Sawtooth Spire Step into your power.

With his time at Blackfeather having come to an unanticipated end, Venamis was eager to get as far from their territory as swiftly as his paws would allow. Enraged at Maegi's expectation that he look out for her despite her failure to do likewise for him, the young rogue gritted his teeth and hunched his shoulders to carry on.

Winter's bitter wind whipped at his furs and icy rain began to fall as began his trek into the spires, a harsh reminder of how truly alone he was. He always had been, he supposed, having lacked an ability to form any real bond with Maegi and her wolves. Venamis had survived this long by himself and he could do it again.

He would do it again.

The wondering if the druids or Diasporans have known of the Court's settling is by no means an errant thought; and so she treads lightly this day o'er crag and under spire; keeps a weather eye upon the heavens for some passing feather; and keeps the frolic close within the still-enraptured chambers of heart. Perhaps she strides so far as to discern, to remember how much land lies south of their Vale; perhaps it is to test true her own limitations of these unconquerable peaks.

And perhaps still, wishes a glimpse for the sake of her ridiculous worry, faith aside, for ... O, curse the gentling of her soul!

It should be of no matter.

As it were, the sunknived treads with care and caution over the rickety joints of Sawtooth; that which she has never before set paw until this very day, it seems. Wonders too if the inkling yonder there is as green as she to this spire — and so trills:

"Suilánte!"

she roamed the mountains frequently, partially because she wanted to get better acquainted with the unfamiliar lanscape these mountains provided and also because she'd gotten into this unhealthy mindset where she'd grown convinced that the only way to stay ahead of the demons she carried with her now was to not stop moving. so restlessly she would continue to roam at her mind's ruthless command. 

in fairness though, she tried not to roam too far from courtfall's borders and this was actually quite far out for her but even when content within the sheltered woods of blackfeather /she bites back the dully accompanied pang/ she'd always tended to wander at any given chance. perhaps she simply was a wanderer at heart, that didn't have to be a bad thing. it's a reassurance for only the briefest of moments before she remembers it was wandering that got her into this situation in the first place was it not? of course she couldn't exactly remember per se but it was to be presumed that was why she'd been so far out. a frustrated huff breaks forth as she pushes on quicker. 

the threatening sky above eventually delivers and although she enjoys the sharpness of the icy liquid at first, soon it dulls to an irritable nuisance and the woman slows in weary preparation to return home. she made a conscious effort to refer to the little vale tucked into the mountains as home and honestly, it was actually beginning to get easier to do so. soon perhaps, it would come natural to her.

however before she can turn to move back through the chilly spires, noise results in the lifting of rounded ears as she stiffens. with prey being so scarce, even the slightest possibility of a potential meal draws her to investigate yet after rounding a corner she is simply granted the view of a shadowy boy a little ways away. not in the mood to stay out in the miserable weather just to converse, she's going to simply turn on her heel and retreat before she can be intercepted when she becomes aware of someting vaguely familiar...and then it clicks. the boy, damien's kid who maegi had let in....to blackfeather. already she can feel her heartbeat quickening as she opens her jaws to call his name when she realises she cannot remember it for the life of her and a frustrated hmph slips forth as she opts for calling out; "hey! kid" whilst already beginning to move in his direction. she is completely unaware that andraste had also called out to the boy moments before she'd come across him, in fact perhaps it was that sound that had drawn her in the first place but whatever way her new leader stood; she was concealed by the land itself so that all tundra could see was the raven.

A voice calls out to him, featherlight, though Venamis failed to understand. His dark ears prick high atop his raven crown, Winter-white eyes swift to find her pallid form as he turned in search of her. He did not move to intercept, simply regarded her with quiet frustration as he wondered inwardly: what the fuck do you want?

Patience was not something that the young Melonii had learned to hone, and so he prepared to carry on. He was in no mood to linger around these shitty mountains in the bitter cold and allow sleet to seep further into his pelage. Another call came, however, from the opposite side of him, and his gaze settled on another alabaster figure.

This one he recognised, and the boy smoothed his lobes against his sodden nape. Though he did not recall her name (or if he ever cared to learn it), Venamis remembered how she'd been present on the day he followed Maegi to the dark woods. At once they'd butted heads, but he never saw her following that encounter and the circumstances surrounding her dispersal were unknown.

