Moonspear did you know, did you know?

hoping for a @Wraen thoooo 

 

Hydra had taken down not one but two rather fat hares, her tail waving as she picked her way through Moonspear. She hadn't seen Wraen since her interaction with Towhee, which she knew Wraen had heard. That being said, she had been busy in getting over Galaxy and Wraen she imagined was working on her venture of becoming scout. Still, Hydra wanted to see the other again—after their last conversation, she could see Wraen becoming a friend of hers, maybe not as close as Terance but close even still. 

She kept her circle small for a reason. It was pretty common knowledge that Hydra wasn't the warmest of wolves, but that was because of her very protective nature. Anyone who knew her knew of her blind devotion to those she loved and cared for. She would protect those under her proverbial wing with her life and without question. It was simply how she was. 

Thinking she caught the trail of Wraen, Hydra picked up her pace.

It was conflicting really: on one side there was resentment and fear for the horrible thing three sisters had done to the guy, who had been accused of murder, of the unneccessay violence towards his brother, on the other admiration of how far the Ostrega girls were ready to go to protect or avenge those, who they cared about. And in the middle there was Wraen, whose conscience did not agree with the way they chose to deal with problems, and at the same time she wanted to remain loyal, because somewhere deep down, despite the differences they were good people. She wanted to believe that. 

While she attempted to deal with all of she knew and had found out, she had kept her distance from Moonspear, scouting, hunting, training and wandering until she was tired beyond exhaustion. But she realized that she would not be able to avoid the sisters forever and that, when she finally had to face them, she would have a verdict, an opinion to stick to and a plan, what to do afterwards. 

Wraen was sleeping in her den after yet another long exploring mission, when she heard someone approaching. Curious, but not too eager to get up and overwork her today, she went to the entrance of the den and spotted Hydra's familiar form in the distance. By now - though identical in looks - she was able to tell the difference between the three of them. Their mannerisms and characters differed. "Hey!" she called out to the beta and wagged her tail ina friendly greeting.

Hydra perked up when Wraen came into sight. Her plume had an easygoing sweep and she spoke through the furs: hry! before realizing it. With a laugh, she adeptly dropped one between her feet and tossed the other gently towards Wraen. Look at how big these dudes are! I think that's the only reason I caught them today, she said with a grin. They were pretty fat. Maybe they found the best place to get some really good pig food, Hydra remarked, remembering their last conversation fondly. Her tail waved. You hungry? She hadn't even thought to ask! Still, the hare was Wraen's. Hydra had hunted it for her, after all. And what was better than girls having brunch together?

Hydra's enthusiasm was contagious, the food looked amazing and with these two reasons combined, it was hard to remain upset with the girl. Wraen joined her without hesitation, nosing and sniffing the two furry fatties first and then giving the hunter a look of appreciation. For a person, who had lived on the desperate food, small rodents and frozen remnants taken from the caches, the prospect of fresh, juicy meal was like being invited to royal dinner. Mind-blowing and downright amazing. 

"Thanks! You did not have to do that," she pointed out, thinking about Jarilo and Vela, who might have needed it more than the one's, who knew how to hunt already. But she was not going to argue about a gift that had been given to her, therefore she picked one of the rabbits by the leg and pulled it few feet away. "So, how are things?" Wraen asked, when she had settled down with the rabbit between her paws and beginning to rip on it's belly, while ears were turned in Hydra's direction, ready to listen, whatever she had to say.

Hydra's tail waved at her friend's acceptance of the gift. In knowing that she hunted for Jarilo and Vela frequently anyhow, it was no sweat off her back to offer Wraen some good eats. And these were good eats. I know. I just like to do things for my friends when I can, and she did not need it reciprocated. It was only Hydra recognizing the people in her life who brought her light. 

At the inquiry, as Hydra tugged at the flesh of the rabbit and chewed, she swallowed and licked her chops. ...Hard, but better, Hydra admitted, then. I have never lost a sibling before. Galaxy was so good, and pure—she is... was... a lot like Korei Julia. Just... good. Harmless. Always happy, she expressed, with a nostalgic grin. You know, once I wanted to make her my apprentice. I called her my Axe, this she had not shared with anyone but her sisters, who knew everything. Not even Terance knew this—god forbid he learn of her sometimes soft layer underneath (though she was certain he knew it). But she wasn't interested in fighting. She shook her head, moving to take another bite of the food. She paused for a moment, before glancing back to Wraen. Remember that conversation I had with my friend? She had been there, after all.

