Wolf RPG

the wolves of epoch appear, to rusalka, to be rather withdrawn. he would even go so far as to say that they were, perhaps weary of their new home. in many and more ways, rusalka can understand this; drawing off how he would feel if the situation were reversed.

and he seeks to rectify it. or at the very least, speak personally with each of their adult newcomers to try to discern what their potential concerns were and how he and solveig could go about making them feel at home here.

it is not entirely dissimilar to how he chooses to approach granite, when they kind of-sort of adopted the lostboy.

with no particular newcomer in mind, rusalka simply sets off, seeking a path and following it.

Reyson was not man of many conversations. And truth be told he preferred silence to chatter. However, he also knew in order to properly show his children how to assimilate, he would need to as well.

So with a small wariness deep inside he treaded towards the borders. He'd been given a title of warrior and he wore it as he had worn all his mantles humbly prideful.

He scratched along the borders, tufts of fur and long claw marks in the soft dirt. Occasionally leaving water where he felt like it. Blue eyes taking in everything with quick even glances.

rusalka's path takes him to the borders, specifically to reyson. the man was hard to miss and harder to forget; covered in gruesome scars as he was.

rusalka offers a low chuff of greeting, slowing his pace in case the other man was not up for company nor conversation.

reyson, right? rusalka inquires, asking it out of politeness in case he was wrong. he feels confident he did not mis-indentify the man but still.

how are you settling into ravensthorpe?

Reyson had always tried to stay in the background. But at first his sheer size had set him apart. Now his scars. So he had learned to be front and center while still be diminutive, and yet not.

A form nod. Yes. Rusalka right? he turned his eyes away in deference tovthe mans rank and place.

Reyson weighed his words. You have all beenvery welcoming. Change doesn't settle well with me. So it will take time, but thus far i think good things.

that's right, replies rusalka. it's a pleasure to have you and yours join ravensthorpe. and he means it; though it might not've appeared as it, both packs ultimately benefited from the merger. epoch joining forces with them officially ensured survival and on a much more selfish level, ensured that his children and future children had a safe and steady home to grow up in.

understood, rusalka murmurs with empathy, offering a soft nod of his head. he couldn't entirely sympathize: he was fairly adaptable, but then again that was easy for him to say in this situation. nothing really changed for him. but ultimately, as long as his wife and children were happy and safe he didn't care where he stood on the totem pole or where they called home.

if there's anything we can do to help you feel more at home here, don't hesitate to let me or solveig know.

So he had the name right. Good to know even though he was aging. His memory and attention to detail still stayed intact. He worried sometimes that his episodes caused issues, but he'd been okay. As long as he got adequate rest and wasn't stressed. He even had hope they'd stay away.

Reyson had been a commander for years anx his adaptability on the battlefield was an entirely different beast. But when it came to his own rigidity it was harder.

Reyson gave a small smile and shook his head. Not really. It's something I must overcome. It shouldn't take me long. After all I've done it before. But is there anything you need from me?

a sage nod is given, understanding that it something reyson must come to terms with on his own, in his own time. this, rusalka can understand, at least.

take all the time you need, rusalka encourages. it's a big change. though not too big that it couldn't be overcome, rusalka hopes, and reyson does not appear to think it will take him long, as he says as much.

a small inhale is taken, indicative to rusalka considering, before he lets it out in a soft exhale, left ear swiveling for a moment. not at the moment, rusalka answers, thinking back to the original conversation with tamar before the merger: and that he still thought it was a good idea to include an ex-epoch wolf ( or pair of wolves ) into leadership. but he would not make that decision without solveig.

we appreciate your dedication to your craft and the time you've been spending on the borders. this has not gone unnoticed by rusalka, who frequently patrolled them himself. though he now bore the rank of king he was not the sort of man made to sit idly on a throne. he was a man of action, desiring to be in the thick of it — and that included visiting his people, getting to know them; which was true of both the raventhorpe monarchs.

if ... you don't mind me asking, are you and your wife planning on more children this year? a small pause and then rusalka adds quickly, it's great if you are! i'm just trying to strategize how much i should be filling the caches. rusalka adds sheepishly, thinking it would be nice to have a plethora of young ones running around the plateau.

