Northstar Vale My world is burning to the ground…(MdC members highly welcome)

Just making minor assumptions, assuming food would be shared for the weary traveler. Would love to meet more pack members! Would love to have this boy socially overwhelmed by others XD

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After Chaudry had left him to settle on his own, Noctaryn had slept peacefully for the first time in…well, since before he was ripped from his mother. His belly was full, his bones rested, and his paws, though still aching, were not biting with every step.

He wandered the Vale, careful not to encroach on others’ space. Last thing he needed was this pack to descend on him for his lack of propriety. Though, Chaudry did say the leader, his mother, was a welcoming sort and his hopes were that the others were as well. But, he remained cognizant of his actions, nonetheless. 

The land was covered in the last bit of winter’s snow, some snowbirds above circling the fishbowl that was the Vale. It was soothing, calming. The sky was clear, and the sun was shining, causing the snow below to glitter. It was nothing like the gods-forsaken hell hole he used to live; a muddy backyard that was hardly kept free of his droppings flashed in his mind, so he shook himself to dissolve the memory. With a deep breath in and a harsh blow out, he continued his walk.

Chaudry's talk of Montagne de Cigue's newest visitor had left her curious. A strange male with questionable orgins, not quite wolf but not quite dog. Having Pala in the pack, a canine of similar orgins, she wondered if the two may have some things in common. Dogs were such strange creatures, differing so much between each other in appearance and instinct that it would be hard to say without seeing for herself.

Leaving her den swollen belly and all she had begun her search for this stranger. It was not difficult to pinpoint the unfamiliar scent, and soon she found a man who matched her son's description wandering the Vale by his lonesome.

Quickening her pace as much as she reasonably could, she soon caught up to Montagne's guest. You are the guest my son spoke of, yes? She asks the question promptly, and with a smile on her face.

Lmao don't mind him. I'm still trying to experiment with his personality, he's not as mean and gruff as I originally wanted him to be. So enjoy the socially awkward XD

The typically reserved male met the golden eyes of the heavily pregnant she-wolf, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He dipped his head in greeting. "I am. The name is Noctaryn." His silver gaze flickered between her face and the swell of her belly. "I see you are among those Chaudry spoke of—when children come with the spring, and wolves bite harder because of it."

A whisper of unease curled through him. His mind conjured images of the pack closing in, a threat like the humans once were. A shiver ghosted down his spine, his eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment as he exhaled, slow and steady. He would not show fear. He would not show weakness.

Drawing himself back to his full height, he met her gaze once more. She was striking—greys and browns weaving effortlessly across her back, framing the sharp lines of her face. But it was her eyes that held him still, something in them stirring an unfamiliar warmth.

"I am sorry, what do I call you? Beautiful doesn’t come close."

The last words left him before he could stop them. His cheeks burned, his silver eyes widening in horror at his own slip. Quickly, he looked away, a low, embarrassed noise escaping him.

Idiot.

His words, which presumably came from her son, made her rather amused. Montagne wolves do not bite. Chaudry only wants to scare you. She reassured, her tail curling behind her. While she would prefer that he did not say such violent things, it was at least reassuring that his empty threats worked. Words are much more productive, are they not?

Viskani could see the unease flowing through him, the way he shrunk back into himself before straightening up to look her in the eyes. As if fueled by a momentary burst of confidence, he spoke what she could only take as some sort of pick up line.

She was a bit taken aback, but not offended - particularly when he seemed to immediately shrink back down. You can call me Viskani. She responded giving a low, amused hum. You are very sweet, though I wouldn't recommend speaking that way often - or don't let Chaudry hear at the very least. Nobody liked it when someone spoke to their mother that way. She had already heard about her larger son's confrontation with Lucifer, and preferred to avoid a similar situation with this man. I don't mind it nearly as much, of course.

"I—apologize, Viskani. That was forward of me." His voice was measured, though tinged with sincerity. "Believe me when I say I am severely out of practice when it comes to conversation." A small, almost self-deprecating smile ghosted across his lips. "Years of solitude will do that, I suppose."

His silver eyes flickered with something unreadable as he continued. "I should be honest—I know very little about packs. Their structure, their customs... all of it is foreign to me. But I’ll do my best to stay out of everyone’s fur, and then I’ll be on my way."

A cough clawed at his throat, his voice worn from disuse. There were questions he wanted to ask—needed to ask. About this pack, this unfamiliar world he had stumbled into. And perhaps, most importantly, about the cursed thing wrapped around his neck. The chain that dug into his flesh, the reason speaking too much became a struggle, the never-healing scar branding him as something other than wolf. A dog.

