The Sunspire Making freedom work for you

@Leaf @Magpie

Things had settled and Fox's hide was placed on a branch outside the territory. Ferdie didn't want to keep it but he didn't want to waste it either, so it hung on a tree drying with Ferdie's piss all over the tree's base; sending a clear message to other swiftcurrent creek wolves, 'piss off.'

Ferdie strode up to his captives his tail high over his back, a duck in his mouth, He set the duck in front of leaf and turned to Magpie he could only offer her a fresh meal from his belly, it would only have been a few months ago that she was eating meals like that on a regular basis. The meat was thick hunks not long in his gut.

How do you feel little one? he questioned softly, wanting a truthful answer from her but doubting he'd get it

His gaze turned to Leaf and he frowned sadly Sorry Leaf,He apologized honestly I only wanted you here until we can get Fox back. All I want is peace, but if the rest of the pack rejects her as an alpha then this is all for not. I have learned that Fox ran away and did not return to swiftcurrent creek, if they reject Fox then I have no reason to hold you or Magpie here. Nor do I want too. I don't suppose you know where Fox might have gone, was she going anywhere else but here that day? Ferdie sighed and sat down showing leaf he respected her and did not expect her to attack him. Please eat, Sweet Leaf.

Ferdie looked at them both his concern for their well-being real, even if he was only using them as pawns to get to fast track his end-game.

Leaf had not eaten in a couple of days, mostly as a way of rebelling against the care of Jace. Her body did not show such rebellion quite yet, but as the Alpha approached her and Magpie, she heard her stomach involuntarily grumble. Ignoring it along with the duck, she wanted to scoff as he pretended to care for her pack mate. Her exchange with Bazi had poisoned her mind against Ferdie, and she no longer trusted him. Their time along the lake with her baby racoons was distant and now seemed untrue. He spouted so many words, and she once more felt the urge to ruffle that finely groomed pelt of his. It was only until he referred to her as "Sweet Leaf" that she felt a snarl gurgle out of her throat. She would tell him nothing of Fox--not that she knew anything about her leader's whereabouts--but she would give him a piece of her mind. "Just what exactly did you do to those two girls back at Swiftcurrent Creek? And why did Jace have to protect them from you?" she nearly spat, though some of her anger was restrained by the fact that he was--well, intimidating. Even now, he towered over the two captives, and she knew he could easily destroy both of them were it not for his supposedly caring heart.

Ferdie lifted his head and stared at her, where did this come from? he cocked his head to the left blinked and sighed, Ferdie stood and backed up, no longer trusting Leaf not to attack him, Bazi lied to you too? then you are going to want to see the pup Bazi claims I attacked, the pup that almost stopped the whole thing before it started. lifting his head slightly he howled for @Nightingale

Ferdie voice turned stern his eyes hardened Leaf-- Do not ask these questions if you are not prepared to listen to the answers and take them to heart. Do not be like the wolves in the story I told you when I first met you. For every word of that 'story' is true.

Ferdie's turned his head to the right, he turned his face away from Leaf in a deferral type manner, Bazi stabbed him over and over each time she told the lie and each time it passed from lips to ears the knives went deeper. Ferdie then looked up at Leaf his eyes filled with pain, his heart breaking yet again, his voice was now flat and sad.

There were three females there, I did not attack Nightingale, I did not attack that pup nor Bazi. I had almost died of a broken heart, and would have if they had just let me be.... I had not been eating barely drinking.... I was in love with Fox and she rebuked me over and over, I don't think she even realized she was doing so. Rebuke was truly the right word there. Ferdie nudged the duck closer as he waited for Nightingale.

after Bones was taken I was even more heart broken with Fox's reactions and with the fact we... I could not save her. I went out to the boarders that day to die; starved and heart broken I wanted nothing more then to die. I forgot there were other wolves that loved me, like Nightingale and perhaps once upon a time, Bazi herself

Ferdie drew a deep breath Nightingale had not made it to them yet so he continued re-living that night in the telling of this story a night he didn't want to go back to
Sky was the name of the third female, she was insubordinate and deliberately refusing to listen to her Beta Bazi to leave the area
Sky also didn't listen to the plea's of Jace whom begged her to leave me alone, for with my broken heart, I was not myself, I was clouded with hurt and pain my mind wanted to die my body ached from the previous battle for Bones.
Their words became a buzz I couldn't hear them anymore... they were little more then forms moving around me,
but then there was a light, a voice that cut through that almost.... Nightingale she spoke to me 'eat,' why eat? Ferdie was lost in his story now unable to tell a lie, He was reliving the moment his eyes no longer focused on anything, distant, The words just coming from him with no stopper from his brain. Though right now a quick movement could snap him of his living nightmare.

