Moonspear words are sharp and filled with poison

Tagging @Floki , @Wildfire , @Charon and @Thistle Cloud ! You guys don't have to join in if you don't want to but he'd say goodbye to them, even if indirectly. c:

He found himself walking towards the familiar towering peak that was Moonspear, knowing that perhaps he should have not waited so long to tell them of his decision, but it had felt wrong for him to leave Saltwinter so soon after Caiaphas had taken him in, and the current going-ons with the new pack to park on the coast Kjalarr had been kept away from saying his goodbye. He did not want to linger long, wished to return to the Sound he called home now but this closure was necessary. For a while, mad at them as he was (like the selfish child he was, heh) he'd considered that they wouldn't even care, and that if that was true ...why even bother telling them he decided to leave? In his defense hadn't went to Saltwinter's borders with the intention of joining ...but he had found himself asking her nevertheless. 

Perhaps they would be angry with him — for a moment he capitalized upon the fact that, that would hardly be anything new — but at the end of the day: it wasn't their decision and they couldn't make him do anything he didn't want to do. He thought he was being the bigger man by admitting that things weren't working out for him in Moonspear and he wanted to try something else, that he wanted to be his own man. This didn't mean he didn't want them in his life still, but it was clear that living with them wasn't working out. He didn't like Charon, and didn't respect the older boy's authority, he was at ends with Floki and ...Thistle was distant as he remembered her being; but he was at fault too ...perhaps for most of it. So maybe this was him accepting that he was to blame.

Kjalarr had washed Saltwinter's scent off of him in the sea, not really wanting them to know where he was going — at least not yet. He stayed back from the borders, the usual respectful distance, tilted his head back and called out for them, wondering if any would show and if they did what kind of farewell he'd receive.

He was surprised to hear Tevinter's voice, calling for him from beyond Moonspear. Floki's brow wrinkled as a war waged within him. He half wanted to continue to avoid his brother, but he was also curious as to where he had been and what he had been up to the last few weeks. It was no secret that he had been scarce and had disappeared from the grounds altogether. The perceived betrayal had only served to help Floki's anger fester like an open wound.

Slowly, he descended the mountain and moved through the trees until he reached the edge of the territory. There he found his twin, waiting to be greeted like an outsider. Floki's nostrils flared; he could not detect the scent of other wolves on Tevinter's pelt. In fact, any trace of Moonspear had dissipated as well. He looked and smelled the part of a lone wolf.

Floki halted a few yards from his brother, his expression blank. After a long pause, he spoke four simple words: "Where have you been?"

Charon had gone looking in the territories surrounding Moonspear, but he'd found nothing. He wanted to go a bigger search, if not only to press the facts in Jorunn's face if he did return, but then again, the first time around he hadn't even believed them when they said they had looked everywhere for him after he'd disappeared. Why would it be any different now? He may as well spare himself the effort, and anyway, Jorunn had grown into a haughty asshole in his time away from his family, so maybe he'd just up and left. It seemed like odds of him having left were bigger than that he'd be dead or something else had happened to him, and so Charon found himself not all that torn on whether or not to go look for him. He wasn't worth the effort and time.

The howl came as a surprise to him, too, and he headed it, if not only to see what Jorunn had to say for himself. When he approached, it was unmistakable that his scent was gone from Jorunn. Charon carried himself befitting of his role in the pack, even moreso in the presence of Jorunn (who, as far as Charon was concerned, deserved an ass-whooping). His tail was curled over his back and he carried his head tall, chin up, chest forward. Flóki had already voiced what was most important to know. Besides, Jorunn had called for them. He probably had something to say, then. Charon waited, hoping to see Jorunn's presence melt and for him to show the submission he ought to at Moonspear's borders — a pack his scent betrayed he was no longer part of — so that he would not have to physically take it himself.

Anyone who wants to join in still, feel free to hop in at any time! :D

Already, Kjalarr could tell this wasn't going to go down well; in fact it would probably be like an old western show down: but who belonged to what side went widely unknown to him. It didn't matter. Who was right or wrong, guilty or innocent didn't matter in this situation. It wasn't going to change his mind, though, frankly, the condescending, authoritative tone his twin had taken wasn't appreciated by Kjalarr at all. So his rank as Beta gave him authority, but it didn't make him older than Kjalarr, it didn't make him his father, and that tone reminded him of a parental figure ...except it seemed to distinctly lack the concern that might have lingered beneath the demand of a parent. Thistle Cloud either had yet to show or simply didn't care and Kjalarr's jaws parted to respond to Floki's question, though he held it back and closed his mouth at Charon's approach, seeing that the alpha male's posture was dominate. 

If he expected Kjalarr to submit he was going to be left sorely disappointed as Kjalarr ignored the pompous display. It's none of your damn business, bossy, was what Kjalarr was oh-so-very tempted to snap at his twin but opted for something maybe a little bit better. “Does it matter?” He answered Floki's question with a question of his own. “I was exploring, or am I not allowed to do that anymore?” Kjalarr was unable to help the moody snap to his jaw as he ended his question. It wasn't the whole truth but it wasn't exactly a lie either. He had been exploring: Ankyra Sound and it's Grotto after Caiaphas had accepted him into Saltwinter's ranks. “That doesn't matter anymore either, really, because I'm leaving.”

