Wapun Meadow no diggity, no doubt

His kids were by his side, and Mahler hadn't kicked his ass. Those two things alone made it a banner day.

Verx traveled out of Diaspora territory, toward the edge of the bright floral meadow, where they could frolic and be merry. It was close enough to the pack's stomping grounds that he didn't feel uneasy bringing the children here, yet it satisfied the Kapitan's conditions. It wasn't his ideal scenario. . .but it was something, at least.

No, it was everything, because Drago and Isi, to him, were everything.

He flopped back on his haunches, giving his children (hopefully they'd both followed him, because otherwise he's gonna be a very sad dude) a wide, beaming grin. He was, for once, at a total loss for words. He just wanted to stare at them forever.

dated for May 29. @Aurëwen can come too, but mainly for @Dragomir and @Isilmë

Dragomir remained right on his father's heels all the way down from Arrow Lake. Not only because this was a new place and he was overwhelmed, but because he was afraid that if he allowed even an inch of space, Vercingetorix would float away into the sky and never return. His affection ought to have been for his mother, who had been present—mostly—for the entirety of his life rather than the father who had seemingly left him for the past month, but that wasn't how it worked. He clung more fiercely to the parent who had gone, as though he believed that feeding all his love into them would make them stay.

When Vercingetorix finally stopped, Dragomir crowded close to his sire's breast. His face was still wet from the tears that had come earlier when Mahler and Ingram had loomed angrily over Vercingetorix. There was no pride in him to feel ashamed of that. Their countenances had frightened him, but not as much as the threat they posed to his father. He didn't understand it. He had not the words to ask it.

Instead he peered blearily up at his father and asked, where you go? Why?

she wanted very much to know the same thing her brother put into words, but her confusion was less subdued than his. "don't like!" she announced, and though she yearned to bite and swat at her father, she drew up alongside her brother instead, peering at Verx hawkishly. she was frightened still, and her brother's emotion did little to soothe her own ire. she pulled gentle at her brother's ear in one quick motion, not knowing what to do with all her nervous energy. "don't like?" she repeated, but a question now, and certainly less bold than her first.

To his utter amusement, Drago spit like four different languages out in one sentence, only half of which he could understand. (Luckily, they were both the 'question' words.) He folded himself down to better look his son in the eyes, face still smiling but contrite, now.

I'm sorry, Verx responded in Trig, shaking his head. I went on a mission. I went to go find us a cooler place to live. He didn't know what they would think of this. Hell, maybe they loved the mountains and would be devastated to take off. It was worth a shot, though.

Isi's yell, and subsequent question, then got his attention, and he turned to stare at her. I know, honey, he said quietly. Daddy's sorry. I promise, though, that I'll never leave forever. I'll always come back. Unless I die. That went without saying for now, though. Obviously.

He heaved a sigh, once more letting his muzzle swing back and forth, a slow pendulum--though this time in astonishment. You're both growing so big. Growing so fast.

A cooler place to live? Dragomir swung his muzzle back over his shoulder and peered back up at the mountain. He had never known anything but Diaspora's territory, but even so, he couldn't imagine a better place to live. He liked the wolves there. He liked the thicket, but he liked the pack's bedding grounds more. He liked the lake and he liked the place where the water spilled down from the sky. Comparatively, this meadow they were in now was boring, he decided as he panned his vision back across it. Lots of flowers and not much else. Could there be anywhere more cool than Arrow Lake?

I like here, he said, frowning. Here is good friends and safe. Well, maybe not for Vercingetorix if Mahler's reaction was anything to go by, but Dragomir didn't quite understand that Verx wasn't coming home now. Mahler would forgive him and they would make up and everything would be right again, he was sure of it. He looked sidelong at Isi and his brows contracted. Yes. Don't like.

Vercingetorix wanted to change the subject to them, but Dragomir was resolute in wanting to understand why his father had gone. So he fixed his sire with a sharper expression and asked, why? Why did they need somewhere else to live? What was wrong with the mountain? Why hadn't he taken them with him?

she's doubtful still, but more pressingly, she wants her family whole again and her dad back to chew on. he promises that his leave is only temporary, but she can't stand the thought of him leaving and not knowing when he'll be back, or where he's gone, without her. Dago was right when he expressed his liking for Diaspora — she liked the big pokey mountains, the lake, the flowers and the little girl who wasn't quite her brother. but more than her liking for her birthplace was her fierce desire not to be left behind. "I come with," she pressed, resolute. she blinks at Dago, understanding his apprehension and yet not liking the idea of leaving him behind, either. 

he's moved on to them, now, and she huffs. "I know," and she stands, not quite moving to greet her father yet. "got a beetle." she offers suddenly, thinking he should know and be proud of her. she doesn't want to dwell, not that she's made it clear she won't be left behind, and isn't fond in the slightest of the doubt and upset caused by his disappearance.