His hackles bristled and his brow furrowed, for the spider suddenly felt a sense of vulnerability at the strong possibility of attack.

v tiny reply, feel free to skip her for a bit if u need to!

This inkling seemed more than readied to ignore her call and move on; and perhaps it would be best, to let him hurry from this  (rather wretched, really)  mountain and the souls that he might now find pestersome. And, speaking of — her eyes found the pale, full face of Tundra with more than a bit of surprise writ into her own marred features. Why had she not called out to her, earlier? ...But her own lips did not part again, for in this moment the sleet shivered her to her marrow and soon the stricken sought for some overhang to hunker beneath.

she draws to a slow at the rather understandable display of defensive aggression and it takes a great deal of effort to stop her own instinctive response. alas desperation bats back at instinct and bristling furs fall flat as muscles relax, she cannot risk jeopardizing this. it's only now with a few /painfully/ slower steps, fighting against the agitation prickling under her skin that she spots the pale form of andraste and starts with a twitch of her ears. all she can afford to do is blink at the scarred woman's presence, hoping it's enough of an acknowledgement before refocusing on the boy. 

she finally stops, inhaling uncertainly as the skies continue to launch their woes at them. yet her sodden pelt and chilled bones have no impact on the woman, she could be bone dry and under a blistering sun and she'd feel no different. all she can focus on is the budding unease as she looks upon the dark boy with his pale eyes, a stark contrast to she with her muted pelt and darkened gaze. what now? 

she doesn't know. itchingly aware of andraste's presence, she rolls back her shoulders and tastes the air. it lingers, the scent of home and her very being aches. yet it's fainter than it should be and he's obviously not within the woods; had something happened? in the end the only way she can sum up all of the emotions clambering over themselves to form this incoherent roar is to let out a softly exhaled; "blackfeather...?"

Within his breast, his heart hammered. Although he believed himself to be a capable fighter and he appeared a giant in comparison to many his own age, Venamis had never appreciated the feeling of being outnumbered. So he curled his upper lip as the alabaster she-wolf drew near, a silent flash of fangs in warning: stay back.

She did, thankfully, pausing a distance from him that he could hardly consider comfortable, but he found himself appreciative of the space. It was then that he shifted his weight, unrooting himself just enough to steal a glance over a shoulder in the direction that the other white wolfess had called from. Curiously, she was no longer in his sights.

Fuck. He lashed his obsidian tail, frustrated. Venamis, truly alone in the world now that he was no longer welcome among those in the dark woods, knew that he couldn't afford to risk injury should the pallid duo choose to round on him.

The young Melonii senses Tundra's own uncertainty, and it is almost soothing. He simply looks upon her pale features with a cool stare, willing her to speak until she emits a single word: Blackfeather. If he weren't so tense, his body may have sagged. His respect for Maegi may have dissipated, but his fondness for where he once made his home could never fade. Instead, Venamis huffed a breath through flared nostrils. "Dead to me," came his simple response, brow furrowing above his frosted eyes.

the wind whips cruelly about the two, whistling through the jagged rocks protruding from the earth as the phantom clings to this boy's frosty gaze. her eyes search desperately for something, a flicker of anything in response to the name of their home- or she supposed his home since her home was courtfall. she swallows. yet then- 'dead to me' so neither of their homes then. too perplexed to bother trying to hide it, she sweeps her tail with a frown. had he not been close with maegi? had something happened to the young nona? feeling vaguely sick she has to shut her eyes briefly before gathering herself, she was better than this. when had she grown so weak and how had she never seen it coming? "why..? what about maegi?" it feels strange, speaking that name aloud after so long and ears lean back as she watches; as if they wish to avoid what he may say next.

on the tip of her tongue since she'd first spotted his inky form was the urge to just get it over and ask where was the forest in regards to here. yet there's a fear too, what could she do even if he told her? would it be harder knowing where it lay, especially if it was close and find herself unable to return? once again reminded that her leader lingered in the distance, her teeth click jarringly as she wonders what she might make of it; if anything? internally complain as she might about the mountain pack, they had taken her in at her lowest and she was grateful for it even if she didn't put much effort into expressing it. she just...nothing felt right.

Maegi. Venamis could've sworn he felt his blood run cold at the mere mention of her name.

