Blackfeather Woods Your new home.

@Malice, leaving it open if any members to pop in :P

Burke stepped closer to their borders, briefly looking at Malice, to then cross over it. He never really guided someone inside of their territory before. Now it was mostly barren. Burke stepped forward and sniffed the air. All seemed still to be alright, at least the bugs were gone for the most part. He raised his docked tail. "Were here," he spoke."There are a few things I'd like you to know about. There is a clearing with a willow, called weeping meadow. Because of the gasses coming from the earth below you can grow very sick. Try to avoid it. We have the swamps of course, and the web of tunnels underground. I'd say that it might not be smart to wander those tunnels alone."

Burke walked further and deeper in the territory by now. "There is also Red Grove a clearing with red bushes, or well, it was before," he spoke with a bit of a frown. He looked to the side at Malice, being inside his territory now. Did she feel the same as he did when he was in her territory?[/b]

On their way to Blackfeather Woods, Malice kept quiet, watching the ground more than anything. She had always thought She'd be with the moonlit wolves till fate took her to heaven-or hell. It seemed fate had other plans. Malice padded behind Burke, already feeling sick to her stomach once she couldn't even smell the scent of the Dark Brotherhood. 

At last, the sickening scent hit her, but it wasn't as horrible as the first time. She thought she felt sick because of the smell, but it was actually just her nervousness. She had never been so close to the Dark Brotherhood before, not that it looked remotely like how it had before. The same wasteland as everywhere, yet still this dark aura surrounding it. She looked up when she was at the border while Burke stepped over it. She knew that when she crossed this line, she would be a moonlit wolf no longer. It felt freeing, yet dangerous. After just a small pause, she crossed the border with closed eyes.

She opened them again when Burke spoke, her tail lowering. This wasn't neutral ground anymore, they weren't equal. At his information, she nodded, not sure what to say. She didn't know that Blackfeather Woods had tunnels. How very interesting. She followed Burke as they went further in, already searching for some things she could recognize this place by. It was harder now the woods were barren, and for now, she didn't find anything. Are the red bushes dangerous too? She asked in a whispering voice, as if not to disturb the wolves who lived here.

oooh boy *rubs hand together maliciously*

She had been happy, getting Burke to talk to her more often. Their realtionship was one she valued, not just because he was her Alpha but her friend, if such a thing could exist to her. Times had not been well. Pietro's death had only been to start of her misfortune. Nothing seemed to be going well for her, at all. The bugs had came, scattering the herds and leaving their forest's barren. Kendra would not speak, and hardly made contact with anyone since.. She could not blame her. Death always came where ever she went, and she had been a fool to think otherwise. There was no permanent happiness for her. There never would be. Her life was a series of unfortunate events she could not shake loose, and she was tired. She had no energy to care, figuratively and realisticly. There was no hope in the dark woods, and there was certianly no light at the end of the tunnel. She had screwed up her chances of that too early in her life. A part of her would always feel she had failed the twins, in death and happines. She had failed in providing for her pack and almost ruining it all at the same time. While she had been assured Burke did trust her, she did not know if she could trust herself and the circumstances of her current life did not help. Yes, she had Kove and Xan, but what if she failed them too? What if it was Kove who wound up dead or Xan who ended up starving? Something would happen again to screw things up. Something always happened. 

When the sight of Malice on her pack territory caugth her eye, she did not blink, she did not move. This was the end. She watched as Burke and her pranced about in some weird lovey walk that she only ever imagined him and Meldresi doing. The fallen Dark Queen had been replaced by the bitch and this was the end. She felt betrayed; an ache in her heart that felt like she had been backstabbed a thousand times, but she stayed silent. She always stayed silent. Burke had been unhappy and she got that, but after their talk she believed him to be fine. This was proof he had moved on and she could do nothing to make him see it wasn't right. The next thing they knew, Malice would be their Queen and Meldresi would be forgotten. That's how it was. It was life, and it was unfair. But she had made her vows to not only to Burke, but to the Dark Queen too and even in death she would not break them. Malice would never be their queen, and she would never be accepted. She would never be apart of the Brotherhood. Or so, if Nemesis could do anything about it. 

