Arrow Lake it's broken

maybe @Praimfaya and/or @Renard or both?! *eyes*

several wolves had not left astara's mind since the meeting in the pinewood.

first and foremost was naturally nyra - astara savagely hoped she might come across the dove in the forest, and rip into her. secondly was donovan -- and it was the dark thoughts surrounding the warhound that pressed astara from the valley.

two wolves had hung back in their meeting. at first astara had suspected an ambush -- why else hang out of periphery, intentions inscrutable? yet the more she thought of donovan and his bishop derg, the more astara began to suspect it was not that they hadn't trusted ursus -- but they hadn't trusted him. why else camp out on the fringes?

it stood to reason, that if donovan had inspired a division in his alliance with ursus given his inability to be a capable leader, that his subjects might feel the same. the only thing was -- how could astara ever draw forth from them such a confession?

she left @Merrick that dawn, nosing him awake long enough so he would see her limp out into the early mist. she found the silver priest by the stone temple, and nudged her in that insistent way that said come on, we have a job to do.

by noon she had reached the fringes of wapun. an hour before sunset she found the scent she was looking for, and coursed after it at a stiff prowl.

slight pp of renard. markab, let me know if you want me to change anything! <3

though arrow lake was out of their way, it would be the first of the few false trails the commander intended to leave. she agrees, to an extent, that donovan probably wouldn’t care enough to look for her …but she is a master warrior with that comes the ability to be a tactician; being in such a close vein as they were. she doesn’t think donovan or derg will put in the effort and waste the thinning resources whenever they returned — if they returned — but she isn’t that arrogant. there was ample evidence to back it up but she feels better laying false trails all the same.

praimfaya tries, hard as she might, not to be a sentimental beast but she weaves past her mother and father’s gravesite, rubbing her scent over them, trying not to let her scent cloy and linger so it appears as if she was in a hurry.

we’ll have to retrace our steps. praimfaya speaks to renard, though she feels fairly confident that her companion is well aware of the process. the scent would taper off but lead anyone who followed on a wild goose chase for a while and the idea brings a quirk of her lips in a smirk.

the sound of approaching footfalls causes praimfaya’s hackles to bristle, her chin rising as she takes up a naturally defensive position, frostbound gaze darting to renard before it rests upon the shadows where the ursus blackbird emerges in all of her glory. they’d been gone from the saints for a few days now, officially, but the saints scent still emits from every fiber of their pelages like someone who uses too much perfume.

she does not doubt the ursus queen is this way for vengeance — for praimfaya was no stranger to vengeance and the lengths taken to achieve it. how far, the commander wonders, would astara be willing to go? would she, too, be willing to cut down anyone who got in her way? she steels her shoulders and takes a deep breath, lingering close to renard’s side, knowing there was no where to go but to face her. hei. the commander greets the ursus queen, head dipped — to protect her throat as well as in a sign of respect — wrapping trigedasleng ‘round her as if it were a suit of armor.

the first of the false trails led them back through the sunspires and towards arrow lake.

a good diversion. one donovan would be careful going after, though renard didn't think he'd bother. there was no other way his meeting with ursus could end when he refused to even let his overseer put nyra in her place.

her path through the lake didn't escape their notice. the boulder she'd indicated as gravesite was still there. they doubted donovan knew of its significance but, half-concealed in the dappled shadow of the leaves, drew a level glance around the trees as she rubbed past. they'd rather not have anyone sneaking up on them.

they gave an approving nod, and the crunch of footfalls in the brush rose.

they caught the silvergrey bristle of praimfaya's hackles in their peripheral, but their own fur remained flat on their back, grin sharp as they looked after the sound, drawing back to the commander's side. a few days wasn't enough that the saints would know they were missing, and they had no intention of giving it up for free. if this was a saint.

it wasn't.

it was donovan's meeting going exactly as well as they'd expected. the violet-eyed shadow who nyra had challenged, who'd stood against merrick's request, rose from the dark, and praimfaya tucked her chin down as she turned to face her, murmuring what they thought was a greeting.

they weren't on ursus land, but both of them still smelled strongly of the saints. and she'd come this far. that didn't seem very... forgiving.

at praimfaya's shoulder. renard looked the blackbird over, lowering their head over their own vulnerable throat. they hadn't seen enough of her to even begin to predict a reaction. neither did they know exactly how deep a hole donovan had dug himself.

they tipped their muzzle to her. "here for nyra?"

unlike the presumptuous siren that had nearly killed her son, these wolves of donovan addressed her with some modicum of respect. instantly, the blackbird was appeased -- though she noted their posture was far from relaxed as both turned to face her.

astara's muzzle dipped slowly in return, though a jolt of surprise flickered across her face as the male favored her with a direct question. for that, he earned the briefest of smiles -- astara had tired of the song and games of the court, and appreciated a wolf who spoke levelly.

with both praimfaya and renard in her vision then, astara shook her head slowly once, eyelids pulling in an almost regretful manner across her amethyst gaze. as much as she would have loved to come across nyra then, that was not the nature of her business today.

but how then, could she communicate such?

