Ravensblood Forest Cuppa joe in the morning

[img]  care to get to know Dakarai a bit more?[/img] @Arturo


Dakarai limped around slowly gritting his teeth against the stiff pain in his hind legs as he forced himself onward. He had decided that laying down constantly would not only drive him mad, but make him fat and lazy. So here he was patrolling the area surrounding Olive's den. He was moving further away from the den than planned, but he kept going on a whim. He was trying to familiarize himself with the borders and the scents that lay with them. He already had gotten Chusi and Arturo's scent down, but there were many more that he couldn't put to a face. Suddenly a face struck him for one scent and he paused, drawing in the female's scent. isley...that's who that is.. He thought wagging his tail.

sorry for the wait on this! <3

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Arturo found himself with a rare lull. Breaks were not something the gangster were used to and though he hated being idle for any amount of time the borders were reinforced, Chusi had ventured off to likely give him a heart attack do whatever it was she was doing (he liked to pretend it was something he would approve of) and though her newly minted rank of Heir gave her many more responsibilities and kept her closer to him, under his watchful eye Arturo knew that he could not keep her confined nor stifled. He only wished she would not be so rebellious. Rebellion among his children was not something Ceannasach was used to. His children with Duana hadn't really been all that much of a handful. He'd been fortunate he realized. Trying to analyze why Chusi was acting out as she did only served to give Arturo a headache. He considered that perhaps she was not used to the stability of Teaghlaigh, nor his constant and unwavering presence in her life. Though it was good for her, what she needed, he wondered if it was the root of her teenage rebellion.

He tucked those thoughts away, knowing that stressing over her whereabouts would do more harm than good. He had to trust that she had Teaghlaigh's best interest in her heart and if she decided to disobey him that she knew there would be severe consequences if he ever caught wind of it. Feeling ...bored for the moment and wishing that he could make the trek to visit Lotte he instead headed into the heart of the Ravensblood, figuring that it might be a good time to catch up with the Comhlach's and garner their progress. He caught Dakarai's scent first, mingled heavily with Olive's and diverted his course. He found the injured male soon, fiery red-orange gaze skimming over him for a terse moment before the gangster let out a low chuff of greeting (and to announce his presence).

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Dakarai jumped slightly, jerked out of his thoughts by the greeting of Arturo. He turned to face him, dipping his head in respect before raising his gaze to meet that of the Authoritive figure. "I was trying to Familiarize myself with the scents. I can't place faces to some of them yet, but i know Olive's,Chusi's and Your's. I think i know Isley's too for it smells slightly of Medicinal Herbs" He explained. He didn't know why but he felt he needed to explain why he was out and about along the borders. He didn't know what looked suspicious to the male, and in case this did he wanted to clarify. It was of utmost importance that he be accepted into the family as a real member, so that he could stay with Olive. To be fair, he actually cared about Chusi as well, in the brief time he had known her.



He sat down and wagged his tail a bit "Would you like to walk with me Arturo? Maybe we can learn a bit about one another?"   he asked hopefully. He really wanted to prove his worth, but until he was completely healed and his energy was fully restored, he would settle for providing Arturo with a bit of knowledge of himself and how he worked.

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It was the meeting of their gazes that caused Arturo's lips to curl back over his teeth in a silent warning. Though as far as Dakarai (or any Comhlach really) knew Furiosa was the big bad in charge (indeed she was a big bad in charge) but all of The Family was of rank whereas the Comhlach were not ranked and the gangster had never taken the meet of someone's gaze to his as overly well (lest he thought them his equal or they were his children). He showed no excessive dominance, simply the wordless warning for Dakarai to remember that Olive's status among The Family had no conjunction to his own. Until he did as Arturo had asked he was an associate and Olive's status could not and would not help to elevate him into their fold. Though Arturo had not asked he was met with an explanation of Dakarai's presence upon the borders. Nevertheless the gangster accepted it with a stoic nod of his head.

Knowledge was power and thus Arturo could not truly pass up an opportunity to glean it. Besides, to become one of The Family knowledge of one another was a key part of it. Of course, they all had their little secrets: Arturo himself was not guiltless in this. Mostly his “secrets” considered his love life but as he did not feel that truly concerned The Family in any capacity (expect perhaps in the matter of his happiness) he did not feel so inclined to share it with them. Yet. When he courted Lotte for real, of course, they would know. Until then, when his grand romantic notions of courting were little more than just ideals he kept his scarfed to be sought gangster queen mummer his business as much as he could.

