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+--- Thread: Arrow Lake melusine (/showthread.php?tid=33981)
melusine - Stigmata - April 17, 2019
"@Takiyok?" his voice came softly - careful not to wake her should she presently be lost in slumber. morning had come and gone quietly, but a hooded gloom still lingered over arrow lake, and it seemed rather dark out for high noon. at his feet the hunter had placed a rabbit, a gesture that in itself seemed common, though it was abnormal for him to pause at this hour. he patrolled her densite, almost religiously, but typically he would not seek entry until nightfall - when all bodies had settled and he could rest comfortably beside the new mother and their brood.
he was immensely proud, and had made a great effort so far not to bring politics into his realm of fatherhood, but stigmata found that he could not truly enjoy his own burgeoning family with the threat of others looming on the horizon. and with mahler's particular biases, the only other wolf he could think to turn to was the mother of his children. he stood wearily at her denmouth, his spirit as dour as the skies, and he peered along the shadowlit walls, looking for a sign of her brilliant eyes.
RE: melusine - Takiyok - April 18, 2019
A pile of fat puppies was wedged between her two front legs, spilling out over both snowy limbs as the four of them slept. Her head was settled on the ground near them, ears twitching at the slightest sound from outside. Packmates often deposited kills near the den opening, and so she was never too concerned to hear approaching footsteps, especially since everyone seemed to respect her privacy. The general's scent wafted inside the den like it did often throughout the day, but her head raised when she heard him stop at the entrance and call her name. Her eyes found his, and she held his gaze for a few silent seconds before her soft chuff invited him inside. She was curious what brought him here before nightfall, and since feeding four very hungry mouths required a lot from her, the smell of food caught her interest as well. Not that she ever minded his company; she liked the evenings they shared as parents, and although she loved being a mother and the precious time she spent with the children, it was also nice to talk to someone who could talk back.
RE: melusine - Stigmata - April 26, 2019
for the barest of seconds after speaking her name, stigmata regretted the decision to come here. his thoughts fled wildly to thorn, who he would have preferred to confide in, but whose eerie absence over the night left him glowering and annoyed. a feeling that would evolve rapidly from plaintive dread to imperishable grief over the next day or so. yet through the turmoil of his emotions, takiyok's eyes cut to him in the gloom of the den, and he forgot all that troubled him in that instant.
she, the mother of his youngest children, was flourishing. she looked everlastingly tired and all the more beautiful because of it. he couldn't help the swell of pride in his chest as he looked at her, and then at their combined creations, before descending almost eagerly to her side with his gift in tow. depositing the hare at her paws, stigmata circled the round-bellied brood with a investigative sniff, and then came to sit at her opposite shoulder so that he had to gaze over her to glimpse the children.
he was quiet a moment - admiring this time and place for what it was, then reveling in it - before at last speaking. "i promised you a legacy in these mountains," he murmured, scouring her face for a reaction; "but i am starting to realize that i cannot uphold it. not when so many of diaspora think we should take on more allies, even ones we cannot definitively control." and as always, he got straight to the point.
RE: melusine - Takiyok - April 26, 2019
She watched him enter and set the hare at her feet before inspecting their still-sleeping children, eyes searching his body language and finding tension despite his obvious contentment to be here with their family. She knew the father of her children well enough by now to know when worry hovered beneath the surface of his stoic facade. Concern kept her from tearing into the meal right away and instead, she studied him thoughtfully as he came to sit at her shoulder. He didn't wait long to spill the source of his anxiety, something for which she was grateful, and she listened quietly as he divulged some of the pack politics she had obviously missed while confined to the den, caring for their young children. For a second, she felt mildly irritated that neither he nor Mahler had filled her in on this obvious source of conflict; she was still the same Taki, even if she was now also a mother. But ultimately, she understood they meant well, and it wasn't exactly like she had asked about pack business at any point either.
She silently considered his words at first, trying to decide how she felt about the situation. Obviously, her first instinct was to be stubborn; she didn't particularly care that the rest of Diaspora thought collecting allies was more appealing than ruling over the mountains without exception. Had that not been the very principle the pack was founded on? His promise for which she offered her closely-guarded loyalty? Still, she could understand his dilemma; she had lead a pack once, and she understood the need to respect the wishes of the majority. But part of being a leader was making tough decisions, even when it went against what everybody else thought was best. Is that not what separates the leaders from everyone else? They are intelligent enough to see what others cannot and tenacious enough to act on it even in the face of contention. It was not always a very fun position to be in and of course, you had to be wise enough to know when to push and when to yield. You couldn't exactly earn the respect of a pack if you discounted their opinions at every turn.