Lowering his head, he bit into the snow, chewing and swallowing the cold, letting it soothe the rawness in his throat. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter but no less firm.

"Tell me, Viskani... do you know of anyone who could remove this from my neck?" He tilted his head slightly, the chain glinting dully against his fur. "I want it gone. But it has clung to me for so long, I fear it has become a part of me. Embedded itself into my very being. I cannot take it off myself."

She listened with a quiet grace, still and silent but with clear care nonetheless. Don't be in a rush to go, nobody will force you. She assured. We have wolves from all over in our vale, if you need conversation partners to practice with this is far from a bad place to start. Well-spoken wolves, too. That would certainly help.

The question that came next perplexed her. She had noticed the strange item, it was hard not to with all the noise it made, but had not thought much of it. What she did know was that it was man-made. Well.. She began, leaning her head to get a closer look. She certainly had an idea of who may be able to assist him, but she did not want to say it.

She sighed, deciding it would be cruel to stay silent.

We've found the scent of dogs on the wind, from the west. She finally says. They would know more than us, I would think. The savage creatures were the tools of man, after all. Disgusting, distorted makings of what was once wolves now used to do man's bidding. She had no interest in approaching them, but they would likely be more welcoming to one who was half of their kind at the very least.

Ugh, I just want to snuggle this poor baby ;n;

He nodded once, a subtle lift of his lips—a silent token of gratitude for Viskani’s kindness. They were not the same, yet a swift kinship was taking root in his heart. She was kind, generous, unbothered by his shortcomings. Accepting. He belonged to no one, had no place to call his own, yet his heart yearned for family. He wouldn’t know for some time where he might find it, but for now, he would remain with this pack for as long as they allowed him.

His gaze lingered on Viskani as she studied his human-made necklace, catching the flicker of hesitation before she exhaled and conceded to her knowledge. A wave of relief washed over him. But at the mention of dogs in the west, his silver eyes widened, a shudder raking down his spine.

“Dogs… a ‘man’s best friend.’” He scoffed, bitterness lacing his words. His life had been nothing but torment—he was no man’s best friend. Viskani was probably right; they might hold answers about his noose. Yet the mere thought of humans among them twisted his stomach with a deep, gnawing dread.

“I do not want to seek them out. I may be part dog, but I never want anything to do with humans again. They are vile, disgusting creatures, and they all deserve to die!”

By the end, his voice had fractured into something raw, untamed. His eyes burned with fury—wild, present yet distant. Rage and anguish poured from him, his body trembling, lips curling into the beginnings of a snarl. The past rushed in, vivid and merciless. Not so long ago, he had been at their mercy. The pain, the despair—it was all still fresh.

He clawed at his chains, breath quickening, his expression contorting into sheer terror. The weight of phantom restraints dragged him down, as if the chains still held him to the earth, as if human hands still reached for him.
These episodes had plagued him in captivity, persisting even after his escape. They had become less frequent with time, but never ceased. The last had been a week ago. And now, the countdown had begun again.

At the sudden outburst Viskani lurched back, expecting a flash of fangs which never came. Still a bit wary, she cleared her mind and stepped forward. It's alright, Noctaryn. You don't have to go back to them anymore, there are no humans here. She promised, forcing her nerves away to embrace him. If she was bit, so be it. We will keep you safe. We can try to take it off with rocks. If rocks could break bones, surely they could break a chain.

She felt true sympathy for this man. To react in such away at only a small reminder of the life he once lived, Viskani struggled to imagine what he must have gone through.

Come on now, take careful breaths. You're safe here. The matriarche coaxed, offering a lick to the back of his ear.

It was difficult to see someone in such distress. She could not ignore it. In the mother pack such a display could have had you sent away, but Viskani was not her maman. She wished only to relieve him of this pain.

Her soothing voice was the only shield that held Noctaryn back; he was so blinded by a deep-rooted panic that the sudden feel of her touch stirred a violence buried deep within him. A low growl rumbled from his chest, his teeth flashing in warning, until the gentle brush of her tongue against his ear pierced through the haze. 

Panic flickered in his eyes, then faded.

He had stiffened in her hold for a mere second before slowly breathing her in as the shock of her touch ebbed, his breaths slowing as his heart ceased its galloping. Instead of pulling away, he melted into her gently, savoring the feeling of comfort she kindly offered to him.

He pulled away to look at her, moonlit eyes searching hers for the anger and mistrust he deserved. He sighed, his voice soft and apologetic. “I’m sorry…Viskani, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I almost hurt you. I’m so very sorry.”

What a first impression he made for himself here in the Vale—the unpredictable and violent half-breed. He would understand if Viskani rescinded her offer for him to rest here. She should deem him unsafe and unfit to be among her pack and he would readily agree, leaving them behind to continue his lonely existence.