Instead, she walked out, making her presnece known though she did not bother with the theatrics. She stood infront of them, her eyes seething in anger though she did nothing. Every fibre in her body told her to drag the bitches dead carcass right back across the borders and right back to Moonhips where they could not be bothered by her annoyingly high voice and overall obnoxious presence. One thing stopped her, and when she knew, there was no turning back. Her eyes bore into the overly large looking sides of the female with the utmost hate she could muster. The bitch was pregnant. Nemesis could not have children, according to Burke but he could go an knock up the neighboor he hardly knew?! She felt like crying. But she refused to. Not infront of her. She looked to Burke, her aura of malevolent pride lost, silently begging him to deny what she had seen. In the back of her mind, she knew it was true. This really was the end of days. "How could you?" Her voice was broken, but her hate for the female standing before her only grew. Her eyes met Malice and a silent promise of vengence was inured. Nemesis was what she was, and she would never change. That was made clear to her, that no matter how hard she tried to "socialize" and become a better person, she was set for disapointment either way. She had been screwed over all along and she had no idea.

Burke let out a snort in amusement when Malice asked if the bushes were dangerous too. He noticed that she was a bit nervous. Though the male made himself bigger as to tell her that she would be totally safe with him. "Why are you whispering? And no, the bushes aren't dangerous,' he explained to her. The large male continued to walk with her. Though he could understand that she was nervous in his eyes she had nothing to be nervous about.

Burke steered them past the red grove, which was basically the bleeding heart of the territory. Meldresi's bones were still there. He still had to move them but he was not sure if he would. He looked at the barren clearing, only the twigs from the bushes still being there. Meldresi's bones white and clear under the light shining down on it. Burke watched it for a moment, not sure if he should even tell Malice that was his ex mate.

Yet before he knew it had a very angry Nemesis before him. The large male turned towards her and stood close to Malice, a bit in front of her. Burke looked at her with a calm set of eyes. He was not sure where Nemesis hatred came from. Burke lifted his muzzle. He was not sure what Nemesis could not stand, Malice being here. Or Malice being pregnant. The alpha male looked at his beta, keeping his steely and calm gaze on her. "Malice will live with us now," he spoke, like that was not clear already. He was not going to probe the beta any further. Not making her feel worse by saying that she would have to deal with it.

Burke looked to the side at Malice and then back to Nemesis. "Malice won't be in your way if you wish that," he spoke to Nemesis. After all with Malice being so far in her pregnancy it meant that soon she wouldn't be able to do much anyways, and he would keep her in his den, maybe let Kendra bond with Malice or try to keep her busy while he was gathering food. He was not sure how he was going to get these females to get along with each other. Maybe time would tell how he was able to unite them. It seemed Nemesis had a knack for young so hopefully Malice her pups would bring some bonding.

A shiver ran down the daughter of Lucifer's spine, a shiver of fear mixed with excitement. This barren place looked a lot like the place where Lucifer once ruled, and her thought ran back to those days. Her father, sitting on what called his throne, Avalon and her playing in the background. She wondered if history was going to repeat itself, her children being her and avalon and Burke as Lucifer, only with a better ending.

I-I don't know. She whispered again in all honesty. It was so quiet here, but not like in Phantom Hollow. Phantom Hollow was relaxing, these woods were just a bit eerie. She padded behind Burke again, asking no further questions. Her thoughts wandered again, this time going to Sebastian and how he had told her about the Dark Brotherhood. She couldn't imagine Seb running around here like a pup. She couldn't imagine Burke wandering here broken because of Meldresi's death.

But before she knew it, the cracking voice of Nemesis broke the silence as well as the bond with the past. Malice looked up to see an angry female, but it didn't do her much. Her hackles barely raised, and her posture stayed relaxed. Burke is here, Burke is here, she kept saying in her head, knowing she'd be safe. Malice looked away to somewhere in the distance that was oh so damned interesting. Her ears twitched as Burke replied calmly as if this wasn't the first time Nemesis was mad.

She returned her gaze to Nemesis that she could barely see with the massive build of Burke in front of her. She dipped her head as to say she really wouldn't be in Nemesis way. She'd rather just avoid the female as a whole. She squinted, not sure how Nemesis would react to the calmness of Burke.

