Blackfeather Woods there's something tragic about you

@Burke
Set at Spiderligs' Glen

Cicero had been a pain in the ass until Damien allowed him to take care of his facial wound. It was bad even if Damien didn't want to recognize it. From the right face of his muzzle, touching his lip and going up between his eyes to his left brow. It hurt badly for a couple days, and the blood flowed madly until Cicero came in. But today, it was no more than a memory. An ugly memory.

Damien looked at his reflection on the pond that formed just outside of the birthing den. For a long while he just looked at himself. His pale eyes, his handsome face, and then there was the f*cking scar, screwing it all up. Damien growled, feeling unmeasurable anger brewing in his chest, and walked away from the water to return to his guard post.

Burke had been pestering the den ever since the pups were born, and Damien suspected that mother wasn't completely healthy judging by her silent behavior. Damien was clearly worried, about his mother, about his siblings, and he'd spent his time around the den, watching and thinking way too much. It wasn't healthy anymore, but he showed no signs of changing.

Burke hadn't seen too many members of the pack. He noticed that they were around naturally but he only did his patrols, hunting and back to the den for multiple reason. Not only because of the youngsters but also because Meldresi looked weaker and weaker. He wasn't sure what the cause was that she was declining so much, maybe it was natural? Though it didn't really look natural? Burke got out of the den to stretch his legs, as he came from the entrance of the web he spotted Damien. Burke never got an apology from the male, but Meldresi did tell him about the conversation she had with the young male. Hopefully the male would have his reasoning back.

Burke stretched his limbs and then walked to the dark furred male. "Hello," he greeted him. Burke never acted out or yelled at Damien for what he did, because he knew the male was just too young to understand, well hopefully after his talk with his mother he would understand. He watched the wound on his face, it seemed to heal probably because of Potema or Cicero. Burke stood next to him, pale eyes glancing to the side for a moment.

As Damien walked towards his guard post, Burke'd large figure came out of the den. He stretched and yawned, and then approached him without second thoughts. There had been something of a fight between the boy and his step-dad, and it had been deeper than it seemed. Damien had had way too much time to think, and it had given space for all kinds of thoughts, from murderous to depressive, to forgiving thoughts, and all of them came back when Burke greeted him.

Damien stopped a good few paces away from Burke and looked up, cold eyes right at Burke's for a moment before lowering back to the ground. He did not say a word, knowing that Burke had a lot to say. He would listen first, because he had not made a desicion about Burke. His trust for the Alpha had been lowered greatly, and not even he felt safe around him anymore.

Oh, Teen drama.

Burke realized that Damien was still not talking to him. The male said his opinion before, and he heard from Meldresi she talked with her son. Burke thought he understood now, but it was clear that Damien was still his stubborn little self. His pale eyes looked down at Damien. "You could greet me back," he pointed out. Burke should do something about this whole thing but it felt like that would push Damien only more away from him.

At least Damien did lower himself and he guarded the den it seemed. He wondered why that was. Even Damien could be some of a mystery to him. "So you still don't trust me then?," he asked to the darker and younger male. "But it seems you still care enough to guard the den," he stated, wanting to know, and he did that by stating the obvious.

"Hello, Burke." said Damien forcing a smile. He Expected Burke to have a lot more to say than his simple question, which meant that Damien would have to be the one to put things out in the open, and man did he have something to say.

"There's people inside that den that I care about, yes." started the young wolf with power in his voice, "And I know that you will not harm them, Burke, But I'm afraid I do not trust you will protect them should something threaten their lives... That is the thing that worries me." he revealed without a hint of sorry in his voice.

"I waited for months to see Grimnir pay for his actions, because I knew -and I know you knew too- that he had been the only responsible for Potema's eye... But then I realized no one was going to do anything, and that Grimnir would remain to be a threat to us all."

"Both you and mother failed to protect us when you could have gotten rid of our biggest threat. And then you take leadership of the pack?" Damien let laugh, "Excuse me if I'm blunt, Burke, but I'm afraid I do not trust you, or your new Beta entirely..."

Oh shit
sorry

Burke raised one dotted eyebrow at Damien. So the truth was out. Something that he could do nothing about Damien was being mad about. Fucking great. The teenager, because that was how he was acting, was clearly not seeing things from their perspective but only from his own selfish reasons. Everything Damien did was for himself and not because of others it seemed. Most of the time at least. "I saved you from drowning when the storm threatened your life," 'you ungrateful shit,' he added mentally. Yet, Burke's stoic face didn't reveal anything of his mental curse towards Damien. 

