Blackfeather Woods Utjitunnik

Translation: Guarding. For Guardian specialty, of course, aha. @Damien

The children were wandering now—probably causing trouble, too—and so he’d taken to making more frequent patrols along the borders. Things had been quiet as of late, but that didn’t mean that they would remain that way. It was best to stay alert at all times, just to be on the safe side. Especially since the Inuk, whose age had been realized, had convinced himself that they would be his final litter. To keep them safe was of utmost importance, now more than ever. For the more they wandered, the likelier it was that they’d find their ways towards the borders someday. And, if that happened to occur whilst there was a threat lurking nearby, well… the assumed outcomes were far from ideal.

Kove had made his way through the woodland, bringing himself to a stop just before the trees broke away into open land. It was from that point that he began his patrol through the trees, stopping every so often to leave his scent behind in one way or another.

It was only by chance that he stumbled upon the Arctic male. Kove was a rare sight these days, but Damien understood the necessity he had to keep around his children. They had been promised to the brotherhood, an investment of sorts, but for all intents and purposes the future of Blackfeather Woods. So Damien did not waste the opportunity to come up to his friend that day, knowing that perhaps it would be a while until he could speak directly to him again.

"Brother," he barked, feeling a sense of pride for being now able to call him that. "I'll join you, if you don't mind," he announced, picking up his pace until he was just one step ahead of the older male. He was the master, after all.

Kove had not been far into his patrol when he was joined by another, the younger male being just as rare of a sight to him as vice versa. They were both busy, he knew, and so he’d thought little of it. Damien had to watch over the pack and Brotherhood, whilst he had his children to look after. The fact that they’d both happened to be free at the same time made it impossible for the Inuk to turn the other away, and so he’d said, “I don’t mind at all.” It’d been quite some time since he’d been joined on a patrol, too, which had further influenced his choice of words.

When Damien had taken the lead, it’d not gone unnoticed, but nothing was said in regards to it. Younger or not, he was the rightful leader of the woods, and so he’d receive the same amount of respect as Meldresi had—well, not the exact amount, but it was close enough. After all, no one could replace the late queen. Pushing passed those thoughts, he’d looked out towards the lake before trailing his gaze back towards his friend. “Things have been quiet lately,” he’d noted. “Inside and outside of Blackfeather.” The whelps were exploring and finding their ways through life, but they weren’t yet being overly troublesome. Not like how Xan had been, who the father had yet to see since his departure.

"Dreadfully so," he added eerily to his friend's comment, looking around as though something was about to jump on his with jaws wide open. Blackfeather Woods had always been a dynamic pack, losing and re-gaining followers constantly, but the income of new faces had started to become unsettling, further feeding Damien's desire to create his own.

"That will change, I hope... With your brood's arrival..." And Potema's upcoming he thought, but left it unspoken. For now the plan was still in blueprints, but there seemed to be no signs of second thoughts coming from the witch. Damien himself had his mind set, and would do anything he could to make it happen.

The silence was both settling and not. On one hand, there had been no intruders to threaten the safety of the pack or their caches. Yet, on the other, it’d become rather boring. He longed for the thrill of ridding the land of those that were never to be welcomed, whether it be with words and lies or teeth. He wanted something exciting to happen, to feel as if the pack operated just the same as it had back when he’d first joined their ranks. Things had changed, however, much of which he’d blamed on Burke. Had Meldresi lived and continued to rule the woods, then surely things would not have grown as docile as they have. Of course, he’d never know for sure if that would have been the case.

At the mention of his children, the Inuk nodded. “I hope so as well,” he’d said, then added, “If they’re anything like Xan, though…” As his sentence trailed off he’d shaken his head, dismissing the idea. “They’ll be sure to create some noise for us,” he added, stopping shortly after in order to sniff around a tree. Finding the scent to be weak, he’d lifted himself onto his hind legs and then dragged his nails down the trunk, likely further dulling them. He’d returned to his previous place right after, looking first to Damien and then around at their surroundings.

“These woods have seen a lot,” was said, somewhat absentmindedly. “I’m sure they’ll see a lot more, too.” With the Spiderlings ruling the woods now, there was no telling what all might happen. Everything was right, for now, even if the lack of action was rather disturbing.

They had long ago fallen into a state of peace, which in Damien's opinion could only be blamed on Burke's mellow way of life. He'd been fierce when the time demanded it of him, but otherwise, Burke hadn't led the pack to it's ultimate purpose, or even tried to emulate it. Blood and Fear was what Mephala asked her devouts to bring upon the lands they conquered, so blood and fear was exactly what the dark master of Blackfeather Woods wanted to bring upon the Teekon Wilds. But how, if he did not have the tools he required?

"Noisy pups are just what we need," commented Damien thoughtfully, but something in his words suggested that he expected them to be more than just that. Weapons, an army, loyalists, those were all things that Damien needed for Blackfeather Woods to reach it's full potential. Back then when the witch queen ruled Blackfeather Woods was a place of constant action, and Damien wanted to taste a bit of that.