She did not relent to Burke's calm tone. She was not mad, she was disappointed. She did not care what Malice did, nor did she care about her. To her, Malice was a stow-away, hyjacking her Alpha and pack for kicks. Malice would never be apart of Blackfeather, truly. She was an inconviencence and Burke had too big a heart. Instead, she wanted to force a barrier between the female and Nemesis' family. Away form everyone else in her own little corner. Malice could stick to Wolfskull and venture nowhere else until she could leave and live on her own somewhere else and take the bastards that was within her stomach with her. She wanted more than for Malice to stay away from her, she wanted her to stay away from her pack and everything she cared about. Slowly but surely, Malice was taking everything. Burke would have no time for anyone else, having to hunt for yet another wolf and her disease. Soon it would be Kendra, as Venus had done, and then Xan and then Kove and there would be nothing left for her.

She did not take her eyes off of Malice, even as Burke stepped infront. This was her home, and Malice could not swaddle away from her anger. "Stay away from my family," This, she was serious about. If Malice even attempted anything, Nemesis would be there to set her straight. She was not an Alpha anymore and she would start acting like it. Malice would submit to her, as everyone else did and would have no special treatment. Just because she carried the Alpha's children, did not mean she was special and deserved anything higher. "You want to be in this pack? Fine. Once you are capable you will prove your worth like everyone else and if you do not show promise of contributing or even being apart of the Brotherhood, you will leave," Burke could not deny this, or he would be calling favourites. The only reason Malice was here was the beings inside her stomach, otherwise, she had no use. She doubted Malice even had the will to be like them, or the skill. 

"You will have no special treatment," Nemesis was stone cold and un-relenting. Perhaps Burke did not think this through when he brought her back, that his new replacment would actually have to do stuff and earn her keep. Looking at her now, cowering behind Burke like a pup, she knew this was a mistake. She was cracking down the rules, and no subordinate stepped out of line, no matter who it was.

Burke kept his calm gaze as Nemesis had to go through her verbal threats towards Malice. The male had already made known to the female that she would not be favored. He had the same feeling that if he would have joined Malice pack it would have been the same. Burke kept his gaze on Nemesis as she finished ranting. "I am pretty sure Malice knows this," he spoke in return to Nemesis, not going to fight her on this because he did not want to go through the time and effort. He wanted to see that Malice was comfortable. Burke had not expected for Malice to get a warm welcome.

"If you might not have noticed she is pregnant, and will soon deliver. I think the role of contributing will be done differently. You won't have to worry about getting her fed because I will take that on me," he spoke to Nemesis. Burke always kept calm, though for him, knowing that he told Nemesis that he needed someone close and she hating on that wolf was kind of offending to him. Yet, as a counselor he could see her side and that Malice was invading her space. "Please make way for us now, the sooner you do the less you will need to see her," he stated to Nemesis. He did not mean to talk about Malice in the third person but somehow it happened. He looked to the side at her and nudged her cheek, which was quite a lot of affection coming from Burke.

The male then lifted his head, planning on bringing Malice to his own den, maybe not the tunnels seeing that most of the pack was housing themselves there. He would keep her secluded for now, until things had settled for the better.

Malice knew what she had signed by crossing the border. She would be leader no more, nor give commands. It wasn't the best thing in the world, but it surely wasn't the worst. She would have to work her way up just like any other to get the respect from those around her now. She didn't know what kind of wolves roamed these barren woods, but if they were anything like Nemesis, she would have a hard time fitting in. She remembered that when she entered Teekon, she had been like Nemesis. Full of hate and vengeance. But something brighter shined on her shadowed soul on her way that fate had lied down for her. Perhaps, some day, this same thing would happen to the other dark woman.

She didn't react to the unnecessary threats, thinking it would be wasting breath. She knew full well that she wouldn't be favored, hardly welcomed here. She gritted her teeth to prevent mean words to roll off her tongue, instead staying perfectly calm. As long as she didn't react, Nemesis wouldn't find enjoyment in pestering her. That was with all bullies.

A smile tugged at the corners of her lips once Burke spoke up again, as if reading her thoughts. She would show her she could be useful. If she could care for a whole pack, proving herself worthy wasn't that hard, she thought. I mean, she was a decent fighter, an excellent stargazer and a beginning fisher. Malice dipped her head to Nemesis in a formal way, as if to say "goodbye", before preparing to leave with Burke to wherever the hell they were going to.