Charon came to stand along Floki only seconds after he spoke, and having his older brother at his side strengthened the boy. No matter what transpired here, he knew that Charon would have his back in a way that Tevinter never had. As he had argued before, not one of them could change what had happened in the past -- circumstances beyond their control had separated them to begin with. But it was the raw emotions left behind that had twisted their relationship into something ugly and possibly irreparable.

As seemed to be his way, Tevinter snapped in reply, his words sharp and condescending. Floki opened his mouth to utter a quick retort, but stopped at his twin's concluding statement. His ears fell back briefly, then he narrowed his eyes in a frown. It was no surprise to hear the news -- of course Tevinter was leaving. Rather than stay with his natal family and try to work things out, he was abandoning ship.

This was it, Floki realized; the Lodbrok family was splintering. There would likely be no going back from this point forward. But instead of attempting to convince Tevinter to stay, he simply offered one word, spoken in a resigned tone: "Okay."

Not only did Jorunn come here without showing any signs of respect, his words were as haughty as his posture. When the words left his mouth, explaining that he didn't need to report to anyone (Charon resisted the urge to tell him that he did need to report, being part of a pack and all), Charon stepped closer, his body showing the dominance on his mind, his instinct screaming for retaliation.

"You insolent little fuck!" As Jorunn said that he was leaving, Charon sprang forward, his hackles raised and teeth parted as a growl rumbled in his throat. Without further words he aimed to grab Jorunn by the scruff and physically put him down in the dirt, where he belonged. He was no longer a part of Moonspear, and to see Moonspear's charity and acceptance repaid with defiance made only one thing on Charon's mind. Maybe Flóki was 'okay' enough with things, but the Alpha demanded justice, respect, and he would grab it if he would not receive it naturally by this loner at his borders.

Floki's acceptance was easy, spoken with a simple “okay”. While this caused a sharp pang in his chest, a tug at the connection they shared — would always share — even when they were not on good terms with one another, there was also a small measure of relief. He didn't want them to fight him on this, he wanted to be able to make his own choices in his life without anyone making them for him. He had given it an honest shot, had known from the first week in that it wasn't going to work but had tried. Maybe they wouldn't see it that way, but he'd tried for two months. He was exhausted of trying to swim when the rip current was only trying to pull him further from the shore — which was exactly what this situation felt like to him: a rip current.

Of course Charon had to be difficult about it. He reacted as Kjalarr had expected him to: enraged. Kjalarr resisted the urge to laugh in his face. His inability to control his temper only proved to Kjalarr that he wasn't fit to lead. The Charon's dominance display didn't faze Kjalarr, who had always been bad with submission anyway; but now that he was no longer apart of the pack Charon wasn't his alpha and could go fuck himself for all Kjalarr cared. He was a false Loðbrok and a false king. “Get the fuck over yourself Charon. Not everyone has to kiss your ass and worship the ground you walk on,” Kjalarr spat. “I respected you enough to come and tell you, when I could have just left and this is how you treat me? You're the insolent fuck.” Whether Charon was listening Kjalarr didn't know for the other (smaller?) male came charging at him. 

Kjalarr pulled himself up to his full height, a low snarl in his throat and when Charon made to grab him by the scruff, the other male's teeth grazing his flesh, Kjalarr snapped at Charon's neck, aiming to grab ahold of any part of Charon that he could. Kjalarr wasn't going to bow to him, and he sure as hell wasn't going to go down without leaving Charon something physical to remember him by. Charon had instigated it: and now he would have to deal with the Berserker's wrath. “Turn around and walk the fuck away from me.” A chance; because Kjalarr would have no qualms with hurting Charon if it came down to it. He was a Ragnarsson, after all. 

Thistle heard the howl and she wasn't ready for what was to come. She made it towards the sound and she came to hear the last heated exchange between Charon and Jorunn. She saw Charon rise up and leap forward and the ice that one of her twins growled out froze her blood, but then she grew angry and irritated and she had enough. So with a growl she had not had to use since Ragnar had been alive, she moved forward and showed herself, her hackles raised and her tail above her head. She didn't care if Charon was a higher rank, or even Floki. All she was worried about was three of her sons were about to attack each other and she wasn't having it. Especially not being how the one was about to leave.

That is enough! I will rip both of you with my own teeth if you don't back off. This is how you treat each other, this is how you act when one of you is leaving. And how dare you say such terrible things!

Floki's own response to Tevinter's news was very nearly drowned out by Charon's shout. Whereas he had given up on his twin and was ready to turn his back and walk away, the eldest of the three was quick to anger and wasted no time in expressing it. Floki physically flinched as Charon lunged at Tevinter, startled by the abrupt motion.

Naturally, Tevinter wasn't going to let Charon walk all over him. The brothers clashed, the fury shared between them crackling like electricity. Charon attempted to force Tevinter to the ground, but it wouldn't be that easy. Before their fight could become more physical, there was a fourth voice that sounded from over Floki's shoulder; firm and feminine, it was not to be argued with.

