Blackfeather Woods If I had a heart

@Potema!

Nothing had been the same since his return from the lake Odyssey. Empty handed, failing to collect Kove's adoptive child by losing it to another group. It had hurt his pride, his ego, but deep inside he felt it was probably the right thing. Qilaq had not adjusted to the life in the the Woods the way Damien would have wanted her to, and she had not shown any signs of wanting to stay either. There was nothing tying her to Blackfeather Woods from the beginning. She had not been born for it.

Damien had come to realize that there was a possibility of having left Asterr with child, that he could be about to become a father and extend Meldresi's bloodline. But those pups wouldn't be born to serve Blackfeather Woods either, he couldn't do that to Asterr. Damien had promised to keep her safe and away from the dangers of his own life, and so that promise would extend to their pups, which would remain ignorant of Damien's way of life for as long as he could help it.

But still, Blackfeather Woods needed to thicken it's lines, and with all that had happened recently, Damien believed there was only one way to do it right: Meldresi's way. Kove and Nemesis' litter were a first step, a handful of spiderlings born from loyalists, but there was still space for improvement.

Entering Meldresi's Kepp, Damien delved into the darkness searching for his sister. He had schemed a plan that, in his mind, was infallible. She knew how these things worked, she was a priestess and she would understand the necessity.

She was glad that Seff was improving, growing in the ways of the Woods and the Brotherhood that resided in them. Qilaq's disappearance hadn't gone unnoticed by the priestess, as recent as it was. It upset her, after nursing the girl to health that she would vanish into thin air, but she quietly let it pass. Seff was the focus of her attention now; the four-month old had dogged her every step, watching as she made poultices and hexes, following her as she gathered herbs. Soon enough she would see which of Nemesis' litter would be a potential apprentice was, but they had barely opened their eyes. Nemesis' sister was not due for another month or so, but still, Potema wanted more. She wanted to ensure that the Dark Brotherhood would grow past her and remain a staple of Teekon Wilds. They had to.

It wasn't surprising to her that Damien thought the same. She looked up from her current project, blinking at the dark form that stalked through the Keep in search of her. She walked away from the herbs, towards her brother, looking expectantly at him. He had a plan, didn't he?

As it had always been, Potema knew already that Damien had something important to tell her even before he opened his mouth. He knew it because, like her, he could see it in her eyes as she walked up to him expectantly.

"There you are," said the dark prince, casting a smile full of meaning. "How's your pupil doing?" he asked out of sheer curiosity. For some reason Damien didn't get many chances to talk with his sister about anything but business. In fact, he had only come to her for that sole reason, but took his chance to get some insight about the kid's formation for as unimportant to him as it was compared to what he was about to suggest.

Interestingly enough, the first thing he asked about was Seff. She didn't think that he had much interest in the boy, but it seemed she was wrong. He is doing fine, She began, He is showing a lot of interest in Mephala and my herbs, which is good. She was happy that he was developing, though he did it quietly and politely. His enthusiasm wasn't gone however. I'm not sure what he would be best at, however, Potema was referring to the three branches of the Dark Brotherhood. While he was interested in her herbs, he could easily be an assassin who uses subtlety instead of brawn. But you're here for more than Seff's progress, aren't you?

Damien heard his sister's report with interest. He had confirmed some of those facts himself, having had a conversation with the child in question not so long ago and evidencing his interest for Potema's lessons. With his head Damien approved of the information, showing that he was pleased with the advances and encouraging the continuity of Seff's training. He was curious to see how far he'd get and whether he would be yet another disappointment, another deserter. But in the end, that was not the reason he sought his witch sister that day. She was right.

"I am," he confirmed, and sat down, suggesting Potema to do the same. The glow of the cave made her eyes glint in a special way, something that reminded him of his mother and reaffirmed the thoughts he had about her being the one choice for the task.

"Qilaq is gone," he briefed his sister, leaving the part in which he failed to return unspoken. "I don't know how long Seff will stay around, he still remembers his mother. And I believe there is nothing for Nemesis' sister to hold on to in Blackfeather Woods other than Nemesis herself. I'm not certain her offerings will pay off," he shared the thoughts despite Seff's recent evidence of interest and Althaia's promise. There was still a lot of distrust in Damien towards Althaia, and he would favor his own blood a hundred times if it meant that would secure Blackfeather Woods' future.

I know, Qilaq's (Xivilai's) disappearance concerned her. What had happened to her? Had she been kidnapped once more? Or hurt and lost? Or even worse? She hoped, at least, that the foundling was still alive...somewhere. But it couldn't be helped. She was gone.

Seff's birth pack is all the way by the sea, She hadn't met the mother, nor Seff's natal pack. She wasn't all that keen on meeting them anyway. It's natural for a child to miss their mother, Damien of all people should know that feeling, But he has had every chance to flee or ask to go home. He hasn't. She was sure that Seff would stay, at least of his own free will. She hadn't had any evidence otherwise.

Althalia has no where else to go. She will have to stay. What she and her "mate" would do after the birth of their children was a different story. She would make sure that their dens would be guarded... Not everyone can be converted. She murmured.

