so he could speak.
I don't know. We 'ave not gotten along. I try and stay away from 'im. I 'unt for plants and 'erbs fir garden.
A more reasonable wolf would sense the shades of distress in Etienne's response. A more charitable wolf would seek to reassure the boy, see his side of things, maybe even consider the possibility that her child was not infallible.
Wylla was not a reasonable or charitable wolf.
I was not born yesterday,
she hissed, unsatisfied with the way Etienne dodged her question and claimed innocence. Others have come to join our pack and not caused tension the way you have. It comes from somewhere.
There were other factors to Anselm's recent surliness, not least of all his hormones, but Wylla was not aware of those. She attributed all of it to Etienne by virtue of timing alone.
Before Etienne: Anselm was a sweet, well-mannered yearling. After Etienne: Anselm was a gathering thunderhead. It was not hard to spot the source.
Try again,
she demanded.
Etienne’s eyes went wide and then he realized no wonder her son was a brat. She was too. How a wolf like Mahler could ever care.
He realized quickly that he was on thin ice here and he had no idea why. He had done nothing as far as he knew to deserve the devil boys surliness or his mothers cruelty. He had only wanted to get away for pain and sadness, but these wolves were a new kind of pain.
Etienne spoke this time. His voice clear. I don't need to try again. It is the trut' i don't know. Maybe talk to 'im. Not me
He had nothing else to say there was nothing else to say. It was the truth. He had no answer for why he and Anselm didn't get along they just didn't.
We jes don't get along.
She didn't listen to reason demanded that he change his ways for her child. That he make it right or leave. It stole his breath away, but why should he expect anything else? Anselm was selfish so why shouldn't his mother be.
He narrowed his eyes gave a swift nod and removed himself from the conversation. He had much to think about. Mainly whether or not he wished to stay.