her gaze returned to the duo for a long moment, her lips thin in consideration. then, astara turned her nose carefully -- deliberately slowly -- towards her tail, which had risen up in an effort to curl it over her back. unfortunately, her tail was not naturally sickle; to hold it there, astara clasped the tip of her tail with her teeth and pulled it downward in a most particular manner that for a moment, left her flank totally vulnerable.

shifting then to see if praimfaya and renard followed that strange articulation, astara released her tail -- which stiffly reverted to its natural position along her topline. her front forelimb rose, and she drew a single claw across her throat.

kill him.

renard asks the blackbird of ursus the obvious: was she looking for nyra. if she was, praimfaya was not about to stand in her way — running with the assumption that every wolf she meets is like her and is hellbent on jus drein, jus daun and would cut down every and all that stood between her and her target. as for nyra, their singular interaction had been short and a bit strange. praimfaya felt no more loyalty to her than she did donovan. if anything, she feels that the pale woman had what was coming for her. harming a cub was weak and pathetic …almost as much as crying at the alpha’s paws and then challenging a leader. foolish, the cruel commander felt, didn’t even begin to cover it. there wasn’t a word in her bilingual mental dictionary to even begin to convey the level of disdain she felt for the woman.

frostbound gaze watches the blackbird, for a moment nearly misinterpreting her raised tail as a sign of dominance and aggression. she shifts back, weary; ready to protect herself and renard …but she understands her mistake as she watches the ursus woman grab her tail and try to curl it over her back. she understands that she is trying to mimic donovan’s curled tail. a brief glimpse is given to renard, noting that he, too, bears the (tail)tale-tell sign that he is not full wolf but praimfaya is smart enough ( or so she likes to believe ) to figure it out who the blackbird means.

so, the meeting didn’t go well, then.

the assumption does not come as a surprise to praimfaya; she hadn’t really expected it to. from everything she’s seen, donovan was not a diplomat; not truly. he relied on flirtations to get him where he wants to go. a tactic that can only work for so long …and is not adequate enough to build anything off of.

praimfaya watches as the blackbird makes a motion like the severing of a head; and the pieces then click into place. you’ve come for donovan? praimfaya inquires though it was less of a question and more of an observation based on her ability to connect the dots. we won’t stand in your way. praimfaya tells her. the woman’s interests align with praimfaya’s own, admittedly, but she isn’t sure she can trust ursus. none of her contacts seem to. we’re gathering who we can to bring down the saints. she offers the information if only because she doubts astara — who thus far appears to be unable to speak — will rat them out …and maybe, ursus on their side would help even if no one else agreed with her on that. she had thought their alliance was teetering on the edge of a knife all along without any real, solid reason of why they were bothering to become allies with one another. resources? strength in numbers? she assumes it was because donovan needed ursus might. without it, however, praimfaya sees an opportunity to strike while their defenses are down and the fortress is left vulnerable and she was willing to take all the help she could even if it meant forming something shaky, tentative and temporary with the blackbird before her.

praimfaya shifted into place near their flank, and renard cut her the very edge of their violet stare. when they came back around to the blackbird it was to the tip of her tail clasped in her teeth and pulled awkwardly over her flank, and before they were even reminded of themselves they were reminded of donovan.

her claw came across her throat. renard smiled, a wide and flat baring of teeth.

they didn't think much of revenge. that wasn't a lie. all they had against donovan was that he had a skull like a rock, and it was more frustrating than it was entertaining to watch him ruin everything he set out to do. and of course, the matter of being attached to that level of stupidity. 

and the kid wasn’t theirs. but if it had been, they'd admit they'd probably have felt the same. would’ve been one thing if it’d just started a fight it couldn’t finish. it was altogether another to have donovan's newest favorite walk to your borders under the title of ally, snap its ribs, and come away with every body part intact.

if she wanted donovan or nyra, that was what praimfaya wanted. and what they wanted by now, just to watch the fireworks. maybe give themselves a little satisfaction at things turning out exactly as they'd known they would. they were more than happy to help that along.

and they'd trust her, and the rest of ursus, as much as they'd meant to trust them before donovan had fucked that up. a distraction, nothing more. with how protective he'd been of nyra, he'd be more concerned with the fallout from his broken alliance than another two of his saints vanishing into thin air. she was so caught up in making herself out to be the victim, wasn't she.

they doubted praimfaya trusted the blackbird either. but it would be a surprise if she wanted to reveal anything to donovan. they'd deserve the consequences if that panned out.

