Silverlight Terrace I'll send an SOS to the world

@Charon @Floki @Amekaze for visibility as hes lurking on your borders
AW, preferably someone from Moonspear maybe anyone interested in becoming a scout/ambassador?
 
Mason was here on a scout’s mission. Tact and care with Neverwinter Forest was not something he could do, but he could certainly attempt to plan an escape route. Nerves grated, Mason had trekked down Silvertip and straight next to the borders of Neverwinter Forest (as he always had) because he had no intentions on skirting around and increasing his distance to Moonspear. Nor did he want to blaze right through the centre of the forest because he wasn’t stupid enough for that.
 
Mason approached the borders of Moonspear carefully. He knew the Alpha had a grievance out against him already, so he hoped he was more likely to run into a Floki-type than a Charon. Mason kept his posture low and began to walk a safe distance from the borders, trying to spot anyone that he could speak to, to give a message.
 
More than that, he needed to say sorry. He needed Charon to understand that he didn’t want to take Osprey’s friendship away from the young alpha.

The encounter with Osprey had been pushed to the back of Charon's mind. It had reminded him of everything he did not want to be, and of everything he had once been. The way Osprey had haughtily spoken back to him, to him, King of the Wilds' tallest mountain, had infuriated the young Alpha further. He had easily pushed the encounter from his mind after returning to Moonspear and bringing Amekaze to the ice cave, surrounded by those that did love and respect him.

As he patrolled his borders, however, Charon happened upon the scent of the boy that had been with Osprey. He was reminded of the sour events that had transpired that day, and wondered what the boy would want on — well, okay, close to — his borders. It was only now that Charon noticed FitzDutiful's scent mingled with the boy's, and he wondered if this was Fitz' other pup. His meeting with the girl hadn't been all too pleasant either, so perhaps it shouldn't have surprised Charon that his son was a douchebag, too, he thought sourly while he made his way across his borders.

Charon approached with tail lifted over his back and head lifted to openly display his status. He was much calmer than last they'd met, but he still wore dominance like a coat of regality. "What do you want?" he demanded coolly, remaining calm to show the boy that he meant nothing to him and that Charon was obviously above having hissyfits with him.

Mason spotted the pale freckled frame head his way, clearly having scented him, because he was heading this way. Mason had nowhere to hide and running would be fruitless as it would only serve to solidify his position as a coward in Charon’s eyes. It was just sod’s law that it couldn’t be someone who could carry a message for him, instead of the alpha himself.
 
Mason’s form ducked low to the ground, his tail brushing cold hard earth, and his ears wilting to meld with his scalp. Unlike the episode with Neverwinter Forest, this meeting set his heart thumping in fear. This man was ten times more scary than the ones who had chased him. Mason didn’t know why, he just knew it was true.
 
Ready to flee at any sign of open conflict, Mason was at least grateful Charon appeared calm and ready to listen. Orange eyes danced along the ground at Charon’s paws and Mason stumbled over his words.
 
“I… I came to ask for… help… with something...” Mason realised instantly that he should have switched his request and apology around, given who was receiving him. “And say sorry…” he trailed off miserably. He wasn’t sorry that he had spoken to Osprey, or felt like he had done anything wrong. But he was sorry that Charon didn’t seem to like him.

Charon wasn't sure if the boy's submission pleased or irritated him — maybe a bit of both. He would not have minded as much, perhaps, if the boy had been like this at their first meeting, instead of cowering behind Osprey. Were she here right now, he would be doing it again, and it was perhaps that, rather than his overt submission, that frustrated Charon the most. He narrowed his eyes, but quickly reminded himself that he was being 'the bigger man'. Being cold would hopefully only make the boy feel more the fool for ever crossing him.

And it seemed that it worked, because the boy's words came out as stunted fragments of sentences. Charon suppressed a grin, keeping a straight face as the boy stumbled over his words. He didn't even know the boy's name, but since no introduction followed, Charon guessed the boy didn't realise this (probably because he did know his). A request for help came, and Charon felt another mixture of emotions. Most of all, he felt extremely smug, though, because he already had a chance to get back at the boy that had made him look like an idiot.

