Scimitar paced the creek edge, his eyes drifting to the frigid looking waters. His breath furled in to the cool air, knowing the brisk dusk would only become colder. The sun nestled itself at the edge of the Sunspire, slowly spiralling down to tuck itself in for the night. Pink and orange highlighted sparse bits of purple and navy across the sky, and had it been any other time, the Alpha might have taken the quiet moment to reflect upon its beauty.
But his mind was upon Paarthurnax. The life that stirred in her belly could not be a secret for long, and while he had trailed her path after she had first crossed the borders to see if any had followed her, he could not keep his concerns tucked in for long. He had hoped to wait for his outriders' return from the Glacier, but.. How long could he wait for?
Lifting his muzzle to the sky, the cinnamon Frostfur called for two of the creek's members -- one, his counsellor of sorts, Galileo, and the other, a warrior he felt he could trust. Of course, others were within the ranks of the Creek that he could trust.. But for now, he wanted the opinion of these two.
As his howl died down, the male waited, a chuff escaping him. They needed to be proactive in this situation, he felt.. Not just reactive.
The slow shift of the weather was enough to put the older adult into a sad funk. For some reason Winter had always managed to steal more than just his warmth, it was occurent during this season for the male to move slower and fall into deep thought more often. It was not always bad, but it wasn't pleasant the majority of times.
Before the Alpha's call, Galileo had been laying still on his den's floor. Motionless and silent, he made himself wonder if that was was dying felt like. The coldness of the floor seeping into his bones could've been mistaken by the feeling of a soul slipping from a body -- or at least that was what he had thought.
Leaving the doldrums aside, the peppered male lifted his head off the ground as his the sound of his name reached his ears. He got up as promtly as he could and began his exhausted trot to meet the young man's demands.
Alone, when Dovev was left to his own devices, it was quite a sight. The soft grass the spread under the aspens and pines were coated in fallen leaves and needles, creating a heady crunch sound with each step. The brute paced through the cold air, his eyes almost closed as he lifted his face to the berating, strong wind that was rife with chills. He was loving the dropping temperatures, and soon snow would come. Dovev's stomach was clenched with anticipation- he couldn't wait when his fur merged into the landscape, with only two, ice-cold eyes to discern him from nature.
The male stopped to lazily roll head-first into the fir needles, yawning as he stretched out on his back and felt the breeze rush over his ribs. Dovev would've been content to drift off into sleep if it were not for the call that floated eerily in the silent dusk atmosphere. He remained still, ears perked, before the howl died off. Rising to his paws, the warrior picked his way out of the small glen and onto the river plains that cradled the creek.
He could see Galileo ahead as Dovev pursued him at a jaunty pace, his white banner swinging high into the air. Curious as to what Scim needed, the tundra beast stopped alongside the council member and lifted his eyes to the alpha.
They came, as he had expected – the Creek ranks had nestled itself in to a tightly wound unit with the more problematic members gone – Shadow and Cadfael being the ones that came to the regal’s mind. They did not always get along.. but it was the same bicker one would have with a family member, and it eased the male to know he had subordinates he could not only trust, but could call friends.
His own stance stiffened at the high banner Dovev seemed to proclaim with his own posture, his eyes flashing to the male as his muzzle lifted a notch. If he expected any to challenge his authority it was the tundra beast – but, if the male did usurp his current rank, he knew the pack would still be in good paws. “Thank you for coming,” he offered them both, his muzzle giving a small nod as his gaze drifted between the both of them.
“If you haven’t found her yet.. Paarthurnax has returned to the Creek. I’m not sure why she specifically chose to leave Shadow.. albeit the simple fact he’s an asshole.” There was a small pause, for this news was not the one that worried him – “I don’t imagine him to let this happen amicably. Especially given that she is pregnant with his pups.”
A heavy figure draped with by a beautifully patterned coat slunk through the trees and shrubs of the Creek, making its way towards a small clearing where the agouti male that had stepped up to leadership waited patiently. He had not yet noticed he was being followed by a pale male he had not yet the chance of meeting personally, Dovev.
He settled quickly, giving a brief dip of his nose to the male before allowing himself to seat down, using the crunchy autumn leaves as cushion. He then turned his head to awknowledge the other man, repeating the subtle nod and then turning his amber gaze back to Scimitar.