“Then let us walk,” Arturo encouraged with a gesture of his muzzle. “And let us talk. Man to man.” Would they have been human Arturo would have offered the exchange of information over a pint or two of ale but about all he could offer (as they were not humans and instead wolves) was a small hunt after but given Dakarai's still healing condition that didn't seem like a overly good idea.

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The warning was taken seriously and Dakarai ducked his head again, eyes lowering quickly to show he meant not to insult the authoritive male.His offer was accepted however, and that filled Dakarai with some hope that he would make it into Teaghlaigh after all. He still needed to heal, for his legs were not yet strong enough to assist in taking down a doe, much less a bull from a herd. Arturo made the gesture for them to begin the walk, and so Dakarai movd forward keeping his tail below Arturo's and slightly flattening his ears as well.


"I am not yet sure if I have questions for you, as it isn't my right to ask any to begin with but if you have something you need to ask me, dont hesitate" he said politely. He walked silently for a moment, trying to decide what to talk about. He supposed talking about how he met Olive and began this whole situation would be proper, so he opened his maw already the lips curving into a smile at the thought of his and Olive's first meeting.


"I was exploring the vast expanse of territories around Teekon, trying to familiarize myself with the different terrain before choosing where to settle down.I had wandered into the Sunspire, into a beautiful meadow and i saw Olive laying there. She seemed so in tune to the earth that i was hesitant to bother her. Im glad i did though. We talked for hours,and i began to court her."


Dakarai paused and flicked his gaze toward Arturo, though his eyes never strayed above chest level. He wanted to make it clear that he loved Olive and wasn't just some brute ruled by his savage hormones."I never had any other intention then to stay by her side, flings aren't something i enjoy. She responded in kind, and we spent the night together, sleeping by each others side. She asked me to come home with her, but i explained that i needed to explore for a while more. She understood immediately, and i promised her i would return no matter what."


After he had finished that little speech he sighed heavily, thinking of how he had stumbled across Blackfeather Wood's Borders. He had retreated over the line immediately, but was afraid they would track his scent down and hurt him for intruding. He told Arturo that quickly and continued to explain "I didn't want to be harmed before seeing Olive agan, so i placated them by saying i wanted to join. They let me in as a associate of sorts, but i never fet safe. Their borders were marked with blood for feck's sake. So after only a week at most i tried to sneak away, but was met and attacked at the borders by one of their guards. She did what she did and I escaped."  He sighed heavily, closing his eyes as he remembered how he had ran for what had seemed like hours, stopping occasionally to frantcally wash himself in a stream to hide his scent.

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Dakarai appeared to have a good grasp on Teaghlaigh and by extension Arturo himself when he spoke that he had no questions and added that he had no right to the answers, regardless. This pleased the Ceannasach. Though Dakarai could ask if he truly felt the need to but it was better to avoid questions that Arturo was liable to ignore. Not asking questions was a sound plan to Arturo who offered a nod of his approval. Arturo knew he had no leg to stand on when it came to Dakarai and Olive's quick courtship. He, himself, had become quite smitten with his nightingale the first night he met her and it only increased with time spent apart. With his ex-lover Duana, he had never courted her nor took her as his mate despite that she had bore him children. The harsh truth had been simple: he'd been young and spurred by the saccharine call of her hormones. Accepting her into Teaghlaigh's first incarnation had been his way of fulfilling obligation without tying himself to her. He respected her but he had never loved her; and while he had grown smitten with Lotte almost immediately months had passed and he had yet to court her. Thus, he found a pawful of hours knowing one another and sudden courtship the same night to be ...baffling. Silly, perhaps; but Ceannasach would never insult Olive by expressing as much. Their romance was only his business when it affected the Family and so long as Dakarai did what he needed to be welcomed into their fold officially and they obeyed his rules then he saw there to be no need for issue.

