Northstar Vale Nothing as black as my heart

Morning came.

His paws left marks in the dew of the early sun as he made his way to the Vale's borders. There was a job to do: find @Chaudry and talk to him about Pala for Viskani's sake. Since the son of the matriarche refused to speak with his own mother, Noctaryn will be the one to make him see reason.

Once his paws crossed into the borders, his nose rose toward the sky, a call for the male to meet him.

A voice he recognizes to be Noctaryn calls to him during his early morning patrol. Pausing for a moment, he soon took off to find the halfbreed male.

Spotting him, Chaudry approached with a high tail and harsh gaze. There was a clear confidence in the dominance he held. Parler. He made the demand with a jut of his head; speak.

He had a suspicion that the other had not come to him on their own accord. There was no reason for him to do so, they were not close.

His body language was much different now than their first meeting. What lived behind those eyes? Anger? Sadness? Or something more sinister? Noctaryn was indeed still as much a stranger to Chaudry, but he did not feel his presence deserved such a response.

“Your mother is worried, Chaudry. Pala has gone with your sons, Julienne is here with you. Why?” There was a hint of anger as he questioned the man’s morals, the disbelief that a man would allow his children to be parted evident. Julienne needed her mother, too.

His suspicion had been correct. Maman should have sent a more intelligent spy.

Maman did not make our daughter her heir. Pala left because I would not help her replace Chandra. A little white lie, that was all this was to him; and he was damn convincing. The anger in Noctaryn's tone was not appreciated in the least, but he would not act in response to it. The strange affection the Matriarche held was obvious to Chaudry, if not the whole pack. Julienne was left with me because her mother did not want her.

His eyes were narrowed into the slightest glare with the words that followed. Are you doubting my ability as a father?

“Should I?”

The glare did not rock him. It only braced his own suspicion that something wasn’t quite right. The bristling man was convincing enough, but Noctaryn remained suspicious. 

For a mother to leave a daughter who wasn’t chosen as heir did not make sense. He would think she’d leave with all of her children if that were the case. As Chaudry stated, their daughter was not chosen, which meant that there had to have been some love, some higher want for their daughter to succeed in life. If they couldn’t find it here, then they could have found it somewhere else. Together.

Yet, Julienne remains here. With Chaudry.

“I would think Julienne would need her mother.”

Noctaryn was out of line, Chaudry had every right to correct him should he wish.

But, he would not.

Fine. I will go look for her then. He returned to his usual cool, calm demeanour. If maman intended for her dog to bully him into a family reunion, he would oblige her this once. While I am gone you will take over border patrol.

Turning back towards where dens had been dug out, he left without another word. He would grab Julienne and leave her with maman while he was gone.

He planned for this trip to be short. When he returned it would be with Pala and their sons in tow, he would make it so. She would not say a word, and then Chaudry would chase her away once more when the time was right.

Noctaryn only inclined his head. The way in which the male conceded so easily should have been relieving, but there was still an unease there. Chaudry’s demeanor changed so effortlessly. 

Interesting.

He did as he was commanded, though, following his usual routes. The borders would be deemed safe before he made his way back to Viskani.