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+--- Thread: Heron Lake Plateau restore me, restore life the way it should be. (/showthread.php?tid=31224)
restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Artaax - December 08, 2018
Not sure where the Niamh x Artaax thread is going so Ima be super vague :D
Artaax had taken his time approaching the Redhawks. He'd lingered in the surrounding territories, hunting and thinking and watching and waiting. The confrontation with Bat had brought too much emotion out of him. He had been so angry and so hurt, which had made him even angrier. The fact that his sister had spat in his face and betrayed Drageda was one thing, but there was a far greater threat to his emotions than that waiting on the borders of the Plateau. He had not been ready to face that yet. Not when his emotions were trying to convince him of the worst - that Wildfire had turned natrona and dragged his siblings down with her. He needed time for his logical mind to reassure him that his mother would never do that to his family. She would never do that to him. Only then could he control himself enough to face her. Only now was he ready.
The white lion strode confidently towards the Plateau while the dawn's light was just beginning to fade into day. Snow was falling again in lazy swirls that drifted around his muscled frame. He stopped a good distance away, not wanting to offend by being too near when he knew very well he was likely to offend them by reclaiming three of their members (he still had no idea who Sequoia was, so she had become nonexistant in his mind). His heart was pounding in the minutes he stood, just staring at the distant pack lands. It didn't seem to want to stop, so, he just tilted back his head and let out a low howl, calling for the Redhawks to attend him.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Quixote - December 08, 2018
The longer she was gone, the more his respect for her dropped. It would be one thing if she had come back in the first day or so, sheepish about basically going off the deep end and given him a clearer story of what happened, but she was just.. Gone. Quixote had been left with no answers and not much in the way to find them, which made the whole scene seem particularly off. Towhee seemed to have taken it that both Niamh and Colt had gone on some quest for vengeance but again, the longer Niamh was gone, the more Quixote became certain that wasn't the case. He'd let Towhee believe whatever she wanted, because he wasn't in the mood to try and convince her otherwise. Certainly if they were hunting down the Blackfeather wolf, they should have given them more information so troops could be rallied, right? Checked back in and said the direction she was heading so that others could assist at the very least. And why was Colt gone? So you what, Niamh?
At the very least, prowling along the borders gave him something to do while irritation boiled. He could do so without anyone bugging him and thus keep from spilling it onto someone who actually didn't deserve it. His thoughts about his own position got shifted to the backburner. When the howl came, Quixote turned towards it -- it wasn't like anyone else was in the position to deal with official business... Towhee couldn't hear it, Niamh was off on some distant planet or something... Not to mention he wasn't all that far.
So, it didn't take long for Quixote to show up on the scene. It was unlikely that they'd seriously crossed paths back during the war, just given Quixote's own behavior at the time, so if there would have been even a flicker of familiarity there, it would have long since been snuffed out in the inky leader's memory. And he might not be making the best of impressions now -- combine his dour mood with his already-terrible conversational skills and you got an one word answer in response to the summons,
Yes?It didn't smell like this dude was part of a pack, but generally howls for membership carried a bit more information. Whatever. He wasn't going to fuss, just do whatever business was needed then back to walking along, stuck in his own brain.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Artaax - December 08, 2018
It didn't take long for his call to be answered. The male that approached struck Artaax as familiar, likely one of those who had been around for the war, though not one the feisripa had ever really known. He definitely didn't know the man's name, and it didn't appear that he recognized Artaax either. So, he dismissed the recognition and went ahead as though they were complete strangers, which was how it nearly felt anyway.
"I want my m--" Artaax started, then stopped abruptly. Had he seriously almost opened this conversation by saying "I want my mom?" What was he, a toddler? He swallowed and then started again. "I need to speak with my mother, Wildfire. I've come to take her and my sisters home."
