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+---- Thread: Moonspear your subaru is ugly (/showthread.php?tid=66565)
your subaru is ugly - Kindle - November 20, 2025
Long enough had passed that the newcomer, Europia, should be well enough for action. Kindle didn't plan to throw her straight into the fire, but he thought that a bonding activity was in order. Her only bond here could not continue to be Haedwig, who was already not quite as sociable as Kindle wished.
But he reminded himself that they were a village, and perhaps not the kind of pack that he was used to. The dances and the ceremonies and the long, long nights spent together in the endless dark were things from another place, and another time. If Kindle wanted to stay here — just like the rest of them — he would have to learn what life was like in a mountain village.
And he had to learn to love it.
He moved to the last place he'd known the two women to be. He was more respectful of their space this time when he howled a hopeful note.
RE: your subaru is ugly - Europia - November 20, 2025
Europia was a bit suspicious when Kindle called for her, reasonably so she thought, given their brief meeting. She had half a mind to outright ignore him, but that half must have been left somewhere in the hinterlands given she emerged from Haedwig's den without hesitation. She was never good at ignoring anyone but her older brother - her curiosity always got the best of her, besides, what if she hurt his feelings?
She couldn't help raising a brow when he was stood so far away.
What are you doing over there?She called out.
He was being polite, but that didn't click in Europia's brain. She was used to even slightly familiar faces coming right up to greet each other - though she was more often the one initiating that kind of behaviour.
RE: your subaru is ugly - Kindle - November 24, 2025
The misunderstanding soon went both ways. Kindle assumed at once that she was being territorial, and that he was not welcome even this close. This made him feel territorial in turn — he felt that he was in a more dominant position than her, and thought she ought to be more deferential.
"Waiting for you to get over here," he replied, forcefully friendly. When he wagged his tail to soften the blow, it was almost parallel with his body, flagging his (assumed) social standing.
"Europia, right?" he named her. "I'm Kindle. We didn't meet under the best circumstances, last time."
Better to get the elephant in the room out of the way. He felt it wasn't his place to defend or apologize for Kinusi, nor that he'd done anything wrong in the encounter — but he hoped that acknowledging the discomfort would help them move past it.
"So I thought we ought to fix that. Maybe with a little scouting trip. You can't have seen all of the mountain, yet. And, to be honest, neither have I."
RE: your subaru is ugly - Europia - November 24, 2025
We didn't.There was no sense in denying it. Europia hadn't intended to stay afterwards, but she knew Haedwig wouldn't make it far, and she knew that the witch would try to follow her. So, she had stayed. She would tell others that it was so Haedwig could care for her, even though she had bounced back just fine. It was so she could take care of the old woman.
The proposal of a scouting trip held her interest. Europia had never been allowed to do that before, not really. Her family preferred to keep her preserved under their careful watch.
Alright, but what's the catch?There had to be one. Nonetheless, she seemed to be counting on a good answer given she began trotting towards him.
RE: your subaru is ugly - Kindle - November 25, 2025
The catch?
Kindle couldn't begin to imagine what sort of catch there might be. This wasn't a prize he was dangling in front of her, waiting to exact some Machiavellian bargain. He was ready to be annoyed, but at least she was complying.
"The catch," he said, "is that this village has a community you're obliged to participate in. Hunting, border marking, dancing, healing — pick your poison. But today, it's scouting."
Since he didn't see her getting any other offers. He thought it was probably tough to make friends after her introduction to the pack, and with most of them being off at the hunt. That was fair enough.
"So, he said, setting off once she reached his side. "How do you know Haedwig?"
RE: your subaru is ugly - Europia - November 25, 2025
He sounded exactly like Makhai - and that wasn't a good thing in this case. Europia loved her older brother, he was her favourite of her two siblings, but she had never taken well to his lectures. They made her face glaze over almost instantly - she already knew this spiel.
Haedwig's my godmother, basically my only mom now though. I think she did more to raise me than my mother did, anyways.Her parents had always been busy, inaccesible the moment she was weaned. She still loved them and she knew they had loved her, but it was the truth.
She was my birth pack's prophet - I think she had been there pretty much forever by the time I was born.That was what it felt like anyways.
After we came here my sister sent her out to talk to other packs. I think she got lost.She knew now that Haedwig had been speaking to packs about her marriage prospects, and Europia still felt some frustration for that.
