Sun Mote Copse Splintered

@Elohim @Anatha @Ragna

Though they could not maintain the lands as a pack with such low numbers, Asherah lingered within the Copse. She could not yet believe it was true, that this family she had found had withered so quickly away. Two moons ago she had been preparing for the birth of her children, the future of her life and the pack. She would never have dreamed the pack would splinter as it did, that Eshamun would leave them. She thought a moment about Arunik'ra and wondered what would happen if the woman ever did return here to find the land empty, or filled with another pack. 

She forbade the children from leaving the den without her permission, worried now that without borders death could come to claim them. So much had gone wrong, she did not trust anything. She made trips to the Shrine to pray, to bring what homage she could to Molech. She did not blame her God, nor feel hate towards the Many Armed One. Instead, her soul was embittered towards Honey and Eshamun. Ar-Khalba too bore some of her wrath, her anger and pain, but on a lesser note. He was a man, he was not as holy as her sisters nor held to the same standards as them. Eshamun was perhaps the worst, for her feelings were fueled by a deeper sense of betrayal. The woman had left the pack for a man, had abandoned her God and the many children that depended on her as Ekar-Aji for a man. She had left Asherah, her sister. Eshamun had saved her...and she had also damned her.

But she was not damned yet. She was not lost yet. She tried to remind herself this, and tried to fill her life with prayer and her children. She sat outside the den now, angry too that it was so open and so obviously empty. Curse Honey again for making her sacrifice her den only for the woman to piss on the offering. She bent her head to call into the darkness and summon her sweet ones.

"Come play, Anatha and Elohim. It builds your skills so you may be the strong wolves Molech intends you to be." She was sad the weather had been so cold, for it was hard to allow the children to be out too longer. She didn't want them to freeze. So instead she would teach them about the snow and have them practice stalking and wrestling, or simply let them folic and run until they shivered too much.

there was imbued upon her world a feeling of unease. it began when there were suddenly but Elohim, her mother and the other woman that dwelt here, and strengthened when she was forbidden to leave the den. Then there was the den, so empty and big, and her young eyes saw shadows and movement and monsters were there were none. Outside was so bitterly cold, and her days were spent on the edges of the two worlds, the Inside and the Outside, to nervous to dwell to deep into either. 

er mother's call had her straighten, ears stand erect upon her head, as catiously she stood, moving to the den's mouth and standing there, regarding her mother with trepidation, unsure whether she entirely wished to step out into the cold. she was still, ad a moment later murmered only, "cold, ma." Her brow furrowed, worm of a tail swishing behind her in nervousness.

It was impossible not to notice the change. Though he did not yet have the means to describe it, to put to words what had happened he recognized something was different. After Huhy had left with all the baybees, his mama had been different. He thought it was a nice change, no longer having to share his mother or the den with anyone. He didn't mind Nattah most of the time, and when the other female left he had rejoiced in the solitude of the den. 

He didn't see the monsters that his sister did, instead he saw more room to run and play inside. Beind confined to the den disgruntled him, but he didn't truly mind all that much. Outside hurt his face, why would he want to go somewhere that hurt his face? Yet when mama called and allowed them outside he sometimes found joy there, despite the cold. Currently her voice interrupted his digging and he glanced sadly back towards the mouth of the den. He liked to make dips in the ground, to shift the dirt and make it not stick hard like a rock. 

He frowned, dragging his paws as he went. Nattah hesitated in the entrance of the den and he copied her, coming to a stop by her side. He attempted to lean on her, reaching to rest his head over her back. "Brr, mama. Face ow." He agreed with Anatha, blinking at the red woman with wide eyes.

Asherah watched the den entrance for the children and smiled when Anatha and then Elohim appeared. Elohim wore an obvious pout, and Anatha's brow furrowed. They echoed their complaint, disliking the cold. Asherah could not fight the warm swell of love that surged within her as Elohim attempted to lay his head over Anatha. Though she wished the Malkaria had gone so very differently, she had been given her children. Eshamun had saved her life and made possible the two young ones that stood before her. For that, she had to thank the woman.

Staring at them now, she noted features emerging that remind her of their Father. She felt a pang of sadness to think that their family was like hers had been, the very thing she wanted to avoid. She had gotten to know her Father before he was taken, though, her children would not. Unwilling to cause them hurt, she refused to speak Ar-Khalba's name anymore. They were the children of herself and Molech, for truly what more was Khalba but a vessel for the will of Molech? A vessel with the seed for the children her God wished her to have? They were gifts from Molech, not from a man.

