Northstar Vale Gunpowder, gelatine, dynamite with a laser beam

Captive; the word lingered bitter on his tongue, a sort of shame he'd never wanted to taste. Some days Chae wondered if it even truly applied to him. They hadn't held him for long, after all — and the token he carried with him now told a different story altogether. A gift for his dear mother, who would surely be delighted to see her favored son alive and largely whole.

The boy was too weak to call for @Viskani as he stumbled to the border of her claim. He collapsed with his gift clutched beneath his chin and between his paws, gritting his teeth against the agony of fractured forelimb and lacerated sternum. His coat was a mess of old wounds, some healing and some festering. Blood crusted his eyes, his nose and mouth, his fur in patches and the spaces between his toes.

All that was easily overlooked, however, when one noticed that the prize he clutched was a severed wolf head.

The slightest hint of a familiar scent on the wind sent Viskani running to the borders. No words were spoken, and even Faust was left behind.

Paws bounding through the territory of her claim her ears remined perked, searching for the sound of light steps or rustling leaves. But there was no need, the Matriarche spotting her prize without it. "Chae! Mon petit agneau, c'est toi?" She cried out, "What happened to you?"

She spotted the head after she spoke, and for a moment her throat went dry. It was impressive, yet without knowing why he carried such a trophy she had to hold back her pride.

Ah, there was his mother now. Chae allowed the tension to melt from him, stretching out with one paw pushing the somewhat-rotted head away and into the light. Hello mother, He blinked, as perfectly composed as if he'd returned from a morning stroll. I met some very disagreeable men. I know you hate to see me so unkempt - but I've brought you a gift, see?

With his final words a boyish grin broke across his features, and he gestured to the head. Yet the expression faded quickly; he turned somber as he went on: They meant to keep me for some dreadful purpose, I'm sure. The men, they called themselves, ah - Chae wrinkled his nose as if tasting something sour. Sunfil.

Then he slumped as if abruptly exhausted by his speech. Oh, but it was so stressful! Mother would fix it, of course.

Brow furrowed in worry, she moved closer to pull Chae up and allow him to lean on her side. "Let's not worry about that now agneau.." She lowered her voice to a coo, lapping at his forehead. She could ask questions later, first he had to be cleaned up and treated.

"Are you hungry? I'll send someone out to catch something fresh for you." Without the injury even necessary, she was back to doting on the boy the way she had in the mother pack. She wished for him to feel loved.

She would carve out a fresh den for him, one he could have to himself while he recovered.