“That is a big commitment to make in a single night,” Arturo observed quietly, contemplative. In fact, it might even serve to rival Romeo & Juliet's rapid-paced romance. “Why would you need to placate these wolves of the Woods? Were you trespassing?” There was something Arturo found suspicious by that, like he was missing something. Perhaps he'd simply misinterpreted but he could not imagine ever doing anything to simply placate another lest he was doing something wrong ...and even then Arturo Fearghal bowed to none.

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Dakarai smiled at Arturo's comment about his and Olive's quick courtship, and he ducked his head like an Embarrassed youth. "Yes..you are right. But it was made nonetheless and I hold no regret. It was like our souls were meant to be one, and when we met, they just clicked" he said, his voice dropping in volume as he puzzled over how to explain what it felt like. Arturo then asked why he needed to Placate the Blackfeather wolves, asking if he trespassed and his eyes widened "No! well..yes technically. I was chasing a rabbit, and it crossed the borders. I was not paying attention to my surroundings and had gone a few tail lengths over the border when i realized what i had done. I retreated back over the line and was going to leave" he explained quickly. He didn't need Arturo thinking he had intruded on another pack, though having the male think he was a fool was not much better.


"But then I began to worry whether they would hunt me down after finding my scent. I had noticed the strong scent of blood that marked their borders and decided to choose the safest option. I howled for their leader and asked for acceptance. I had planned to leave soon after, but could never find time to escape. It was when everyone seemed to be asleep that i tried to sneak away, and was caught by a female on the borders. She attacked me and i fought back, eventually escaping" he finished explaning and shook his head "I should have just stayed on the borders and explained why i had crossed"  he admitted.

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As far as being instantly drawn to another in this Arturo could not comment upon without being hypocritical. He had been drawn to Lotte in a way he wasn't able to explain. It was nothing like the initial allure of Duana which had been his ex-lover's estrus cycle. Age wasn't something Arturo paid too much mind to but he easily suspected his nightingale had yet to experience her's. Arturo, admittedly, was not half the romantic that Dakarai was who spoke of souls and destiny. The gangster did not believe in celestial beings, forces or fairy-tales for that matter. He was what he considered to be far too practical for such childish fantasies (to his mother's complete and utter chagrin). He had not been raised to scoff at such things for his mother believed very much in deities, fae and magicks. Yet, Arturo scoffed at such things nevertheless. As for the rush of Olive and Dakarai's relationship...Arturo couldn't help but feel slight disapproval on the matter personally. At the very least, when he finally told Lotte that he intended to court her they would have known each other for months. With her living in Donnelaith and him in Teaghlaigh their interactions had been limited but still they were not strangers by any means. Still, so long as his rules were followed and Dakarai saw to becoming ranked as one of The Family then the quickness of is and Olive's relationship didn't matter. Arturo only hoped that their eagerness to rush it would not let one or both of them heartbroken.

Dakarai's quick no turned into a “yes technically” and Arturo's lip curled up over his teeth. So he'd trespassed. Regardless of how quick it was and how he had amended himself it didn't matter. Trespassing was trespassing. Still, if you were going to trespass it was preferable to the gangster that you didn't get caught. Trespassing on Teaghlaigh's territory meant death. It was not something that Arturo tolerated in his own domain, but to claim he wasn't opposed to trespassing on other's territories so long as they were not allies and he didn't care what they thought of Teaghlaigh would be a lie. His only inhibition to causing strife with other packs of the Wilds was because Teaghlaigh was still an infant and they were small. Though they had Blackrock Depths to back them in the event of a war Arturo wanted to be sure they could handle their own, first. They could not always rely on the Depth warriors to cover their asses. Though it was the point of their alliance Arturo liked to know that Teaghlaigh was an independent nation and could provide and defend on it's own.

“Dakarai,” Arturo fixed the ebony male in his burning, fiery red-orange gaze. “If you trespass into another's lands and aren't immediately caught you don't draw attention to it. You leave.” Whether trespassing was an accident or not if he hadn't been caught Arturo wouldn't have lingered and he certainly wouldn't have drawn attention to it. “By calling for them and admitting your crime you received your due punishment.” And Arturo couldn't truly feel sorry for him, nor could he blame the Blackfeather Woods wolves for doling out a punishment. Arturo would have done the same thing. “I hope for if no one else's sake but Olive's own, you've learned your lesson. You should be aware of your surroundings and if you do something you shouldn't and can make a clean get away: you leave without drawing attention to yourself. Cover your track if you're worried about being hunted but you get the hell out of dodge, understand?” Dakarai had spoken of worry and perhaps it had been guilt that had drove him but that was not something Arturo could emphasis with. He rarely felt guilty for his actions. He might not always be right but Arturo wouldn't apologize for what he did (usually because he wasn't sorry for it). Then again, the gangster had been tempered and molded in a very different forge.