Damien slowed down to give Kove time to refresh the markings. A pile of coyote dung caught his attention and he went up to it to tone it's scent down with his own piss. When Kove caught up again he listened to his thoughtful voice and looked around him silently. The forest had a lot to tell, indeed, but Damien sure hoped that he could show it so much more. It didn't bother him that Xan had decided to live his life elsewhere because even he could bring so much to Blackfeather Woods like that.

"We need to bring it back to it's former glory," was all Damien could say. Kove knew how that was, how the land itself shivered at the mention of the Dark Brotherhood.

The man had known from the moment he’d noticed Nemesis’ pregnancy that his children would serve a purpose. They’d been born in the woods and had lived in the darkness ever since then, hearing tales here and there in order to keep them interested. Though they’d yet to hear anything regarding the Brotherhood—to his knowledge, that is—it was his hope that they might each someday wear the mark just as proudly as they were meant to. Nothing would pull or push them from the woods, and this he was certain of. For as long as they breathed, they’d remain within Blackfeather, serving in a way that might restore the pack to its former glory. The thought had been encouraged by Damien’s words, the deeper meaning behind them having not been missed. For as long as his heart still beat, he’d keep his children on the right path. Although many had come and gone before them, he’d not allow for the same to happen with the Apaata children. They would remain, they would grow, and they would assist in paving the way for a greater future for the pack.

As the former ways of the land had been mentioned, Kove had been able to offer little more than a nod. He could recall what it was like and how exciting everything had been—how close they had been to reaching their fullest potential. Then the Queen had fallen and everything went backwards, the lot of them having been turned down a path most unlike the one they’d previously been marching along on. “We will,” he’d said after a short while, nodding once again. “It won’t happen overnight, but we’ll get there. With you leading us now, we’ll become just as Meldresi had wanted us to.” They would be known—infamous, even—but they would also become nothing more than a rumour. A story parents tell their children to keep him from misbehaving, or a threat to dangle over the throats of the wariest wolves. With the False King existing no longer, there would be nothing to prevent them from fulfilling their purpose.

A sense of pride washed over him, and his pale eyes sought the molten sun in Kove's for a moment as Damien attempted to read the loyalty that poured from the Inuit's factions. He had always been one of the strongest Dark Brothers, and would continue to be on top of Damien's trustees until the last of either of them's days.

Damien had never, and would likely never, voice his feelings towards Kove, but he hardly believed that to be a necessity. Kove had been there on Damien's hardest moments, and the harsh prince's welcoming reaction to him alone was enough to communicate Damien's plain trust. The dark master often felt it was wrong that Nemesis was sitting in a leadership seat rather than Kove, but the Inuit was smart enough to work his influence from his rank, and Nemesis' political position was but a way to appease her hunger for power, to keep her on Damien's good side, for he knew her abilities were of great use to him still.

"For that we need to be feared, like before..." Damien suggested, knowing the stories of how some members had built up a reputation for the pack. "We need to strengthen our ranks," he added, and the way he said it made it clear that he did not mean gathering more members but rather training those they already had to be what they were supposed to be. "And we need to be prepared for war..." he finished, suggesting there were plans being made for a near future where Damien knew he would make the pack a target.

Not a day had gone passed since his acceptance into the woods where he’d not been loyal to Meldresi and, by extension, her children. Though the blood that flowed through their veins lacked any relation, it mattered not. Kove would always favour them over most others, given that they had become his family through loyalty and honour. Those that put in the work necessary to earn the crimson mark of the Brotherhood were wolves that the Inuk wished to speak of having familial ties with, and so he’d never break that bond. For as long as his heart beat within his chest, he’d serve the rightful heirs without question, solely because it was with them that his gratitude lied. They were his home, his family, and the only beings in existence he could ever think to fight alongside during times of great wars.

Understanding what was wanted—needed—he’d nodded. “We will be,” stated the man, confident in what all they could accomplish. “We’ll train, make sure all of the members are prepared for anything, and then we will conquer.” World domination had never been at the top of his to-do list, but, for the Brotherhood, he’d do whatever might be asked of him. Whether it someday cost him his life or drove him away from his family, he’d still do as he was meant to.

Kove's confidence in Blackfeather Woods future was encouraging, just what Damien was looking for. But something, at some point --perhaps it was the way that Kove didn't even give Damien a chance to breathe before backing up his words-- got Damien to start doubting. He stopped his advance in silence, giving a chance for Kove to do the same. His face had turned somber, stoic, and his eyes turned to Kove with a distrust that, although very characteristic of the shadow prince, was rarely directed at Kove.

"How can you be so sure?" he asked, voice coarse with a faint tinge of self doubt. How could he always be so confident? Could one be that confident? Paranoid? Yes, a bit, but Damien was probably looking for more of an advisory from an older comrade, someone in who he trusted. Perhaps Damien did have plans for Blackfeather Woods' future, but in reality he'd never been taught how to lead a pack. You could say it was in his blood... That he'd always been meant to take the reins of his mother's legacy, all kinds of fanatic bullshit... But the truth was that Damien had never really known what he was doing, and for as structured as his plans might be, he had no guaranty that he was doing the right thing.

