Blacktail Deer Plateau the devil's bleeding crude oil from a hole in his chest

For @Dante, if you have the time! If you don't shoot me a PM and I'll open this up.

With Harlyn left to linger somewhere just beyond the borders, Mordecai had taken the task of moving back within the Plateau's borders. It had been loosely at his request that she waited long enough for him to do what had to be done, if anything at all to hold up some moral code that he had carried a long time. And in a way, he had stayed longer than he had ever anticipated. Things had really not been so bad, in fact they had been far from it. But there was a general cohesion that he lacked when it came to the whole of the place, though he hardly shifted to place the blame elsewhere. That alone rested on him, which may have been the very reason why he found each step a little harder than the last.

And finding Dante was no easy task either. Mordecai did not doubt that his friend was busy, as being a leader was everything but all fun and games. There was little leisure about it, something always had to be done, something always had to be dealt with. Mordecai was hardly a stranger to it, though in a sense he had a lot more to learn. He plucked tendrils of his scent from the undergrowth and through the breeze, but his eyes remained focused ahead. It would have been easier to summon him, perhaps, to draw him out to the borders, but he felt that wasn't fair. Perhaps if he hadn't thought so well of Dante he would have done such a thing, but he considered him more than just a leader. He was a friend first, a brief companion who had come into rank well. Someone who had found somewhere that felt like a home enough to settle and remain, and deal with all that came rolling over the horizon.

In a way, Mordecai found himself not entirely wanting to leave, not wanting to take the potential to burn a bridge. Yet he found himself unwilling to let go of Harlyn, finding more of a companion out of her for all that they had endured together. If there was one thing that he was unfamiliar with, it was certainly the division of support. Time got away from him as his thoughts meandered and his feet carried him further inward; the moment he thought he was drawing close to his friend he found himself drawing composure to himself. He chuffed once, curiously, wondering if Dante lied ahead through the mismatched pockets of obscuring greenery.

murder by death — devil in mexico

definitely! Though heading home for the night so this one is brief

Also so flippin annoying Dante's name always autocorrects to DANTE and I don't know how to fix it... So if I ever yell his name that is why lol

Luckily for Mordecai, Dante was in the area. He'd been going through the motions these past few days, he knew, and had been meaning to catch a few individuals after the storm to check in. Mordecai and Harlyn were among that number, but he had seen hide nor hair of the latter and had yet to seek out the former.

This is why, even though he was unaware he was Mordecai's intended target, he hailed him when he saw him. "Mordecai," came the greeting, in a voice that seemed it would never quite recover from its trip through the fire. "You have a minute?"

As he had hoped, it was Dante just beyond his view. They rounded in close to each other, though it seemed Dante had something on his mind long before Mordecai could have ever queried him whether or not he could spare the time. The query caught him off-guard, but he rolled with it just as easily as ever with a nod.

"Of course," was all that needed to be said, his curiosity running loose and perhaps even he was thankful for the distraction to a degree.

lmfao no worries!

Had he been aware that Mordecai also wished to speak, he likely would have invited the other to go first. But, as it was, he merely nodded before continuing. "No one spoke up after the meeting, but I know enough to know that doesn't mean no one wished to." He gave a small smile. "I wanted to hear your thoughts, if you had any, or questions. Even advice, if you like." It was a common practice of his to ask such in times such as these, just as he had when he first decided to close their borders to the Caldera so many months ago. He was a leader who welcomed feedback, good or bad, and took it to heart best he could. Though he would still follow the path he thought best, he was not always unswayed.

Unless Mordecai really did have nothing to say. Which Dante would accept, albeit with some disappointment. Knowing the man had led made him automatically a source for advice, no matter how little. No experience was worthless, after all, and all of life only served to make one wiser for the next challenge.

For a moment, Mordecai found himself drawing up the memory of the meeting. Though it hadn't been that long ago, he had shoved the event aside for one reason or another. If anything, the memory of it stirred the unease in him and he found himself faltering, but unable to answer with but the truth.

"I think everyone's just uneasy. I mean, with the fire and now with this... unrest with the Caldera," and this time, he faltered mid-sentence; even he could not betray that he was not at all fond of what had transpired. But that was hardly Dante's fault — his concern had started with Lasher's request. "I'm sorry, I just don't know any of those wolves well enough to pass judgment. I actually was seeking you out to discuss another matter." But that matter did not come to light just yet, but he let the weight of it settle before continuing on.

"Perhaps some history would be beneficial to us all. I don't think they, or even myself, understand what's happened." Sure, someone who had once been apart of the Plateau's domain found themselves dead at the hands of another pack, but... he held no love of them. They had left at some time obviously from what he had gathered and from what he had learned, few of the packs in the Wilds held such an open-door concern or policy.

Mordecai seemed tentative, but Dante was patient, allowing him to finish before speaking. None of what he said was unexpected... in fact, it was the very reason the meeting had gone the way it had. Lasher had told of his directive, and Dante's words had been to temper that so that none would feel obligated to take part in a feud they had no hold in.