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Dakarai's eyes widened as Arturo growled at him, and instinctively he flattened his ears and ducked his head. He had to follow the path of submission for now until he proved himself, even though it was his nature to give a low growl in return. He knew this pack was based off of respect and familial value so he hunched himself down, hoping that Arturo would not attack him for trespassing on a different pack's borders. He listened silently as Arturo scolded him, even though the words were not something Dakarai had not figured out for himself already. Once the male was done, he went over the words in his head secretely angered by the fact that Olive's name was brought into it. As if he would do anything other than try to keep his godess safe! 


Taking a deep breath to calm himself he made himself nod, allowing himself the time to think over the right words to say without further angering the male. "Yes sir, I already realized that. I was foolish for acting on my guilt. i could have gotten away easily, but instead i did what I assumed was right instead of listening to logic. It wont happen again, for now I have not only myself to protect but Olive and hopefully the family as well." he said, the words coming out with honesty. He waited for some sign that if he stood up he would not be harmed.

poopy post is poop. :-(

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The submission shown by Dakarai appeased the Ceannasach. Though the Comhlachs didn't know that he was their true leader, as he deigned it to be so, Arturo was not afraid to enforce and display his displeasure at them. Towards the Family he offered tempered patience but Comhlachs didn't have that respect from him yet and the gangster was unafraid to play the role of cold, distanced enforcer. Dakarai's stance with Olive didn't give him any sort of advantage over the others. He would earn his place as Arturo expected all of them to or he wouldn't. It was just that simple.

Wayward lovers though they were, Arturo could not and would not see them as official so long as Dakarai remained a Comhlach. To those who held the associate rank he offered no favoritism, regardless of their connections. “Only you can decide that.” Arturo drew, the deep, smoky and accented timbre of his voice a simple conclusion. Dakarai knew what Arturo expected of him and what he chose to do with it was his own choice. Arturo had done his part by naming off what was expected and the task required to seal the deal of initiation into The Family. Though his posture remained rigid, regal but he made no moves of advance towards Dakarai, content with the distance between them. It was a silent way of communicating that should Dakarai wish he could rise from his lowered posture.

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last post from me!

The words Arturo spoke made it clear that the move up to a member of the family all depended on his actions. It was something he had already known for he never expected or wanted to be coddled or treated special. Slowly rising up to his full height he nodded silently. "In that case I should only need a few more days to rest. A week at most, to make sure that my wounds will not reopen and make me a liability. I will begin to strengthen my legs in the meantime. If I fail this task, I understand that any place in the family i may have had will not be solidified but instead revoked from me. I promise that no problems will arise if that is the case."  He spoke slowly making sure his words were kept respectful while getting his point across all the same. 



"That being said I have no intention of failing my task. Instead I hope to track down a good meal for the family, the first act of my loyalty being to provide energy and strength to everyone"  he said this with resolve, his eyes hardening as he spoke of his intentions. Now that he had met with Arturo alone, he was filled with the desire to gain the man's respect if not his good opinion. "If I may be dismissed, I wish to go for a run" he asked, lowering his chin as he waited for the permission to leave.

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To Dakarai's words and promises Arturo did not respond for it would only serve to make him redundant and Arturo was not the type of man that enjoyed repeating himself. The ebony Comhlach had his rapt attention and the intense burn of the Ceannasach's fiery gaze spoke for him: we will see. When asked to be dismissed the gangster offered it with a sharp gesture of his muzzle, a silent dismissal and farewell in one swift, languid motion. The melanistic coywolf watched Dakarai disappear from his view before he, too, moved on to the next task on his agenda: check and fill the pack's caches. The Comhlach's had it so hard, had so much expected of them before they could join the ranks of The Family because trust was a core element of Teaghlaigh. The Family had to trust him, as Ceannasach and each other just as much as he had to trust them and in the workings of The Family trust and respect was earned not freely nor blindly given.

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