He meant no challenge by it, a fact that he portrayed with both tone and posture. Part of his time alone had been spent reassuring himself that this was actually what his mother wanted. She had left the Cliffs in search of Bat and now that she'd found her, she was simply waiting here for an escort back to Drageda. Well, here he was.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Quixote - December 08, 2018
Even with him cutting short the especially childish line, what he ended up saying still sounded like a pup talking in Quixote's eyes. He uttered one of those stifled single-laugh bemused noises if that even makes sense. He was here to fetch his mother? Really? There was probably no great way to phrase it but still... Quixote was somewhat bemused by this, but it wasn't enough to shift his mood too far,
Well, she may or may not be on the way from your howl, but you're more than welcome to try to call for the lot of them directly. But if they'd rather stay with family here, that's pretty much that.Wildfire had seemed pretty happy to hang out with Raven and the rest of her relatives here, but who knew. Maybe she had second thoughts.
It was definitely against Quixote's core beliefs to force anyone to do what they didn't want to when it came something as significant as where they spent their life -- forcing the issue was more likely to breed hatred than anything. Sure, maybe a young pup might escape that, but not a grown woman and her near-adult brood. Though if Wildfire was gonna show up and tell him off for chasing after her, maybe that might be amusing to watch. And what did that make this dude in relation to him anyway? His nephew or something? Sounded right-ish.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Artaax - December 08, 2018
It took the Redhawk's alpha mere seconds to prove that he was just as naive and foolish as Artaax expected of him to be. He felt his annoyance rising, but tempered it with a settling breath. These common wolves had no sense of loyalty, or of consequences. They went about their lives so recklessly, so selfishly. It was sickening. Still, Artaax remained perfectly calm even as the thoughts went through his mind. He remained nuetral in his posture and simplly nodded his head.
"She's coming," he replied confidently. She'd been waiting for this. He knew it. And even if that was not the case, she owed it to them to show her face. She owed Drageda. She owed her family. She owed her son. His stomach gave a sickening clench, but he buried the feeling with all the rest of his emotions. Now was not the time.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Quixote - December 08, 2018
Wow, confident bugger, wasn't he? Not only so sure that Wildfire was going to bother to show up, but he also didn't seem to bat an eye at the thought that they might not want to cooperate. Must be nice to be young and foolish, because there was a certain amount of pre-tantrum in those words.
Either way, he could see this blowing up pretty well if the kid didn't get his way, so Qui wasn't just gonna leave him here when he got whatever bad news. He plopped himself down on his hindquarters with a 'you may eventually regret your decision but I'm not stopping you' sort of,
Okaaay.He'd keep an eye out for anyone else showing up, but he'd definitely find it hilarious if none of them bothered to show up. That would be amazing. If he could text, he'd tell Wildfire to wait just to irk this dude.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Wildfire - December 08, 2018
When Wildfire heard the familiar voice at the borders, she felt a queer blend of affection and trepidation sweep through her. She knew her son and loved him dearly. Because of that, she also knew this wasn't going to go well. Nonetheless, she knew she needed to try to talk to him. First, however, Wildfire went searching for her girls. When she couldn't immediately locate them—and she knew time was of the essence here—Wildfire howled for Bat, @Kiwi and @Sequoia to find @Raven and stick close to her. Whether or not they heard or obeyed, she couldn't know.
She pointed her petite red toes north, arriving to find Quixote facing off with Artaax. She appreciated her brother-in-law's presence because, as much as Wildfire didn't want to believe it, she sensed her son might pose a real threat. She trotted up to stand beside the swarthy Alpha male, her expression unsure as her chestnut eyes fell on her eldest living child and she practically breathed his name: "Artaax."
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Artaax - December 08, 2018
Good lord this dude was smug as fuck. Artaax felt annoyance rippling along his spine again, but he soothed it with the facts (as he knew them). It was pretty apparent to him that this guy thought Wildfire and her daughters would be staying with him amongst the Redhawks, regardless of whatever Artaax had to say to them. As though Artaax were some petulant scorned lover and not Wildfire's firstborn son. Which I'm not sure he is. As if this were some simple matter of Wildfire following her dreams and living happily ever after without leaving abandoned, damaged children in her wake.
