Mount Everfall God loves his children

@Laurel @Indra

The thread we've all (mostly me) been waiting for! Posting this about a week early than I thought I would, but I'm impatient and a vibrating ball of excitement right now!

He followed Amber's scent through the night, distancing himself enough to not rouse suspicion as she unwittingly led him back to her home. The scent of the creek pack was strong -- intermingled with its scent he could smell his grandmother, Spring, and Laika. Curiously, Saena's scent had faded like a summer breeze. Could she have gone? If so, had she taken the children with her? Hiram asked himself this as he drew away from the detection of the pack to wait by the mountain looming over the creek. He had not traveled this far to return without his children. They were there, they had to be. He would accept no other answer.

The sun would soon rise, but for now the mountain was shrouded in dusky darkness. There, he settled -- waiting in the cool earth as he planned and plotted.

Laurel and her sister had been looking at rocks by the creek earlier, before the sunlight yet filtered through to the sky. A scary endeavour, but Laurel wasn't scared and she'd dragged Indra along. After that Laurel had suggested a game of hide and seek, a game her sister turned out to be very good at. They hadn't agreed on a scope and before she knew it, Laurel had lost Indra altogether. They'd been in an area near to the pack's borders when that happened.

"Indra! Iiiin!" Laurel's screams echoed through the woods that surrounded Silver Creek territory as she crossed the borders. Her heart pounded in her chest since she'd never been out here when it was yet so dark. When a mountain started to appear in the distance and trees thinned Laurel stopped for a moment and stared at this new thing. She then looked over her shoulder, not yet having noticed another wolf nearby; was Indra coming soon..?

Could he just howl for anyone familiar? He shook his head and snorted with frustration, casting the thought aside. No, it would be far too risky to broadcast his location to the Silver Creek wolves. To come so close to be turned away would only rub salt into the wound left by Saena when she had permanently barred him from seeing his children. Hiram would need to come up with a better plan, but this was turning out to be more delicate than he had first believed it to be.

Then, there was a sound rousing his attention. Ears perking, he lifted his head from the earth. It was the voice of a child calling out -- his child. His little girl was just out of sight. Casting all plans aside, Hiram rose to his feet and began to make his way toward the noise his daughter made. No longer guided by reason, the man was called by latent parental instinct. 

It was not long before he found her. When he laid eyes on his litte girl for the first time, he could not find the words to say. How could he explain his absence from her life? She was so young -- yet so grown already. Surely she already had her preconceived notions about him. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came.

Just as she stood and stared at what lay beyond the forest, a wolf came up to her, causing tan ears to swivel forward attentively. She looked at the wolf, who was dark and full of scars. He looked pretty bad-ass, in contrary to how he just stood there and stared at her as if he wasn't all there.

She didn't realise who he was, and after a short silence in which Laurel decided which of her questions was the most important one she asked of him: "Have you seen my sister, Indra?" She didn't even consider to think that her description of her sister -- none -- was severely lacking and would make no one know what to even look for.

Hoping in!

Laika had been ecstatic for the rest of the day. She was a mother. She had two little girls. For that reason, she just could not stay away from Indra and Laurel. The pale queen was about to go off and find them when Laurel's desperate calls reached her ears. She hurried in the direction of the sound, finding the babe's fresh scent on the borders. Worry pulled at her gut. What were they doing so close to the borders? What scared her more was that her scent trail led her outside the territory! 

Nose to the ground, Laika followed the strong trail. She was amazed at how far the puppy had gone this late at night. Relief flooded her when she caught sight of Laurel near the base of the mountain. She was about to call to her when she noticed that Indra wasn't with her. "Laurel-," she was cut off as a black creature slipped from the shadows. Reek. 