As Damien stopped, the ghost did so as well. He looked towards the younger male, silently questioning what it was that has stopped him—and, by doing so, he’d caught sight of the distrust. His own expression turned neutral, leaving nothing to be seen whilst he thought back over his words, wondering if he might have said something to cause such a reaction. All thoughts were dropped the second the prince opened his mouth, however, the question and tone that spoke it revealing all that he needed to know. He shook his head, asking, “How could I not?” Several steps forward were taken, bringing him to stand next to his friend as he pointed his muzzle towards the woods. “This is Blackfeather, the home of the Brotherhood and where you were born,” he explained. “If we can’t strengthen our ranks, then we have failed your mother, and I can’t let myself believe that we’d let that happen.” To not ensure that the Priestess’ legacy lived on was something that he couldn’t do.

“Meldresi was a great leader,” Kove continued. “And I’m sure she passed that trait down to you and your siblings.” He kept from mentioning Bane, though his fellow northerner hadn’t been too bad of a man, either. From what the Inuk had seen, he and Meldresi had functioned well together until his abandonment of the woods—of the Brotherhood. Still, whatever positive qualities he had possessed, surely must have been passed down to the Spiderlings, just as their mother’s had.

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Whatever had everyone within Blackfeather Woods believing that Meldresi was a good leader was potent, effective. Whether the statement was true was debatable, but still, something about her had kept Blacfeather Woods afloat and the Dark Brotherhood running this long after her death.

Kove was a loyalist, an idealist, a passionate brother... Maybe even a blinded fanatic, but that was exactly what fueled Damien's self confidence, and that was exactly what he'd done with such simple, but powerful words. Damien's ego fed off of every single demonstration of belief towards his mother, or his blood, and while there remained few, it was enough for Damien to want to continue whatever his mother had left behind and Burke had blown up.

She did, didn't she? he said arrogantly, fully believing the Dark Brother's words. We should send scouts out to recruit fit wolves... We need new blood... Damien stated, knowing very well that a the Dark Brotherhood was nothing with how little survived. These matters hadn't yet been discussed with anyone but Kove, he was the only one that held enough of Damien's trust for such confidence Kove you've been with us for a long time, the only one left of the original brothers... he said, an air of pride flowing in his voice, When the time is right, I want you to lead with me and my siblings... he stated, implying that there was no space for Nemesis in Damien's fold should things go sideways at some point. Their pact could only last for so long, but what Kove had with Blackfeather Woods and the Meloniis was as resilient as Damien was self-centered.

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A fanatic for sure, but it was through the demonstrations of a true leader that he’d come to be that way. Meldresi had always managed to keep things together, during a war and the rearing of her children, and even after Burke had entered the picture. In Kove’s eyes, she could do no wrong, nor would she ever be anything less than the great and mysterious queen whose presence he often missed. Yet, he knew that she was still there among them, living on through the lives of her children, whose blood was the same as hers. Damien, her firstborn, was to be the next great leader, having behind him the full support of the elder man.

The Inuk nodded thereafter, listening well and understanding the need. “Perhaps Cicero can select two other scouts, and the three can head out in order to find some new wolves,” he suggested, knowing of the other boy’s apparent interest in scouting. “He’s traveled often enough, I’m sure he’ll pick good candidates.” Both when it came to selecting the other scouts, and when deciding which wolves were best suited to be brought back to Blackfeather.

Still, Damien spoke, but not of something that the elder man was prepared for. He allowed for his surprise to pass through his features, feeling no need to hide behind an expressionless mask when with his friend. “I’d be honoured,” he said first, but quickly followed with, “but I don’t know. I’m getting older, Damien…” There was nothing more for him to say as his voice trailed off, leaving the other to piece the rest of it together for himself. Although he felt as if he wouldn’t be dying anytime soon, he understood that he was not as youthful as he once was. And, with his age, there came greater risks of injury; they were risks that he didn’t want to hang over Damien or any of the others, for it was his own to handle.

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Yes, he agreed, nodding once in absolute approval of the Inuit wraith's suggestion. It was his brother's duty as the Speaker to command the scouts, and although there were few, if any, who were truly scouts by trade it would do good to them to practice their diplomatic skills for the pack's gain.

As Kove's voice about Damien's proposal rose, the shadow prince held his breath for a moment in anticipation. It wasn't like Kove had been given a choice, it would be decreed when the right time came that the Dark Brother would take a leading role no matter his age, but still Damien found himself wondering what his feelings about the idea were.

With his answer Damien halts the advance to turn his pale eyes at his soul Brother, looking ardently into his icy eyes with friendly warmth. With old age comes wisdom, he said, That's exactly why I need you... he explains, and with little else to add he turns back to the road to resume the walk. Whether that had been a compliment or a blunt remark of Kove's elderly wasn't left clear, but it was the truth, and Damien saw clearly how valuable his friend was.

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