eat..... fish? The world is still the buzz is there but... Ferdie gasped slightly like he was physically touched
My skin crawled my shoulder was prodded, something shoved me. Ahh!!! leave me alone I want to be alone, I snapped at the thing that touched me I aimed for ... her white face. 'Sky!' The Dark wolf filled my vision, he took the blow. He took the reigns, I want to die I want be alone, why am I staring at the darkest version of myself.
Ferdie's growl filled the air, then shook himself with a start. Breaking himself of his own reverie Ferdie turned his gaze back to Leaf and continued his story properly

By the time I regained consciousness I was on the ground broken and bloody Bazi had taken Nightingale somewhere safe, Sky left and Jace and I had battled nearly to the death over [size=x-small]a darkness that is[/size]...... Ferdie stopped speaking then it was not his place to tell Leaf about Jace. But he couldn't finish that sentence without revealing it.
After that fight Bazi told us to go to Fox as Jace and I were, broken and bloody. Fox commanded us to senselessly kill each other or at least finish what we started. But we had finished; Jace had saved me from myself. He had become a Du'andris.

We could physically do no more battle that day, yet she commanded it. Without listening to our reasons without listening to submission, when we both refused to kill the other she attacked us and drove us out. We left quietly and never returned EVER.... we moved as far as our broken bodies would allow and made a home here far enough from Swiftcurrent creek; we are not in the rising sun valley we are up on a mountain for god sakes.

Ferdie now waited for Leafs reaction to the whole story. Glancing around for Nightingale, offering her an affectionate smile and lick on the head if and when she got there, his smile for Nightingale would be a true smile not a forced or strained one.

Nightingale flicked up her ears, and raised her head. Getting up, she promptly shook off the dust from her pelt and walked out of her den. She sniffed for Ferdie's scent and followed the sound of his howl.

Within a few minutes, the pup was bounding towards the duo. Her arcs were magnificent, her form was perfect. If one didn't know better, one would think she had sprouted wings. She landed next to Ferdie, panting wildly and giving a curious yet defensive glance at Leaf.

She stood beside Ferdie, looking like she had nothing to fear from him.

Going to go ahead and respond without Magpie in light of her absence and as this doesn't seem like a crucial thread. (But please do join if you have time, Emalee!)

As Ferdie withdrew, Leaf could not help but snarl again. It was as if his fear encouraged her aggression. Yet when Bazi was the one identified as the "liar," she paused. And when Ferdie howled for the pup who seemed to be at the crux of the situation, she decided this might be something worth listening to. Still, the Alpha's words brought chills down her spine. Her heart had been unpredictable, and she did not know if she was ready to hear his side of the story and possibly hear the truth. His story was long and emotionally-draining. There were details she did not understand, but she could tell he was being sincere. Ears flattening slightly in what might have been guilt, she opened her mouth slightly when she learned that Ferdie had once loved Fox. It was difficult to imagine the two being together. Fox had always struck the little red subordinate as someone fiery and passionate who needed--well, needed someone different. She was not skilled at pairing wolves together, having little interest in this category. These thoughts dissipated quickly as the character Sky was introduced. Leaf felt her emotions become biased in favor of Ferdie. Sky sounded like a devil of a wolf, and she was secretly thankful Jace seemed untouched by such a female. Even so, the little red wolf flinched when she then learned that Ferdie had attacked Sky, and she began to doubt once more when she learned of Fox's seemingly unreasonable demands. No, there must have been some kind of misunderstanding. Fox must have had her reasons. It was easy to see how the two males might have come across as dangerous to the well-being of the pack. What she found most intriguing was that Jace had saved Ferdie at his own expense. It seemed self-sacrifice was at the core of his character. Her face had been stoic throughout her listening, though her pale green eyes flitted in thought. They landed on the entering juvenile, who said nothing but seemed comfortable enough. There were so many things she could say, so many emotions she could display, but she chose what predominated in her heart. "The way Fox tortured you. The way Sky tortured you. Is that how I am--what I am with Jace?" Her features were grim and tinged with a certain sadness. Shame.

Ferdie looked away once more and drew a deep breath as dropped his feelings for Fox like ashes in the wind. He had since lost his love for the alpha female but stepping back into that day brought along the same heart ache that he felt then.
Now however he felt no anger for Fox no love what he felt for her was worse then hate he felt nothing, Nothing; save for the desire to have her stop her actions toward this pack.

Sky was young and insubordinate she did not realized her actions actually effected those around her to the degree that they did. Ferdie's words were heavy with a double meaning, intending for Leaf to realize that she was affecting Jace in some semblance of the same way.

When it comes to Jace he has admitted to me he feels for you like he has felt for no other. His heart is a precious gift, an exceedingly loyal thing that can be easily broken by the ones they love whether they know they love them or not. Ferdie winced realizing he spoke for more then just Jace hoping she didn't pick up on the word they instead of the word 'he' For Ferdie too was afflicted with the same dark/light heart. A heart and emotions that were more volatile then a regular wolf.

