Hushed Willows His plans always worked

Maybe one of the new Marauders? All welcome though!

Trick lay on the ridge, his ridge, somewhere to the side of The Keep. It was here he had met Teagan for the first time, someone who he now viewed as his only friend. He never had a friend before... This couldn't go well. Teagan would be thrown away like everyone else in his life that had tried breaking down his walls. No one would get to him. He was Trick, god damn it! If he couldn't be happy, no one could!

He turned in his sleep, eyes flickering open once in a while, his panting soft and steady yet trembling with fear. It was a nightmare again, but this one was new. Normally, they were about how his family-his real- family was murdered by the thing that now called himself his father. But that night, they were about the Marauders. It was about all of them, even Kunkun, weakened by the famine. They were at war, and Trick could only look. His dream self's eyes lingered on the fiery pelt of his dream gay lover, fighting one of the wolves who Trick thought to be the enemy. "No!" Trick called out as he saw Grace running for her life but fall over with that limp of hers. This was chaos, the thing he loved, why was he crying again? 

In reality, he was only mumbling nonsense, but in his dream he was shouting for them to fight. He tried to get down the ridge he was standing on, watching them fight underneath him in a place that closely resembled hell. But the more he tried to go down, the higher the ridge became. He risked it all and leaped down, and that was the moment he awoke.

Panting, he opened his now dull green eyes, looking around. He was here, the marauders were, everything was well. He could see it was already morning, but he felt no desire to get up. Instead, he pulled himself up in a sitting position and stared at his petite paws that had helped cure so many ill travelers. He didn't care, did he?

There was not an adventurous bone in Larkspur's body, yet not for the first time, her restless hunger drove her from the comforting arms of her family and into the unknown. Dawn light streaked the eastern horizon as she picked her way out of The Crook, paws quickly growing damp where dew clung to the newly growing grass underfoot. She didn't wander in any particular direction, just meandered through the unfamiliar willow wood in search of anything to fill these empty spaces inside her.

Another wolf might have felt compelled to investigate a strange noise, yet Larkspur's reaction to the whimpering and thrashing that disrupted the morning peace and quiet was to scramble behind the nearest scanty bush and press her belly close to the earth. Her huge eyes flew wide at first, then narrowed slightly as she squinted through the scraggly branches in the direction of the sound. Soon enough, she spotted a vaguely familiar wolf with black fur, sitting still and staring down at his feet. Spur remained quiet and motionless, observing him.

Trick was always aware of his surroundings, he had learned from his past mistakes. Mental breakdown or not, he needed to know what was around him at all time. If he didn't, a bone would be thrown at him again, or he could get squished again by the huge bullies- just like at home. Sleeping was enough time to not be wary. Never again would he be bullied. Not here- where he was so high in the hierarchy that only Teagan, Warbone and Tavi could truly approach him without respect. He had earned his place here, more so than perhaps even Tavi.

The flash of tan and honey did not go unnoticed, for it kinda stood out in the weak light of morning and the fresh color of new greenery. No one could hide from him for long, but it was the fear of the one hiding perhaps having seen how stressed he was that set him on edge. Who goes there? He called out in that honey voice of his. His handsome face looked around, forgetting the horrible nightmare he had just had. 

Show yourself, or I'll poison every meal you eat until you die a horrible tragic death.

He seemed to sense her. Spur watched as his eyes lifted and he scanned his surroundings, quickly narrowing in on her location. She swallowed thickly, then felt her limbs starting to quiver when he spoke. Her heart hammered in her chest at the threat. She felt torn between trying to sneak away and showing herself. Which was the lesser evil?

Shivering, the pup slowly pushed herself upright and stepped into view. Maybe by showing herself, she would avoid certain death. "I d-d—" she attempted to speak, only her trembling tongue just wouldn't cooperate. Larkspur quickly gave up on trying to talk, keeping her wide eyes pinned on her own forefeet but also keeping the strange black wolf in her peripheral vision in case he came after her and she needed to flee the scene.

If he had known that he was talking to an innocent little kid, perhaps he had forgotten about the presence all together. But the flash had been so quick, that Trick really couldn't have seen who it was- or even what it was. It was too light for a normal rabbit and too small to be Nova Rose. Never had he intended to threaten an innocent soul, for he knew how even the smallest hateful comment thrown at such a being could scar and shape it to become a coward. Or perhaps it would turn out just like him- scared, misunderstood, but pure evil.