He spun to see Thistle Cloud commanding her sons to stand down. Floki remained defensive, the hair along his spine standing in a ridge, but he took a step back, his gaze darting back to Charon and Tevinter.

The words that Jorunn spoke only further fueled the Alpha to remove this wretch from his lands the hard way. Teeth met fur, but Charon couldn't find a strong enough purchase to drag Jorunn down. Instead he felt teeth graze at his own fur, though it seemed neither of them could find strong enough purchase to get any damage done. Not before Thistle Cloud's voice distracted Charon from his task, anyway.

Charon backed away, but only out of respect for his mother. His posture remained dominant, for he would submit to no one. Had it not been for their mother to appear, Charon would not have stopped until he had managed. No longer a part of his pack Jorunn had double the reasons to submit to a King so near his own groungs. You're lucky mommy came to save you, Charon thought to himself, but he did not speak the words out loud, merely a dark frown on his face as he stared at the wolf that looked so much like Flóki, and yet was so very little like him.

Teeth bared, Charon turned away. He nosed Flóki, mumbling, "Come on," before he turned away from Jorunn, ready to walk away. There was a sadness in his heart, but Charon did not allow himself to show it. On the surface there was only anger and disappointment.

Before Charon and him could truly tear into one another, Thistle appeared like a valkyrie straight from Valhalla, furious and feral. She moved towards the two of them like Freyja herself and for a brief moment Kjalarr wondered if the queen of the gods had taken over his mother as she approached, dominate and threatening. Charon backed off of him and back towards Floki. Yeah, go hide behind your piss lines, Kjalarr thought indignantly though he answered Charon's bare of teeth, and display of dominance with a low growl; as if everything Thistle had said to them had went in one ear and out the other (there was no doubt he was Ragnar's son, aha). As Kjalarr watched Charon turn away from him, gesturing for Floki to leave with him, Kjalarr had the very dangerous thought of attacking him. Show him what arrogance meant when you turned your back on someone you really shouldn't. It would have been a dirty move; but the Vikings were not known for playing fair. However, he resisted, allowing Charon to think he won. 

Kjalarr would see the arrogant prick and child king of Moonspear beneath him. Someday. For a moment he spared Floki a wordless stare, knowing that his twin would turn and would follow Charon. “I need to speak with you very soon, mother,” Kjalarr addressed Thistle quietly. "Name a free territory we can meet and talk and I'll meet you there." He promised her, but it was clear his goodbye wasn't any more welcome than his presence and he would not linger here any longer. He was free and he didn't want to spend any more time here. Kjalarr waited for Thistle's response before he backed away, giving Moonspear a disdainful look before he turned and loped off into the shadows, leaving it behind him.

Seems like a good time for Kjalarr to take his exit.

I enjoyed the small drama. A moment to dig into Thistle's old fighting spirit.

Thistle growled even louder and snarled at the low growl from one son to the other. She was however, pleased that they both backed off. Showed she still had a little bit of pull, though not much. 

Thistle stared at Charon and Floki and then turned towards Tev or Jorunn or what name he went by now, she wasn't sure. He would always be Jorunn in her heart of hearts, but she ha to call him by the name he wished to be called. 

Very well though not right now. I am disappointed and upset with both of you. Anything I would say would not be met kindly. I'll meet you near the coast when warmer weather is upon us. Listen for my howl. She turned and stared at all three boys, waiting until they all went their seperate ways, lest she would need to break them apart again.

Thanks for the thread, everyone! :)

Under Thistle Cloud's watchful gaze, the two boys backed down, though the air was still thick with tension. There was one last baring of teeth, and then Charon touched Floki gently, beckoning him to follow. For a moment, the boy was torn; he looked back at Tevinter, his identical twin. Aside from their build and the colors of their coats and eyes, there were no further similarities between them anymore. Tevinter's face was marked with scars just as ugly as his attitude had been. Disappointment washed over Floki before he pivoted and trailed after Charon.

His ears tilted back when he heard Tevinter's voice requesting an audience from Thistle Cloud at a later date. He paused for a split second, listening for his mother's reply, but did not turn around. He then strode forward once more, effectively severing the tie between himself and his brother.

Charon stayed by Flóki's side to hear that Jorunn and Thistle would meet at a later time, before he walked off. Charon wondered if Thistle would betray him, but he did not think it so. She was perhaps not his biological mother, but they loved each other as though she were. She would never fall traitor, would she? No. She just wanted to see Jorunn because he was her son, no matter how much of a traitorous dog he was and no matter how disrespectful and horrible he was. Charon decided to ignore Thistle saying that she was disappointed in both of them — she only said it for Jorunn, he told himself, didn't mean it.

Once out of earshot, Charon told Flóki, "I will kill him if he ever returns here with the same pompous attitude and posture." He looked sternly at Flóki while he silently added, And I expect you and Ame to do the same. Jorunn had become a liability and traitor and he had better not return here. With those words and a rough but comforting nip to the cheek Charon departed from his brother's side, allowing him to deal with things on his own while he did the same.