O' Brother, Where Art Thou?

Hail @Burke , you wanted me, you got me. Enjoy

The sun was hanging low in the sky, hidden by thick clouds when Akela stopped walking.  He looked up, closing his eyes for a while when the a little breeze rose and brushed on his face. It felt relaxing, almost as if his mate was licking his face or rubbing her cheek against his. His bright yellow eyes opened and sadness swallowed him again. No matter how much he told himself that he was over it all, that he had turned the page,  there was always a moment when another truth slapped him hard. He sighed and shook his head. He had chosen a life alone for so long that he was not sure if he was of any good company. Sure, he had met many wolves and other wild life in those 2 years, each shared and played some part (little or big) in his story, but he just could not get rid of the feeling of being empty, incomplete. No one ever tells you that the scar tissue that builds over time over your wounds, actually still hurts for many more, and creates a fragile area that can collapse at any moment.

The reason of his presence in the Kintla Flatlands were actually because of the croaking of some raven he overheard while trying to sleep. Those creatures could be so obnoxious sometimes, but they had provided some interesting facts he needed to verify. As the wind turned, he titled his head and held it a little higher. It brought a familiar scent to his nostrils, one he had not expected to pick up so soon or even in these lands. He knew he was at a border, not just his border.  He licked his cheeks and sat down. Internally , he debated on what to do.  Pass his way or stop somewhere he knew he could let his guard down for a while. Being a lone wolf did not allow you to rest completely, because there was no one around to protect you, no one to warn you or keep you warm. Before he could even help himself, he was already howling to call him.  Then he simply hoped onto one of the bigger rocks and laid down, one paw over the other, waiting for Burke to arrive. Hoping that the bastard wouldn't take too much time to do so.

Excellent, Excellent.

Burke was just burying a carcass for his pack to eat from later. Ever since his bloat incident he was far more careful with the proportions he ate. Even while being rather busy with his mate's heat didn't make him eat more. Meldresi was sure to keep track of his eating habits. Who would have thought, Burke, mated and settled down with a female. But Meldresi was a great female, his dark queen. She was the sorceress everyone talked about, even outside Teekon. After all he had heard about Meldresi when he was a traveling lone wolf. That felt like ages ago. It was more than half a year. Damn. Look at him now, Dark King. 

That is when a howl sounded through the dark woods. He looked up. Did that sound familiar? Burke trotted forward, his docked tail held high. As was right for a king! He moved to the borders he marked this morning. The tank of a male kept his casual trot, using the shadows as a cover one learned by being a member of the Dark Brotherhood. The red paw print was fresh on his shoulder now Meldresi was back to his side. Burke felt proud carrying it. He studied the stranger in the shadows until he realized this wasn't a stranger. It was the wolf he teamed up with when he was a lone wolf, they would look for Black Feather together, they got through those damn winter months together.

Burke appeared with a smirk on his face from the shadows. "So you finally found Black Feather. It took you more than six months to arrive here, Akela," Burke spoke, his pale eyes looking over the male and his scarred face. It was good to see him alive, he wasn't sure how well the wolf was doing.

A smile stretched on the male's lips when he saw a familiar figure appear. Had he tried to sneak up on him ? Probably, but Akela rarely let that happen, he was over-sensitive to his surroundings. When the Alpha adressed him he did not move, not an inch. " Well I thought I'll give your bunny ass a head start, so you'll do all the work "  he explained and chuckled. Too soon? " he added innocently. Burke had told him some of the reasons why he had ended up on the road like him, and while Akela had kept being vague on his own reasons, this was just fitting so nicely into the conversation. Sure , maybe Burke could kick his ass, but they had managed together for months on just fine...most of the time. "I was in no hurry to join the little pup band of darkness, not really on a time schedule when you're on the road, plus I had ... a little  imprévu* , long story short , the scar happened. I'll get all the ladies now "

He was still not moving from his higher spot. He was towering Burke, sure, but not to challenge his mighty leadership, no, just to annoy the holiness out of him. Aleka licked his nose.  " Enough about me, you look...well fed.  Not to say little chubby. Sooooo cute  honey bun bun. "

* imprévu = mishap

Burke's docked tail wiggled in greeting and he looked over his good friend. They had survived five winter's together. The male shook his head, and rolled his eyes. Because that was a nudge to his past. "I can deal with those comments," he pointed out calmly. "And I did do all the work, since I am alpha of this pup band of darkness," he hummed. He somehow liked that naming knowing that Akela was never really serious. Arguing with that wolf was like no use. Burke was certain of that since he tried. Burke looked at his face, the scar he hadn't missed since well, it couldn't be missed really. "What?! Ladies! Dang it, I thought you were gay!," Burke let out, technically teasing him. Though he never really seen him with a female.