Damien was trying to forget about Xivilai, about how powerless he was against those who took her, but that alone was enough for the memory to stain his mind, his ego, forever. Kove had not said anything yet, but Damien supposed he had already noticed about her absence. They both, him and Nemesis, had already brought four of their own to the world, so Damien doubted that Xivilai's disappearance would bring them much sadness.

And Seff, well, he was a whole other story. Damien had a hard time reading him. He knew the child remembered his mother, his birthpack and Raas whoever that was. But Potema was right, so far there had been nothing that told him that Seff wanted to get back home. He was learning their ways, their lore, but still Damien couldn't shake off the feeling that it would end up badly for them.

Then finally there was Althaia. It was impossible to forget what had happened the last time an outsider whelped in the Spiderlings' Glen, and Althaia too had her mate to attempt the escape. "What if she doesn't?" asks the dark prince grimly, "I think we both know that the only way we can ensure mother's work will live on is to breed our own kin," he suggests, looking at his sister intensely, knowing that she was probably close to be fertile if she wasn't already. That was what Meldresi had done herself back then when she started Blackfeather Woods.

Potema, for all of her knowledge in magic, couldn't delve into the depths of a person's mind. It was not within her power, not within anyone's power. Not even the most depraved sorcerer should, or could. She didn't know what Althaia, or her mate, was thinking. She didn't know if any packs around them would take in a pregnant woman so close to winter. Would Althaia so quickly leave her sister?

She was going to speak once more, but Damien's words silenced her. She gaped for a moment, her eyes wide. The thought of bearing her own children had, ironically, never crossed her mind. She never saw herself as a mother. A mentor, sure, but a mother? She snorted. I have no idea when my heat will come, She tried to find every reason she could to not get herself pregnant. Would she want to do something like that, even for the pack, the Brotherhood? Couldn't you recruit a woman and impregnant her instead?

For a moment Damien had thought that his and his sister's thoughts were synced, at least on this topic. But her response to his suggestion broke that thought down to pieces. She was lost. Her reaction made Damien's brows furrow, and voice shut down. How could she not believe that there was no better way to make the guild stronger than to continue their own bloodline?

"Are you listening to yourself?" asked the master bluntly. Potema was basically suggesting him to do exactly what Burke had done wrong, and Damien was not going to invest his good genes in just any kind of bitch that could run away with his brood like Malice had. "We can only trust ourselves, I am not going to impregnate just anyone. We need to know the pups will grow up to serve our purpose and that can only be achieved if we can be sure we will raise them ourselves," he explained, feeling now that Potema had clearly not thought about his concern, or their future for that mater, ever before.

While she was all for expanding the Dark Brotherhood, she had never considered herself as being that person. Or at least, not yet. It was an uncomfortable thought after seeing her mother die. What if something happened to her? What if something happened to the pups? Damien didn't, wouldn't, couldn't understand that. It was easy for him, like she had suggested. But for her? It might as well be a death sentence.

That's all well and good, She said, paws shifting uncomfortably, mulling over what she would say next. But who would be the father? Kove? Xan? Alexander, she was sure, wasn't old enough to impregnate another woman, but the implication was still there. She would never dream of taking Kove away from Nemesis, and her brothers were not an option. Who would father the next generation of Spiderlings?

Kove was simply not available. It seemed appropriate, to allow Kove to plant his seed on Potema. The pups would be pure. But Nemesis had claimed him, and Damien would respect that union. And the thought of having Xan father the next generation of Spiderlings to the world disgusted Damien. No, he was simply not going to touch his sister, ever. He was too young, he was too troublesome. But mostly, he was too close.

"No, they will not touch you," he assured, shaking his head surely, "but a fit foreigner, one that looks strong and will not bring us trouble should suffice," he suggested, anticipating his sister's reaction. It would be perfect. She wouldn't have a problem luring males during her heat to get what she needed, and since the donor would have no ties to Blackfeather Woods they would be free to raise the pups as they pleased and secure their permanence.

There was no such thing as promiscuity amongst the worshippers of Mephala. It was not something they lauded — instead they praised it. Their mother had not loved their father, he was simply nothing more than a donor. And so Potema was to do the same, but not with someone she knew. A total stranger. Potema huffed, a half chuckle. She had no recurring interest in a mate, but the thought of her being just like her Mother made her laugh. Fine, She eventually spoke. She felt indifferent yet annoyed yet amused.

last post! <3

She agreed even when she clearly still had issues with the plan. But Damien didn't care whether she wanted to do it or not, he would have what he wanted and he would do whatever it took to get it, even if it meant offering his very own sister as vessel. She was smart, Damien knew, and he was sure that she would pick her donor wisely.

"This will make us stronger," assured the dark prince, and not before planting an encouraging kiss on his sister's forehead he left the caves for her to be. The rest was hers to do, and Damien would trust her with the responsibility.

Potema resigned herself to her fate. She had expected this for sometime, being the only female of their group, but not just yet. She expected at least one heat to pass before she had to become a mother, but Mephala didn't always align with her followers' expectations. She sighed as her brother kissed her forehead, watching as he slipped off into the tunnels, contemplating her destiny.