The feisripa held his tongue, though, and just allowed silence to fall between them. Artaax was not unaccustomed to silence. He often found that far more comfortable than exchanging words uselessly. He turned his gaze away from the black wolf and allowed his mind to wander to other things. Prettier things. Blonder things... But his fantasies stopped abruptly as he heard footsteps and he turned just in time to hear his name uttered by a painfully familiar voice.
Wildfire said nothing further, yet when Artaax looked at her he felt his conviction falter completely. He knew, instantly, she didn't want to come home. She didn't need to say it. There was anxiety in the way she looked upon him when he had convinced himself there would be only gratitude. Nothing of the latter was there, and that recognition dripped into his heart like ice into his veins. Quixote was forgotten as he regarded his mother, hurt welling already in him. But he lifted his chin a little higher and steeled his determination. He would bring her home still. She might not want to go, but she would once he convinced her.
"Mom..." he said, his voice soft and deep as always, "I've come to bring you home."
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Kiwi RIP - December 09, 2018
One thing was abundantly clear about Kiwi - she was not great about following directions. Not when the directions she had in mind were so clearly opposite those others gave.
So when Wildfire told her to find Raven, she knew something was up, and Kiwi would be damned if she wasn't gonna find out what it was. She could help, she would help, and she wasn't gonna hide. Hiding was Bat's thing, not hers.
Sister salt was also a good motivator for stupidity.
She showed up not long after Wildfire, silently, just watching. Her eyes lit up when she saw her brother; Artaax was a favorite of hers along with Blixen, as both had always been around when she wanted a lesson. Had he come to stay with them too? It didn't seem like it, but she was happy to see him, no matter the circumstances.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Quixote - December 09, 2018
If nothing nuts happens and I take too long (aka during work or something), feel free to skip, but will try to post!
Drat, Wildfire did show up. Oh well. So much for that entertainment, but there was still whatever came next. He dipped his head politely to her as she came up beside him, but then turned his attention back to his.. Nephew or whatever. Artaax. That guy. He didn't even notice Kiwi showing up on the scene -- unless the player is misunderstanding where she stopped and she actually halted near her mother in which case he saw her but still focused his attention on Artaax.
Quixote was still expecting this all to go bad when Wildfire inevitably turned him down. Really, even if he'd been some third party off in a different pack, he still would have believed that those who trekked what seemed like halfway across the planet to go to a different place were probably pretty set on not going home again. Sure, there might be exceptions, but when you added on how happy the two sisters seemed to be when they were catching up, it was beyond unlikely in this case.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Wildfire - December 09, 2018
Wildfire loved her son unconditionally and she wished she could go to him, wrap him in her arms, yet she checked herself. She couldn't be sure how such a display of affection might even be received at this point. And she couldn't forget that he'd threatened his little sister, her younger child. It made her heart sink as she regarded his face, saw the conflict in her own eyes reflected in his. It broke a little when he determinedly insisted he was here to bring her home. How she wished the "or else..." wasn't implied.
"Artaax..." she said again, voice barely more than a whisper. She chose her next words carefully, aware they may anger him even more than they hurt him. "I've chosen to l—" But her thoughtfully spoken soliloquy cut off abruptly when Kiwi appeared. She wanted to think Artaax wouldn't actually hurt his younger siblings, yet her maternal instincts ratcheted up nonetheless. She motioned the watchful girl closer, then scanned the area behind her, looking for any sign of Bat or Sequoia. There were none.
Wildfire did her best to coax Kiwi to stand between herself and Quixote as she resumed facing Artaax. She took a deep breath to calm her pounding heart and attempted to pick up where she'd left off. "I've chosen to live here now. I know that upsets you. I'm sorry. But I've made my choice. And there's no going back." She paused, biting her lip. "Blixen, Silkie and Tux remain in Drageda." One day, Heda would rejoin them too, a day Wildfire would never see, which was for the best. But she knew how Artaax felt about Thuringwethil. Her blood didn't run in his veins like Wildfire's did but he was Drakru through and through. "You should go to them. But we won't be going with you."
