Wolf RPG

Scarlett had mostly been preoccupied with her children since the three pups from Blackfeather Woods had arrived in Bearclaw Valley. Cicero had not bothered her too much before, during nor after birth, and had mostly stuck to his own: he enjoyed exploring the territory of Bearclaw Valley, as it was so different from the Woods. He enjoyed finding what was in every nook and cranny of it, and being in the comfort of sunshine while he did it, unlike the dark, gloomy Woods. You never knew when you might need such information. Considering Potema and Damien were still very youthful and childish in Cicero's mind, he felt responsible for doing the useful parts of their journey here. First was exploration. Next was friendship.

Cicero held a scrawny squirrel corpse in his mouth as he trotted towards where Scarlett was. He had not seen her since the birth of her children, for he had not wished to bother her. Cicero put the squirrel corpse down and let out a chuffed bark in greeting, hoping that Scarlett was at her den and in the mood to receive company. Cicero had never seen tiny puppies, and he hoped that he would be allowed to see them. If not, he would just drop her the squirrel and be off to explore Bearclaw Valley further.

Arthur walked through the territory, he had woken up by another howl from those wolves. He kinda liked Mrs. Scarlett and Mr. Kove but their howling was super annoying especially when he wanted to nap. Though this howl seemed urgent. The bear had been curious what happened. It seemed to come from the  wolf den. Ever since he last Scarlett she looked like she had eaten too much. Then he remembered that she might have babies. Oh! Babies. He wasn't sure if he liked that or not. The bear's tried to keep his curiosity at bay but he had never seen baby wolves. 

The black bear moved forward towards the den he knew the two white wolves lived. Though when he got there he saw a smaller wolf sitting before the den with a dead squirrel. It was Mr. Randy. Poor soul, but he had been rather annoying at times, and this was how things went. The bear moved in closer but he wasn't sure if he had seen this wolf before. Was he new to the wolf pack? If he was an intruder he wouldn't sit and wait patiently right? His dark eyes looking at the multicolored pup. 

There was no response there, and Cicero wondered if she was asleep. He would understand if he could not see the pups, but Cicero had expected at least for Kove to come and see him, to tell him that he needed to leave. He could offer the squirrel and leave then, or ask Kove about the pups. Cicero was not sure if he was really interested in them, but he was interested in Scarlett -- for she was so light and vibrant, and Cicero wondered how it was that she managed to keep out the darkness so well; she intrigued him -- and if she wanted him to, he could feign to be interested in her children.

Instead of Kove or Scarlett telling him anything, the first that came to sight was a large creature. Cicero had not seen such a creature before, and he watched it with interest to see what it would do. The adolescent remained alert, for he knew that there were other predators in this world, and unlike his siblings, Cicero did not think himself the strongest and best creature in this world. There were forces that could snap him -- and his siblings, for that matter -- like a twig in this world, and he was well aware of that.

Raziel had told them of a bear living among the wolves, and Cicero wondered if this was it. He had not thought to ask what a bear looked like. But he remembered that he had been given a name, and it was the only straw he could clutch onto for now. "Is beast Arthur?" Cicero asked. He wasn't sure if the beast would be able to understand what he said at all, if it spoke the same language as the wolves, but if it did not, then there was nothing to be embarrassed about, for it could never tell another that a wolf had tried to talk to him even though it was impossible.

Arthur wanted just a peek from the squealing things. He was greatly interested in the little wolves. Not as dinner but just to have more general knowledge about the wolves that lived together with him. The bear slowly turned to the wolf, looking almost offended. Correction, he was offended. He rose his lighter colored nose in the air and let out a loud snort of disapproval. "Beast?! BEAST! I am no beast! I am a bear. A black bear," Arthur let out dramatically. He had a knack for being rather theatrical. Did this young man have no education at all? At least his tone didn't sound judging. 

"I am a black bear named Arthur Elroy Scott Linwood," The wild life let out in one mighty breath. How he spoke it soundly almost royally. But a bear politics didn't really have rulers or kings. Arthur's name just sounded very royal thanks to his mother. It was probably she that also learned him his ways. "And you are?," he then decided to show at least a bit of interest in the wolf. He was clearly younger than Miss. Scarlett or Mr. Kove. Luckily the black bear wasn't really into meat, at least this one wasn't. He liked his nuts and berried. His dark eyes fell on the squirrel. "You brought a gift to Miss. Scarlett?," he then realized. "That is very kind of you, Mr. Young-Wolf"

It appeared for a moment as though the wolf would attack, and Cicero readied himself for taking off if he needed to. However, instead of a physical assault came a verbal – and very dramatic one at that – defense to Cicero’s words. While it surprised Cicero, he did not seem phased on the outside. Cicero calmly looked upon the insulted beast and said: ”Cicero never saw a bear before.” He had made an estimated guess, and was still waiting to hear if he was correct or not in his assumptions regarding the beast. Considering he was a bear, though, Cicero guessed this was probably Arthur.

Soon the bear introduced himself as Arthur, proving Cicero’s assumptions to be true. The youth nodded and, when he was asked for his name, answered: ”Cicero.”

The bear then noticed the squirrel at Cicero’s feet. ”Cicero wanted to see the pups, or just bring the gift to Scarlett if it is too soon. But Cicero thinks she might be sleeping.” Cicero would not blame Scarlett if she decided not to let Cicero see the pups yet. He was young, after all, and while not very brash, there was a darkness in him that he did not doubt Scarlett saw.

Arthur fell down on his butt and then looked around with a sigh. He wished to see the little wolves too but it seemed that Miss. Scarlett wasn't ready yet to show them. Arthur looked a bit surprised when Cicero talked about himself in the third person. But the male wouldn't comment on it. Maybe there was something with him mentally and then he would be terribly rude to answer. "You haven't? Oh well not all bears are as civilized as me," the black bear spoke full of confidence. 