An apology followed, but considering he'd already asked for help it did not come across very well-meant. "What are you sorry about?" Charon asked, his cool voice dwindling to cold and calculated. He couldn't suppress a smug smile on his face as he towered over the boy (which wasn't hard, what with his own regal posture and the boy's submissive one). "And what's your name, even?" He asked the latter off-handedly, as though it didn't matter much to him, really. He was also curious what, exactly, the boy wanted his help with, but he would refrain from asking 'til later. Let him sweat a little.

Mason waited, unable to see Charon’s face for fear of displeasing him by seeming too forward. The teen knew that he wasn’t on neutral territory here – it was far too close to the borders to be considered polite, and he was only here because of a request from his father. The voice that emitted from Charon froze Mason’s blood in his veins. A moment of silence descended, a soft wind lifting the pale thin fur that adorned the Beta’s back. It carried the scent of Charon’s pack with it, a whole domain the man commanded. There was another strong scent – his alpha female perhaps. Mason had never felt so small in his life.
 
“I-I’m Mason,” he finally managed to answer, his tongue dry and irritable as it touched the roof of his mouth and flicked out to wet his lips in nervousness. Somewhere inside, however, a tiny flame ignited. It warmed a seed deep within him, and a thread of insolence weaved through Mason’s mind. “I dunno… for whatever you think I did.” Mason mumbled, no longer quite as appeasing but still uncomfortable. He shifted his weight slightly and waited for some sort of response to his request. Damned if he was going to ask again and allow Charon the satisfaction of ignoring him. Mason didn’t know what to do, or how to feel. He didn’t understand how the other man could be so cold to someone he didn’t know.
 
No wonder Osprey hadn’t wanted to come and visit him in his kingdom, Mason thought sullenly whilst he gazed at Charon’s paws.

Mason. Charon didn't look much more pleased now that he knew the name, and he especially was not pleased when Mason next piped up. A growl rumbled in his throat in response to the boy's defiant reply. How dare he? Charon despised wolves like Mason; wolves that got so scared they'd piss themselves, but be defiant in other moments. It was like Mason couldn't even choose whether to be strong or weak.

"Maybe you shouldn't apologise for things you're not sorry for," Charon snarled, ears folding back in anger, his tail twitching as it remained curled over his back. He moved in to approach Mason, and tried to grab him by the scruff to press him to the ground. He was already cowering submissively, perhaps, but until his words mirrored his demeanour, Charon would not even stop to hear his request for help.

First, the boy needed to learn a lesson in humility.

He heard the warning growl, and felt the Alpha’s large commanding presence close in. Already tucked low to the ground, Mason had nowhere left to go. He would have folded in on himself if he could. Angry words rained down on him like bullets and Mason flinched.  The Beta finally looked up from the floor, doe-like eyes catching sight of Charon’s vicious face momentarily before it whipped around and connected with his scruff. Mason whined automatically, and felt weight on his back as Charon physically chastised him to accompany the harsh words.
 
Mason realised too late his petulant words had probably cost him any chance he had for asking for help. Wolves were overrunning one of their hunting territories, and Zaria’s upcoming pregnancy played on his mind. Was she in danger? Were his siblings going to be in danger?
 
He wasn’t sure he cared about asking for help anymore – he hated Charon. Clearly Floki had obtained the generous and kind genes from their parents. The kinship he had felt with Moonspear’s Beta was the mirror opposite of what he felt for the Alpha.
 
Mason wriggled under the weight, attempting to dislodge the wolf and get himself free. Anger bubbled inside him and he was happy to take it out on the wolf who had dealt him nothing but wrongs. “Fine! I take it back! I’m not sorry AT ALL!” His words rose in a crescendo of defiant rage until they were a scream. “GET OFF ME!”

you get post 1000! <3

Charon had expected the cowardly boy to submit easily and perhaps say something to mirror his submissive demeanour, but instead he started to wriggle to try and get loose. Charon felt even more irritation for the defiant boy now, for he wasn't even looking for a fight; he just wanted Mason to learn his place, and for him to grovel a little before Charon would help him with whatever it was that he had come here to ask help for. If he wanted help from Charon, of all wolves, then surely he was desperate.