What was she to him, now? He'd loved her in the absence of any other worthy of such affection, yet such fondness had been drained from him entirely. The boy frowned, unsure if he could look beyond the anger at having been stung by the only wolf he'd given a damn about.

"She let my father's second join our ranks. I told her the truth - that she put us in danger by doing this," he shared with a frustrated roll of a dark shoulder, gaze lingering with suspicion on the ghost's pale features. "She didn't like what I had to say."

So many of Blackfeather's wolves had fallen to the earth's punishment, yet still she brought Midar into the fold. But he was free of all that shit now, right? And he'd choose standing in the freezing rain over lingering a moment longer beneath Maegi's careless rule.

he frowns and her very breathing halts in preparation; partially assuring herself she can handle loss, she always had and yet a growing part of her frantically yells that she could not take another blow. such growing cracks were fit to crumble at the next breeze to come her way. perhaps though, upon closer inspection is it something more akin to bitterness reflected in pale eyes than sorrow or grief? such emotions all tangle together in such intricate ways though and so she simply waits; it's all there is she can do.

the mere heartbeats felt like they lasted a lifetime before he spoke and tentative ears finally lean forth to accept whatever he may toss. a soft exhale, it was okay. not attempting to make little of his evident frustration, she lets a shaky exhale slip visibly into the tense air strung between them. okay. the word floats up in her mind and she latches onto the calm certainty of it; okay...

yet it's quick to fade as all good things seem to wear off with painful speed and she must now focus on what she's been told because well, danger was the keyword there. her brow furrows, dark eyes flickering with her own lingering suspicions. damien's kid, there was an irony in what he says and she actually has to bite back the inappropriate urge to emit a sharp laugh. there's a further curioisty with which she glances upon him now though as her long tail sweeps restlessly at her hocks despite there being a smoother level of calmness to her tone. "immediate danger? or a hunch?" she's not trying to belittle what he says by suggesting a lack of truth to it, she truly does just want to know had the man said something to the raven to heighten his suspicions. yet not being too skilled in the area of social graces she doesn't even think to elaborate on that. 

blinking, she murmurs with the faintest traces of bitter humour; "she did perhaps have a soft spot, remember when she brought you back? i didn't agree at all, no offence but i can't say i would've done the same. maybe a bit narrow sighted of me but i just seen you as damien's kid and with that came a list of possible mishaps for the pack" a shrug as she does add; "i do admit it seems my judgement would have been wrong, unless you're just filling my head with false stories and you're currently fleeing after committing some awful crime" the sharp humour prevails as stronger memories begin to return; he'd called her a bitch hadn't he? she smiles faintly, of course she'd tried to eat his head for it but she'd admired his spunk.

dropping her gaze now, she returns to a solemn state as ears lean back slightly. "i got seperated...there was a landslide, i got hit in the head and with it went my memories so that i didn't know where i was or how to get home. i searched for ages but-" a slight clench of her jaw, repulsed by how pathetic the whole thing sounded but it also felt...almost good to finally get to say it to a blackf- well ex blackfeather wolf, even if she doubted he had a care in the world for her woes of getting lost.

When she questioned his concerns, Venamis frowned deeply. He fixed the pale wolfess with a pointed stare; in his immaturity, he was so quick to react defensively. A muscle in his jaw tightened as he fought the urge to flash his fangs again, yet somehow he managed to keep his smart mouth shut and bite back a familiar insult.

The frustration heightened as she went on to dig her claws into a wound that still felt raw to him, choosing to share her initial thoughts of him: Damien's kid. A low rumble in his chest, a disapproval. That was all he'd ever been to those who claimed to have been wronged by his father.

It was all he would ever be to the Blackfeather wolves.

Venamis had wanted to pry on the matter for months, to unearth the mystery behind his sire's sour reputation. Too young, innocent of the patriarch's alleged crimes, he knew nothing of his parents' history in the dark woods; what good would it do for him to learn? He supposed the less he knew, the less he would have to lie about.

"Does it matter?" Ven asked rhetorically, tongue snaking between raven lips to lick rainwater from his nose. He didn't care if she thought him a liar - if that was what made her feel better about the situation to protect precious Maegi in her head, she could have at it. "The woods were home to me but I had no identity there. I was just "Damien's kid" to all of you, as though whatever he supposedly did was my fault."