"I understand. I would not ask you to pass any judgement, not when you do not wish to." His ears spanned sideways momentarily when Mordecai mentioned some history to be necessary. He hadn't felt the need to address them with Junior's name, or give them a drawn out story of happenings that had occurred before they joined. He wished the Plateau to move on, to get out from under the weight of past mistakes. He carried his anger, as did Lasher, but it was not his intention to pass this burden on to others.

"Peregrine's daughter was a member of this pack. She was family to me, and to Lasher and Blue Willow as well. Much as Saena is. She felt wronged by Peregrine, cast aside, and so apparently went seeking retribution. Her actions.... they were her choice. And by rights she might have earned her death, but I can't believe they even saw another option. That they cared enough to try subduing her without taking her life." He frowned. "It was shortly after this Saena was attacked. I would not start something if they stay within their lands, but I wanted to be sure those here were warned in case Fox and Peregrine decide that we, too, pose too much a threat to leave in peace. It is a small chance, but one that we must consider. Saena too... it may be wrong of me, but even though we are in different packs, I can't discount her and leave her should the Caldera try to kill her." He wondered if the male could understand this, or if, like the wolves of the south, he saw any not within his own pack as not worth bothering with.

"I'm sorry I didn't explain at the meeting further, but I don't expect you all to deal with this when none of it need be an issue." So long as everything remained as it was, with all adhering to their own lands neutrally, nothing had to be done. If others requested an explanation when he addressed them, he would deliver it in kind as well. But only if they wished it. Mordecai might have been stating a fact, not asking, but Dante had taken his words as a request all the same.

"Now what did you wish to discuss? Before I sidebarred you." He smiled a little more genuinely, aware of his own wordiness and the abrupt change of subject. Mordecai could come back with more if he wished, but Dante was just as happy to move on to what he sought.

why was this so exceedingly difficult to write omg

The story that he received from Dante did shed some light on things. Some of it glossed over what he had gathered from the meeting, and what wasn't filled in some of the blanks. He recalled Saena, however briefly, merely knowing that she too had left the pack to chase down her own place in the world. That he couldn't discredit, because it was something that they were all born to do one way or another. Some of them weren't cut out for such lives, and some of them were simply slow to the take when it came along. Where he fell in all of that, he couldn't say. The judgment from others did not inflate his ego.

But there was one fundamental thing that Dante did touch upon that he took some comfort in — that they would not have to deal with it when none of it was an issue. Yet it too was not much more than a passing comfort, as he was inclined to feel that it did become their issue. But Mordecai did not raise issue with this either, for the spotlight had come swinging around on him once again. Though the sensation of being blinded came to him, he carried on as though there were not an ounce of stage fright to be found.

"I wanted to say that I think it's time for Harlyn and I to move on," he started, ears splaying with discomfort. It felt like a loaded statement, certainly another bit of weight to be shouldered. "Honestly I hate that the timing is poor, with all that's gone on. You've been a generous host for a long time, a good friend as well." In a sense, he could not help but feel slightly indebted to that as well, as Dante did not have to take them in at all in the first place. Their propensity of venturing on would have been enough to make others consider, though Mordecai had been upfront about the inevitably of his own moving on. Harlyn having come back into the picture was not something he had anticipated and in turn, he had long outstayed his welcome in a manner of speaking.

Mordecai seemed content as well to get to his own business, though he gave no real indication as to whether or not he accepted the alpha's words. Perhaps because his own news made all of that inconsequential. It was the last thing he expected to hear, and stood a moment, unable to react.

It should have been expected. But when spring had come and gone and still Mordecai had remained, Dante had gained the hope that perhaps his loyalty meant more than a passing winter home. Apparently this hope had been naive, and though Mordecai's words were kind, he couldn't help the bitter taste of disappointment. A generous host. He'd been kidding himself, thinking he'd come to see this place as home. Those words made it clear that had never been the case.

"May I ask why now?" The words were neutral, carefully controlled. He wished more of an explanation, for it was his own curse that things like this were so hard not to take personally. That Harlyn was not even present was not something Dante realized currently, but perhaps later he would, when the punch wore off and the edge gone.

Even with a friend, this scenario that unraveled and took stage was one he had danced across before. He recognized that neutrality for what it was, and still held the astuteness to know there was more behind it. But what that was exactly, he did not carry the perception for. And then there were always the questions of why and truth be told, he would have been inclined to sugarcoat things. But Dante was keen enough to know whether or not words were saccharine or not — so he didn't.

"Better now while the weather's still warm," he said. "And it's something that's been on our minds for a while." He could have made up reasons as to why, even given away what, or who's intentions were at play. Another time, he would have with careful precision, with ease. This time, he found it difficult and it reflected in his passive actions; more now than ever, Mordecai was aware of the consequences. Again, he found himself wanting to do anything he could have soften that blow, but the words that came forward were hardly padded.

"And to be honest, it's also because we want to lay claim to territory of our own."

*stirs pot gleefully*

Oops

On our minds for a while.  He'd had no idea, but suddenly the disappearances, the infrequency of especially Harlyn, slid into place.  He wondered how long they had known, until he said those final words.

