Felltree Marsh I've wandered quite far

Theo was bored back in his home. There wasn't any action going on for him. He'd seen Etienne getting a mentor and starting to learn stuff, but it'd seemed his mother had left out her first born, since he hadn't been showing as much potential as his brother. Sure he had potential, he was just more of a thinker than a doer. Etienne was putting himself out there and showing his capabilities, while Theo preferred to just think about them, and think about what he could do. He wanted to show was he could do though so he decided to go out on his own.

But he realized he had no idea where he was going. He'd walked quite far, determinedly crossing a river (over a fallen tree, since he had no idea how to swim), and had walked past mountains for days into an area he was unfamiliar with. It was kind of swampy here, the ground wet, unlike the cliffs of his home. He wanted to find something to hunt to bring to his mother to show his capability, but at this point he was just exhausted and needed to find something to hunt for himself. The problem was, he didn't know how to hunt.

vague about timing but I couldn't resist <3

The last thing that Ashlar expected to find out here was someone as young as Theo. He'd come to the marsh to see about bringing down a bird, though if he found anything useful along the way he would also collect that. So far he hadn't spotted any plants worth saving.

The bard stopped when he saw the younger wolf and cocked his head curiously. Ashlar was often intimidated by strangers but this was different. It was more likely the other wolf wouldn't mind his presence so much without the bearing of a seasoned warrior.

Hi. He took a few steps forward and his tail swayed in a friendly manner. I... my name's Ashlar.

Theo's head whipped around at the voice. He hadn't really learned how to scent a wolf thats approaching you yet, so the voice surprised him. He wasn't sure how to react at first but the wolf offered his name and seemed to hold himself in a friendly manner, so Theo dropped some of his tenseness but held on to some wariness. He approached the warrior shakily, due to hunger and weakness. It had rained during his journey and his pelt was still wet, either from the marsh or from the rain, so he was cold ontop of everything.

"Hi." Theo replied. "My names Theo." He gave Ashlar his name in return. Despite only being 4ish months old, he spoke with more confidence and calmness than a wolf of his age and in his situation usually would. "I-I'm hungry." He mumbled, hoping the wolf could help. Then he shivered, which shook his entire body. "And cold." he added quietly, not liking to admit how weak he was but he had a feeling Ashlar wouldn't hurt him.

Ashlar hadn't recognized him by appearances alone, but the name triggered the recollection immediately. This was another of his sons - not the missing one, but different. Chacal's sons.

He hadn't meant to meet them.

I can help fix that, if you want? I know where there's food. He'd caught something earlier and stashed it away, though he hadn't intended to eat it. It and whatever he caught here were both going back to help feed those waiting back home, but Theo looked like he could use it more.

What... why are you out here alone? He asked, softly concerned. He didn't want to say that he knew where he was from just yet, just in case, but it worried him. Why had he left the cliffs?

Theos ears perked at the promise of food. "Yes, I would appreciate if I could get some food." He said meekly. Then the question he'd expected. "why are you out here alone?". "If I tell you why I'm on my own, can you promise not to laugh?" Theo asked, and not even waiting for a response, jumped into his reasoning anyway.

"I have a brother, the 2nd born of the litter, I was the first, but he seems to be doing more than me and showing more strength, even though I constantly try to be better and get my moms attention. All she does is pay it to him. Because he shows his strength more often than me, he's more social than me, more into the pack. He got a mentor even before me and it isn't fair, so I decided to go out on my own to try and hunt something really good for my family, maybe even get into a fight and come back with scars, but I just want to prove i'm strong and worthy!" Theo said, ending in defiance. 

Then he dipped his head and put his ears back in embarrassment and sadness. "Not looking too strong now though, half starved." He muttered.

Ashlar didn't laugh, to his credit. He listened and couldn't relate to having siblings, but he understood the difficulty of not meeting expectations. It was something he was very familiar with.

I don't think that's a funny thing to feel. He answered. Then he began to walk, waiting for Theo to follow. They could work on catching something after he'd eaten. But I don't think you have anything to prove either. Some of us are quieter, but that doesn't mean we don't matter as much.

Strength means different things depending on who you are, I think. I never liked fighting, so I try to help instead. He wondered what Theo would make of that. Ashlar internally quailed at the thought of the younger wolf seeking out scars, but he knew by now he was not the norm.