It was not your intention, and you did not hurt me. I will not penalize you so easily. She stared back at him, speaking earnestly. You have been hurt. That much is clear. And like they say, hurt people hurt people.

She glanced back towards the pack settlement for a moment, considering what to do. Let's find somewhere for you to take a drink. She began to move along now. The vale was littered with streams, it would not take long for them to stumble upon one. She felt that Noctaryn seemed like a good man; he was just hurting.

With no wounds and no witnesses, this situation could stay between them.

His eyes widened at her ready acceptance, a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding rushing from his lungs in relief. She was letting him stay. Did she see him as so unstable, so broken, that he was unfit to survive in the wilds again? The thought sank heavily in his chest.

But she wasn’t wrong. He had been hurt—again and again, over the years, by human hands. Scars carved their stories into his mind and body, their presence lingering like ghosts. He could still feel them: the phantom sting of rough fists, the bite of sharp metal against his skin. Only the thick wild fur gifted by his mother concealed them when it grew long enough, a mercy he was grateful for. If only his mind could be just as easily covered.

His gaze followed hers to the settlement, and realization crept in—his outburst could have cost him dearly. He should have felt relief that no one, especially Chaudry, had witnessed it. Instead, self-loathing settled over him like a suffocating weight.

Viskani’s offer of water was a welcome distraction. He nodded, coughing once, suddenly aware of how much he had missed her warmth as she pulled away. Shame prickled at him. He hadn’t realized just how starved he was for kindness, for comfort—until now, when he finally felt the absence of it.

“Lead the way, I will follow.”

Soon finding a thinly iced over stream, Viskani lowered herself to lay on the ground. She was the Matriarche, yes, but she was still pregnant and sore. Go ahead and break the ice - it's thin enough. The water underneath will be nice and cold too. She said. It was once of the best parts of winter, though it would soon be coming to an end.

She had wondered what surprises the spring would bring, and now it seemed that Noctaryn would bring plenty. Something in Viskani was eager to hold onto him.

I will not force you to speak of what happened, but talking can help. She reasoned, eyes flicking up to him. Just understand that if you need an ear, I am a good listener.  She could offer that much, at least. The vale provided an easy source of the necessary things, but she knew just how lonely it could get.

A strange calm settled over Noctaryn as they walked, a warmth flowing through his veins much like the stream before them, heated by the flickering flame kindling in the hearth of his heart. The sensation was unfamiliar yet soothing—unnerving and grounding all at once. It was almost as if moments ago was a distant memory.

For too long, he had been bound in the tight grip of anxiety, but now, for the first time in what felt like ages, he could breathe. He watched the female ahead of him, that warmth burning a little hotter the longer his gaze lingered.

What was this feeling?

Silver eyes followed every movement as she laid her pup-bound body down and he winced in sypmpathy. To be carrying must be exhausting. Questions he had no right to know ran through his mind. Is the male she coupled with here in the Vale? Or, did she have no choice but to do things on her own? Something inside him struggled with that concept, despite his own tight bond with loneliness.

Her words about the stream broke through his musing, and he nodded in thanks, offering her a soft smile as he passed. Viskani was right—again—about the waters. He lapped at it eagerly, the coolness soothing his throat as he swallowed, but it did nothing to damper these new sensations. Not that he was disappointed, not in the slightest. 

A single ear swiveled in her direction at the offer of counsel. He was wary to speak of his past; it was ugly and disgusting, nothing he wanted the female before him to shoulder. But, he couldn’t stop the words once they started. Despite it all, he found himself wanting to confide in her.

“I was born to a she-wolf four turns ago. My sire was of humans, a tool of theirs in the form of a dog. I can only assume she had been unlucky the day my siblings and I were conceived.” He sighed, moving to settle himself near her. Far enough to respect her space, though if she asked he wouldn’t deny her to come closer. 

“My siblings and I were still small at her side before the humans came for me. I still do not understand what is was that made them choose me over the others, but I soon found myself alone with this,” he pointedly jostled the chains, “around my neck. My constant companion.”

He tilted his neck side to side, the weight of it and what it represented pressing down on him. Lips pursed in annoyance and in silent effort to stop himself from becoming unhinged. His breath shuddered, but he forced a deep breath and continued.

“The next years were spent in what they called a backyard. It was a space behind these big dens they call a house, and mine was wrapped by these weird-shaped branches. It was meant to keep others from seeing what these humans truly did when no one was around.” He paused, returning his eyes to hers, a question simmering there.