Wraen had full mouth of innards, while she listened to Hydra and noted that this was the first time ever, when she was so open about herself. It almost felt like... she was a human (wolfman?) too, which should not be much of a surprise really. But 9.9 times out of 10, Wraen had seen this girl being business-like, reserved and being the one, who asked questions and received answers. Not the other way round. Seeing the softer side... was disarming.

Wraen decided there and then that she would not confront the beta about any of the matters that had plagued her mind for the past few days. The Redhawk wolf's ravaged face sneered at her scornfully, when she put aside her weapons and shut the doors of the mental storage place meant for arguments. She reasoned that Hydra had just as much right to explain her driving force behind her actions, and only now, when she revealed, how close she had been with her younger sibling, it occurred to Wraen that if it had been her sister or brother dying, she would not have acted much differently.

"Yeah," Wraen nodded and picked one of the legs to chew on.

This side of Hydra, none but her friends knew. Not even Korei Julia had been exposed to this side of Hydra, though she was not always so cold with her. Hydra liked Wraen, though—trusted her, even. That much had been clear when she spoke so openly before her and Towhee. Well, I found him. She said no more than that. Her voice was grave, so grave that she looked back to Wraen and said: I didn't kill him. I wanted to, she admitted, he deserved it, she felt, but I didn't. I told him to stay away from here. I care about Towhee and Gannet. If my father or mother saw him around here, he will die. I would help them, too, she admitted frankly. After all, ultimately, her loyalty was to her parents. My father was never a fan of the Caldera. Admittedly, after that... she could understand. But then, there were some good ones in the mix. 

It was Charon's dilemma with Potema, experienced by Hydra. 

She shook her head. I told him if he ever saw something like that again, to call someone. She hoped to make an impression. She hoped he would not make the same mistake, ever again.

Wraen choked on a bone, when Hydra began to talk about the Redhawk wolf, fearing for one second that somehow the beta knew about her meeting with the guilty party. Cerberus were good at showing up and happening to be near without warning. Instead she revealed that she had been merciful, by letting him live. And I know, what you are not telling me. About mauling him. That he will most likely die anyway - slowly and painfully, and alone. It was a good thing that, while these thoughts went through her mind, she was coughing up the offending piece of bone in her throat, therefore her expression revealed nothing of the knowledge she had. 

"You do realize that Gannet will be a cripple for life, if he lives as long to have his foot healed," Wraen said calmly looking Hydra in the eyes and then diverting her gaze. "Broken bones are not all about taking rest and eating herbs. The injury he has, might get worse," she told, having witnessed once a coyote, who had a broken limb in a vehicle accident (though Wraen had no knowledge of that), and who she had found dead and rotting away few days later. The pieces of bone were sticking out of the fesetered flesh and there had been worms eating their way through. "He might die."

Truth be told, Hydra thought that Wraen would know without her clarifying that she had attacked him upon sight. It would not be in her nature to not do so—her unspoken words were not lies, and she had left a very heavy implication that the situation had been dealt with as per her way. Mauling him or just attacking him was the very same to Hydra in the situation against a man who had killed her sister. He lived still, though. 

Wraen's words were sobering ones, but then the conversation itself was that way. Hydra, actually, did not know that. Lyra was a self-learned woman; capable and talented, to be sure. Hydra didn't believe luck had to do with it—but she did not know that infection was even a thing. It was not something she considered when they savaged Titmouse, either. Death, really, had not been her goal for him. She had never broken a bone, either, to realize that this was the sort of consequence that would be had. 

No, she responded, I didn't know that. I'm not sure where in the mix his bone had even been broken. He was coming for me, and Alya and Lyra stopped him. I do not think any of us were really thinking clearly, and she was thankful for that, her sisters stopping him. She believed fully he was coming to attack her, too—Hydra, foolish though it was, would have done the same—as they were like-minded individuals. But her expression had turned into one of genuine worry. Lyra knows a lot about healing, she expressed. I know Gannet can't leave now with the weather being what it is. If he slips and falls on the way back, things will get worse for him than they are now... Hydra looked down to the ground. Between the ice and the impending heavy snows that were coming, it was a bad idea. 

What do you think we ought to do? She asked then. Hydra did value the opinion of Wraen, obviously, to not have snapped at her immediately at the situation being spoken of. And she wondered if there was anything that could be done, at this point in time, or if Wraen's words were to warn her against employing such methods in the future. 

She certainly would—against those she liked, anyhow. Hydra hadn't meant for anything permanent to afflict him... just some good old fashioned pain for some time to remind him what happened when one turned on her like that. Sure she could understand it, typically, but it had happened on Moonspear territory. It was a dirty move, to come at her out of nowhere right after her sister's death. It was amazing Gannet had lived. Lyra had been the first to note Galaxy was dead, and it was a moment of great distress for the Ostrega's. The scene had been chaos. But she wanted to amend what she could.