Hackles raised at Laurel asked him her innocent question. Of course she didn't know this was her father. Eyes were locked on Reek, surveying his every move. What was he doing here? What was he even here?

two little ones. Casmir too had taken many moments to be with them, to look upon them, to say their names. his days were happily swallowed by Indra, Laurel, and Laika, and the boy was content.

soon he would have more sisters and brothers at Donnelaith. vowing to visit more often, Casmir pulled off his patrol-path to move in the direction of Laurel's voice.

something gnawed at the boy, somethinh akin to fear as he picked up the tendrils of his daughter's scent. why did these two wander so damn much! he swore to himself, catching sight of Laika's pale fur and Laurel's own pretty coat.

whatever words he meant to speak died in the boy's throat as he laid eyes on the dark, scarred man who contemplated his wife and child. Laika's tense body firmed his own, and he drew near with hackles raised, placing himself between the two Creek wolves and the stranger.

a low growl warned the other back, and there came the strange feeling again that Casmir somehow knew this man, knew those features beneath the ragged fur and old scars. his yellow eyes burned and he was silent with the weight of his threat.

Spring had been having a good day.  She woke up and laid by the creek, basking in any sunlight that shone down, she fished for a while and basically enjoyed herself in the early morning.  As time progressed though the Alpha began to feel an urge to go stretch her legs and take a walk.

For a long while she just walked and walked.

She did this for a while when suddenly she caught a familiar scent.  Yet for some reason she could not place it, not yet.  She followed it cautiously but as she kept going a nervous feeling like an icy claw gripped  her heart.  Something was wrong, she could just tell.

And then she saw him.  She forgot the whole argument that Shreya had provided her for Reek.  Others were there too, but she didn't see them.  Her eyes could only see him.  That... that... she didn't even have any words for what she felt about him.  He had cheated on Saena, Spring's friend, for Tavi.  It was sick, terrible and he deserved to die.  It was his fault for what had happened to Saena in Spring's eyes.  If he had loved her like a true mate then they would have never moved, Saena might have kept sane.  Maybe Saena still would've been here.

"Reek."  She hissed with a voice full of venom.  She wanted to kill him, murder him in some viscous, horrendous way.  He deserved to die and she wanted to kill him.  "You cheated on Saena, my friend.  If you hadn't breed with Tavi then maybe she would still be here.  You deserve to die Reek.  You deserve to die."  She voice filled with rage and her hackles arose, fur bristling, lip curled back and tail high with dominance.  "Why are you here?"  She stayed in place dispite desperately wanting to go ripe Reek's throat out at this very instant to end him.  Slowly she began to notice that others were there too.  Laika, Casmir and Laurel.  Laurel.

His little girl spoke, chirping a question with eyes bright with a youthful spark. Hiram's gaze settled on those eyes -- they were like his. Murkey brown, but soulful. Her resemblance was uncanny. Though, in some ways she favored her mother, there was no denying that this was Hiram's child. Her tawney pelt reminded him of his own late mother; gone before her time. His heart beat faster and his gaze filled with love. A joyful tear streamed down his scarred cheek.

"N-no," he answered, finding his voice. "What's she look like?" Oh, how he wanted to see her too... both of his daughters.

For a while, he just wanted to look at her -- to enjoy the child whom he had never known. He wanted to ask about her, to learn her name. But before he could speak again he was joined by a familiar face. They came out of the woodwork together, each from different directions. Two familiar. One, a stranger. He had known he would not be welcome here, but this was not the welcome he anticipated.

Spring was quick to let the accusations fly, to say that he deserved to die. "I did," spoke the man. The guilt that followed him still was evident in his voice. "I was a sinful man -- far from the favor of Raas -- but I walk a lighter path now." He had changed in some ways. He still had his issues that he struggled to work through, but he was no demon. 

He looked down to the youngster. "I traveled so far... All for them," he said as he dipped his head low to regard his daughter at her level. "My name was Reek Redtail." He paused, feeling another tear streak across his face. "And I'm your real dad."

It was a little strange when the man seemed to grow sad, as if something was bothering him. Laurel keenly noted a tear dripping down his cheek and she boldly queried, with a taste of disapproval in her voice, "Are you crying?" She thought crying was for little girls, not for tough-looking scarred wolves like the one in front of her.