"I know it's cold, darlings. I wish it weren't, so that you could play in the sun. Still, it doesn't do you good to stay inside so much. Come out for a moment at least, to get some sun and eat." With that said she regurgitated some meat for them, the now warm and steaming remains of a dead deer she had found frozen to the ground. Molech, she knew, blessed them even as this cold was sent down upon the Wilds. It was not Molech's wish to hurt her, or the children, she knew, but to punish those that needed it. Sadly, punishment could not always be selective to individuals. "Lunch." She cooed, turning so that the children could huddle against her belly fur as they ate.

so ignorant was she to what had become of the Malkaria, what had become of them. she did not share in her mother's complex worries of fears, only felt nervousness, and a waryness of the shadows and of the monsters. though when her mother's words beckoned her from the den once more, the obeyed, for she most always did. hersteps were catious and exaggerated over the snow, which felt smooth and slippery in some places, whihc she was careful to avoid.

eventually she made it to the side of her mother without incident, and there she looked to her brother in unease, wanting him by her side before she begun her meal. When, and if, he oblidged, would she take part in the steaming meal before them, for in her stomach twisted a hunger now that a meal was presented.

Their mother deposited some food for them and his eyes moved down to it hungrily. He would have dashed up and started to gobble had it been inside the den. For now, the cold still held him back. He felt Natah move from under him and gave a sigh, rushing forward at her side. He slipped a few times on the tough snow. This was far removed from the fun fluff he had played in at the start of all this. He moved to the opposite side of his mother as Nattah, curling into her belly and the small amount of warmth it provided.

He snuggled too into his sister's side, sharing the warmth of all three bodies. He gave her a glance and then bent his head to eat, enjoying the warmth of the meat in his belly. He issues pleased growls as he ate. Pausing only once to look to Asherah with a smile and a wag of his tail. "Goo', Mama."

Her children were hesitant, and rightfully so, but they were also obedient and they came after she offered their meal. She reflected sadly, again, that she had pictured their life much different from how it now was. They were already eating meat, only nursing on the days it had been too cold for her to find food. The frozen animal carcasses had offered a wonderful blessing, and she had a few that she had noted and remembered, visiting frequently. She would hunt only occasionally, typically for some kind of offered to Molech. She already had plans for the skull of one of the deer that they'd been feasting on.

As Anatha reached her, Asherah bent and gave the small one's head a gentle lick. Elohim burrowed into her not long after and leaned towards his sister. She bent her nose to kiss both their heads as they began to eat. Elohim paused to give his thanks and Asherah smiled. "It is Molech who provides this meat for you, Elohim. A gift from God especially for you and Anatha. Molech loves you both dearly, as mother loves Molech. One day, perhaps, you will come to love our God too." They likely wouldn't understand the concept of Molech completely yet, but she hoped they too would find peace in belief in The Many Armed God.

quickly and efficienty did the girl fill her stomach, dulling hunger's blade another day. she squeezed close to her mother and to her brother, sharing in their warmth as the meal warmed her from the inside out. she relished in the gentle love that was expressed by her mother muzzling the fur between her ears, in the meal and the warmth. her mother's words were listened to absentmindedly, until she found herself sated and glanced the fiery woman.

"Where Molech?" she queeried softly, gaze darting to the familiar orbs of her mother, wondering where this Molech was and how they had put the meal inside of her mother to be later given to her. Where they a packmate, perhaps? But they had all left, or so she thought, so surely it could not be one of them. a stranger, perhaps?

His mother's caresses were pleasing, and his small tail wagged furiously against her belly. She replied to his thanks, speaking of Molech and he looked up as if expecting to see the wolf. There had been others, he remembered, though they had become more and more scarce. His memories of Honey in the den were vague, but he did still recall it. But her name had not been Molech, so who was that? He chewed a larger chunk as he blinked over at Anatha, wanting the answer to her question too. He would have looked at Asherah, but that would have made it hard to swallow. 

He continued to eat after his sister stopped, not satisfied until his belly was tight as a drum. Only a few bites later, when he felt he couldn't take another bite he stopped, sighing happily.

She watched the two eat, noted their appetites. She kept close watch on them, wanting to be assured of their health. It was hard to imagine, to remember, that she was a first time mother. The interactions came naturally, but also came fear that would have been helped by others. She worried over them, perhaps more than she should. It hadn't occurred to her that she might be being overly protective. But they were safe, and they were fed and that is what mattered.

Anatha questioned her gently, small eyes looking up into her mother's. Asherah smiled, her heart bursting with joy. This is how it starts, she thought gleefully. This is how their love begins. "Molech is everywhere, Anatha." She breathed happily, pointing to each object with a smile as she went. "In the sky, in the trees. Molech lives in my heart, and in yours, and Elohim's." For a moment she grew quiet, not wanting to overwhelm the sweet girl. "Molech is where you come from, sweet ones, the one who gave you to me." The words slipped easily from her mouth, and with them the idea of Ar-Khalba was gone for good. "Molech is your Father, our God."