"If I wouldn't have been here Black Feather Woods wouldn't even have a pack anymore. I stepped up being a leader not because I crave being an alpha but to keep this pack alive. You should know that of all the wolves in this forest." Burke had been more than happy with his Beta position. Then the spiderlings went to that Bearclaw, Meldresi went away and got in trouble. If he hadn't stepped up there wouldn't be a Black Feather Pack, leaderless. Then Meldresi returned and it is like she returned sickly because she was never the same after that trip from the north. "Your mother told you, as will I, there was nothing we could do. Potema didn't remember and we had no proof of what Grimnir did. We still haven't because even your torture didn't get anything from this mentally unstable wolf," he returned on his same calm tone. It wasn't a comment to talk Damien down, it was to make him reflect on his own behavior and actions. Even torture didn't get the brown one to talk. How would other pack members have reacted if their alpha started torturing the answers out of wolves?! Not so greatly. Burke might have been overthrown. 

"As a leader you can't play the almighty. A leader needs its pack members as much as they need a leader. It is a delicate balance and if you tip the scale then our pack could have been change din ways you don't even want to think about." Aka, Grimnir as BFW Leader. Burke kept his tone on the same level. He thought Damien would be wiser than this. "I am not going to apologize for my decisions, nor the one Meldresi made. We did what thought what best and if you don't agree with that and lost your trust in us then that is something entirely up to you. I can't deny that I am saddened by the way you think of me because it was never intended. What your mother and I tried to so was keep this pack afloat and working so you and your siblings wouldn't be homeless in the end of all this mess."

Burke gave Damien a good look in his eyes, a strong one. Burke believed in himself and he wasn't going to be talked down. He was indeed saddened that Damien lost his trust in him but that wasn't because he did that on purpose. It was just the dark wolf's opinion. "I will tell you this though. A leader is probably the most selfless wolf of a pack. His or her's first through it about the wellbeing of others." On top of that Meldresi and him were parents too, another worry, before they could think about themselves. "If you think that we don't regret every day that we didn't get to rip the one wolf to shreds that caused Potema's injury you are wrong. "

And then Burke made it completely clear that half of what Damien was ranting about wasn't even true. He was right, about many things, and yeah, Damien had left out many important things to consider before giving that much shit to his step-father. Burke was far from being careless about Damien's family, and Damien wouldn't deny that he knew no harm would come to them from him. Damien looked away with anger in his eyes, both because Burke had talked back, and because he was actually right.

Then, Burke's words sounded a lot like Meldresi. He almost cited her telling Damien that there was truly nothing they could do if they did not want to lose the trust of the pack, but then again, they had sort of lost Damien's trust. He didn't know whether he should feel safe under Burke and Meldresi's leadership, or take over everything before it was too late. And then again Damien didn't really feel like leading after what Meldresi said about respect over fear and all, and then it was reinforced after Burke's comment on selflessness. Damien was probably not the leader type even when he liked being on top. He didn't inspire devotion.

It was hard letting go. Other than his family's safety Damien had nothing to hold on to. If he lost his purpose he'd lose the last thing he had. Cicero, Potema, Meldresi, and now Pietro and Kendra, that was what he treasured most in life. And Burke, for as much as Damien wanted to deny it, had been their guardian ever since he joined their crazy little household.

Damien's frown went deeper, his facial muscles tensed, and his eyes closed for a moment. He was clearly struggling to contain his rage.

"Promise me that he dies the second you see him. Promise me, Burke, or I will leave this pack and hunt him down." he said, as an unspoken apology and truce.

Burke watched the male. He seemed to get angrier and angrier. Yet he didn't spoke a word back, nor did he went into a full fight. Burke realized that his words had settled into Damien's mind. The big male glanced at his son. Damien might not be his own by genes but he did see the boy as his own. "I promise," he spoke with such promise in his tone he couldn't lie about it. Burke looked at Damien when he said it too. He then nudged him with his nose in a gentle way to move that frown away from his features. 

"Are we good now?," he asked. Burke looked at the darker male and then tipped his head. Thinking of something. "I might have a small mission for you if you like that. You know to keep you mind busy," he offered. Maybe it would be good to pair up Xan. Burke would probably released from the arrogant snot-face. Though he wasn't telling Damien that. It might be good for him to verbally spar with a pup just as arrogant as himself. "Xan, Kove's Son. I know you are good with Kove. How about you become his mentor. Teach him how to fight, get warrior credits for it in return," Burke offered. "Bet you can handle him right?"