Yet before she could say any more there were sounds in the distance and when she turned her head, she saw Laika approach, who looks defensive, then Spring. She only noticed Casmir when she turned back around and wondered out loud, "Is this a bad wolf?" Not that she minded, so much; she thought bad wolves were pretty cool, and already she wanted to spend more time with this wolf just 'cause of that.

Her eyes widened when Spring called him Reek. Laurel hadn't paid attention during the descriptions of Reek, but she knew his name still. This only intrigued her more, for all the bad things that Spring had said only spurred her on to meet him, and all the good things Shreya said had (mostly) encouraged her further. Many words were flung at Reek and he spoke some back, but Laurel followed only half of them since she understood little of what was being said.

In the midst of all the bickering, Laurel's ears turned towards Reek and she asked: "Are you really my daddy?" 'cause she just wanted the facts straight, first. Then she wondered carefully, while glancing at Laika, Casmir and Spring, "Are you gonna come live with us..?"

"Reek," She greeted gruffly, moving to step protectively over Laurel. She kissed her head briefly as the pup continued to ask questions. Spring shot out insults, and even though they seemed harsh, she understood where the female was coming from.  Casmir planted himself in between Laika, Laurel and Reek. Laika had to stand on tip-toes to see over her mate, but she didn't mind.

Reek seemed to have changed a little bit, and Laika couldn't help but let a faint smile for on her lips as a tear streamed down the black wolf's face. "I think you should know that Saena has left. She wandered off a while ago, but we don't know where she went, nor if she is still alive. Milo.. the boy.. he passed from the famine," She started off, staring at him to gouge a reaction. "But your girls are in good hands. Spring has become Alpha, and I beta. Me and casmir," She pointed with her nose the her husband, knowing that Reek did not know who he was, "we are mates, and have adopted Laurel and Indra. Casmir is Saena's cousin and we know that she would have liked this arrangement." The end of her speech was somewhat challenging, waiting for him to argue back. However, for the most part, she was emotionless, eyes locked on Reek's eyes.

Cas was pretty pissed with Spring for spouting off all that ugly nonsense in front of Laurel, even though it was true. but he wasn't about to turn and glare at his alpha, undermining her in front of Reek. Laurel seemed curious about the dark man, and Casmir turned to stand alongside Laika, close enough to stop the stranger if he tried to grab Laurel and run. "no, he is not," the boy murmured gently to his daughter's question of Reek's dwelling with them. as fucking if.

Laika brought logic into the emotional scene with an explanation of what had gone on, though Cas wished she hadn't mentioned Saena. it was just as well, he decided -- his cousin would have been the one to greet Reek and probably attack him if she was here, and it was obvious she wasn't.

"so you see," Casmir intoned on the heels of his mate's gentle words, "Indra and Laurel are well-tended and cared for by a loving pack." they don't need you, was the silent tail of his sentence, blazing in his eyes as he fixed them on Reek. 

ball was in Spring's court now; Casmir would happily escort the stranger away with more than a warning nip.

The true  huge reality  of the situation began to sink in and Spring found herself silent.  Reek... or whatever his name was now was saying that someone named Raas favored him or something like that.  Who was Raas?  Teh question bubbled through her and slowly her rage began to switch to fear and then that fear turned into something inbetween as she stared at the scared male through cold icy eyes.  When he said that he was Laurel's real Dad Spring found herself highly disagreeing with that statement.  He was Laurel's biological Father, not her real Father.  A real Father wouldn't have let go of a great relationship without seeming to think of the consequence.  A real Father would have cared.

She then listened to Laurel who asked if he was coming to live with them and Spring instantly found herself not knowing what to feel.  Had she really not made it obvious enough that Reek was bad.  A terrible, terrible wolf.  Had she failed?  Then Laika went on to informed Reek with distaste about a short summary of what had happened and finally Casmir gave it a nice finish.  The pups did not need Reek, they had Silver Creek.