What potential allies are we considering?she asked first, wanting to be well-informed before forming a complete opinion. He had come to her for a reason, and she wanted to be sure she offered her support while also helping him to better weigh all the options here. A war with another pack might cost them more than just some of their members; there were children to protect now, most importantly her own future warriors. But the four lives currently sleeping at her chest were also what made her hesitate to just accept the path of least resistance. They deserved the entirety of the mountains and more, and it was hard for her to see past her unyielding, motherly need to give everything to provide them with what they deserved.
RE: melusine - Stigmata - May 03, 2019
unfortunately for this conversation, stigmata and takiyok would probably be too like-minded on this particular subject to make any progress towards compromise. every single thought that occurred to her had once crossed his mind or was racing through it now. he had chosen this region and dedicated himself to controlling it because he knew it was possible - doubters be damned.
but it would not be possible with nonbelievers in their ranks. he could not hold his claim or enforce any decree if not all of the wolves behind him did not believe in what they stood for. half of diaspora was too new to feel any real loyalty towards them, and the others could not face an entire other pack on their own. "i do not know what they call themselves, but they are led by a wolf called liri - a friend of ruenna, who has left us for her cause. she intends to settle in the vale, even after discovering we had claimed this region." he tried not to color his words with emotion, but it was more than clear that he thought of their choice as some sort of spit in the face. it was clear they did not respect diaspora.
"they offered to be allies," as if to abate me, he thought bitterly; "and most of our comrades are under the impression that we should accept their offer in order to bolster our own strength." but it wasn't the same was it? accepting the olive branch from a foreign body would pale in comparison to alliances formed by amassing or raising their own wolves to branch off to into those territories. how could the rest of them not see that? why was everyone so hellbent on doing things that were easiest and not necessarily the things that were right?
RE: melusine - Takiyok - May 07, 2019
She couldn't hide the contempt in her expression when he mentioned Ruenna and that she had left to be at Liri's side, the feeling growing when he explained that they intended to claim the vale. She found it hard not to demand war just on that slight alone; not only had one of their own betrayed them for another, but now they wanted part of the mountains for their own? Maybe she would have felt less anger over the whole thing had Ruenna not been one of their own; she knew of Diaspora's plans, and yet she thought she could help another wolf take what was theirs and offer an alliance as a compromise?
Taki released a frustrated sigh, although she found it hard to be frustrated with him. It sounded like he had no support in his desire to push for claim over the vale.
And Mahler? Does he feel the same as everyone else?she asked. He seemed just as dedicated to Diaspora as they did; surely he was on the same page as the general.
As for everyone else, we can't exactly go to war with another pack without their support,she said, lost in thought and unknowingly mirroring his own thoughts.
But, maybe our packmates could be persuaded?she offered.
If we let Liri's pack settle in the vale, then what is stopping other packs from claiming other areas of our mountains?she continued.
In the mean time, I don't think an alliance is a good idea, though.Taki met his gaze, her own fierce as she spoke.
That just tells them that we're okay with what they're doing.She just couldn't see herself being allied with them, not after Ruenna had betrayed them in such a way. Just because they weren't going after the would be pack at this time, didn't mean they had to accept an alliance with them. There was still time to rectify this hopefully.
RE: melusine - Stigmata - May 11, 2019
"mahler is..." stigmata paused, struggling to find an inoffensive description for his compromised kapitan. "soft to them. because of ruenna." this hurt to admit, if only because it had been his own doing that had brought ruenna here. he was capable of overlooking their past relationship, but mahler was more sentimental than that. he did not possess stigmata's imperial mien, either, though this was probably what made him an ideal second - to combat the ironstar's most base reaction to situations such as this.
a violent hand would have been dealt long ago if not for his kill-brother, and despite feeling disturbed by the act of being tempered by anyone, he also felt grateful that he had not been able to do anything rash. he was old enough to see that, at least. "regarding a treaty, i agree with you." those that sought to undermine diaspora's authority could never be considered allies, and letting them stand would only enforce the idea that diaspora was not strong enough to back its claim.
but though they may not have had the numbers to hold these mountains, they had more than enough cunning to overcome them. with a bit of time. "i do not believe any amount of talking will sway our alliance-enthusiasts to take up our cause, and forcing a war may put us in more danger than we can sustain at this time. we are the ones with young, after all." the vale had no such restrictions, and could fight with impunity if necessary.