"Nice to meet you, Young Cicero," he spoke in return. He looked at the small entrance of the den. He couldn't really get in there, but that would not very polite to do. "I think she is. Or maybe she doesn't want to see her babies yet. I heard her cries they sounded painful. Maybe she is still recovering," Arthur tried to make up excuses for the female. Maybe she didn't want to have visitors, or a bear visitor. His large black body then turned more to the young pup. "Are you new to the wolf gang?"

Civilised... If there were uncivilised, they should have gotten along fine with Damien and Potema, Cicero thought to himself. While he thought himself dark, Cicero did not consider himself uncivilised. He was still trying to grasp how the wolf psyche worked, exactly, but Cicero understood the importance of civilisation, if not only for his own selfish goals. It was easier to twist a knife into someone's back if they were your friend, or at least thought you gallant. Cicero was not sure if he would ever be able to go for the chivalry award, considering many wolves seemed to think of him as unnerving -- at least, that is what Cicero judged from their reactions to him -- but he understood the necessity of civilisation and respect where his siblings did not.

The bear was indeed friendly, and Cicero noted that not all bears were, lest he run up and greet every bear he'd meet along the way from now on. Looking at Arthur's claws and teeth, and the size of him, Cicero imagined that he should be well able to rip someone apart quite easily.

Cicero knew only a thing or two about birth, but he imagined it had to be painful. He was quite glad he would never have to go through that himself. Only after Arthur finished speaking did Cicero open his mouth again to reply. "No. Cicero is from Blackfeather Woods. Kove once lived with us." Cicero looked around before once more turning to Arthur and saying: "Cicero does not belong in a light and friendly place like this." He did not say it with a sadness in his voice. Cicero had accepted what he was and what he might do in the future. It was just where fate had guided him. He had no choice but to accept fate for what it was; to deny his nature would only cause more pain than to accept it.

Arthur sat down across from the younger wolf not sure what was going on in his mind. Arthur was interested in this young Cicero. There was something about him. Arthur had no great philosophies to think about. He was just a bear. He slept, eat and slept and eat again. Sometimes he had a conversation with the wolves in this valley. Even though they woke him up quite a bit with their howls they did make great company and the carcasses they left scented good. He wasn't really a meat eater but if there was a carcass he wouldn't mind picking a few pieces from it. 

"Mr. Kove lived with you? Oh nice to know. It was probably before he met Miss. Scarlett right? They spoke about wanting to live together here," Arthur cited them from when he met the couple months ago. Instantly the bear got more interested when the young wolf spoke about not belonging here. "Why would you say that? I think you would fit here perfectly! Care to elaborate?," he asked, liking how he could talk to this wolf and get to see things from a wolf perspective. 

"Yes," Cicero confirmed to the beast when he asked if it was before Kove met Scarlett. Cicero had good memories of playing with Kove when he was young, although the memories were fuzzy. Now, Cicero was not so sure he really knew Kove at all. The Bearclaw Valley version of Kove, anyway.

Arthur asked why Cicero thought he would not fit in. Cicero did not care for the beast's opinion, although a smile played at the frays of his lips for a moment while he considered his answer. "Blackfeather Woods is dark, and so are its wolves. Cicero is from Blackfeather Woods." There was a darkness in Cicero's soul. He did not feel particularly happy with this darkness, nor unhappy. It was just something that was a part of him, and he accepted it.

Arthur let the other topic side since this was a far more interesting topic the young wolf just presented to him. The bear glanced at the other who didn't seem dark. He seemed mannered for a young wolf and Arthur liked that. The young wolf also seemed to think instead of just wanting to do weird wolf things. "I cannot agree with that from what I've seen until now. The squirrel for Miss. Scarlett. You are politely talking back to me, having a conversation. I don't see that as you being dark? Even though you are born in a dark pack doesn't mean that you have to be dark as well?"

Arthur still found these packs weird. Why would you live together? But the wolves seemed to be find with it, happy even. Arthur was far more content with being by himself. Only in mating season he might search out company. He didn't do it always, since other males would be around and Arthur wasn't much of a fighter. 

The bear tried to show Cicero that he was not as dark as he thought, but Cicero knew better. He shook his head. It did not really matter -- he did not want to sit here and argue with a bear, in all truth -- and he ended the conversation by saying: "It is clear that Arthur does not know what is inside Cicero's head." He did not sound hurt or like he thought Arthur was dumb. If anything, it was kind of endearing that the bear thought so well of him, even though Cicero knew that there was more than met the eye. For starters, his incestuous interests, even though Cicero did not care for the opinion of the rest of the world. Still, it was one more piece of evidence that he was not normal in the eyes of the many.

Arthur looked at Cicero and then nodded, getting the social cue of the conversation that has ended. The bear got to his four feet. He probably wouldn't see the young today anyways. "Then I wish you a very good day, Young Sir Cicero," he returned, bidding the pup goodbye. Besides, it was more than time enough to have a nap, he was awake for more than three hours now, if not more. That had to be illegal. The bear waddled away from the wolf den. He would go see Miss. Scarlett later. 

Arthur Exits.

The bear understood that their conversation was coming to an end, and Cicero commended it for its social skills in silent approval. "Have a good day, Arthur-bear," Cicero said when the bear started to lumber away.

Cicero looked at the squirrel at his feet. He got to his feet, picked up the squirrel, and lay it close to the entrance to Scarlett's den. She would find it there, surely. Then Cicero trotted off to explore the Valley some more.