What he thought would be a long speech was narrowly summarized into a few sentences that despite being so forward and concise, still left the peppered male wondering what Scimitar expected them to offer. While he had never met Paarthurnax in the flesh, he had heard of her and her, apparently short-lived affair, with Shadow -- a man Galileo preferred not to comment on.
After all Scimitar did a good job describing him during his speech.
Once he revealed the true reason he was worried, Galileo couldn't hide his discomfort with the situation at hand. He was torn between reason and heart on this one.
While he would've never hesitated to say that the female should be given refuge and kept away from the savage man, he did not speak a word. He knew what it felt to have your descendent ripped away, so it was impossible not to feel a kind of symphaty for Shadow at that time. Yet he knew that if he voiced such thoughts he'd have to explain his reasons.
Would he protect his dignity and morals with a lie, or would he do what was ethically correct?
"I don't know what Shadow is capable of" he barked, giving the brutal man he had been described as the benefit of the doubt, "But I don't believe he would take violent actions against the mother of his children.." he barked again, seeking any change in Scimitar's facial expression.
Dovev solemnly dropped his tail, and with it, the joy of cool air fled. It seemed this meeting was one of serious business, as Scimitar launched straight into business. The male paced slightly as the tawny brute went over whatever list he had compiled in his head.
The tundra brute had met Paarthurnax- and it was undoubtedly a surprise. But if Scimitar knew about it, then it would be less cause for concern. Until Scim mentioned the ties that came with the golden hued female. Immediately Dovev's scruff bristled in appraise. It was true, Shadow was the biggest bastard ever, but even more confronting was the fact that Paar was his mate. Or former; Dovev didn't know the situation that remained around those two's marital status.
But the female had returned to her old pack carrying pups, and what did she expect? What did the pack owe to her when Shadow had caused quite the stir along their borders? It made sense now. Dovev had found her cleaning out a den- preparing for new life. Although the male had been suspicious of her, he now saw a new opportunity to take personal revenge. Perhaps he would try and aid Paar in becoming acquainted with the pack, or helping her with her pups like a good little packmate. He tucked that idea away and turned back to the conversation.
Galileo had his own ideas on the outcome of this situation, and Dovev held his tongue until the silvery male was finished speaking.
He may not take action on Paarthurnax, but I don't think he'd let this uproar slide, the white wolf spoke. If Shadow was truly defensive about his mate, then he might send warriors, or himself, to reclaim Paar and his future children.
He allowed a soft sigh to slip past his lips, his shoulders lifting in a small shrug. The silver Galileo was quick to believe the good in everyone, but Scimitar had witnessed the darkness that tore at Shadow’s heart. How deep it went, even he was not sure.. but he was not willing to risk his pack to find out – and this now included Paarthurnax and her unborn children.
“I don’t know what will come if it,” he replied honestly, his ears flicking in the direction of Dovev’s voice with silent agreement. “But Shadow is a snake, and I don’t expect him to simply let it go.” He allowed a small moment of silence to fall between them, his bright eyes drifting between the two. “I will hold a pack meeting soon – but until then, I want the borders guarded at all times.. Paarthurnax is one of us, and prior to her departure, she would have done anything for this pack.” She had simply fallen victim to the bastard’s false charms. “And if he or another of his pack try to set paw past our borders.. call for someone swiftly, and do not hesitate to show him the power of pack that actually holds comradeship to their hearts, rather than bitterness.”
Bitter nostagia bubbled at underneath the peppered male's skin, pouring from his pores in the same way water trickled from a waterfall. He could not silence the little voice in his brain that told him that despite it all, the man in question should not be ripped from his children in such a cruel manner. He knew that given the circumstances and past crimes Shadow had commited against the Creek it would've been the perfect punishment, it would also end up being a punishment for the children.
Though he was not exactly sure how much had his own son heard of him, or if he had even missed him during his lifetime, Galileo firmly believed that there was no valid reason to tear the relationship between a father and a son. It was sacred.
With a heavy sigh, he turned his attention to Dovev, just in time to grasp his words. "Unfortunately I agree with that" he barked, though he felt like in a way he was sticking up in Shadow's defense, he could not deny that the man was an irrational being that tended to behave erratically when threatened.
His jaw tightened when Scimitar took another say on the subject. He was set to keep the two away from each other, and at all costs. With his final instructions given and the game rules established, Galileo shuffled uncomfortably under his own weight, still not being able to shake away the urge to ask that they didn't have to go through what he did. He wanted to fight, if not for Shadow, for the children in Paarthurnax womb.