"Not let him die?" Wraen suggested with a wry smile and for the sake of Gannet and the sisters she hoped for the best. That the foot would not get infected, that he would not meet the same fate as the coyote. There wasn't really much what to do or how to help the young man - aside from keeping him warm, well-fed and restraining him from any action. But from a rational viewpoint the captive was an unneccessary burden to the pack - there was no use of him.

"The question here is, how long can Moonspear afford to take care of him? Generally speaking if things stay the same - that is not the problem. However, if the weather changes and there is shortage of food?" Wraen had met the young man herself, liked him and felt sorry for him. But she had been part of Moonspear wolves long enough to prioritize her pack-members, leaders and their offspring higher than any injured stranger in their care. 

"And when it comes to that - is Redhawk caldera equipped to support him, because he might be out of the game even after the broken limb has healed," she continued. "You know them better than I do, you know your family better than I - what are Gannet's chances in the worst case scenario?"

Hydra remained thoughtful as Wraen spoke. As to not letting him die, well, I will do my best to not let that happen, she said with a sigh. And if he did die, well, she would not run from it. Hydra looked at her paws. If there is a food shortage, I suppose that is when we ask the Caldera to come and escort him. It would be up to them if they were to aid him or not. And if they do not, we ask if Gannet would like to join our own ranks. In which case, he would continue to be aided. Hydra would not mind taking Gannet within Moonspear's ranks at all to start with, but that was entirely up to Gannet. 

She could understand his loyalty still being what it was, though. The Caldera was his family, by blood even—just as Moonspear was her own. Liffey is from the Caldera, and my father took her in. I think he would take Gannet in, assuming he heals well. Rannoch came to us injured, albeit under different circumstances. We cared for him just the same. He was attacked by a Blackfeather wolf, she informed. His recovery time would be different than Gannet's. Hydra could not see her father mutilating or harming Gannet, though. Not unless Gannet intended harm against them... which she recognized, at present, he did not.

Hydra sounded so sure about her words, that Wraen did not have the guts to ask, if Charon or Amekaze would have any say in, whether Gannet was to stay in the Moonspear and be provided as long as he needed. She knew that Charon - at least - valued his beta's opinion, but would it be enough to convince him to care for and feed a crippled wolf? Wraen held the leader in high regard, but did not believe him to be a charitable man. 

"Those Blackfeather wolves sound like "trouble" by definition," Wraen remarked and then went silent, while chewing on one of the rabbit's feet and thinking about the next thing she should ask, now that there was opportunity to talk with a leader figure. "Do you know, by any chance - what happens now? Between Moonspear and Redhawk caldera? I mean, you had your way with the guilty party, but does your father... well, there are no war plans for the future, are there?"

Hydra nodded her head slowly to Wraen's statement. Months ago, Hydra would have went on a passionate rant about her feelings toward them, but her negative emotions toward them had died down in the wake of her hatred for Titmouse. He had (inadvertently) killed her sister, after all. Nothing compared to that. Vaati attacking Rannoch paled in comparison. Well, with the Caldera and Drageda attacking them, I don't think we'll have to worry about them for much longer, she said at length. She wondered about that outcome, but never lost sleep over it. In the end, Vaati had paid the price for his attack on her friend.

Wraen's next question was mulled over as Hydra took her own portion of fat hare. Once she swallowed, she glanced to her friend. Honestly, Wraen, I've been giving my dad some space. Like I said before, he'd kill Titmouse no questions asked if he saw him again. That's why I've banished him. I hoped he wouldn't return to the Caldera—I can't imagine them just giving him to us, you know? And there'd surely be hell to pay for that. Hydra sighed. I did what I could to prevent our own war. I don't think my dad has plans for that, though. Winter is hard enough, and him and my mother will want another litter, I'm sure, she said with a wave of her tail, but right now... he's mourning. He's angry. But he was handling it. Hydra had hung with her father, but in silence. Verbal space, was what she meant. They chased coyotes and foxes and killed them. It was therapeutic.

"Giving space is the right way to go," Wraen agreed. She could not imagine the extent of pain Charon was feeling right now, because she had never lost anyone, who was close to her. Maybe over time it would get better, but this did not lessen her concern for him getting his pack involved in something that would push them towards tough decisions and question their loyalty towards him. 

"I hope that things sort out," she finally said and with that it felt like everything she wanted to talk about with Hydra, was covered. She finished her meal in silence, listening carefully to, what else the beta had to say and including all of the "aha"s and "mhm"s at the right places. 

Finishing this, since we have a new thread.