I don't know how you are with Jace because I have never seen the two of you together, however if you think that you might be, then perhaps you just might be.... Ferdie spoke in riddle but he had not other way to answer that politically

Eat please Leaf, you scare me when you don't eat, I.... it's not my intent to make you unhappy here. Ferdie nuzzled Nightingale's ear hoping perhaps Nightingale could convince Leaf to eat

Feel free to skip me to keep the thread moving, I'll pop in as I can. Mags is just going to be distant and grumbly anyway.

She hated it here. If life in Swiftcurrent Creek had been unfamiliar and terrifying, this was worse. The wolves that guarded her and Leaf made her skin crawl; they confined them both to this clearing, refusing to let either home, and bestowed visits and food and kind words that were at odds with the situation. Her mistrust in all outsiders kept Magpie from falling into stockholm syndrome; she would snap and snarl any time one of them approached. Although she did not offer the same treatment to Leaf, the juvenile still tried to keep her distance from her pack mate. She felt guilt whenever she saw the other; it was her fault they were both here. If only she had run when she was supposed to.

How are you feeling, little one? asked their guard, and the little black wolf growled in warning before turning a cold shoulder. Her wounds were closed and scabbed, but they itched fiercely and pained her. Magpie's bruises were slowly healing, but touch pained her and she seemed to find new aches in every hazarded motion. Thankfully, her captor seemed to understand the warning, for he focused his attention on Leaf from that point forward.

Magpie listened, though she didn't understand half of what was going on, and the conversation made her feel sick to her stomach. This place was wrong. These wolves were wrong. For a moment she looked to Leaf, noticing her distress, hating her captors for doing all they could to make this situation suck all the more for the two of them. She whined at her pack mate pointedly, before turning her head towards the male and the other female with teeth bared. Don't listen, please don't listen.

Nightingale stared to bared teeth, and stepped in front of Ferdie. She was silent and calm, but her eyes were stormy. She held the same gentle stature Ferdie did, even if her hackles seemed to threaten to raise. She shook her head at the fellow juvenile. "If you want to say something, just say it. Actions may speak louder than words, but only sometimes."

She made a bird-like movement to turn her one good eye towards the two, if only to get a better look at them. She decided that, even if she was upset with the leaders of the Swiftcurrent pack, that didn't mean she had to be cruel. "Do you two need anything? Any yarrow for your wounds? Or poppy seed for pain?"

Leaf watched with interest as the other juvenile bullied Magpie with disapproving words. Though they were not cruel, the little red captive could not help but wonder if they would be someday. Preoccupied with her own conversation with Ferdie, however, she could do little more than make a mental note not to trust the juvenile, even if she was young. She received Magpie's whine in a similar manner, noting it but unable to find much encouragement from it. Her distraught over her own possible cruelty towards Jace was too much for her heart to accept. It made her deaf. Ferdie spoke to her on another level, and for a while, Leaf struggled to understand. The stress of the situation showed as she whined in frustration. It made her feel stupid. But when the Alpha hinted that he was not too different from Jace, Leaf could only stare dumbfounded. She did not know what to do with such private information, and really it made her feel uncomfortable. She did not want to empathize with the so-called enemy, but he was making it hard for her. Needing to ameliorate the guilt that pounded in her heart, she easily refused Ferdie's offer of food and lashed out. "Then tell him how he feels!" she growled. "If you loved him, you would not leave him in such ignorance." She did not truly mean her words, but she wanted to be loyal to her pack, and this seemed like the only way she could retaliate. Intentions could mean very little.

Ferdie did not endeavor to answer Leaf, he cast his eyes to the ground instead. He had done the best he could do by keeping her here, but perhaps in more ways then one he was setting a ball in motion that might just about bring about the undoing of both packs.

This fiery Juliet was going to have to be sent home sooner or later and if he could not get them to eat it would be sooner rather then later. Ferdie had given Jace an opportunity to talk to Leaf he hoped they could sort things out on their own. That alone was the only reason Ferdie had actually made the move to keep Leaf here, Truthfully Leaf was never the bait for Fox nor was Magpie, his heart had only wanted to protect Magpie from Fox's stupidity and if they got Fox out of this then that was just a bonus. So far though Ferdie was not coming out of this situation with any of his plans in working order, the Pup wasn't eating so his attempt to protect/father her was failed and leaf and Jace seemed worse not better from his outsiders opinion. All and all Ferdie felt like a failure, the story of his life, for all the effort he put in he got nothing back out.

Ferdie nudged the duck toward Leaf then with his muzzle then he ushered Nightingale toward the oasis and moved off. But not before he make eye contact and nodded for another member to take the helm of watching the pair.

sorry, it's so short, and this is only my third post, but I'm exiting here :P

Nightingale took Ferdie's urging and headed off to the oasis. She glanced back one final time before exiting the den. On her way, she strode next to Ferdie with the elegance of a light-stepped wolf, yet the awkwardness of a lanky youth. But when she got older, her form seemed to promise graceful features.

Her mind wandered as she headed towards the waters, seriously considering of visiting the edge of her former territory, perhaps with Ferdie, if only to know why.

Why do they feel threatened by us?...