Overture Downs rubicon

The Rise boy found himself far from home. 

Onward he went, only accompanied by the hum of dragonflies, whizzing by his ears. Mulherin watches them, playing with each other in the air, before they skitter along the surface of the creek he walks alongside.

He goes on like this for awhile before he slows to a stop, seemingly lost in quiet contemplation. There were many packs here, spanning in all directions. 

Instead of picking a path, he decides he will announce himself, for anyone willing to receive him.

His howl slices through the chilly, midday air.

Green flooded the valley, as grass grew and buds began to swell on the trees. The scent of warming, wet earth made her feel alive; it made her hungry. She knew prey would feast on the new shoots, and she could benefit from Spring’s favours as well. 

When the voice rose, she was surprised to recognize it. To hear Mulherin this far from the Rise was a shock. She thought of her former pack, her family, often- but she’d refrained from venturing in their direction. She wouldn’t risk it; not on their lands. 

But here was Mulherin, so close to hers. 

She moved through last year’s grass until she spotted him, and chuffed lightly to see that he had matured into a man that she almost didn’t recognize. 

She stiffened and stilled, uttering a soft bark to catch his attention. Furtively, she regarded him, the tip of her tail swaying as if caught on a slight breeze.

YAY I was hoping for you! <3

The soft crunch of grass underfoot; his heart nearly skipped a beat when he turned and saw who approached him. He hadn't heard the sound of her voice in so long. 

Lilia, He exclaimed, now beaming as he regarded her familiar features. I can't believe it.

His heart bore no ill-will toward her, despite her and Ancelin's contentious departure from the Rise. They were far from there now, he only saw her for who she had been to him—family.

Mulherin strode toward her with tail wagging, steps away from a warm embrace if he was not met with hesitation.

She watched, breath held- not knowing whether she might be attacked, shunned, or greeted as one who had once been family. She felt deserving of any reaction- after all, she had left the Rise, but she had done so to spare them all the bloodshed and loss. 

He moved toward her, tail waving so she took the risk- she bounded with high steps and an affectionate croon, her tail whirling in happy circles. 

”Mulherin,” she said, her eyes suddenly misty with tears. She felt a hitch in her throat. While she knew she’d made the right choice, the consequence was not getting to say goodbye to the ones she loved. ”Oh I’ve mithed you. I couldn’t go back, I’m tho thorry kid, I jutht…” He knew his mother’s ways. If Lilia had returned while Avicus had been Wealda, there would have been no peace. ”I wish I coulda thaid goodbye to yuh,” Gushes of emotion was not typically her style, but she felt he deserved an apology even if his mother was partially to blame for her sudden departure.

He matched her enthusiasm, his ears pinned and tail swinging even faster. The yearling sniffed curiously at her fur, analyzing the scents she brought with her.

Her apology moved him, it was rare to see her this way. 

No, no- don't worry about it. It's okay, I know, He reassures. In his short lifetime, goodbyes were something he rarely ever experienced. They were far from an expectation. Especially in Lilia's case, she made the decision that did him the least harm—he understood. 

The boy had no desire to dig up the past, or reflect on the messiness of it all. The present is all that he focused on.

Wow. It's good to see you again. He marvels.

Then, Mulherin peppers her with questions. How have you been? How's Ancelin?

Forgiveness brought her peace, and resolution. While she still felt that it had been settled in an unfair way, only Avicus had earned herself a grudge. Mulherin and the other kids were innocent, in her mind, victims if she considered how torn they must have felt through the entire conflict. 

”I’m glad you came out thith way,” She was indeed grateful- she wasn’t sure she could ever visit the Rise again, not if Avicus was still there. 

”He’th good, really good,” She said. ”We’ve adopted a couple of orphaned girlth, made friendly with the other packth in the Valley,” In her voice was relief, gratitude. ”We’re gonna have kidth thith thummer,” She said with a smile. Her dreams were becoming a reality, bit by bit. 

”How’th everyone back at the Rithe?” She asked, sitting down. She wanted every detail- as there were still several wolves there that she cared about a great deal.

He’d expected many developments for the pair, but the mention of orphans quirked his brow. There had to be quite the story there.

Geez, they're lucky to have ya guys. He replied. You'll really have your hands full. That's great.

And as for the Rise?

They're doing well, He informs, quite truthfully—minus one very.. large detail. Augur's wife gave birth a few days ago, actually. 

Did he mean it? She searched his face for any sign that he might feel bitter or left out now that the Bearclaw pair had a family of their own. She thought his sentiments were honest enough, and if anything he seemed more curious than envious. 

Her ears perked at the mention of Augur’s name, and she felt a light pang of regret to find out he and New Snow had had more children- ones she would likely never know. 

”Oh that’th wonderful!” She said, easily summoning a pride that she felt deep within her. She was glad their legacy continued. ”What did they have?” She asked.

Mulherin knew that the two of them were close. 

I'm not sure. Haven't been inside the den yet, I wanted to give her some space.. y'know, cuz of hormones and stuff. He confesses. Actually, I wanted to get her something for them. 

Though it wasn't his first motivation for venturing out, it certainly wasn't the last.

You got any ideas? He asks with an earnest gleam in his eye.

They must have been new- even Mulherin hadn’t seen them. Nevertheless, she smiled, tears pricking the corners of her eyes still. She wished she could know them- hunt alongside them, and teach them to brawl as she had with the other children. For now she would have to be happy to know that they simply existed. 

She stepped forward so that she could nuzzle Mulherin gently. ”Tell them I’m happy for them,” she said, drawing back. Augur might scent her in Mulherin’s fur, and she hoped he might be happy to know that she still existed, too. 