"Do you really think that we'll just give you Laurel and Indra after everything that has happened.  This is not what Saena would have wanted, Saena wanted you gone."  The Alpha told Reek in a cold tone full of distaste.  She really hoped that Laurel wasn't buying her Reek.  She did not need him.  Weren't the wolves of Silver Creek that loved her good enough?

Immediatly, the child spoke -- asking for confirmation. Resolutely, Hiram nodded his head. She deserved the truth. She deserved her true father. Not long after, Laika found her voice and began to fill in the gaps that the man had missed since the maplewolves had departed their beloved wood. She regarded him not with disdain, but with kindness that he found suprising. Laika was, and had always been, Hiram's friend.

While her tone had been refreshing, the news she brought was deeply unsettling. Saena was gone -- she had flown the coup, leaving her children to be orphans. Hiram felt anger rise in his brest for his ex-wife for abandoning their children, especially after the way she had barred him from ever seeing them. Second, there was the meantion of Milo that casued Hiram's anger to quickly shift into grief. "My boy," he murmered, feeling his heart break for the boy he would never know.

His name had been the one he suggested -- the name of his great-grandfather before him; Milo Bramble. The boy would never know his namesake, nor would his father ever see his smiling face. "I was too late," he choked out, feeling the weight of guilt crushing him even further. 

His expression was one of desperation as the others spoke. First the stranger; though it gave Hiram great comfort to know that his surviving daughters had been under loving care. They deserved their real family -- their real parents. Not this lie that they had been living. 

And then Spring -- Spring, who's hatred burned for him in a way Hiarm did not truly understand -- weighed in. He did not expect the wolves of the creek to hand the children over. No, he intended to take them quietly. He still did, but his excitement had drawn him too close. "No," he answered. "But I'm here to be the father they deserve." 

He straightened his posture, feeling a righteous power rising within him. "It doesn't matter what Saena wanted -- she abandoned them by choice. I was forced to leave. I am not a perfect man and I don't pretend to be one, but she deserves to know that she has a father who loves her. She deserves to know that I've spent every waking moment trying to find her." 

He shook his head. "I may not deserve it -- but she does." After all, even though she was still just toddler, it was her right to decide for herself.

Words were flung back and forth over Laurel's head by the adults. Casmir stayed the most notably silent, and Laurel occasionally looked at him even after he had gone to stand by Laika's side. The words that Spring spoke were harsh and Laurel wondered why she thought her daddy deserved to die. Words continued to spin from left to right, and while Laurel knew they were about her and Indra, she also knew that she was no part of this conversation, not really. The adults were only talking to one another.

Laika said that she and Casmir had adopted her and Indra, Casmir said that they were well-tended to, and Spring made Laurel feel rebellious because not only had she said that Reek deserved to die, but she also suggested they would never give Laurel and Indra, like they weren't even real wolves with their own choices. She didn't understand why her dad couldn't join their pack and live with them. It seemed like he wanted to. But he was not much better than the others, forcing himself on her and Indra's lives like she had no choice in the matter. Maybe it was because she had asked if he was going to stay before, something that was somewhat of an invitation.

And so amidst all of the chaos and fighting between adults Laurel bellowed, "HEY!" to get their attention. She then put on a pout and loudly declared: "What about what I want?" She frowed in a pouting way, looking like a stubborn child who didn't get her way, but feeling like she was already pretty old and totally ready to make such big, life-changing decisions on her won. "Shreya says that my dad isn't a bad wolf, and I wanna meet him." Her most princess-like pout intensified as she said this, the urge to stomp a paw on the ground as she did hard to push down. Maybe part of the reason she wanted to meet Reek was because Spring had called him a bad wolf, because pretending to be bad was obviously pretty cool, but she didn't add that.

Spring spat out more insults and Laika's tail tip twitched with slight annoyance. She hid it well though, and kept her eyes trained on Reek. He spoke little as she told her story, and she actually felt bad for him. Yes, he had made so many horrible choices, but he seems to have changed for the better. This Raas charcter must have placed something new in his heart. 

