Tempest was angry at herself. For changing, just because of Mikeal and her father. She wouldn't let them shape her life. As she gazed into the cold waters of the almost frozen pool, these thoughts and more bombarded her, and she hated it. She was changed, not truly Tempest anymore, and it was all because of them. She had let Mikeal in, and he had betrayed her.
She drew a paw angrily across the water, distorting her reflection. As the ripples settled, she threw back her elegant head and called for
@Copper. She would apologize, she had treated him like shit at the meeting, and it wasn't fair to him. He had no doing in her past, and didn't deserve to be treated as such. So she promised herself that she would try to become friends with him, make it up if she could.
As the haunting but beautiful howl faded from the air, a light drizzle fell from the heavens, and Tempest quickly moved to the shelter of an overhang. She hated getting wet.
Copper heard his name being called from across the horizon. It wasn't a distress call, but something different. He bounded across the paths him, and his packmates had been using, for about one moon* now. He was still having mixed emotions, it just being a bit after his big breakdown. But he was feeling back to normal already. He walked onto the scene, his golden eyes glinting in the lightning.
Copper shook his pelt clean of the dirt, and water. He didn't really care about getting wet, but he-..
"You. Copper looked, and saw the pitiful sight of the grey wolf, Tempest, he believed he believed it was. He had to stop himself from chuckling. The tables had turned. He was the power now. And she was the idiot who knew nothing. She was the bottom dog. But Copper wasn't one to hold grudges. Grudges were real slutty looking on Gods such as he.
Tempest gazed at him with piercing eyes, wanting to hate him for the cold greeting. But she couldn't, because he had every reason to be mad with her. "Look, Copper, you probably think I'm a bitch, and I won't blame you." Blunt, and to the point. "I was mad, angry, and I took it out on you. It wasn't your fault, you had nothing to do with it. So, I'm sorry for being an idiot."
Her gaze turned pleading for a brief second. She wanted, no needed for him to forgive her. But she quickly adopted her neutral face again, waiting for his answer.
Copper stared back into the eyes of the wolf, a quick glint of apology flashing through her blue eyes. He had learned something from his time with Raissa. Everyone needs a little love.
Copper sat down, his eyes almost seeming to dull down to a deep oakwood brown, different from his usual caramel eye tone.
"It's okay. I'm not mad at you. It's- He liked that this wolf knew she was in the wrong. The old him would've said something about him being a king, but.. It wasn't him anymore.
Copper resumed talking, with a crooked, but somehow more bittersweet grin spreading across one side of his face. It's just, I'm in some deep stuff. Copper wasn't a king anymore. He was more of.. A prime minister.. A president.. He was no longer a cold dictator who ruled with an iron fist.
Tempest offered a grin, but it slowly faded. "Yes, I know what you mean. I've been in some very deep stuff before I came here" Her expression turned somber for a moment, and she gestured to the spiraling scare on her shoulder. "This is from 'deep stuff" she said bitterly.
She stood, shrugging her shoulder. "I'm really not in the mood for deep stuff right now. Will you hunt with me?" The misty fae wasn't that hungry, but it would be a good idea to stock the caches.
Copper looked at the nasty cut on the wolfess' shoulder, and groaned, with a bit of sympathy.
"Mmm." As for the hunt.. sure!" Copper jumped up, lifting his hind quarters up, in an invitation of play.
The old him wouldn't have done that.. But he was different now. And different is good. Somehow, the humiliation he went through before might've been worth it.
Tempest have a small smile. This wolf wasn't so bad. "There are a bunch of rabbits around here. I think we should try for one of them" she gestured at a pair of rabbit prints in the wet snow, fresh. She asked Copper to follow her, and at a swift lope begun to follow the tracks.
Copper picked himself up, and followed the wolf. He was confused by one thing. Did she hear about his breakdown? It was odd she had been so upfront about apologizing, he had some suspicion. He trusted Raissa had kept her maw shut, but that didn't mean people were nearby when it happened.
Copper was reminded of the time he met Bindi. She had walked in par with him, tripping him, when he barely did anything. Resentful little copper was still holding a massive grudge. hopefully, time would heal that wound.
With Copper at her heels, Tempest scanned the area as she looped through the rocky wooded area. The rich aroma of rabbit made her pause suddenly, and look back at Copper excitedly. Cautiously, she peered forward, seeing 2 rabbits in a small clearing directly in front of them.
"I have an idea. I'll circle around, and on my mark we'll both go for them. They'll probably be startled, and shocked into immobility. You go for the dark brown one, I'll go for the lighter one." She gave him a small smile before she spun on her heel and circled around the two rabbits. She locked gazes with him, making sure he was ready.
Copper moved into position, glaring over at Tempest to verify she was ready. She looked set. But, he remembered, he was waiting for her mark. He looked at the brown rabbit. It looked juicy fresh. It was a chubby one. With the urgency to fill the caches, he had not eaten in about 3 days.
This brought the Russet wolf back to the last time he had eaten. Just the thought of any meat, Rabbit being one of his favorite, made him salivate. A crooked grin sprung from one side of his mouth. 'Food glorious food..' was all Copper heard. He wanted to just pounce on that juicy rabbit.
Tempest glanced with concern at the male, saliva dripping from his maw and a crocked smile on his face. If one thing was certain, it was that this male was hungry. Very.
She dipped her muzzle quickly and pounced, flying across the distance between her and her prey. Claws and teeth quickly found her target, sinking into it's flesh. The pitiful creature gave a final scream before fading from life, the other took off...straight toward Copper. She didn't notice however, for she was to busy with her own catch, the echoes of a final scream of death still fresh in her ears. "Take that, bitches" she murmured happily.
Copper launched himself at the creature, and with one final snap of his teeth, broke the small prey's neck. He then, dropped it on the ground, and began ravenously eating. Finally, he could have something besides the shitty frozen food in the caches.
When he was done, he dragged what was left of his kill over to Tempest. Which wasn't much.. he had eaten almost all of it. The two packmates could regroup now. As a plus, he was feeling a lot better now.
Tempest was hungry, but dragged her prey into a cache. She ate only the remains of Copper's carcass before sinking to her stomach. She looked up at him from where she lay, and let out a satisfied sigh. "That went well" she said happily. The rain had ceased, and the sun begun to peak out over the horizon. Perfect.