Her words were no threat, in her mind. It was a fact, one she shared in great detail with all the new arrivals. Her hate for the female did not weigh in on doing her job. If Malice could not stand her words, she would not survive in the dark woods. She had seen the same case many times before. Burke however, seemed to be quite sure about Malice. Nemesis did not think she did know this. Malice had not had to work her way through the ranks and prove her worth, she up and made a pack. And now she was handed a spot in their ranks without so much as an thought, apparently. Many more had to try harder and it was not fair. But Burke was the Alpha, and Malice was his... whatever.

She nodded, showing she understood and accepted his words. Her hard tone was not unreasonable, but it was her job. If neither of them liked it, they could very well be without her help when Malice found she could not find enough food to feed her gremlins. She knew Burke needed someone, but Malice?! A girl of no use, big mouth and hardly any ambitions for the Brotherhood. Given past experiances, nobody could say her reasons for hating the female were invalid. 

She had already inclined to leave, but Burke's tone suprised her. His display of affection to her enemy seemed rather off, which left her in shock as she walked off to find her mate. What was she turning him into? This was not good. Whatever Malice had planned, she would get to the bottom of it. She loped off faster, the anger fuleing her muscles. How did it come to this? Like always, she dug for a way to explain what she had done wrong for all this even to have happened. The day's of being content were over, and she did not believe it would ever be good again with the source of her pain living in the same territory as her.

Burke watched Nemesis walk off, in which she looked pretty pissed. Still her aggression showed that she cared for this pack and he could not ask more for a Beta. With Nemesis out of the way Burke started to walk further with Malice, deeper into the territory. "Don't sweat it too much. She is hard on everyone in the beginning, though her dislike for you doesn't really help. But, oh well," he spoke and turned to look at her. Malice was a tough girl, he knew that so he did not bother comforting her too much. Maybe she was growing only more determined from Nemesis her words. Who knows.

Burke walked through the thick woods, though their canopies were eaten. The male then came to a clearing, the spiderlings' glen. He had raised Kendra and Pietro here. But Pietro was gone now. The male walked towards the den. "Follow me," he spoke before Malice was staying outside of the den again like she had done back in her own territory. Burke laid down on the ground. Malice could lay against him again as they had done before. Burke's muscles relaxed, being less tense. He might look calm but it was mostly him muting his own feelings. "It might be best you stay around this den and this clearing, feel free to explore more but well, it seems Nemesis is clear on you wanting to stay away," he spoke to her. He did not expect Nemesis to hurt Malice but he would never know how badly things would escalate between women. "It might not look promising now, but I have a feeling that you will be accepted." ... eventually, he added mentally. At least he was there for her and that was at least one more than she had in her own pack.

Malice didn't dare to say anything that even resembled a goodbye to the dark sister as she left. Instead, her yellow gaze just followed her movements as she padded away. Not that she had much time to do so though, for Burke started walking again. Malice followed and prayed they wouldn't run into anyone else. Then I'll just accept her as she is... She sighed at Burke's words. There was no use into fighting with her. Whether they wanted to or not, they were stuck together, and if she kept acting so hostile, she would only make it harder for them both.

they made their way deeper into the dark woods that were pretty disorientating for the new recruit. She had no idea these woods were so big. Phantom Hollow wasn't nearly as massive as this place. When Burke said to follow into some weird glen, she did so. She stopped just a split second before the den, but quickly got her "ass inside" as Burke had called it. There, she settled next to Burke, laying her head in his neck to calm down. 

What if they don't? Will I be forced to stay in this den forever? She asked in a soft sigh. It was a possibility that Nemesis would tell the others of how "awful and stupid" she was. 

Burke hummed softly when he felt her settle next to him. The male's docked tail wagged. He grinned a bit, which he seemed to do more lately. "Yes, you will be like that story that were were told as pups. The female wolf that was kept in her den until she was saved by the prince,' Burke spoke, meaning the fairytale Rapunzel. Did he actually tried to make a joke just now? He could not really make jokes but he thought this one was pretty funny. Burke was probably now one of those old guys who liked their own jokes. How bad of him.

The male laid his head on Malice her paws, though he was curious about her belly, but he might inspect that later. Even after all this time he was still pretty curious and excited about having pups being born again. He hummed softly. "I think that you should just do what you like doing. If you want to explore I'd say you do that, I would not want you to be isolated either. Cicero might like seeing you again! And maybe even Potema too. And, Kendra is probably curious. They are not all like Nemesis." Oh crap, and then there was still Damien. How was he going to deal with Malice? Damien might think he was replacing his mother. No Malice was different from Meldresi.