At the adolescent's hocks, his sodden tail lashed. Tundra saw fit to offer some sort of explanation for her absence and he merely blinked at her, unable to find any sympathy for the she-wolf who'd been so willing to leave him to perish, alone in the wilds. "You disappeared," he said, "and they never looked for you. Maegi didn't care about me, and probably didn't give a shit about you either." His observation was a dark one, and probably untrue, but he hoped Blackfeather and its leader would suffer for how they'd wronged him. If his twisted words would keep the ghost from returning, then Maegi would surely crumble in the absence of followers fit to defend her against whatever horror Midar had in mind.

ears flick forth in surprise at the low rumble to seep forth from her company, having been too preoccupied in herself to notice his budding frustration at her words. eyes narrow slightly, not having wanted to upset him but aware of the instinctive pick up of her heartbeat the moment it was exposed to any sort of aggression. her "kindness" was always kept on quite the restrictive, short leash by an ever increasing temper.

yet considering the fact that he didn't progress with anything else, in hindsight her words perhaps hadn't been the easiest to digest and she needed his help- she doesn't give in to the want to express a warning flash of her own teeth and siding that narrow of inky orbs, she remains immaculate in her disposition.

her shoulders roll back as she bites back an exasperated sigh, frowning deeply at what he says. "clearly" she presses, "i just wanted to know had he told you anything specific i wasn't trying to make you out to be a liar" and had she not been so desperate to keep him here, she would've gone on to chide him for being so sensitive. ironically due to nothing more than the monster's who raised her having decided sensitivity was a pet peeve of theirs and they must beat it out of everyone at any cost; funny that, how one could subconsciously pick up quirks from even their tormentors if they proved to be a big enough influence on any part of their life. yet here she stood having admitted to not trusting this boy in case he displayed acts of what she'd just wished to do, such little things would piece together intricate, bitter ironies. 

yet she cannot supress the sharp breath to whilstle from clenched jaws at his next woeful claim. "i don't know what to say to you; family is a hard thing to shake. nothing about it's going to be fair and if you wish to not be your father it's going to be hard to convince others and it'll be frustrating as hell but if you care enough you'll work to escape his shadow and if you don't...well then anyone was right to suspect you. it's really up to you" a slow blink, she wasn't completely void of pity for the ruffled boy it just wasn't the highest thing on her list of priorities right now and stress tended to make her sharper. yet the words hadn't been spoken unkindly either and a more weary exhale breaks forth at his final blow.

her gaze shifts off to some indirect point of the mountains, ignoring the sting as the rain struck with increasing strength at her face. "no" she mumbled, softer now- distracted. "i believe if anything she may have cared too much" as big a problem as the other in her opinion. shifting her weight she glances back to her shadowy companion. "sorry i didn't seek you out to lecture you just....in regards to here where is blackfeather?" there, it was out and there was no going back. yet after having wished to find somone she could present this question to and get a proper answer from for so long, now that it's out it does little to alleviate the hollow burn in her chest.

The rain fell harder, and Venamis, blinking away water that stung his eyes, remained rooted to the spot.

So she wanted to know if his father had shared information with him. With him! Him!? Well that was fucking hilarious. Did she really think that Damien would use his own son, he who proved most promising, as a weapon against his enemies? Venamis curled a lips, outraged at the suggestion; for all his frustration directed at his blood relatives, they were still his family. Family was supposed to come first, even if they had not cared to look for him... right? His decision to prematurely disperse from them had been his own, one made purely of stubbornness and a desire for independence.

"I still don't know what my father apparently did to Blackfeather," he grumbled, "and I don't care, because it has nothing to do with me." He stepped away, placing further distance between them with the silent suggestion that he was done having this discussion with her. "I was just a kid, and somehow it's my responsibility to make up for whatever the heck he did if I want everyone to like me? You can take that bullshit idea and shove it up your ass," he snorted, furious, and turned from her with a sudden eagerness to be gone - but not without calling over a raven shoulder as he loped away: "go find Blackfeather on your own if you want to suckle on Maegi so much, bitch!" 