But instead of any of that, Mason said that he took back his words and that he wasn't sorry. While it wasn't there outcome Charon had hoped for, at least it was more honest than his earlier words. "Don't you want me to help you? Rather be a proud little fuck that doesn't know his place than receive the help your pack needs? " Charon growled through gritted teeth, his mouth still holding Mason's scruff. The fact the pack needed him, rather than Mason personally, was a guess -- Mason coming here for his own purposes seemed very unlikely, after all.

As long as Mason struggled to get free, Charon kept the pressure on. He put a paw on Mason's back to emphasise his dominance, expecting him to give up (or give up his screams to start a more physical fight)... Eventually.

Congratulations! <3 For reference is Charon medium-ish size?

 
With the way Mason was going about pack relations, he really needed to try and specialise in his ambassador-ship for his Scout trade. After all, he had alienated two leaders in as many days. Not many could boast that. Mason thrashed noisily under Charon, who (with the position of complete superiority) kept him pinned down quite easily.
 
His energy wasn’t spent by the time Charon growled further words against his body, but Mason was starting to pant a bit. His endeavours were getting him nowhere. He considered screaming again but knew it was fruitless. Charon’s words hit home, and suddenly Mason went limp underneath the Alpha. He was correct, even if he had a rather vulgar way of putting it. The fact that Charon still spoke of the request for help rekindled a bit of Mason’s hope that he may be able to put his case forwards. If he stopped this quasi-fight, anyway.
 
Slumped against the earth, Mason angled his head so that he could look up at Charon. He spotted freckles and night blue eyes nestled above the jaw that was gripping his own fur. Mason was at a loss as to how to progress now. He wasn’t going to apologise again – his first pointless apology had caused this nightmare situation from what he could tell. He didn’t understand Charon at all. Mason knew his moods were flying all over the place, but he had a lot on his mind and he couldn’t seem to help himself. Perhaps he had been wrong to accept Beta – perhaps the stress was too much on top of everything else.
 
Mason gazed at Charon with sad fire-eyes and admitted: “I don’t want to fight. I didn’t mean to get angry, I do need your help” and this time his tone was quiet and spent. He felt like he was five months old again, being told off by FitzDutiful.

Yes, he's pretty average in size :)

For a moment, Charon thought that this was going to lead up to a fight. The boy thrashed pretty heavily and if he had not caught him by surprise at such a vulnerable point, perhaps Mason would have fought back more. Any moment Charon expected for Mason's head to turn and for his teeth to search purchase into Charon's flesh. He dreaded the fight, because he disliked fighting, truthfully (part of him was still the little pissing-himself kid that Mason was, too), but he knew that he needed to stand fast and make a point now. Especially so close to his own territories.

Finally the struggle ended, and relief flooded Charon when Mason's body fell limp in the blink of an instant. Mason fell limp and then turned to look at Charon as best he could in his position, letting him know that he really did need help. Charon let go of Mason's scruff then, and though he felt like telling him off and saying no right away, because he hadn't forgotten what had happened that day with Osprey, he decided to at least hear him out. He had eventually submitted, after all, and perhaps there was yet something that he could be taught.

"Very well, spit it out," said Charon, his tone cold and his body language warning that any words or actions of disrespect would be punished similarly to the moment they just shared. It was strange to think where the Alpha himself might have been today (or not been today) had anyone at all in his entire childhood put him in his place for his rude words, however child-like and innocent, as he had just done to Mason; but such thoughts did not occupy Charon, because he thought himself much different than Mason.

Had he not been so desperate for help, Mason might have clutched his anger to himself like a shawl and kept the animosity going. As it was, he needed something from Charon, and he hoped he could get it if he played the game. Troubling thoughts of his Dad and Zaria being in trouble rose unbidden in his mind and chased off most of the aggravation. Charon still sounded extremely peeved but Mason took this to be his 'neutral' personality. Some wolves were just boring and grumpy; maybe the Moonspear Alpha was one of these humourless sorts.