She knew she shouldn't speak on her daughters' and niece's behalf necessarily, especially with Kiwi right next to her, but Wildfire couldn't help herself in the end. They were nearly adults, hence why she'd respected their choices, as well as their brothers', about where they wanted to live. She dearly hoped Kiwi would stay here, yet she knew there was a possibility she would change her mind, especially with the tension the mother sensed between her daughters. The possibility frightened her badly, as despite whatever Artaax thought, Wildfire knew there was danger in showing up at Drageda again. She was sure she'd be killed outright as a natrona... but perhaps they might forgive the younger generation.
Trying her hardest not to cry now, Wildfire's chestnut gaze turned sideways to see if Kiwi would concur and what else she might have to say on the matter.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Artaax - December 09, 2018
Kiwi's arrival was a momentary distraction for which Artaax was grateful. He was perfectly aware that he did not want Wildfire to finish that sentence. But relief turned quickly to hurt again as he silently watched his mother attempt to position Kiwi away from him and towards Quixote, as though he was a threat to his own sister.
Stinging, he focused again on Wildfire as she began to explain. He felt blood pounding in his ears, trying to drown out the foolish words. He felt a stab of anger at her reassurance that the remainder of his family was still at Drageda, as though he might be questioning that fact. The idea that they'd leave was absurd. The idea that Wildfire had left and taken Kiwi with her was absurd. His logical mind raged against how colossally stupid this whole thing was, and he soon found himself shaking his head to dismiss the nonsense.
"You can't stay," Artaax said in reply, "You know the consequences. How can you even consider it?" He looked again at Kiwi, feeling sick over a thought he shoved down deep where it wouldn't distract him. He focused his mismatched eyes on Wildfire determinedly. It was delusional, perhaps, for him to believe that if he could just get them all back to Drageda with him, then he could make this right and keep them safe. His mother was not natrona. And she had not doomed his little sisters to a traitor's fate with her.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Kiwi RIP - December 09, 2018
Her mom saw her, and Kiwi straightened, preparing to defend her right to not leave. But Wildfire didn't yell at her for disobeying. Instead, she beckoned for her to get between her and Qui. Kiwi did.... somewhat. Unlike her mother, she had no fear of Artaax. She hadn't heard his threats, and he was her big brother. Her mind couldn't even begin to comprehend that he might pose a threat.
She did frown as they argued, following but not really understanding. Kiwi's idea of kru had always primarily encompassed Nomi, her mother, and their siblings. The rest of the pack weren't near as important, but the way Artaax was speaking, it was as if he felt they'd betrayed them. How could they have? Family was family, and with Heda gone, that meant mom was next up in orders. Really, Tux and Silkie had betrayed them by not coming with, just like Bat had by leaving. As far as Kiwi could tell, she and mom were the only non trainers left (though mom was on thin ice with her, forgiving Bat like she had).
"Nomi is gone." Kiwi said, stepping forward and lifting her (considerably shorter) head high. "But we can build a new kru. You should stay.". She still didn't quite understand that she was no longer of Drageda. In her mind, moving to a new pack didn't change who she was. She was Heda's daughter, and she would lead one day. And if Nomi had decided to replace her, and she couldn't take her place, then she would just need to find her own. Big dreams for a small wolf, but she was convinced none could do it better.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Quixote - December 09, 2018
Artaax's response mad Quixote a little wary, but he did his part to not show it. How far would he go to prove they couldn't stay? Well, he'd be ready to defend their choice if it was needed. Hopefully not. Hopefully Artaax would act like the adult he was and just accept things as fact and move on. Better to be prepared for the worst scenario, though... Just in case.
