Boartusk Heights to the boneyard

tags for ref or joining <3

The passing moons had marked several big changes for the small family. They had moved to a more spacious rendezvous site, and the two children had begun to join their ageing father on shorter hunting trips. Emilio in particular had excelled at this, meeting each challenge with a strength unmatched by his wisp of a brother. 

Red clouds signified dawn as the niño skulked the palace grounds searching for something to occupy his growing boredom. @Scoria's doting had moulded him into a rather spoiled brat, and his near constant victorious wrestling matches with @Diego had left him yearning for a more challenging opponent. Perhaps one of @Reyna's royal fledgelings would do?

Rarely would he interact with her brood bar the occasional gathering; they were a wholly different class after all. A curious thought urged him onwards until he was standing at the entrance to the royal palace itself; its cavernous opening obscured in shadows. Wetting his nose confirmed presence of those who lived within. 

With confident strides, Emilio passed the threshold and delved into the tunnel until his vision was enshrouded by darkness.

It was the sudden foregin smell infiltrating his senses that roused Vincent from his afternoon nap. His nose wiggled, before he raised his head and scowled in disgust at the stench, so very different to the usual scents that permeated the royal families' chambers.

He vaguley knew of the other children who resided here on the mountain, but he never thought to seek them out, content enough to remain in the company of his mother and sisters – as irritating as they were sometimes. That one would have the gall to come right up to their doorstep never even crossed his mind. Until it happened.

As quickly and quietly as his gangling form could manage, Vincent slipped fourth out of the shadows to confront the intruder – a decidedly large boy, bathed in dark shades, perhaps a little older than himself.

"What are you doing here?" he questioned, staring pointedly at the other.

Where at first Emilio may as well be navigating the tunnels blind, slowly he had begun to distinguish the vague shadows of stalactites and stalagmites until he reached a place where the air felt different. It was cooler - a faint breeze ruffling his fur - and although he could not see more than ten paces ahead, it was clear that this cavern was much larger than the tunnels he had just emerged from. He did not know it, but Emilio had managed to worm his way to the Grand Hall.

And still he could not shake the feeling of being watched.
 
Instinct had his hackles raise, tail curling towards his spine. It was difficult to pinpoint their location beyond a vague, shadowy outline, until the snippets of white revealed a a small, spidery boy. A royal child, judging from his size and scent alone. "Príncipe," Emilio's ebony tail began to wag. "I am looking for something." Or rather, someone. Though it seemed he would have to look no further than the Prince's judging eyes.

The other boy was on the defensive with a prickling spine and upright tail, and Vincent could not help but feel a maliciously joyful grin creep across his face. Up here in the dark caverns was the young bats' domain; intruders had every right to be wary.

While the stranger was large – far larger than he or any of his sisters – the young prince was assured by the fact that the ghostly form of his mother would no doubt appear should trouble rear its ugly head.

His company did right in addressing Vincent by his proper title and he lifted his chin a little in pride, though the judgemental glint in his gaze remained as he appraised him. "Nothing of yours would be up here, sangrè nueva," he sneered.