"I'm quieter but I still like hunting and fighting and I want to be more like my brother, out there and talking to others, but im more in my own head than the real world." Theo said with a sigh, as he followed Ashlar

I saw the thread you tagged me in and im a bit confused about it....

sorry about that! That thread happens after this - but don't worry about joining it! I'm fine assuming Ashlar left Theo at the rise, and mercury said Avicus would likely be fine with Ashlar offering to mentor. So if Theo wants that, you can assume he's staying at the rise until (and unless) something happens to change that!

I think I understand. Ashlar didn't understand wanting to fight, but he fully understood wishing to be more like others. He felt guilty each time, but how often had he felt jealous of Tulimaq, of Prophet and Augur? They were friends and brothers to him and oftentimes they too felt like so much more than he did. Warriors and hunters, confident in their skills and place, while he struggled to even fill the one responsibility he'd been given.

I... I don't think you can't be those things. I know someone who's both and never speaks. But we still understand him. Augur was one of the easier wolves for Ashlar to understand, strangely enough. If you want to be something, you should try and be it your way. Someone else's way is only the best way for them. He felt himself warm up a little self-consciously. This was his first conversation with one of them and he was barely making any sense!

Sorry. I just... um. I think... would you want to maybe... have a mentor? In the Rise? I could tell your mom and ask, since the cliffs aren't far. Theo hadn't told him where he was from, but Ashlar failed to realize that might be odd to him. He liked the idea of being able to help (his son!) to feel more confident and appreciated alongside a brother who, perhaps one day, Ashlar would also get to meet. He didn't like the idea of them growing up set against one another, and despite his dislike of the warlike nature of the Rise, he loved every member in it. Prophet and Augur, and maybe even Avicus, would have so much to give him. Ashlar could help him to hunt at the very least.

Theo nodded along to everything Ashlar was saying. From the way he was saying it, Theo could sense he'd felt the same way, at least somewhat. When he offered mentor-ship, Theo's eyes lit up. "YES!" He said really excitedly. "I'd LOVE that!" He added, so happy that he didn't even to bother asking how Ashlar knew where he was from. 

Throughout the whole encounter it didn't even occur to him that Ashlar did look quite like himself. They both have brown bases, and other than Theo's golden mane and green eyes, he looked quite a bit like Ashlar. He had no idea who his father was and he wouldn't think it was this guy, despite their similarities. He hadn't even picked up on those though.

Ashlar lit up like the sun when Theo responded so positively to his suggestion. It was like watching a flower open up in the spring. It was hard to remember the last time he felt he'd been able to actually help someone significantly, and the joy was only increased when he took into account the fact that Theo was his family. He'd share that eventually - but not yet. He had told Chacal he wouldn't and he wanted to keep that promise until he spoke with her about it.

I don't think Avicus'll mind. But I'll ask her, and your mom. Chacal might mind and the bard did worry about that. Thankfully the coast was nearby and Theo wouldn't be far from home. Ashlar couldn't keep him here without at least telling her.

I can help with hunting, and if you want to learn about medicines. But for fighting, there's... the others are better. Ashlar looked down briefly, then back up to see what he might respond. He found himself hoping the young wolf would be happy to focus on the things he could teach, but he tried not to let that hope show. Ashlar had decided a long time ago he wouldn't force his children to learn to fight - and that meant he wouldn't force them not to either.

They would be safer that way, and he had to trust them to know when to choose it and when to choose kindness. He could at least help to teach them this.

Theo's ears perked up when Ashlar mentioned medicines. "Oh! I've nevered thoughted about medicines." Theo said. "But that would be interesting to learned abouted them." He said, getting excited. "And abouted fighting and hunting too." He added

"Thank you." Theo added politely, dipping his head to Ashlar.

after reading how Danni roleplays Etienne, I changed the way Theo talks a bit to fit a pup his age a bit more, hence the 'ed's added to words.

And feel free to wrap it up in the next post.

no problem!

Ashlar smiled and, internally, felt a huge sensation of relief. On the way back to the Rise he would point out any plants he saw that had common uses, allowing Theo to know in a small way if the study was something he wanted to continue. If so he would teach him more.

When they arrived he would speak to Avicus and get her blessing for this. Then he would prepare to go see his mother and bring the news to her.