Burke squinted his eyes a bit at the other. "You just keep talking, Scarface," he returned with that same grin. He then turned around and pushed his butt in his face. "Ohhhhh did you miss my bunny tail. Bet you didddddd," he laughed and wiggled his docked tail so it was slapping against his face. Burke turned around quickly though, turning a bit more serious. "So what is up, Mr. Loner? Are you going back to the pack life or did you come to say hi to me?," he wondered.

"I figured as much."  Akela responded , not really impressed. Of course he would have ended up in a higher rank of that band, it was Burke after all. He yawned and finally decided to get up from his rock, giving a low sound of appreciation when Burke wriggled his nice butt into his face. "Maybe I am, or maybe I am just a pine of love for every creature living around. " he added, remaining cryptic about who he actually was. " I did enjoy cuddling you so I might be gay for your cute butt yes." he joked and hopped down to finally be at the same eye level as him.

He shook himself from head to tail and sat down. "I did miss the companionship. " he admitted and looked at the other wolf. Being alone was not easy, not having someone to talk to for weeks on was sometimes tough, and Akela did lose himself, like a soldier after the war.  He did not really talk about what was happening to him or what has happened. The wolf looked up then. He considered what to answer to the next question. Did he want to join a pack ? Not really, did he see the opportunity here, yes. The spirits must have led him here for a reason, he thought. " I am tired, Burke ...tired of running away" he confessed and looked back at the wolf.  " I was not expecting you here, but now ...."  He lowered his head in respect.  "I am kindly asking you to allow me to stay...at least...until the next moon or so, if it is of no trouble to you"

Burke snorted. He missed the other wolf's bluntness. He was fun to be around. It was weird how their roles had shifted, from both being two loners to one of them being King. Burke had a bit of trouble behaving like an alpha, seeing his good friend. He slowly smiled at his joke. "It was cold that winter, plus I have a new cuddle buddy now," he returned. He was mated after all, and a step father. "You will have to talk to my wife if you want snuggle sessions with me," he laughed. He wasn't so sure Meldresi would share him, he wasn't even sure what her opinion was on being gay. 

Burke slowly grew serious and nodded. "I can imagine, Akela," he returned. "We are not a hotel, but I will allow you in our ranks. You have been good to me when we were together. Let me be good to you in return," he spoke and nodded. He nudged his nose against his cheek. "I know your qualities and some social connections will do you good. I am sure of it," he added. "You should stay longer than that. This can be your final home, brother. We talked about joining BFW and becoming a dark brothers together."

"Shame...we could have it all ... I would mind to cuddle with her as well, have a nice little menage à trois, but you don't like to share. I would like proper introductions with her though. " Akela pointed out and hummed. This went smoothly, of course Burke wasn't going to deny him his request, they had bonded enough to be considered close, yet every time he faced the possibility to settle down, his heart started to ache. A veil of sadness went over his feature as he looked somewhere in the direction of Burke's territory. " Final home..." Akela repeated and licked his nose. "It does have a nice ring to it. " he added softly.  "The thought has crossed my mind more than once brother, believe me"  In fact, he had been circling that border for days on now. "I talk a lot when I'm under the influence of mushrooms , don't I ?" he smiled weakly.