Reyson did not set out to be set in his ways. And there had been a time in his youth. When he balked against such things, but cat o rushes, sharper teeth and claws had worked that right out if him.

Reyson offered a small glimmer of a smile. I have been a soldier for many years. It is ingrained.

Reyson laughed then. And shook his head. I am unsure. If the cursings I received while they were born is anything to go by, no.

His smiled turned softer as did his eyes. The love for his mate the firefront of his gaze. I jest, but i truly do not know. Meadow will make that choice not i. It is she that has to go through it and have to feel the pain. It is her body.

a soft grin, that only a fellow husband can give, is offered to the scarred man. rusalka does not recall solveig cursing at him, nor upon his name as she gave birth to their children ... but then again, it hadn't been her first experience with childbirth; and even if she had rusalka would've forgotten the moment he laid eyes upon her and his newborn children.

the sea king contemplates reyson's words, that it was strictly meadow's choice ... and find that he disagrees with it. yes, women put in ninety-nine percent of the work of the whole pregnancy and resulting child-birth process but rusalka wonders what strain could be placed upon a relationship where the woman doesn't want to children or to have to go through the ordeal but the man does.

at the least, rusalka thought a conversation should happen but it wasn't his business or his place to give voice to his personal opinions.

understood. is what he offers instead. are your skills strictly in the soldering realm? or do you have interest in any other trades? rusalka asks, diverting the attention and his curiosity back.

Meadow had been most upset about the size of their children. Though they had been small as pups are. They were larger than most. Thanks to their father's genes. And he knew it had hurt. And he had felt bad for it.

Should I tell Meadow when we speak about it, that it is allowed or is it only reserved for you and yours?

he hadn't meant that his wife and he wouldn't talk about it. They would, but it was Meadow who would make the final decision, simple.

Reyson sighed. I am a man of many skills. But I was forced into soldiering since I was 4 months old. So it is what I know more than anything else. I do like hunt though. And I enjoy fishing. I also love to do anything physical. Mountain climbing, swimming, running. and I tend to have a calmer head than most anyone. Again thanks to my soldiering.

i doubt my wife would say no to other mated pairs, rusalka speaks this with enough confidence to pass his judgement on the matter. though he did not wish to be giving any false information when it came to the breeding rights of subordinates than solveig, he is confident enough in his words in the here and now. at any rate, he was willing to vouch for reyson and his wife.

that is awful young, rusalka comments, deep voice treading a soft path as it passes thru his lips; frowning. four months? he'd thought kraken to be a cruel father but perhaps he'd gotten off light ...

all good and valued skills. it would be nice to have another on the borders, especially as he was likely going to get prickly and protest-y at the idea of solveig tending to them in coming months.

Reyson nodded his head. Though If it comes down to it. We would give our spot to Arsenio and Tamar, probably if they should decide to have. I think. But Meadow consistently surprises me too. A soft sound at her name. The love he felt for his gentle healer, evident in every way he spoke of her.

Reyson gave a bitter smile. It was. He did not share that the commander had killed his parents to insure that he was at the front lines at 4 months. That felt like something you didn't just share and he had never really other than with Maxim and Meadow.

A smile then, as he shifted and cut a line through the dart. Thank you. I like to think so. Would you like to join me?

rusalka is not as close to tamar as solveig is, and assumes that there are just some things shared between women that husbands do not know of; but he is not so sure that arsenio and tamar would be having children this year. then again, life has a way of surprising him. it was a kind gesture on reyson's part but unnecessary either way.

and sometimes, things happen. rusalka speaks, thinking of how his and solveig's paths had crossed almost a year ( or maybe it was a year ) ago and how his life had drastically altered because of it; but he would do it all over again. he wouldn't change a thing.

sure. rusalka accepts the invitation, rubbing his shoulder against the nearest tree, the rough bark snagging on and stealing bits of loose fur.