As for his suggestion, she shrugged. ”Bringin’ food ith alwayth good,” She said. ”But I think what matterth the motht ith jutht quality time. Offuh to babythit, or play with the kidth,” Presence, not presents. 

She studied him for a moment. ”You look good, Mulherin.” A funny thought struck her. Without her present, she had to wonder how the ranks had settled. ”I think you’d make a good Bertherkuh, by the way,” She said with a guilty shrug.

Of course, He responded, embracing her once more. If the message to Augur was tangible, his fist would be white from how fiercely he held onto it.

He noted Lilia's advice; it was what she had done for him, after all. In a way, he saw parallels between the old and new Rise generations. There were big shoes to fill. Will do.

Her next suggestion surprised him, he hadn't expected her to somehow guess his new role so quickly. Mulherin missed that air about Lilia, her attentiveness; she always seemed to see right into him.

About that—I can only hope I'll be as good as you. He replies with a sheepish grin.

Her brow raised; she studied his face for a moment, that guilty smile, before her pupils narrowed and her jaw fell open. The corners of her lips drew up- and she eyed him fiercely for a moment as if to suss out a prank, before she threw her head back and let out a raucous laugh. 

”Shut uuuup, theriouthly?” She gawked at him for a moment before dropping her head and jutting her shoulder forward to thump it against his own in a guy-ish chest-bump. Her tail waved as she drew back. ”Tho yuh Bertherkuh now huh? That’th wicked, Mulherin!” She said, a proud growl in her voice. 

He was an excellent candidate; but she had to wonder- if he was Berserker, then what of the others?

”Did you hafta challenge Redd for it? Or Avicuth? I can’t imagine Mathque goin’ for it but I could thee one of Augur’th girlth thteppin’ up,” She mused. ”Thpill, Mul- I wanna know how it all went down,” She prompted.

For the first time since his ascension, he feels real joy in his role. 

Lilia's gushing, exuberant pride cleans the dust from his trophy. It felt new again; no longer a duty, but a badge of honor.

Duh, seriously. He chortles, beaming. The boy takes ahold of her ear as she congratulates him, playfully tugging on it as a rebuke for her second of doubt. His tail wags with more fierceness now.

In response to her questioning, he shakes his head for no; there was no challenge to be had.

Well.. mom n' Masque are gone, He begins—in his usual vagueness, seemingly unbothered by what might be a big revelation. So Redd filled for Wealda, then I got Berserkr, believe it or not. 

Things've cooled off. He adds, basking in a glow of relief. 

Now free from the position herself, Aneline felt nothing but pride for the young man who had assumed the role of Berserkr. She still held the title in high regard, even though she had left it behind- and Mulherin sported the honour so well, with a hint of pride that she felt he was quite entitled to have. 

She squinted though, at the mention of both Avicus and Masque leaving. ”What?” She whispered incredulously. In the narrowing of her eyes was skepticism toward the Wealda for having the gall to rip the pack apart- and then bail on it yet again. But her ire was steadied by the shock of learning that Masque had left too. 

Deftly she nodded at the mention of Redd’s natural ascension- something that was likely long overdue. 

”Mul,” Her disappointment tinted her voice. His mother had left him yet again- part of her wanted to return to the Rise just so she could forbid Avicus’ return should she show up again. She shook her head. ”I’m thorry you’ve grown up with a family that jutht keepth bailin’ on you, an’ on the pack.” Remorse gleamed in the corners of her eyes. ”I know I left too, I jutht thought I didn’t have a choithe. I couldn’t make you an’ the otherth thuffer whatever would’ve happened if I’d thtayed.” She explained, and her ears fell back. ”I can’t fuckin’ believe your Ma went off again, aftuh all that…An’ Mathque? Why the fuck would Mathque leave?” None of it made sense.

She reacts with surprise at revelation that both were gone.

Who knows. He remarks with a shrug. 

But the thought of his reckless mother, still alive and gutsy enough to strike out without the Rise, nearly puts a smile on his face. It was something she'd do, and it was in his blood to admire her tenacity. She died, but his reverence for her, his loyalty, was hardwired; immortal. For all her wrongs, she could never do wrong. 

He prefers that half-truth over reality.

Mulherin offers Lilia a reassuring headbutt to the shoulder. She seems more distressed by the news than him. He could see she still cared a great deal for them, her remorse for the past.

His expression softens. Don't feel bad. It's better this way, seriously.

You aren't like them. You made the right decision. He affirms, adding ruefully—Wish it didn't halfta be this way, though. 

She tried not to show the thoughts that swam within her mind, pulling a soft smile to her lips. Better this way? That she be forced away from the pack like the non-familial weed that she had been? She couldn’t help but take it personally; Avicus had always favoured her own, at the end of the day- no matter how hard “Lilia” had tried. Ameline swore she would not be the same. 

She squinted lightly at the thought of being right, and cast a faraway glance into the distance. How everlasting would this banishment be? How would she be received if she visited the borders again someday? 

”Maybe not alwayth.” She said softly. After all- Mulherin seemed glad enough to see her, perhaps the others might be too. She thought primarily of Augur, New Snow, and Redd. Her gaze, now softened, returned to him. ”You’re welcome to vithit uth,” She said, giving him a light nudge. ”Well, ‘welcome’ ith too light a word. Encouraged,” She corrected herself.

Maybe not always. She says.

The thought of the Rise changing so drastically throws him for a loop. Avicus or not, the Rise always had an unmistakable air about it. He struggles to imagine what it'd be like without that. Odd, for sure. The thought was too much to wrangle with.

I'll take you up on that someday. For sure. He assures with a flash of his teeth, grinning. 

But perhaps he feels a twinge of guilt. The invitation could only be one-sided.

I've gotta head back. Tell Ancelin I said hi, will ya?