Ah, fuck. He didn't get half of what Drago said, but good friends was intelligible and the rest was apparent enough. Obviously his kids would have formed connections here. They weren't sightless, speechless little beans anymore--they were living, thinking wolves with brains and shit. Opinions. This complicated things. He gave Dragomir a pained smile that grew all the more painful as the boy questioned his reasons.

So Verx was really, really thankful for his daughter when she stated her intentions to go with him, and then promptly changed the topic with. . .uh, something. She looked happy, though, and he grinned at her, the pain going away. Nice, he said cryptically, hoping that would suffice.

He turned to Drago, knowing his son deserved an answer. We used to live by the ocean, he explained, tilting his head in that direction. But some bad, ugly wolves caused trouble and we had to leave. One of them hurt me. That's why my voice is all scratchy, and where this scar comes from, Verx added, lifting his chin to show them the marred flesh, fleshy pink against the darkness of his fur.

We belong there, though, and so we're going to live there again, he said firmly. Daddy's gonna make sure that we get our home back. Our real home.

For all the misunderstanding that children did, they were also frightfully intelligent in their own way. For example, Dragomir understood only about half of what Vercingetorix was telling him. The rest was either words or concepts beyond his current understanding. But he read the emotions and the body language with quick, accurate eyes and his frown morphed into a pout.

Why no take us? Dragomir demanded to know, glancing to his sister for support. It was all well and good that Daddy wanted to find them a cool new place to live by the sea, and it was interesting to Dragomir that they belonged there, but that still didn't explain why he left them behind. Why he let their mother hurt in his absence. Why he let them hurt in his absence.

For now Dragomir's sense of betrayal was just that: the sadness of a boy whose father was distant. Who knew how long it would be before that turned to anger? Coming with, he firmly decided, just like his sister. Dragomir loved Diaspora. He loved the lake and the sky-water and the thicket and the wolves there. But he loved his missing father more than all those things, even if Vercingetorix was kind of a dick for leaving them.

just hopping over Isi to keep this moving since she's inactive rn

Verx shook his head, feeling suddenly despondent. I will, goufa, he insisted, staring intently at Dragomir before turning that same intensity upon his daughter as well. I promise I'll come back and get you. But I can't right now. It's too dangerous. You and your mom need to stay here while I make sure everything is perfect.

He blinked, tail swishing behind him. You understand? he asked, his tone not stern but inquisitive. For all he was fierce, he had no earthly idea on how to be a disciplinarian, hard-nosed father. He would let his kids walk all over him until his dying day--so god, he hoped Aure at least somewhat kept them in line.

We'll all be together soon, Verx whispered fervently. That's a guarantee.

What was danger but a concept in bedtime stories? There was no danger in the world, not to Dragomir. The sharp nip of it on his heels wasn't an experience he was acquainted with yet. That would come someday. For now he stared stubbornly at his father and refused to listen; his tail was a whip cracking back and forth in time with Vercingetorix's and his eyes were twin fires blazing in the black hearth of his frowny face.

Coming with, he said with finality. To punctuate it, he stomped a large paw heavily on the ground. That's final, daddy-o. Except it wasn't—adults had such power over children even when the children knew what they wanted—but as far as Dragomir was concerned it was decided. Vercingetorix would need to pull the wool over his eyes to leave without him.

Which, for the sake of future threads, was easy to do and needed to happen.

Smile and nod, dude. It was better to just smile and nod, at this point. So he did. Hopefully that would placate his stubborn son and his equally stubborn daughter. He gave Dragomir a grin, rearing up a little on his hind legs before slamming his forepaws down in a challenge.

It's a deal, kid, Verx said gravely, eyes glimmering. He cocked his head, giving both pups an inquisitive stare. But before that, who wants to play a game? It's called 'kick your old man's ass.'

And without warning, he flopped onto his side, rolled onto his back and did his best impression of a flailing beetle, legs churning about. He snapped his teeth at the children, looking for all the world a ferocious monster, save for the laughter that escaped his mouth.

we can continue or fade -- up to you!

Fade is fine!

It's a deal. Dragomir believed him, too. He would soon learn that taking others at their word was a mistake... but he was at heart a gentle and trusting creature borne on Aurëwen's whispered words of faith, so for now, he believed. It took the edge off his sadness, at least, and when Vercingetorix invited he and Isilmë to a game by exposing his belly, he couldn't help but to oblige with a roar and a giggle.

Only long after the game's conclusion, when Vercingetorix indeed did leave without his children again, would Dragomir's trust in his father begin to crack.