"And as they'll be part of us too, then we should do anything for those children -- having a father is essential for them, and I believe it would be a fundamental requirement we must consider if we want peace above all" he stated, a rush of anxiousness filling his lungs.
He was expecting the lull and thoughtfulness behind their conversation. After all, they weren't just looking at Paar's safety, but the well being of the Creek. One wrong move and their world could easily be forced into some sort of bloody skirmish with that Roman. But if war turned out to be a necessary part of survival, then...
Dovev lifted his eyes, narrowed in pursuit of his chasing mind. He admitted he was a fan of strife and fire, for in this case, there was no room for sympathy for Shadow. The golden female had left for a reason, and the silver male had forfeited the right of being a part of his future offspring's life if the mother deemed her former home unsuitable.
The pack can take Shadow's place as providers, the arctic male pointed out in response to Galileo. And he liked the idea of showing Shadow how a pack could truly function like the cohesive unit it was supposed to be.
Galileo seemed to shift uncomfortably, and Dovev seemed thoughtful. Feeling as if they were close to a resolution, the cinnamon male gave a slight nod – though upon Galileo’s suggested, cast the male a blink. He was surprised – but gave a slow nod. He had requested the silver male’s presence for a reason, and that very reason revealed itself now – Scimitar was a fighter. Galileo was a peaceful sort.
Dovev was quick to chime in, and again, the regal nodded. There was a moment of silence as he contemplated how to word his concerns, and he felt his tongue press at the back of his teeth as he considered the current statements. “If Paarthurnax wants Shadow in these children’s lives, I will not deny her that,” he began slowly, his eyes drifting back to Galileo. Sometimes he wondered if the male had the true facts before he insisted on the more peaceful route. “But it will not occur within these borders. She will need to take them outside borders – preferably with an escort or two.”
There was another small pause, his figure tensing. “And I state this for a very simple reason – just last week, a Bypass wolf, or some crazed lunatic who smelled like Shadow came strutting in to our borders, refused to leave, and then attacked both Star and myself. She, unfortunately, took more the brunt of the attack. I don’t know if Shadow put him up to it.. But given his past of harassing Swiftcurrent Creek I don’t put it past him.”
last post?
He didn't expect them to understand his point of view -- and he didn't want them to, because understanding what it felt to have your children ripped from you demanded to have experienced it. And that was a curse Galileo wouldn't even wish upon his own, enemies -- hence why he was acting like Shadow's lawyer.
He kept his lips pressed against one another, though he could not hide the shock from spreding through his features as the pure white male suggested the whole pack whould act as surrogate parents for Paarthurnax children. Suddenly a somber frowm stretched through his face as he was caught up in thought, ignoring that perhaps the reactions brought by his internal conflict would not be well seen by the other two males.
Was that what Adele had done when he left? Had she left the pack to raise his son in his absence? The thought that she may have, tore at the edges of his heart, had she really thought the pack could replace the love of a father?
He clenched his jaws in an attempt to hold back the hurt emotions swelling his chest to slip from his lips in the form of words he could later regret. Scimitar seemed to agree that the liberty of giving the children a father was ought to be awarded to the mother alone, which was ok with Galileo.
Feeling that the problem had been settled, and having accepted Scimitar's reccomendations and orders to keep all Bypass' wolves away, Galileo nodded his head and prepared to leave. He had nothing else to contribute to the conversation -- at least not without turning into a villan in front of the males' mind, so he simply decided to wait until Scimitar dismissed them.
With the pack’s counsellor notified, and one of the pack’s more robust warrior’s, Scimitar’s mind had eased a bit. Galileo seemed distraught, but Scimitar was no mind reader, and so he mistook it simply for the simple fact that the male seemed to abhor violence – the cinnamon wolf could only hope that his peppered companion never truly saw Shadow’s wrath or true side.. and that somehow, he was right in his hopes that the silver male would not take action against the mother of his children.. and the pack that would raise them.
But Shadow was a madman, and in turn, the regal felt his hope drift away to the empty state of reality.
Both seemed content to leave the meeting with their Alpha’s final words, and with a small nod, the Frostfur would graze his nose to the cheek of each in an embrace of comradeship. With little else to say, he turned his own large form, his creamy paws loping toward the pack borders where he would patrol once more.