But when the young'un showed itself, his squinting, scanning eyes turned into ones of surprise. He immediately felt bad, just a little, for shouting at the kid. He turned toward it, his emerald eyes falling onto the stuttering and shivering body. He did not know the child, or perhaps only vaguely, so he wondered if it was a trespasser. If so, where were its parents? Surely it wasn't, right?

Just another sign that Tavi really didn't know how to rule. Sooner or later, Trick would have to take over. I don't recall ever meeting you. He chuffed, his tone softer, more honey-like than before. I'm sorry, I am not keen on wolves sneaking up on me. Surely you do not like it either.

He made no move to attack, yet Larkspur's tension did not ease. When he spoke, her head tilted ever so slightly. His tone was softer now as he apologized. The youngster swallowed, bobbing her head for an instant before stilling again. She hadn't been intentionally sneaky and she wanted to make sure he knew that.

"I did-didn't mean to sneak up on y-you," Spur said through trembling lips. "I was w-walking around and I heard a noi-noise, so I jumped behind the bush," she explained, still worried he might rebuke her. "Sorry!" she added hastily, blinking away the warm tears that threatened to well in her big blue eyes, which remained glued to a spot between her front paws.

Trick was afraid he might have been too harsh on the sneaking being all together. Threatening someone with poison was quite a scary thing if one did not know how to vomit it out. He wouldn't have done it to a kid, he figured. Well, maybe to Tam to prevent him from taking over once he was old enough. That was how he worked, and the only one that suspected something was Kunkun.

Don't sweat it. He purred sweetly. After all, the little one had successfully distracted him from his nightmare. Why hide from a sound? He questioned. Sounds inside a pack territory could only ever be a trespasser, food, or your own packmate. And the chance of it being a trespasser with Trick and Teagan's fine border work was small. Why so afraid, little one? He questioned again. 

He reassured her, though whether or not Spur actually felt reassured was up for debate. She did feel tongue-tied when he asked her, point blank, why she had run away from a sound. No one had ever shone such a bright spotlight on this aspect of her personality before. Sure, it had always been acknowledged and even accommodated. But no one had ever asked outright why she behaved this way. And, to tell the truth, Larkspur didn't have an answer for him. She had been born this way.

"I dunno," she whispered, feeling her cheeks heat as her face flushed in the beginnings of shame. No one had ever made her feel put on the spot like this and Spur was having a tough time deciding how to respond to the scrutiny. Embarrassment and, of course, anxiety appeared to be her default. She wanted to ask if she could go now, yet the words stuck in her throat, apprehension not permitting her to make such a bold request.

Trick hadn't meant to look like he was pointing out her flaws or put her in the spotlight -for that was his place ;)-. He was only curious of how this small one had already developed a fear that was hard to live with. Running from sounds was good for prey animals, not for fierce predators like the marauders, and he assumed this little one was a "marauder". Of course, none of the new recruits would ever be true marauders, not for real. They had not lived under the rule of the great warrior Warbone, and therefore Trick found himself to be more superior than the lot of them. Even Kunik, despite him hating her, was a true marauder.

How can you run from an unknown sound without having reasons to do so? He questioned. He raised his eyebrow, jumping down from the ridge in a flexible, smooth move. There is nothing to fear as long as you are under the protection of the true marauders. He said with a meant sweet smile, tipping his head comically to the right. Or is it the marauders themselves that scare you?

Spur didn't know how to answer his next question either. She worried her lip, inwardly begging to be excused. But he seemed intent on sussing out whatever made her afraid, even if Larkspur herself couldn't put a finger on it. Drawing in a breath, she licked her drying lips and tried to at least come up with something to say in response.

"I dunno," she began, pausing before reiterating, "I dunno if there's nothing to fear." That was her default setting: be (very, very) afraid. And nature aside, her parents had always warned her of strangers. That's what he was, even if he was a pack mate. Hell, that's what everybody was to Larkspur, aside from her parents, brothers and now Deirdre (that special snowflake).