But so far, no trouble. He had no idea what the heck Kiwi said, but her posture seemed to suggest she was gonna stick with mom. Just what he needed, though, another freaking language he wouldn't really understand. Wasn't ptero enough? Hopefully it wasn't something that all of them were going to be expected to learn... Anyway, he was just gonna sit around and wait, they didn't really need his snarky commentary at this point, but if they wanted to hear it later, he could totally provide.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Wildfire - December 10, 2018
"You know the consequences," Artaax bit out. Wildfire seemed to consider this a moment before replying, "The consequences are that my own family, my children, consider me a traitor. Some might even want my life for it. But they won't get it." Her eyes flashed momentarily, though it was with mostly sadness that she regarded her son. "I never subscribed to that belief, myself." And it hurt her deeply that he should think such threatening thoughts in the direction of his own mother and siblings, though she understood: she'd raised him in that culture, watched him develop almost a worshipful relationship with the commander.
Kiwi took her mother by surprise, albeit not in the way for which she had prepared herself. Kiwi pointed out nomi's absence and Wildfire felt a flare of indignation at the words. Why could Thuringwethil leave without consequence? Why was some other pack's war somehow more important than her own family? Of course, she didn't voice this question, nor say anything. That was just the way of Heda and all those "-gedas." That was part of why she'd had to leave in the end. She blinked loudly when Kiwi flipped the demand on Artaax. She had to bite back a mirthless laugh. If only Kiwi knew how absurd he would find that notion. Or would he...?
No, Wildfire didn't dare hope. But she looked to Artaax, wondering what he'd say to both of them, oblivious to the fact that Kiwi had spoken in a tongue that their guardian—Wildfire was still quite grateful for Quixote's continued presence—couldn't understand.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Artaax - December 10, 2018
Artaax fought hard to keep his composure as he gazed at Wildfire, expecting her to falter under recognition of what he was alluding to. He knew his mother had not been born of Drageda, but she knew their laws just as well as any kru. She knew that to defect was to forfeit her own life, and yet here she was, remaining defiant, and leading his young siblings down the same foolish path. Instead, though, she eloquently showed that she knew exactly what would happen, and his heart sank deeper with every word.
The feisripa stared thoughtfully at his mother until he turned his attention to Kiwi as she interjected with more nonsense. He looked at her incredulously, each suggestion more absurd than the last. "Heda will return," was all he said in reply to her, matching her tongue. He wouldn't waste his breath on her other suggestion - that he stay and they build a new kru here. With common wolves who didn't know the first thing about what it was to be drakru. As though there was any reason whatsoever for a new kru when Drageda was still perfectly in tact, minus a few fools who'd lost their damn minds.
He fell quiet again then, thoughtful, and pained as he did his best to pull his composure over him. Many thoughts were running almost chaotically through his head, but when he eventually found his voice, it was steady. "Why?" Artaax asked softly, his mismatched eyes returning to Wildfire, "Why would you choose this over us? She'll condemn you all to death. Why would you rather die than stay with us?" With me?
This time, he couldn't help it. His voice cracked with emotion as hurt and fear waxed in his heart. It angered him to feel such things, but in that moment, he couldn't grab hold of that anger and use it to bury the other feelings as he so often did. Artaax felt like a child again, shaking and scared as he looked at a baby fox while Thuringwethil stood over him and commanded him to kill. He stared anxiously, his eyes pleading, at his mother, begging her wordlessly not to condemn him to that again. It wouldn't be a fox kit this time. It would be her. How could she make him face that?
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Kiwi RIP - December 10, 2018
Kiwi watched her big brother, sure he'd agree. How could he not? It didn't occur to her that he had been in Drageda much longer than she; he didn't see their former packmates the same way she had, as lesser kru. To him, they were Drageda. So it came as a complete surprise when he refused.
His insistence that Nomi would come back struck a chord, but it immediately turned surly. Yeah, she might. And then she could find out what it felt like to be left behind. It was a vindictive thought, but it suited her, and she found she liked it.
But then he began with the threats, and Kiwi took another few steps, (stupidly) staring her brother in the face in an outraged show of bravado. She definitely wouldn't be able to back it up, but that had never bothered her before.
