Wapun Meadow With big meaningless eyes and tongues like fly paper

Aventus had not forgotten Ashlar's demand.

He thought on it often. He wondered if the boy would come next for his title, or if it was something else that drove Ashlar's brief flare of courage. Since that day, he'd noticed the withdrawal of the chocolate-furred wolf, although Aventus had never met Ashlar previously. One could say that Ashlar had always been a fringe feature of Ursus rather than an integrated member, and yet, the man was Starbone, and dedicated Arielle was Skeptic.

In the meadow overlooking Bearclaw, Aventus worried a chip of bone between his teeth and laid his plans. Astara and Merrick were out of the equation for the time being, so he could not rely on his parents, but Ursus stagnated. Aventus was not his father; the smell of wolf's blood did strange things to his body, but he didn't thirst for it the way Merrick did. He thirsted for his parents' approval more than anything, and the bears', and that was largely what drove him. Ursus needed... Something.

The boy dropped the bone and tilted his head, calling loudly for @Ashlar. Time to prove yourself.

He drifted, but he also remained.

Despite his worry and distance, Ashlar refused to depart the pack. The bear and his holding still intrigued the boy and brought to mind the thrill of the challenge, even if that challenge also wore at his spirit. It was an odd mix of hopeful determination and anxious doubt.

When he was called, he thought it was Merrick at first and instinctually winced, the fur along his spine raising with the fear that finally he was to be rousted. But it was not - it was Aventus. The boy who was younger than him yet felt so much more. He was intimidated, but more curious than afraid, and he wondered in what way he would need to prove himself. Last time, it had been the coyote. Ashlar felt his stomach turn at the prospect that perhaps he'd be asked to kill again.

He couldn't. He would fail.

Tail tucked, he stepped into view of Aventus in the lands bordering Ursus. With a breath, he kept his ears upright at least, but there was an air of dread to the way he stood. Last time this had not been something fortunate for him, and he could not help but imagine how much worse this one could be as well.

While he awaited the Starbone's arrival, Aventus gave his chew toy a kick and sent it tumbling through the grass. Ashlar might be able to smell it there, but Aventus wasn't about to admit to wasting his time on something as trivial as gnawing on bone. There was so much to do on a daily basis with Astara and Merrick indisposed, and only so many adults in Ursus to spread the duties among. No excuse for chewing on the job.

Ah, hello, he said pleasantly when Ashlar arrived, arranging himself into a stance that he thought conveyed some stately authority. In reality, he simply looked pompous. His ego was getting away with him a little in Avicus' absence, but no matter. Aventus, well, he was not born to be a humble creature, and he showed it in behaving as though he and Ashlar had not butted heads at any point.

Come, he bid, turning abruptly on his heel and heading north. Today we are going to talk of neighbours, and make a plan to survey them all. To his knowledge, there was Legion in a valley to the north. Easthollow was vanquished. Other packs may have cropped up in the interim, and Aventus wanted to begin a scouting mission to find them and take stock of them.

For future plans, you see.

He expected to be chided or accused, not addressed like a familiar acquaintance. Ashlar's head lifted briefly with surprise and hope, and the hope fluttered more when he was told what the other Wolf wished. T...t... to talk? Jus.... just that, 's all? He asked, feeling his stomach flip as the familiar halting stutter ate his words. Whatever fight he'd summoned the last time they met, it was clearly gone now.

But the shadow of it lurked in the knowledge that once, he had somehow asked. Once he'd held it and allowed it to drive his head high.

It was lost now to the worry of what might come; that as with the coyote, they would choose some target to be the random victim of a bloody chase. That it would be another pack in equal parts assuaged and alarmed him further. Surely.... surely they would not do this to a fellow wolf. But to Ashlar, a coyote was not so different, and he dropped his gaze nervously.

Aventus halted in place, looking back over his shoulder to search the hesitant face of his companion. A vague smile lifted the corners of the boy's lips as he said, of course. It's good to share knowledge of neighbours. There would be time later for the action he expected Ashlar to take, and time still for Ashlar to decide what sort of wolf he was, and where he fit within the structure of Ursus.

For Aventus' part, he saw the bard in the same light he once saw Evien, but without the same respect. That needed to be earned, still, and he was aware too that he needed to earn Ashlar's in turn. Evien was Ursus' level-headed mediator. It was an essential role in a pack as chaotic as Ursus. They needed someone with honey on their tongue and warmth in their eyes to smooth bristling backs and throw off their enemies, and Aventus fancied that Ashlar might serve well in that role.

But first, do you know of Legion? He jabbed his nose north, vaguely in the direction of Legion, still unaware that they were long gone and replaced by others. They are our closest neighbours now that Easthollow has fallen. Father does not like them, he shared.

Ashlar was unconvinced but he relaxed, some, to Aventus' smile. He couldn't help it. Every particle of his nature was designed to read that smile as sincere and to assume, because of it, Aventus meant him no harm.

He smiled back and tried to relax the pounding in his chest. If they wouldn't need to fight, then maybe it would be okay.

Why doesn't he like them? What did they do? He ventured curiously to ask this, put enough at ease to delve a little deeper. If they were so far away, what had they done to earn the bear king's ire? And, in turn, what sort of thing angered the pack?

While it was mostly to understand, it wasn't entirely unselfish. If the boy could avoid such a fate himself, he'd like to.

That is not for us to know, Aventus replied. The truth was that Merrick was loathe to admit whatever wrong Arbiter and her wolves had done him, and Aventus was too frightened of his sire to ever dare ask for details. The day might come when he was brave enough, but despite masquerading around like he knew everything and was confident in his rank, Aventus was not brave enough yet. He knew only what was necessary: Legion was an enemy, and if given half a chance, Ursus would annihilate them.

All we know is they are an enemy of father's, and we are to kill on sight if they come anywhere near here. So far, that had not happened. He swung his head to the side, pinning the other male with a sly silver gaze that cut right to the heart of his coy deception. Do you think you could kill to protect Ursus, Ashlar?

In a matter of months, Ashlar would provide the answer to Merrick himself. But right now, he only looked down. I d...don't know. It was a soft and stumbling delivery. He'd never had to think about if he had the ability to kill before coming here, and if he thought too long on it, it incited a panic like something he'd rarely felt. He hadn't ever before and he never wanted to. He didn't know if he was capable.

He hoped not. Suddenly a little nauseated, Ashlar twisted to look over his shoulder. Nothing. I need to go. He said softly, and without another glance at Aventus, he made himself scarce. He didn't want to go further on that subject and he had no more answers to give.

It crossed Aventus' mind to pull rank on Ashlar once more, keep the man there, demand to know how he meant to repay Ursus for his place among them if he was not willing to do what was necessary. But Aventus was not his father, nor his equally severe mother; he was a brainwashed boy who believed in their mission.

But the truth was, Aventus wasn't sure he could kill a wolf without suitable reason, either.

He watched Ashlar go with a disappointed snort, then turned and put the coward from his mind. Let him run back to Ursus with his tail tucked. Someday, he would have to answer for his behaviour, and Aventus would not vouch for Ashlar when that day came.