She pondered for a moment until Laurel spoke up. It surprised her, but didn't surprise her. She had always been a loud-mouthed one, but was she old enough to make a decision like this? She gazed down at her adoptive daughter for a second, eyes full of love. She wanted her to be happy, she truely did, but she also wanted to keep her safe. She still didn't know Reek's true intentions. Glancing at the black man before them all, Laika got down to eye level with the brown Laurel. "Okay Laurel," she spoke softly. "Do you want to make a compromise?" It was directed to not only to babe, but also to the rest of the wolves around her. She looked up at Reek, a fieirce fire in her eyes. "You wanted to take them home with you, correct?" she doubted he would give up his power just like that. Then, she turned back to laurel. "If that's true, we will have to see what Indra wants too." 

The pale queen hadn't stated what the compromise was just yet. She wanted her comrades and foes to agree with her first. Icy eyes trailed to Spring, then Casmir. They lingered on her mate for a while longer, eyes filling with love again. She yanked them away to look at Reek after, standing to her paws. "But we have to find Indra." She said, making sure that everyone knew that Reek could particapate too.

Reek's stupid arrogance, insistence he had changed, insistence on rights he had given up, made Cas' teeth ache to rip his throat out, and his muscles tensed. Laika again spoke, and he saw that she was trying to mediate. Laurel too piped up, but she was so young. she and Indra still pretended to be princesses, for Pete's sake. Reek was a manipulative asshole to ask her what she wanted. of course she'd want to go with him; she knew no better.

"Spring," the Mayfair boy addressed in a quiet tone, "the decision is yours. these are my children -- our children," he went on, facing Reek with hatred burning in his golden eyes, "and you know my stance. but whatever is decided, i think that Laurel and Indra should go sit with Shreya till it's all figured out. the grownups need to talk," he added, lowering his muzzle to Laur's level. "we will get it sorted, okay?"

Casmir straightened again. for the sake of Shreya, he would allow Reek to see the children, supervised, but he would never fucking just hand them over to a perfect stranger. and as far as he was concerned, Reek needed to keep his whore mouth shut about Saena, since he had been "forced out" for playing hide the sausage with another woman. goddamn. 

the boy was silent, awaiting Spring's decision, and hoping Laika, though she was a leader, would drop the kids off with Shreya. he wanted to stay and keep an eye on this ugly-ass rat.

As the others spoke, Spring slowly transformed her expression into that of a more neutral, blank one as she finally found herself being able to get a grip on her emotions.  Reek kept telling them that he had changed, which annoyed Spring because a wolf could never truely change.  Then Laurel spoke up and caught her attention, basically demanding that she should have a say in this.  Althoguh Spring knew that Laurel should have a say in this, she was so young that Spring was scared that she could possibly be swayed by this monster.  When Laika suggested that Indra should have a say too, Spring wasn't sure whether to agree or not.  She didn't really want to show Reek his other daughter, but still Indra deserved to be here.  Then Casmir proceeded to tell her that the decision was hers and that Laurel and Indra should go sit with Shreya until it was decided.  She nodded.  She liked Casmir's input the most.

"Laurel."  She began, adressing the pup in a soft tone.  "You will go with your sister to go see Shreya until Reek, Casmir, Laika and I have decided what to do.  If you or your sister don't like what we decide to do though,  you or Indra may have a say that we will take into consideration to work out a different option."  Decided Spring now gazed at Casmir, Laika and Reek.  Her appearance now much more solemn than before.  "Agreed?"

The girl wanted her opinion heard -- and rightly so. It was her choice weather she wanted to know her father or not. Her outburst made Hiram hopeful. Perhaps her perception of him hadn't totally been poisened by her caretakers. Hiram looked down toward his daughter, before she was quickly shuffled away by the other adults, to shoot a smile in her direction. Though he had spoken nary a word to his daughter, his expression was already full of love.