They can try,she said, the thrill of the challenge now set in her eyes. No matter that it was her family he was talking about coming after them. She was taken with the image of it - She and Wildfire and Sequoia, fugitives, fighting and defeating wolves who came after them with ease. Because it would be. She'd protect them, no matter what.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Quixote - December 10, 2018
Quixote felt the need to cut in here. This was his pack, and if he didn't say a thing, it felt like it'd be letting Drageda just run over them metaphorically,
Nobody here in my family's gonna die of anything but old age, if I have any say. If that's typical of what they've left, can't blame them for leaving. It's archaic, and I don't think I know a word to express just how stupid it is. It breeds hatred for no reason -- those that leave get to hate you for trying to drag them back or trying to kill them, those left behind get all bent out of shape over their former packmates daring to find some place to be happy.
He could keep going, but doubted his words would have any real effect. It was like trying to explain to Owen that something wasn't dangerous.
We're already worlds away. Just leave them be.And if Kiwi's actions caused Artaax to do anything drastic, then Quixote wasn't expecting it. She was a kid being a kid, and if he attacked his younger sister over whatever brainwashing had happened to him, then Drageda was just a total loss.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Wildfire - December 10, 2018
He didn't even seem to entertain Kiwi's suggestion, much less dignify it with a reply. Wildfire shook her head, feeling sorry for her daughter, even if the fiery little girl would shortly prove she didn't need her mother's pity. She sucked in a sharp breath when Kiwi moved toward Artaax, quickly pressing closer and doing her best to insert herself between the two by swinging perpendicularly. It exposed her whole flank to her son's teeth, should he choose to attack, but better her hide than Kiwi's.
Artaax wanted to know why and despite the mounting precariousness of the situation, Wildfire found it a fair and reasonable question, one she wanted to answer. "I didn't choose anything over you. I don't see things the way you do," Wildfire said more shrilly than she would've liked, desperate to make Artaax understand even if she knew it was a futile effort. "My love for you, Artaax, it's unconditional. It isn't dependent on your staying with me or with Drageda. I'd love you no matter what, no matter what you do or where you go. I'd love for you to stay with me here but I know you'd never want that." He'd just proved her point by ignoring Kiwi altogether. "I could never hate you for your choice and I wish you wouldn't hate me for mine, which I made because I wasn't happy in Drageda or with your nomi anymore. I'm sorry."
But following that apology came another flash of her eyes. Although it didn't make her love him any less, Wildfire grew weary (and wary) of Artaax's death threats, especially with Kiwi present. After Quixote spoke his piece—for which she sent him silent gratitude, though his use of the word "stupid" made her flinch—Wildfire added, "Nomi may very well condemn us as natrona but she has no power here." He would probably find that hard to believe, maybe even impossible to accept, but Wildfire needed to say it for his sake and his sister's. "Nobody will be dying." Her blackened tail gave a decided flick and she tried to maintain a stoic expression as she said, "I love you, Artaax. So much." She exhaled, her face crumpling despite her efforts. "Go home."
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Artaax - December 10, 2018
In the end, that was what did the trick. It wasn't Wildfire's words, or Kiwi's defiance, or whatever hippie bullshit the common wolf was blathering on about. It was Wildfire stepping forward to place herself between him and Kiwi that triggered the break.
Artaax felt anger swell around him like a safety blanket, shielding him away from the heartbreak of betrayal and the anxiety of his fear. He shut his eyes and breathed it in, allowing it to steady him so that when he let his mismatched irises out to see the world again, he could see it without the pollution of pain clouding the view. He could look on with cold, clear nothingness, with that low burn of rage to keep him safe and warm.
Anger was far more comfortable than hurt.
He ignored Quixote completely. Dude was a coward who didn't know the first thing about family or loyalty if he was going to stand there and defend Wildfire's right to abandon her children and her mate. He ignored Kiwi as well. She had proven herself to be a complete waste of his time and effort, and he would be giving her no more of either. Coldly, he looked at Wildfire.