With her having just admitted that she'd have doomed him to die unsupported by a pack that day, Venamis owed her nothing. All that came from this encounter was verification of his initial thoughts of her, so she could go eat shit with the rest of the dickheads at Blackfeather.

i'm sorry, you guys, my muse absolutely plummeted out of nowhere & i just couldn't reply to anything ): small 5am cameo but hope i can have a proper thread with u two soon

From the withered shelf that Andraste had nested beneath for the preservation of her feathered figure, she could not hear o'er the sleeting rains what, percisely, it was that the inked and ivory bit their words about — nor did she wish to, lest either wished to stroll up by her and give their own tell to her of it.

She hushes, however, when the departing knell of the youngster's voice clanged in a word, in a way that had beocme all too familiar —

But was not her place to understand why the yearling had spat such a hideous moniker to Tundra; yet nor was it her place to reign as judge and deem her worthy or no of such a one. Still: lack of comprehension was made up in brimming compassion; and it was the shifting shadow of it that Andraste was helpless in feeling for both cross wolves.

When she assumes the irate inkling has well moved beyond their present crags, the fée finally lurks to where Tundra still stands; quiet.

thanks for the thread rebel! i absolutely love venamis <33

she'd never expected him to ever reach any sort of level of friendliness exactly, for the boy appeared to be the epitome of grumpiness in every shape and form. yet the outburst that is launched in her direction still comes as a shock in its animosity. there's a moment where, utterly baffled and astounded, the soldier can do nothing but gape at the raven. somehow, despite her blood seeming to grow hotter and hotter with each word he spoke as her heart increased in a flurried want to unleash this building rage; she managed to remain stock still and silent until- 'bitch'. 

that bastard, fucking cheeky little- she's breathless with pure encompassing rage and wastes no time in launching her nimble body forward with a ripping snarl. was it not for the distance he was already readily putting between them like the little stinking coward he was, there was not a scrap of doubt within her that she'd have done all in her power in that very moment to set herself on him and simply rip and tear anything she could reach. that fact that she doesn't give chase and attempt it anyway is a marvel in itself as she seethes after him. raising her voice over the thundering weather she spits; "i don't give a fuck about your stupid father- why would i? he's a pathetic coward" bit immature but she's way too pissed to care. "i was obviously talking about the second in command she let in who could be a- and i quote 'danger' you self centered idiot!" 

it's like a fucking fire, so much pent up frustration and regret all taking its turn to unleash itself on an unhinged, barbed tongue. "but yea run off because you can't deal with anyone speaking the simple fucking truth, and keep acting all 'high and mighty' and pushing everyone away and see how happy it makes you in the end when no one gives two shits about your pathetic ass!" she breaks off, panting heavily with an almost manic look to dark, swirling eyes. ears rest tight against her head as her tail lashes with another snarl and she stalks back a few paces. there's too much energy coursing aggresively through her veins, she wants to scream and clenches her jaw so tight it's a miracle her bared fangs don't shatter.

fuck this, fuck that brat, the family who bore him; sure even fuck blackfeather why did she care so much about a stupid forest anyway??

yet already the adrenaline begins to seep from her body- seeing no more potential fun in this situation it vacates its used host. her tensed muscles sag and her sodden tail falls limply at her hocks, yet ears lift quickly at a quiet sound and she glances up quickly, prepared for a furious shadow launching itself at her but it's just andraste.

oh shit

andraste.

she'd completely forgotten. 

her ears twist back, averting her gaze from the silent woman shamefully. she'd just screamed abuse at a child in front of her new, and from tundra's impression, gentle hearted leader. well, suppose it was only fair for her to see the mess that tundra truly was, right? she falls back onto her haunches, eyes downcast as all she can exhale is; "sorry you had to see that.."

last <3

“No,”
Undómiel sighs, low and soft,  “I should have taken my leave. It is certainly a private matter.”  The strident chords, the stabbing ill-wishes, the stressors, all of it; regarded with the planes of lune-pale face now inscrutable, stilled. She could no more step to either's side than she could encourage the lack of rightness that the foul-mouthedness that had been so bitterly bartered. Even silence, perhaps, is just as damning — yet it is what she retreats into once more, as she always has.  “For there is but icewater to be found here, I will return to ze Court. This Blackfesther, however,”  lisping tones petering back to the once-rook, stricken listing north once more,  “lies just in ze western vale, should you wish to make amends.”

Tundra could very well postpone such a trek to amends, for her step was steadied enough if the pale crow wished to return to her side. If not — she would away from this chilled spire all the same.