“Please tell me if what I’m about to tell you is too much, Viskani. You’ve gathered I’ve been hurt, that much is true, but the truth of what was done is…” a heavy sigh escaped him, “nothing I wish upon anyone. Not even to hear.”

Viskani understood quite well that humans were savage creatures, and dogs were simply a reflection of that. She had listened to stories from her family and packmates enough times to know that well. Maybe you never will know why they picked you, but maybe that's okay. You're far from them now, are you not? She reasoned, tail curling around herself. You're large, and quite polite. You'll do just fine out here.

Looking to the water she hummed, hoping to paint a picture in his head as she continued. You will find a wife, maybe you'll have children. At the moment your burden is yours alone to carry, but other's will help you lift it away with time. The world was good like that; nobody was truly forever alone.

It was admittedly rather interesting to hear of a human settlement. Viskani had never seen one herself; she would never have dared to near one even if she had.

The self loathing is real

Noctaryn listened quietly, her words kind and reassuring. She painted a vision that was blurry at best, if only because he had never imagined having what she claimed he could in this life. Instinct begged him to scoff and reject the notion, but he couldn’t ignore the flip in his belly.

A wife and children? A family—he could have that? Who would want him? He was a half-breed, caught between wild and domestic. He had no knowledge of life beyond humans.

Despite the wolf in him, he was nothing more than a dog. How he had managed on his own thus far was beyond him. He had no idea what it meant to be a wolf or to live among them. The life he had known at his mother’s side might as well have been a figment of his imagination. It was only preserved by the comfort of howls each night during his first year—songs that were familiar until, one day, they just… stopped.

Never to return. And hope left with them.

“I may be far from them, but never free of them. If only I could be so lucky.”

The scoff finally came then as he continued, now pacing. “I am riddled with scars, both physical and mental. Demons plague my sleep as much as they do my waking moments. I have lived a nightmare, and though I’ve escaped, I have yet to wake up from it.”

He whirled to face her, silver eyes locking onto gold.

“You were unlucky to witness a part of me that I hate, Viskani. How could anyone choose this?” His words came out rushed but without bite. She didn’t deserve heated words, and he wanted to give her the truth. Despite his shame, he didn’t want to hide.

He stared, and she returned the intensity. You could learn a lot from looking into the eyes of another, and Viskani had little to hide in this moment.

We all have parts of ourselves we dislike, but there's little we can do to remedy it. She spoke. Maybe it was not encouraging, but it was often the truth. You learn to live with it, and other's who care for you will learn to live with it too. Everyone has a match, I think so at least, so you will find someone who wants to choose you. Even the most strong-willed and intolerable of wolves were able to find those who loved them, and Noctaryn was far from intolerable.

We all have secrets and things we feel ashamed of, Noctaryn. I promise you are not the only one. But of course, she knew how hard it could be not to feel alone. It was difficult to leave yourself vulnerable, to open to those who have the ability to judge you. No love is truly unconditional, after all.

Looking away, Noctaryn took in her words, letting them wash over him as he stared at the horizon towering over them. His fire doused to a simmer, and he sat with a huff. He didn't want to live with the weight of his past; if he could somehow forget it all, he would. Yet, a small flicker of hope remained—that there might be someone who didn’t mind his demons. Maybe they would even help him battle them.

"Are you always this philosophical?" he chuckled softly. Not that he minded her counsel. It had helped in its own eye-opening way. Of which, she was right about--once again. A pattern he did not mind.

He was a man of few words, yet he found himself spilling them at her feet. It felt easy, natural. There was no denying that he liked her—if only for the conversation alone. He hadn’t lied when he called her beautiful, albeit accidentally, but he found her even more so in the way she carried herself and how she treated him. A stranger—a dog—as if he were her own.

Chaudry had mentioned that his maman was kind to travelers, but he hadn't the slightest idea just how kind she would be—until now. Noctaryn found himself suddenly never wanting to leave.

It would be so utterly cold if he did.

I try. She responded with a hum, pushing herself back to her feet. Let's speak again soon, yes? I need to return to my den for now. Being this close to giving birth, she could only be away for so long. She grew far too sore far too quickly.

Giving the man a nudge of her muzzle to his own, she then turned and took her leave. She could only hope that soon they would have the conversation to make Noctaryn's arrangement more permanent. She truly did hope for him to stay.

Ty for the thread!

Thank YOU <3

"Of course. Thank you… for the warm welcome." He dipped his head as her muzzle briefly grazed his before she turned to leave.

"Be well, Viskani."

His silver gaze lingered on her retreating form, following her every step until she disappeared safely into her den. Only then did he turn away, padding toward his own shelter for the remainder of the day.

As he settled in, sleep claimed him swiftly. For the first time, his demons did not stir—his dreams were filled with peace.