Soon, Laika spoke. His attention turned to the woman as she began to mediate. Surprisingly, she was receptive to receiving Laurel's opinion -- so much so that she was willing to let her return to the grotto with him if it were her choice. Laika's mediation made Hiram a happy man, but despite the hope he harbored in his heart, he knew that neither Casmir or Spring would allow that to fly.

Nor did they.

They quickly decided that this was a matter to be decided by adults, not the desires of a child. Silently, Hiram agreed. "I just want to know my daughters," he said. Some time was all he asked. With that, he could buy himself some more time to figure out how he would whisk both Laurel and her sister away to the grotto, because he surely couldn't do that now.

Laurel looked at Laika as she came to speak to her, finally feeling as though someone in the room was listening to her. She looked at her caretaker with anticipation, although the question was one hard to answer. But in the spur of the moment she nodded eagerly, not having a clue how far away her father's pack was or when she'd get to go back to her guardians here at the Creek. She didn't even really understand what a compromise meant, but it seemed like her best option for the moment.

She bristled when Casmir started to address Spring and told her that it was her decision. Laurel didn't understand why she wasn't allowed to decide about her own life. Cas turned to her level to talk to her after that, but only after it was too late. "NO," she screamed at his face, "It's my life, and my decision! And I wanna go with Reek!" It was a decision she hadn't even made moments ago, but in the face of Casmir and Spring dictating her life she was suddenly very certain that she wanted to come with her father. "And I'm taking In when I find her!"

Spring addressed her again, telling her the same as Casmir did — to go and be with Shreya and Indra until 'the grown-ups' had decided what to do. Laurel's last remaining shreds of calmth that kept her from a full-blown tantrum were shed as she screeched at Spring: "You're not the boss of me! You're not even my real mom! You deserve to die, Spring!" The last she parroted in her anger, trying to find what would hurt the most in the flurry of unforgiving child's rage she was feeling. She didn't know the implications of any of the decisions she was making, but she didn't care — she'd lost her mom and she didn't have faith that any of these wolves would stay by her side. If everyone was going to abandon her then she felt she might as well make her own decisions.

i feel so guilty since they've all been tending so well to her, but laurel gon be laurel.

Casmir and Spring continued to say that she needed to leave so the grown ups could talk about it, and Laika continued to grow more agitated as the conversation went. She knew how Laurel would respond to all of the preasure, because her personality as a pup was much like hers. Finally, the pup blew her top, screaming her demands about going with Reek and taking Indra with her. The pale beta's heart sunk as she listened as Laurel told Spring she deserved to die. She glanced at Spring to gouge her reaction, hoping that the alpha understood it was just from the heat of the moment. She looked back to Laurel with a slight frown, but her eyes were soft. "Come on Laurel," she told her softly. "Me and you are going to find Indra. And don't worry, they are going to stay put," she waved her tail at the three adults behind them. "You and I are going to deliver the news to your sister! Does that sound like fun?" She half lied, half told the truth, although she wore a face that told the pup that the whole thing was true. They would give Indra news, but it might not be the same news as before.

She glanced at Reek, her husband and Spring, hoping they understood what she was doing. She was giving them time to talk things out between themselves while Laika talked things through with Laurel. She nudged the pups shoulder, tail wagging. "Let's go find In!"

Laika is so easily manipulated by Reek today! Maybe it's cause she's still in heat. Normally, she would've chased him off by now :D

so sorry! i'm here! feel free to PP

indra hadn't meant to get separated from laurel -- and when she heard in the distance her clamoring sister's cries she halted her progress on the small hill and turned back, her half-flopped ears strained in alarm. clumsily the small child made towards the source, her blocky legs carrying her with somewhat wild abandon.

she slowed as she neared a small procession -- her family, encircled about a dark and scarred stranger. timidly the child pulled close to casmir, almost instinctively -- her doe-like eyes drawn towards spring and laika. why had they called her? was she in trouble? and who was this black-bound wolf they held congress with?