"there are fewer saints than there were when we came to ursus, but donovan recruits warriors. they're strong, even if only one of them bothers to think." their smile curled at the edges; they motioned to praimfaya with a twitch of their muzzle. "it'll take more than just us. but i don't think i've known a pack without someone looking for donovan's blood." though few enough said it in those terms.

plenty of them liked the thought, but there was nothing to be gained by pretending you could have a peaceful solution to your problems. if you wanted safety, if you wanted peace, it was still bought with blood. something at least ursus seemed to understand. 

whether the same could be said for yuèlóng, or whoever else praimfaya intended to gather...they'd see for themselves soon enough.

you've come for donovan. astara tips her head once. yes.

the blackbird did not fault praimfaya for initially interpreting her posture as aggressive. astara shook her ruff out fully, tension along her shoulders relaxing.

we won't stand in your way. we are gathering who we can to bring down the saints. astara placed one paw forward into the soft loam affirmatively, leaving a crisp imprint of her paw. she stepped back, inspecting her handiwork -- count us in.

renard was grinning; astara regarded this curiously, wondering what it was specifically that had segmented them from the saint's claim. surely, donovan's leadership inspired the same feelings in astara as they had in them -- perhaps, he had simply driven them away. 

there are fewer saints than there were when we came to ursus, but donovan recruits warriors. they're strong, even if only one of them bothers to think. astara speculated renard meant derg; she blinked once to indicate she was following along. 

now -- how to indicate she would pay the highest price for the pompous leader and his white imbecile's head? astara tilted her head between the two of them, wondering how they would react.

there were a few, praimfaya thinks as renard states that they didn’t think there was a pack that wasn’t looking for donovan’s blood. sagtannet, she counts; of which mahler had made it clear they didn’t want to get into the middle. perhaps some of the others she didn’t know about. even so, the true message was clear: donovan was a fool and was better at making enemies than he was friends. praimfaya had wondered all along how long it would take before the saints brought the ire of those that would band together to extinguish them upon their heads.

the press of astara’s paw in the pliable earth, leaving a print, is clear enough to praimfaya. ursus will stand with them. it was an alliance that praimfaya had never thought she’d have, but is suddenly glad for. their interest aligned and presently, that was enough. her trust did not have to extend beyond the fact that right now, the blackbird and her wanted the same end.

we’ll be glad for your help. praimfaya tells astara, accepting and hoping to cement it. she isn’t sure how eager her contacts would be to work with ursus but perhaps differences could be set aside for the interest of the greater goal that binds them. this was, praimfaya feels the whispers of the commanders of past against her skull, much of how the first coalition was formed. survival at it’s core.

the saints threatened their survival, whether they saw it or not. attacking cubs. letting their members challenge leaders without consequences. it was a plague that needed snuffed out before it could be allowed to repopulate and spread. we’re laying false trails on the off chance that any of them will care to try to follow us, praimfaya informs astara, gesturing to renard and herself.

we’re heading north-west to speak to my contacts, to see if we can rally them to the cause. she thinks there is a good chance they will stand with them …but the ‘in case’ lingers in her tactician’s mind. it is always good to have a contingency plans.

VERY sorry for the holdup on this!!!! and sorry it's so short >> <<

if renard trusted any alliance, it was one built on a mutual enemy. what the saints were was unquestionably a mutual enemy, built solidly on that kid's near-death at nyra's jaws. astara's pawprint in the dirt made that clear, whether she spoke or not.

and if donovan knew letting nyra come back to the canyon unscathed – letting her cry at his feet and then driving derg off when he tried to object – would lead to this, he would still have done the exact same thing. 

wasn't that the problem.

renard dipped their head in agreement. they would be glad for ursus' help. bodies were bodies wherever they came from – praimfaya's contacts and ursus, so far as they were concerned, would be the same use. if they couldn't be quiet and quick about this – and they couldn't – then numbers was a fair substitution.

otherwise, they were content to let praimfaya lead, eyes sharp and ears forward over the curl of their smile. there was a time where the most talking they did was the taunt before their jaws snapped shut. the court raised its soldiers to listen and to follow orders, its executioner to kill. what was the use of a blade that questioned instead of cutting when you brought it down?

we'll be glad for your help. astara glanced from renard to praimfaya shrewdly, wondering who this we was -- was it the duo before her, or were they traveling to some other destination?

her question was answered in short order once praimfaya revealed they were headed northwest. renard was silent, but astara was thinking along the same lines: was not a pact made to destroy a mutual enemy all the more strong? both stood to lose too much if their alliance failed -- and unless praimfaya's contacts were the type to hurt an innocent child, astara did not see this alliance going belly up.

she blinked softly to communicate she understood. any further questions she had would simply have to wait some other time -- for now she stood to attention, wondering if they would wish -- or want -- anything else from her before she left.

i went ahead & wrapped with my post. sorry for the delay. <3

the meeting draws to a natural close; their tentative alliance formed. praimfaya would’ve never thought that she would be forming an alliance with ursus to bring down the saints but their desires aligned and the commander is not too proud to turn away help, regardless of what kind of wolves they were. ursus, as far as she was aware, had never done anything to her and thus she has no beef with them. the lack of packs to back the saints up would only help isolate them and make them easier to take down in the long run …so long as praimfaya could garner enough aid from her contacts. going to war was a lot to ask but if it was for the better of the wilds she sees no reason even a few warriors wouldn’t stand with her.

i’ll come to ursus when i can, let you know if i’ve garnered more aid. praimfaya tells astara, though she keeps the exact timing vague because she isn’t sure how long it’ll take her. with that, she turns to renard. we shouldn’t linger. we’ve got a lot of ground to cover. and more false trails to leave in case someone decided to try to determine where they went.

with her piece said, she turns and continues going in the direction they were heading, expecting her companion to join her.

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