RE: your subaru is ugly - Kindle - November 25, 2025
That relationship made sense to Kindle, who had seen the look in the old woman's eyes the day that Europia arrived. He didn't dare ask what happened to the darkling's sister, but he did say, "It's good that you've found each other."
If he were a more superstitious man, he might have wondered if there was some sort of spell over the land that brought wolves back together. He hoped that, if she was out there, Europia's sister might find her way here, too.
"She told me a little about being a prophet," he said, leading the way first toward a nearby stream. He wanted to get a drink before heading for higher altitudes, and he was mindful of Europia's assumed frailty as well. He didn't want to end up carrying her again, after all.
"We don't have prophets where I'm from," he told her. "Just mothers and women's magicks, which, y'know. I don't know anything about. It's something I hear about in stories a lot, though."
He peered at her.
"Do you have the Sight, too?" he wondered.
RE: your subaru is ugly - Europia - November 25, 2025
Europia had to admit, she was surprised that Haedwig had spoken to Kindle about her life as a prophet. It brought her some sense comfort to know that the witch might have been comfortable with him at some point.
No.Her answer came quick and accompanied by the shake of her head.
I'm not that weird.She respected Haedwig sure, but even she had to admit that it was a weird ability to have.
Leaning down to lap at the water she brushed off the hot feeling in her cheeks, choosing not to question why the question had her so flustered.
I know that Haedwig is.. a lot. Thanks for taking care of her.Pausing, her eyes flicked to stare back at Kindle.
Don't tell her I said that.
RE: your subaru is ugly - Kindle - November 25, 2025
Inwardly, he was a bit relieved. It was weird, and he was glad Europia recognized that.
He smirked at her. "I wouldn't dare," he admitted, his tail swishing. "She can be, but she mostly keeps to herself. No one's done much caring for her, really — except me n' Kat try to bring her meals every now and then, if the kill's too far up or too far down."
He felt guilty about it, sometimes. Kindle wanted everyone to feel at home, but he wasn't used to "everyone" being wolves he hadn't known since birth. Even Katmai was a little strange to him. But that was what growing up was about, he thought. He had to fly the next sometime, didn't he?
"Anyway — what else are we meant to do?" he asked, perhaps rhetorically. "We should all hope someone'll care for us when we're old."
He lapped at the water himself, and then turned his attention back toward the higher peaks. Picking a direction he hadn't explored much before, he set off at a steady clip.
"What do you like to do, then?" he asked her, curious. "If it isn't telling fortunes."
RE: your subaru is ugly - Europia - November 25, 2025
Europia had assumed as much from the state of Haedwig. The witch rarely admitted to needing help, not even when her pelt was dirty and matted, but she would always accept food. It still hurt her to see it, though.
She'll warm back up to you.Then Haedwig would be nicer, too.
She couldn't think of a response to his question right away.
Well.. I like exploring like this. Usually I have someone herding me back home, though.It felt strange, now that she had been made to think about it.
At home I spent pretty much all of my time being entertained by my family's servants.Anything to keep her still. She felt a bit bland without any hobbies to tell him about.
I used to dance, sing too. That was fun.It had always felt rewarding, whether because members of the pack truly thought she had talent or because they felt obligated. Besides, it was just fun.
RE: your subaru is ugly - Kindle - November 25, 2025
Kindle wasn't as sure about that. He didn't think their friendship had ever been quite warm. He still felt a bit uneasy after introducing her to Cosmo, but admittedly, no harm had ever come of that. Perhaps he just hadn't been making enough effort.
"This is home," he reminded her, a huff of laughter in his voice. It wasn't hard to imagine the things she described to him — his own princess niece was here, after all. But despite having seen it, it still sounded silly and a bit fantastical to him.
"Servants, huh?" he asked, his voice wry. "None of those out here. I guess you were important back where you come from, though."
Here, she was the same as the rest of them. And a newcomer, which put her at the bottom of the stack, as far as he was concerned.
"If you like dancing, you ought to come dance with me," he offered. "I'm trying to teach everyone willing to learn about our traditional dances."
RE: your subaru is ugly - Europia - November 25, 2025
Maybe this was her home now, but it didn't quite feel like it yet. At home she at least had pretend friends - here she only had Haedwig.
I was a princess,she spoke in an exaggerated tone, clearly finding it a bit silly herself.