At first he wondered why the white loner popped into his mind, until he recalled that he had claimed to meet both Harlyn and Mordecai... And that he was waiting on a pack to form.  His failure to mention whose pack had seemed moot at the time, but now it seemed too much a coincidence to let pass.

That had been months ago.

He could be mistaken, but he thought not, and anger boiled at the prospect. Taking advantage of their hospitality, feigning loyalty whilst gathering members and planning on the sly... If it had been openly, and for a short time, he could understand. But this deceit made his eyes narrow, and he confronted the issue outright. He couldn't ask others to be straight with him if he did not give the same in return. "I believe I met one of your hopefuls, quite a while back. A wolf called Luke. Yet you did not think to inform me of this decision until now." He wasn't sure why this bothered him to the level that it did.... likely it was the lie, the loyalty he thought he held that had been gone for months it appeared. He was a wolf who despised deception in all forms. "I suppose I should wish you luck. But it seems you have it all sorted out now, so we have served our use." It was uncharitable, and based on a single assumption that could be false, but he cared not. So perhaps was the question of how long they would remain loyal to those they would now lead, and when they would once again decide they had to move on. He thought it anyway, and knew that if that day came, they had burned a bridge with him. Friends perhaps they could remain, but he would never accept their loyalty again.

aw man why do i feel like the jerk here

And once in a while, these things turned south. Sometimes for the better, but often he found that they went for the worse. For every terse snippet of dialogue that followed thereafter, Mordecai felt himself hastily building a wall of stone, rising ever so slightly to the implications that came with it. Maybe implication wasn't quite the word for use either, it may as well have been an indirect accusation. The emphasis didn't need to be added where necessary, for Mordecai found it between the lines and the spark of ire that resided in the eyes of the gunmetal alpha.

It was enough to stir his own hot response, but fortunately his anger was tempered better than that. Instead of speaking, he let out a breath that was easily described as frustrated, but just as easily said to be one that he didn't know that he was holding at all. "I didn't inform you because I didn't know where I stood," he said after a pause drug out a little too long. Dante's words were revelation to things that did not surprise him, that Harlyn had roped Luke in perhaps longer than she had himself. He couldn't have said for certain, but it was no doubt the center of unease now. This was not how he wanted things to go.

But then when had anything ever been apart of a plan, let alone followed it?

"And now with this threat to the south, and all that's gone on... Dante, I just want no part of it. This place has been my home for quite a while now, but the unrest here is clear. It's time to move on." Yeah, that was going to go over real well.

I don't normally get Dante confrontations so THANK YOU omg LOVEEEE

he's a butt and hasn't been reasonable for a while so yeah...

Dante had managed to keep his voice level thus far, but as Mordecai continued, he found that control harder and harder to maintain. The accusations, as he saw them, were too much. "And you think that I do want a part of this?" He was incredulous in his ire. He passed over the comment over not knowing where he stood. It was irrelevant, for doubts were meant to be shared, not kept bottled within. Hypocritical much? "I made two things clear in that meeting. That any action made would be on the Caldera's part, and ours only defending this land and those within. And two - that if I went to aid Saena, I asked none to join me." What more could he do? Control the minds of the southern wolves? Bid them to turn aside should they choose to attack? Leave? The last he would not consider. Nor was leaving Saena to die an option, if her pack was not established enough to protect itself yet. He had given them warning. And now he reaped the results.

"If you see the leaving the conflict as more appealing than protecting those within this pack, then you are right. There is no home for you here anymore. Get out." A growl laced the final words, a final loss of composure. He'd miscalculated the male, counted him a friend without obviously even knowing him. A wolf who would turn away from those who accepted him as family based on the actions of another pack was not one he wished to know.

lmfao you're welcome! i'm gonna go ahead and wrap this up, feel free to boot us out of the bdp usergroup~

maybe someday they will feel differently :C *band-aids broship*

He had certain struck a nerve there. Never quite his intention, Mordecai's ears finally laid back. In spite of the urge to try and reason, he had learned there was no point in such pursuits under the circumstances that presented themselves now. And so he did not linger, did not seek to draw his gaze more firmly to that of Dante's.

Mordecai turned swiftly to leave with enough sense to keep his posturing low, if only to stave off any inclination that he needed to be driven out. He didn't need any more prompting to merely get going and get out of there. By the time he sought Harlyn out just behind the borders of the Plateau, a certain numbness had come to him over the event, and with it came the composure that it was truly time to go.

They had no more time to waste.

maybe! :( Dante's bad side is lovely is it not.....

I'll go ahead and close this up

Mordecai complied with far more grace than the alpha exhibited, and Dante watched him go, eyes narrow and gaze cold. Any sorrow he might have felt at this parting was now soured, stowed away for perhaps a later time, if he ever was able to get past this current feeling. Because right now he saw in Mordecai a coward, one incapable of loyalty and therefore no great loss. A single altercation had caused his perception to shift massively, a judgement harsh and unfair but completely set in his mind now.

If Mordecai had lied and concealed the true reason for their departure, perhaps this could have ended differently. But for the moment, a friendship had been broken here. With a final, scornful growl Dante left, knowing his fellow leaders would need to be informed of what had transpired here.