Boartusk Heights youngblood

It has been four weeks, and for the first time, Diego crawls beyond the den. Large paws strike the earth. Unstable, he steadies himself, tall ears still wilting at their peaks.

It is dark; it is night. Clouded cover hides the moon. He shivers, but not with cold; hungers, but not for food.

Diego checks behind him to see if @Emilio might be watching. A smirk, if he is. Hopeful the proud glance might cause him to follow. Hopeful their mother does not see

Like a shadow he steals into the bloodborne woods.

hope u dont mind me snatching this thread!

the vampiress awakens, and does her ritualistic walks through the kingdom to chase away the fat her litter has "blessed" her with. but from one of the dens — scoria and hashut's — the scent of youth trails away from it. the queen looks to the den with a cold expression, and calls for none. little legs cannot travel so far.

she pursues at her own pace through the darkwoods, mist heavy on this night.

of course not! <3 you are welcome any time, I appreciate the snatching!

Someone follows. Their eyes prick the back of his skull. He turns, but he is met by mist.

Diego squints against oblivion. Heavy sheets plume about him, wrapping the land in a think cloud and obscuring the den from sight. Had it been this dense when he'd left? He must not have noticed; he could only see now that he could no longer see what he knew was right in front of him.

Little nose works the air. It is sharp. He sneezes - and in blinking away the residue, he sees the ghost silhouetted through the shroud.

But Diego does not run. He stands his ground, fur on end and lip curled in a toothy warning.

the cub posed little threat to reyna — the worst he could do is pinch her ankles — but she was in no position to run after him if he were to burst into a sprint. so the queen's steady, crane-like walk is all that she could muster as she parts the night fog and finally sets her eyes on the pup she was pursuing.

it was the puny boy, the near-runt that got lucky. she isn't sure if she is deeply disappointed or pleasantly surprised by this development. still, she lowers her head just to meet him.

ooh, how fierce.. she coos. intruders would tuck their tails between their legs by now if they saw you..
tell me, little one, why do you venture so far out. the pale wraith circles around the boy until she blocks the deep of the forest. and so late too? for one of no royalty that is. tsk tsk tsk.. my.. what would your mother and father think?

She is tall and stilted, with a softness to her belly like the one that circles mama. His nose twitches; she is of milk, but not warmth. The fog entangles her and twists around the thick fur curled about her neck.

Diego does not break, even as blood eyes bend low to meet him.

He is quiet as she questions him, rigid as a gargoyle and lip as twisted, too. Pale eyes track her as she haunts him. She brushes past him; the air chills.

What did it matter what he was doing here? What did it matter what his parents thought? It was none of her business - but he saved his breath.

Diego sought the forest again, by hurling himself between the woman's legs. He was small, after all, and she, so tall. If he reached the other side, he would turn round and plant himself before her again, eyes sharp and daring.

And if not?

He'd find out soon enough.

the young little one's ferocity is not lost on the queen, finding amusement when he insists on remaining in front of her. she is careful not to rouse him too much — afterall, who knows if he shall remember this encounter and whether it would be used against her once he is a man.

hmm.. she tilts her head, a gentle smile curling her lips. you wish to seek the forest? what will you eat? milk from a doe? who will you call brother, the doe's fawn?
her questions did not seek answers, it was solely to distract the boy as she inched closer, ready to snatch him up like a hawk and drag him back to her nest.