"You do not command Dragedakru, natrona," Artaax replied in that deathly soft, deep voice he had always used with strangers, never with his family. "All those months we searched for you. All we lost to fight for you and bring you home, and you turn your back on us. You are nothing. I am ashamed to be your son."
The feisripa turned away then, trying hard to believe his own sentiment and to make it true - that Wildfire was nothing to him. It didn't totally worked, for he paused after only a moment and looked back. "Don't stay here. Go where I can't find you," he urged, his eyes flickering briefly to Quixote before he turned again and continued away.
In spite of what he'd said, he wasn't sure how heda would react to all of this. He knew it was their way, but still... It was Wildfire. As much as Artaax wanted to doubt though, some part of him remembered that fox kit, and he knew he was being childish. Still, in spite of what his mother had done and how terribly she'd wounded him, when nomi's little soldier stood before her with this news, Artaax wanted desperately to be wrong about where Wildfire and his little sisters could be found.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Kiwi RIP - December 10, 2018
Natrona. For the first time, Kiwi shrank back a bit as Artaax's took on an eerie coldness, one she had never heard before, and certainly one she hadn't expected to. What had been a game only moments before took on a real edge, and for the first time, she realized just what this meant. Artaax wasn't looking at them as a brother, but as a wolf he didn't know, and her ears pinned back as the fur along her spine rose. He didn't get to look at her like that. None of them did.
She was no traitor. They didn't get to decide what she did, or threaten her for doing what she wanted.
She didn't know where the sudden anger came from, and it's abruptness frightened her a bit. She wanted to push past Wildfire, but was instead frozen in place, watching him leave with indignant fury written plainly on her features.
Fine. She didn't need him, or any of them. She'd learn, she'd be stronger, and if he came back, she'd be ready to prove just how much she could do without his help.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Quixote - December 10, 2018
As Artaax started to leave, Quixote got to his feet. So. That was less eventful than he'd been expecting, even if he didn't understand some of what had been said. Oh, but he totally had to make a parting shot like some little kid.
Take your threats with you. That's really not a road you want to walk down.If only Quixote could read Artaax's thoughts... He was definitely no hippie, he was that quiet dude in the fantasy tavern that suddenly kicks the snot out of the really annoying guy because, well, he's annoying, then goes back to his corner and tries to melt into the woodwork again. Nobody was allowed to mess with his pack and family over something so dumb. It just wasn't going to happen as long as he was around. Hell, if they had to teach the whole pack to fight an expert level, then fine, but if Artaax thought that whoever Drageda might send would have a nice easy time having their pointless vengeance over a comparatively minor (in the grand scheme of things) slight, then they were gonna find out otherwise.
RE: restore me, restore life the way it should be. - Wildfire - December 11, 2018
Wildfire closed her eyes against Artaax's final jabs, as if it would somehow shield her from the pain. It didn't work, of course. She understood his anger, his hurt and his sense of betrayal. She had expected this to go very poorly. Even still, hearing him denounce her and then imply he would be back to kill her—them—was devastating. She didn't know how she managed not to cry, though when her eyes slowly opened a moment later, she saw him retreating. I hope I never see you again, she thought, dimly registering the angry words Quixote shouted at her son's back. There was no malice in the thought, simply despair.
She didn't quite know what to do with herself now that he had gone. She stood rooted to the spot, staring at the space he'd occupied just moments ago, almost dizzy with grief and also fear. By the time she snapped out of it, Kiwi had gone. Wildfire started, then saw that Quixote was still nearby. She didn't know him well but Wildfire felt immense gratitude toward her sister's mate, who'd gone to bat for them despite hardly knowing them in return.
"Thank you, Quixote. I'd like to speak to you about what just happened. Rave too. But first, I need to find Kiwi and her sister. Sequoia too. I need to..." She threw him one last apologetic and grateful look before darting off after her daughter's scent.
Let me know if you need me to change the PP, Starr! :)