"i am inclined to harass and pick them off one by one until they retreat elsewhere, but without thorn, i fear i am without any willing participants on that front," he added somberly, looking to takiyok for her advice.
RE: melusine - Takiyok - May 13, 2019
Jealousy burned deep in her chest at the mention of Mahler and his softness towards Ruenna, but it was just as quickly distinguished; she had no claim over him, nor had she admitted to him or anyone how she actually felt about the Kapitän. Her confusing situation aside, she found it difficult not to be slightly angry with Mahler for losing sight of Diaspora's mission and showing such leniency towards someone who was nothing less than a traitor.
That is unfortunate,Taki said, her displeasure with Stigmata's answer evident.
This all will be much more difficult without his support.And if the tensions between the two packs increased and led to war, whose side would Mahler be on then? If Sia had taught her anything, it was that even those most loyal to you let you down sometimes. If it came time for such a choice to be made, would she regret letting the kapitän hold so much of her own loyalty?
At least she and Stigmata seemed to be on the same wavelength. He was not anymore in favor of an alliance with the vale wolves than she was. She was disappointed to hear that he didn't think their packmates could be made to see their side of things, and since he had more contact with them than she did right now, she was in no place to disagree, although that wouldn't stop her from trying once she was able to have more time away from the children. Her gaze fell to the sleeping pile between her paws at his reminder of what all they had at stake here. The children made things complicated, and if it ever came down to a choice between the mountains or them, she would choose them in a heartbeat. Any kind of retaliation would have to wait until the pups were older at least, and even then, they would still be somewhat of an Achilles heel to Diaspora.
She liked his plan and wanted to tell him as much, as well as offer herself as help once she she was able, but she was momentarily distracted.
Without Thorn?she asked, her eyes holding confusion when she focused them back on him.
Why would you have to do it without Thorn?She couldn't imagine him leaving them too, but now that he mentioned it, she hadn't scented him near then den in a while.
RE: melusine - Stigmata - July 11, 2019
fading here, because i'm slower than molasses - please forgive me!
"he is behind diaspora, whatever our decision," stigmata quickly amended, trying to salvage what he could of the kapitan's reputation in takiyok's shrewd, unyielding eyes. "and he would never choose any of them over us. but [b]i would rather not bring physical harm to his foreign relationships, if it can be helped. i am concerned his good spirits may be a casualty in the process, therefore i intend to tread as diplomatically as possible."[/b]
he did not for one second believe that mahler's loyalties were divided, but he did think that certain situations would serve only to bend him in ways he might regret. the general sighed, suddenly feeling more strained than he ever had, even as a hound of war.
since when had feelings become a part of his equations?
"but as long as they remain in the vale, i will haunt them, and they will know in their hearts that every meal they receive undisturbed is a blessing given to them by diaspora." only what they allowed would remain in these mountains, and of this he would be sure.
on the sore subject of thorn, stigmata was briefly sobered. he hadn't saw fit to worry her with the news before, and now that the outlook had grown bleaker each day the warden's loyal shadow remained absent, he found no reason to keep her in the dark. he explained that their packmate had not been seen for too long now, and that his trail by this time had gone gravely cold. there wasn't much to share then but a long moment of grief, after which stigmata returned to yet another fruitless search for the eyjolfur, at takiyok's emotionally silent behest.
RE: melusine - Takiyok - July 12, 2019
Her expression softened a little, although suspicion still clung around the edges. She was inclined to agree, mostly; Mahler had never given her any reason to doubt him in the past, but, as usual, only actions would completely quiet her wariness.
You're probably right,she conceded, willing to see how things played out. She'd hate to unnecessarily upset Mahler by assuming something without anything other than speculation fueled mostly by her proclivity for assuming the worst in those around her; it seemed like the feeling only grew worse the closer she got to someone, like she was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. She had yet to be proven wrong. Although, her distrust of others was probably temporarily made worse by Sia's recent betrayal.
To his next words, she nodded.
Good. And, as soon as I'm able, I will gladly assist you.It would be a while before she could patrol the lands outside of the lake territory, but she had a feeling there wouldn't be a shortage of wolves wanting to take what was theirs any time soon.
The news of Thorn's disappearance left her unable to find anything suitable to say; she didn't think it was like him to just leave, but then, neither had she thought that of her brother. Her still raw emotional wound battled with her mind's logic, and she found herself unsure how exactly she felt about it. So, she urged him to keep searching; it was the only solution she could come up with right now.