"You're kind to me, to offer me such hopes, but I dare not open my heart to it. At least...not yet. "  And there she was, the ghostly figure of Catori, freely moving over the moving sea of the forest. "I know she would approve of me staying... the question is...will I finally accept the simple truth that no matter how far you go, it does not stop the spirits of the ancestors to follow you. " he blinked a few times and she was gone. He looked back at Burke.  "I'm getting old, am I not. Getting all cryptic and shit. " he chuckled.  " So...shall I french kiss you now ? I promise to not tell your wife, and you can pretend it was gross, while you totally enjoy it. "

Burke snorted. "Nope, you don't get to cuddle with her, she is my dark queen," he hummed. "My proper instructions are that you have to be at least 5 paces away. Otherwise she might smell your stench," he teased. Burke watched how the wolf grew sentimental. He tipped his head a bit, knowing that the wolf had his... moments. He listened to the man and slowly started shaking his head. "You are not going to remind me about our mushroom days," he pointed out and laughed. He remembered, being loners, having not much better to do and finding some mushrooms. It could have killed them but it made them terribly high. 

Burke's lighter dots on his brow raised a bit as the male carried on. At first he was thinking that the male was talking about Meldresi as he talked about a 'she' but later on it was that he was talking about someone else. Another female. Could it be? "No I am getting old, this autumn it will be my sixth autumn. You my friend are just on mushrooms again. You might have an addiction you know that?," he spoke brushing his weird behavior off. Burke moved his paw up and playfully pushed his muzzle away.  "Behave yourself. We are not going to kiss. I'm going to give you a tour."

"Dark queen huh ? Well look at that"  he reacted. Akela simply shook his head at his comments. Guess he did not tell that tale to Burke. He thought he did, but then again, sometimes he just lost track of what had even happened in his years alone.  "I'll keep those stories for another time and other years. " he spoke.  Time had made him a complicated character, and he was not sure Burke was doing him a favor by inviting him into his pack. Time did not work in his favor in the past, but only time would tell him if this would work out.  One thing was sure though, he would not work against Burke or do anything to harm him in any matter. He respected the older wolf too much for that.

" An addiction to mushrooms ? Nah, to certain herbs due to the pain ...probably. Ha, you know some like them old  , daddies they say ?  The young have such weird interests these days.  There is one tend that they do, which consists of trying to climb a tree... the purpose of it all is beyond me"  Akela informed. "I'm always behaving, I , Sir, have an education" he bragged  and rose his fluffy tail up and pushed his chest forward then marched regally past Burke and brushed his tail past his muzzle.  " Show me around bun bun , I'm all yours"

"She is actually the sorceress we heard about," he hummed with pride in his tone. "Yes, you can close your mouth. I totally got her," he grinned and rose his nose in the air. Burke nodded courtly as the other male didn't want to share his stories, well that was natural. They were both rather private but they still made their friendship work. The large male accepted his friend amongst the ranks.

"Well my wifey is the healer, so don't bother her too much," he pointed out. "Is that so? I didn't realize that, but I haven't been on the road for a long time." He walked further into the territory. "They are youngsters for that," he spoke. "That reminds me, Potema shares the one eyed'ness with you. She is blind her her eye though, maybe you find a kindred spirit in her."

Burke laughed at his friend. "You are crazy, BunBunLover," he cooed back and smirked. He shifted gears in a casual trot and showed him around, where the locations of the caches were, the swamp, the dangerous places and last but not least the infirmary and his alpha den.

"Mh" Akela hummed. He was not sure that was a good thing or not, so he just took it as information. "I'm not surprised, you always knew what you wanted.  Congratulations I  suppose,  I'll hunt a rabbit later on as gift or a bird if  I feel adventurous. " he remarked and followed the other.  He cocked an eyebrow.  " Are you already to play match maker, brother ?"  he nudged him. " I am not sure I will be of any help, but if my experience can help her, I'd gladly be of assistance" he pointed out.  He was not one to want pity parties.  He had learned to mend his wounds on his own, no need for a healer, he was not a greedy character, even if he appeared flamboyant at times.

The tour interested him, how Burk organized his lands, he memorized every corner in his mind, he would do some exploring later, but for now, he was just being the old new one. It was weird, he had not been feeling like this since he was a  9 months old youngster. A feeling of deja vu washed over him, one of feeling like this could be , indeed, a new home, a sanctuary to live his older days. He parted with Burke, mostly to keep his promise and get a rabbit for his honey bun bun.

- END -