Second born, though. They already had my sister to take over, I got to be the bargaining chip.For that, part of her was happy the kingdom collapsed.
His offer made her raise a brow. She hadn't taken Kindle for the dancing type.
You would dance with me?In Europia's home, you only danced with wolves you liked - or those who your family wanted you to like. She hadn't taken them to be friends just yet.
RE: your subaru is ugly - Kindle - November 25, 2025
Another one, he thought, his brows rising in surprise. He wouldn't give away Madhu's status, but he wished he could remark upon it now.
"Fancy," he commented, glad that she didn't seem too high and mighty for it. I like some he thought, perhaps uncharitably. "I'm glad you get to live your own life, I suppose."
Though it did seem insulting to be labeled a spare. Kindle was glad not to have been raised in it, even as he found it quite interesting to imagine. His storyteller blood making an unwelcome appearance, he was sure.
"Why shouldn't I?" he asked her, entertained by her apparent sensibilities. "Everyone who wants to should learn. I'll learn yours, too, if you're willing to teach them."
RE: your subaru is ugly - Europia - November 26, 2025
Her tailed curled, a smile coming on to match it.
Alright.After all, if the point of today was to bond why not do something they both enjoy?
It was something more than walking, and it would more than likely be enough to convince her that she liked Kindle. Though in truth, she was never too hard to please.
What are your dances like?She couldn't imagine it was too different from her own. Didn't all dances have the same roots?
RE: your subaru is ugly - Kindle - November 30, 2025
She accepted his response easily enough, which was exactly as it should be. She did not remind him of any of his siblings, in truth — but he could not help but feel that this was what a sibling should be like: quiet, and attentive to his wisdom.
"They tell stories, mostly," he replied, pausing to climb a particularly steep and tricky incline. He waited at the ledge above for her to make the climb herself. "I suppose there are two kinds. There are sets of dances we perform at specific festivals and celebrations, and then there's just dancing for fun. But those dances are always a conversation. Which means there can be a winner or a loser, or they can end in accord, or you can propose marriage..."
It was deeply ingrained in their culture. Kindle was amused by it, even as he held deep respect for the practice.
"I guess you dance where you're from?" he asked as they carried onward.
RE: your subaru is ugly - Europia - December 03, 2025
Europia had never heard of using dances for storytelling, but she liked the idea of it. She would have to make Kindle show her sooner or later.
We do. I guess ours are conversations too. Mostly courting. I like it better when it's for fun, though.What was the point of anything if she wasn't having fun?
The courting was fun to watch, whether it was reciprocated or not. I saw a lot of men get bit.Though when it was a mutual attraction, Europia remembered the dances were beautiful.
Where you're from do you ever have gatherings just to dance?Europia had always liked those in the kingdom.
If we had them here, it could be fun.
RE: your subaru is ugly - Kindle - December 04, 2025
The courting dances had always been more noticable by their absence than their presence. Couples snuck off, or pining youth lured their sweethearts out beyond the festivities. Kindle thought of this with a quiet pang — he'd never gotten the chance.
"Our courtin' dances ain't exactly for watchin'," he said dryly, though he'd witnessed a few anyway.
He blew out a little breath, not sure how to answer the question.
"Dancing's mainly what we do," he replied, wondering what her perspective on their gatherings would be, if she were able to watch. "We gathered to dance, and danced to gather. It's part of everything we do. Before hunts and after. For weddings. In droughts, in the rain, for the longest night and the shortest night, for deaths and for births. For the full moon and the new moon and especially for a blood moon."
He missed it.
"I was in a troupe with my cousins," he told her. "There were nine or ten of us. We practiced for all the ceremonies and festivals. Painted our faces before every performance. Everyone dances, but the troupe leads them — and keeps the knowledge alive for the rest of the pack. We might not need a particular dance for generations. That means the kids might not learn it. But I know them all."
He was proud of this fact.
RE: your subaru is ugly - Europia - December 04, 2025
Europia smiled, amused.
I'm not sure we're talking about the same kind of courting.She didn't know much about what two wolves did in the dark, but she knew it certainly wasn't dancing.
Do you think you'll start a troupe here, too?She asked.
I mean, it sounds like you enjoyed it.Everyone deserved to do something they enjoyed, even weird guys like Kindle.
From what she was hearing their dances were certainly much different, but Europia saw nothing wrong with that. It would still make life a bit less mundane.