So the answer to his final question was yes, though she didn't feel the need to state that. Instead, Larkspur just continued sitting there, peering at her feet, hoping he would either make himself scarce or let her go.

Trick squinted at her answer. She was partly right, no one could predict the future. But that was the fun in life, right? Was she afraid of him? A worried look found it's way onto his handsome, still quite youthful, face, despite his knowledge. He needed to cheer this kid up, badly. He wanted to offer the pups something he never had, a comforting paw to catch them when they fall. But would he be able to, now that he was truly against the new recruits? But what had their kids done? They only got dragged around. Perhaps, with some luck, the little ones could become true marauders.

He smiled and took a few cautious steps toward the tawny being that had not lifted her head up ever since they had began talking. A respectable distance away from the girl, he sat down, hoping she would not run and hide in fear again. Can I tell you a secret? He asked with a charming smile.

He reminded her of the black wolf who had approached her on the plain. He, too, had been persistent in the face of Larkspur's closed-off demeanor. She didn't understand why they wanted to converse with her so badly. She supposed this wolf might want to make nice with her because they were part of the same pack now. But if he thought that meant she immediately and implicitly trusted him, well... he was dead wrong.

He seemed to trust her, however, as suddenly he moved closer (she cringed away slightly) and asked if she wanted to know a secret. Very briefly, Larkspur's eyes lifted up to his face, confusion in her overly large blue eyes. She then dropped her gaze again, saying nothing.

Trick knew himself he couldn't be trusted, so it wasn't a thought that worried him when approaching the small female. Why he was actually trying to help her, was a mystery to both the pup and himself. He supposed he could see a little bit of himself in her, and didn't want her to end up as a scaredy-cat. Or perhaps it was because he knew he couldn't have children with Teagan, if he ever wanted them. Would he even be a good father?

Her cringing did not stop him from getting closer, and he was lucky he wasn't a large wolf like Warbone or Stark, for he assumed that would only scare the kid more. He smiled as she looked up, his green eyes representing that he could be trusted, but that smile faded when the small one's face drooped again. He lay down, his head resting on his forepaws, his tail slowly wagging from side to side as he looked at her.

Everyone is a little afraid all the time. He told her in a warm voice. Even the ones that don't show it. He murmured in an even lower tone. So don't sweat it, little one. You'll soon find something, a passion, that will make you forget you are afraid.

When he lowered himself to the ground, Spur didn't know what to think. On one hand, he seemed so determined to win her favor when all she wished was to be left alone. On the other, it did put her slightly more at ease to have him below her. Despite herself, Larkspur blinked down at him, momentarily meeting his gaze before she quickly returned hers to some nonspecific point between their paws.

She chewed on the inside of his cheek as he attempted to reassure her. Maybe what he said was true. Spur wasn't sure what she thought of it, though. She had always been skittish and nobody had ever made her feel poorly about it. Should she want to change? She supposed it would make life easier, for herself and others. But the girl didn't have the first clue how to overcome such a fundamental part of her essential makeup.

A response of some sort seemed required, so the pup murmured a noncommittal, "Maybe."

Wanna wrap this up with your post? :)

Their eyes met for some brief seconds before his gaze rested on the top of her little head again. For a young kid, he couldn't deny that she was pretty. He dearly hoped she would soon realize that herself, so that she perhaps wouldn't be so shy anymore. But whatever he tried, he couldn't come through to the kid, it seemed. Oh well, he just hoped that his moments with her had not been a waste of time and that she at least considered his words.

before we depart, I would like to add that I think you are already quite brave. He complimented her, for he seemed to have an aura that scared most young females away. He smiled at her before rising up to his feet, and bowing, even though he doubted she would look up again. Until we meet again. He purred, turning with a graceful movement of his tail and body, and he lept onto the ridge again to enter the Crook. Perhaps Grace or Teagan would be up already. 

Sure, thanks for the thread. :)

Spur's tongue poked out slowly to wet her lips, her heart skipping a beat. Finally, he was leaving. But first, he told her that she was brave. She wasn't sure what prompted him to say that, when all the evidence pointed to the contrary. But she didn't argue with him. She didn't say anything. Her gaze lifted to watch him smoothly pivot and lope away. He quickly moved out of sight and Spur sat for a moment longer before slinking off in the opposite direction.