Damien didn't do sentimental. But still, he wasn't a cold-hearted monster. In fact, he was far from being one. Damien felt intensely, and loved his family fiercely, he just didn't show it like anybody else would. Mother, Cicero and Potema were probably the only ones that had seen any form of affectionate display from Damien, and it would likely stay that way. Burke was important for Damien. He had raised him to be the strong wolf he was, but with him he didn't feel comfortable showing affection. There had always been a barrier that stopped Damien from loving the male entirely, probably fearful of losing him too. So when the older male approached to nudge him with his muzzle, Damien moved away a little saying "We're good..."

Burke proposed Damien a "mission" of sorts, which at first excited him. Damien had been ready to start his training for the Dark Brotherhood, but with all the mess he'd created himself he had had little time to put those plans under way. Burke's plan consisted of Damien mentoring a child, which immediately took away all the fun in the mission. "I... I'm not too sure about that, Burke..." Damien wasn't a puppy person, and Xan was still pretty much a baby. "I'm not a babysitter..."

I didn't see this reply oMG?! So sorry!

Burke nodded shortly. He was glad that they were good again. The large male looked at his son that wasn't sure about his 'babysitting' job.  "You won't be a babysitter. Not at all! Can't you see? This would be someone that you could mentor and train. Let them see the world how we see, and probably he will give you loyalty in return." Maybe the sound of a little minion would please the dark male. Plus then Burke wouldn't have to deal with the annoying Xan and could work on with his own pups. 

Burke looked at Damien. "It will also show you some insight in how to lead someone. I am giving you an opportunity here, Damien," he explained, sounding like a big reward. And technically it was. Being a mentor was a big deal, burke wouldn't do that if he didn't trust Damien. But he felt like these two arrogant boys could also learn from each other. An interesting dynamic.

The way Burke was putting it was flattering. Damien knew there was a lot of potential in himself, he just wanted to rest of the world to see it, and if this wasn't it, then nothing would. He would admit that the deal was interesting, and there was actually no real reason not to accept it. The way it sounded made Damien think that Burke wanted him to learn of leadership. He wouldn't say he needed it, but if it got him closer to take an upper rank Damien couldn't refuse.

"I could do that..." said Damien, thinking through it. "But what happens when he grows up?" Damien asked, but of course there was no way to know really, it all depended on how good a mentor (and leader) he was during the time Xan was his protege, and if that 'loyalty' Burke spoke about would remain.

Burke nodded, pleased that he talked Damien into doing a task that would benefit the pack. The male watched the other for a moment. Damien didn't seem entirely sure about later when the pup would be older. "He will probably have respect for you. As least that is what I assume that you have for me. I was your mentor, what do you feel about me?," he asked, lightly teasing because he knew they just resolved Damien's issues with him. 

Burke kept his pale eyes on the dark male, to see what his reaction would be. "You can do it, Damien," he spoke, not that his ego needed more stroking but Burke wanted Damien to take this task on him for 100%.

Damien looked over at Burke with analytic eyes. What did he feel? Well, there was respect, yes, and also fear. Damien would never overcome the fear of losing his father again, like the first time, and Burke was his current paternal figure. Damien felt affection towards Burke, as much as to not want him gone, as much as to feel attached to him, and that scared him. That's why he didn't admit it.

When Burke asked, Damien simply nodded. He admitted the respect Burke deserved, but nothing else. Damien didn't do emotional.

"Yeah, okay. I'll do it," he said, feeling more excited about the deal every second. A Minion did, indeed, sound like a cool thing to have. Then they could figure out their evil laugh and try to conquer the world via complicated evil plans. Yeah... That sounds a lot like Damien...

Burke got Damien's sign, and even though Burke questioned about jokingly what Damien felt for him he got a honest reply back which he liked. "Good. I'd like updates, so don't leave me in the dark and if you need advise you can come to me too," he alpha spoke to his son. Damien was always a son in his eyes, height be terribly arrogant at times but Burke did see him as his son whether their genes were different or not. 

With his lasts words being spoke Burke decided that it was time for him to go back to the den. Damien was probably going to focus on his new task, though he was more than welcome to stay and guard the den.

Damien nodded again, agreeing on Burke's requirements. It wouldn't be hard to keep him up to date, though he was sure there wouldn't be a need to ask for advise. He was cocky like that, he'd say 'I got this shit' and proceed to do his thing whether it was right or wrong.

Burke decided it was time for him to return to his den, and Damien that it was no longer necessary for him to play guard any more. The twins were fine with their dad, and Damien's abilities could be put to better use on the front defense like aka. the borders. He had made a decision that would change his position as a pack member. From this day forward, Damien would be a warden to the pack. To his family.