pp with permission! and exit Cas

Laurel completely blew her top, overwhelmed by the pressure of the talk, which was why Cas had wanted her gone from their presence. her behaviour, however, was unexcusable -- Reek aside, the child was engaged in utter disrespect toward her leader, and so the boy shifted his attention to move beyond the still-negotiating Laika and grab the top of Laurel's muzzle firmly with a warning growl, not a harsh touch, but one that expected submission.

in the next moment he had pulled Indra toward him. ""c'mon, you two." with a glance toward Spring and Laika, Cas grasped Laurel's nape in his teeth and lifted her from the ground, heading off at a sharp clip toward the interior of the territory and Shreya. he presumed Indra would follow.

For a moment things seemed to be going her way.  Reek wasn't protesting against the plan and she would never allow Laurel and Indra to go with him.  End of story.  Now they just had to chase Reek away and he'd hopefully be gone forever.

That was far too naive though, for that would have been too simple of a story, because then Laurel spoke and her words hit hard.  First she was yelled angerly at Casmir, saying that she wanted to go with Reek and brind Indra with her.  The Alpha's eyes widened in surprise.  She barely even knew her Father!  It was absurd to say something like that.  What had gone so wrong?  Everyone at Silver Creek had put their heart and soul into giving these pups a good life... but know Laurel was angry at them for apparently not doing enough?  Did she think that Reek, an excuse for a wolf could do better?

What Laurel said next though killed her.

She paroted Spring, used her own words against her.  Said exactly what Spring had said to Reek to her.

Spring was silent, she didn't know what to say.  She'd failed so many pups.  Was she destined to do this for the rest of her life?  Be a failure for every pup that she ever met?  Did she really deserve to die?  Did Laurel actually feel that way or was it in the heat of the moment?  That didn't matter though now... the words were out there and apparently Laurel thought that she was so terrible that she deserved to die.  Spring felt like curling up in a cave and just dying, but she couldn't she had responsibilities, plus that would be illogical anyways.

The next thing she knew Laika was starting to lead Laurel away to go find Indra, then Indra was there and Casmir was grabbing Laurel's muzzle with a warning growl, pulling Indra towards him and then leading them away from the scene.

Spring turned away to meet Reek this time not with anything of the normal.  No anger, no rage, no icyness... just sadness and grief hung there in her sunken golden gaze.  "Leave."  She growled to him, with a broken sounding tone.  "And don't ever come back."  Then she stood there, still as a stone.  She would stand there until he left her sight.  She wanted him gone, because wherever he went pain always seemed to follow.

Laurel's outburst had been brat-like and troubling, but it secretly brought Hiram joy. To know that his daughter, who barely knew him, wished to come with him back the grotto, to her true home -- well, it was humbling to say the least. Raas had surely already sewn the seeds of His love in her heart. The Lord called to her. No doubt the child could feel God's silent pull.

But as soon as the child made her opinion known, she was shuffled away (along with her sister whom Hiram was granted merely a glance). His gaze followed his children as they were led away, leaving just himself and Spring behind.

She spoke without vitriol, but her stance was clear. Hiram was not welcome here. "It hurts doesn't it?" He asked rhetorically. "To hear those words spoken by one you love." Laurel was only parroting the hatred Spring held in her own heart -- Hiram could see how much it destroyed the creek's new alpha, even if the feeling behind Laurel's outburst was simply spur of the moment. Perhaps now she would understand how he felt.

He would not leave. Not after traveling so far. "Let's be civil and talk this out like adults." No doubt, he wouldn't get far, but it was worth a shot.

Laurel let out a frustrated scream of objection as she was grabbed the first time, struggling between wanting to obey by instinct and yet show how much of her own person she was. Laurel didn't get to see the hurt in Spring's eyes nor hear anything else said however, for before she knew it she was dragged away by Casmir, left with no more than another frustrated screech and then grouchy silence as she was dragged off.