Malice raised an eyebrow at his humming, but didn't question it. It was nice to see him in a good mood. Her frowning face turned into a satisfied smile, happy to be here at last. It wasn't Phantom Hollow, but it was now home. She wondered if they would miss her, but quickly threw that thought into the trash. Of course they wouldn't.

Malice chuckled lightly at his... joke? Surely he didn't mean it literally. She remembered the weird fairytale of the female he was talking about vaguely from her childhood. She hadn't paid much attention when her mother had tried to amuse her, but she had picked up things here and there. Oh no, whatever must I do now?! She said, her voice muffled but clearly in an unnatural high voice as if she was a really bad actress.

The warmth of Burke went to her paws, and to be honest, this was the best feeling ever. The excitement of joining a new pack, the kick she got from just up and leaving her spot as alpha in Moonlit Hills, Burke by her side. Never could she have imagined this. Her head popped up at the mention of Cicero. Of course! How could she have forgotten him?! Cicero! She exclaimed happily yet surprised. She soon calmed down and placed her head back on Burke though. A big grin accompanied her next word; Sorry... She whispered as always.

Burke let out a soft grunt, remembering the wound at the base of his skull. Sometimes when he turned his head in a certain angle he would feel the wounds of that damn woman. By now the wounds had mostly turned into crusts but they still pulled on the base of his skull. The male lifted his head again and watched Malice act out someone on a high voice. She might be the first who liked his jokes, or well, even laughed a bit about them. Funny.

The male cleared his thread when she grew excited about hearing about Cicero and then apologizing. Burke raised his dotted eyebrow. "Why do you always do that, show your true self and then apologize for it?," he questioned the female. He was not sure why that was, but to him it sounded a bit like she was insecure. He nudged her.

Malice had spotted the wounds before, but she had written them off as the ones that were on his body when he had spent the night with her in Phantom Hollow. She avoided touching them as much as she could, knowing how painful it was to touch even the smallest of wounds since she had been given her scar, one she could not return to the crazy man. She wondered how Judas was doing, all alone with no one even remotely as twisted as he was. Would Mitanni accompany him? Had they forgotten about the whole event that was Judas' outbreak? If so, Malice was glad she had gotten the scar that did not compliment her beauty. It meant that she was marked with bigger purpose, that she had saved someone's life.

I don't want to turn others off with my enthusiasm for certain things... She muttered vaguely at his question. It was true, behind that yellow gaze lied a playful yet dangerous woman, smothered by her love and affection for the ones that returned it, but hidden away with what was called her pride.

Burke watched her and then shook his head. Because he thought that enthusiasm could be good, some one that has passion for certain things could spark others further with that interest. "Here in our pack everyone is different and everyone is accepted for it," he spoke to her, to assure Malice that she could be herself. Kendra was pretty weird too, even though he would never say that to his daughter's face, he loved her for it. The father was very proud of his daughter, he missed Pietro, wondering how he would have reacted.

Burke closed his eyes. "Let's sleep," he offered and kind of snuggled in closer. The male was tired from today and his search to then also having to deal with Nemesis. Hopefully she would adjust, he did not picture his beta to keep her grudges like that. Hopefully things would even out. "Tomorrow I will have to do my patrols, but I will try to get back as soon as possible with a meal too," he spoke to her.

A smile spread across her face. It was good to know she didn't have to act like a higher being anymore. Her rank as alpha had tucked away her playful side, since she needed to be a leader, but now... She didn't know what to do. She had been a leader her whole life, had to be a picture of sophisticated grace- an all knowing being, the daughter of Lucifer. She just hoped the Malice that entered the Teekon Wilderness was gone.

She yawned, lifting her head up to do so, before placing it back on Burke with a small cute sound. It had been a long day, a very long day, in which she had made the biggest decision of her life to date. It was only natural for her to be tired now. She snuggled a little closer to Burke, the scent of Blackfeather Woods slowly getting familiar. Goodnight... She spoke in a soft voice, eyes closing. 

Before drifting off to sleep though, she whispered; And thank you...