Trying not to take the cold tone  to heart, the boy took comfort in the fact that Charon had at least released him. Mason shifted so that his body angled back away from his companion slightly, but he kept himself low and submissive. He gazed at the freckled cheek of his superior and spoke. Sensibly, he tempered his tone to match his posture this time. "A new pack has set up camp right at the edge of our packlands and they haven't been very happy to change their location so far. My Dad has puppies on the way, and he's worried they might start picking fights. I promised I would look into escape routes, just in case really. I know it's a lot to ask but..." Mason's expression bubbled with sadness and worry, a frown etching on his brow "I wondered - if things got too much for my step-Mom and we needed to evacuate her and my new brothers or sisters - whether we might be able to travel safely through your lands, to get us south of you, towards Broken Antler Fen... I've been warned away from Blackfeather woods and I'd rather her travel through a safe territory when she's so vulnerable, if it came to it." Now that he had a task at hand he found his voice more steady, but his heart thrummed with nervousness as he tried to gauge Charon's expression. He didn't want to sound overly presumptuous - but he knew his Dad at least had some sort of rapport with Charon and Mason hoped this would be held in better esteem than his own conduct.

Charon was glad that Mason decided to take the smart route and tone down his arrogance. He had already heard of the new pack forming, since Flóki had actually spoken to one of their Alphas and reported back to it. Charon had known that they were settling in Neverwinter Forest, and although he was not too happy with it, he didn't really mind overly much; after all, if they didn't settle there, maybe the pack would choose a location even less convenient for Moonspear. However, Mason's mention of escape routes and fights made Charon wonder if they could not get rid of these pesky wolves if they banded together. He, however, had his own future to think about. Charon was not often indecisive, but he found himself toggling thoughts about in his head as he tried to make up his mind.

Eventually he said: "You may pass the lower slopes of Moonspear, near our territory." He thought that this was decent enough a thing to offer, and it was unlikely that, were they assaulted, the wolves of the other pack would dare seek a fight with two packs at once. "If the wolves give you trouble so close to our territories, call for help and we will come." Charon certainly would, at least, and he knew that if he strode out to battle, so would his pack. Amekaze was a fighter at heart, despite her mild-mannered, mysterious exterior, and the rest of the pack was loyal enough to follow their Alphas were it needed. "Tell me more about this pack in Neverwinter Forest. Where did they come from, what are their names? What do you know? Why did they choose a territory so close to other packs? Why do you think they'll pick a fight, have they been aggressive so far?" It was evident from Charon's voice that he was not just looking for answers to his questions, but that, were the answers going in the wrong direction — if they'd been aggressive towards Silvertip, after all, who was to say they would not come to Moonspear next? — he might do more than extend an escape route to Silvertip Mountain.

There was a long, pregnant pause. Mason waited anxiously, watching Charon for signs of agreement or annoyance. He spoke eventually, and at his words Mason nearly sagged with relief. The lower slopes were perfect – they could not have trekked too high, only to come back down at the other side, with small pups dangling from their jaws. Mason’s tail wagged a few beats unconsciously and he breathed an absolutely heart-felt “thank you.”  The offer of help if they were harried was even more than Mason had dared hope for – two wolf packs were enough to easily hold off one whilst the children were taken to safety.
 
Mason didn’t know whether any of this would come to pass, but he had the escape route set down if need be. Charon fired a few sensible questions at him and Mason scrambled to align the knowledge in his head, ready to repeat to his new drill sergeant. He was so pleased to have made some positive headway that he launched into a tirade of information, enthusiastic and emotional.
 
“They moved in about a couple of weeks ago, and they started scent markin’ without even having come to see Dad and explain what they were doing. Dad found their marks when he went to our border, a’cause they were right next to ours. So Dad went in to talk to them and they ganged up on him straight away – I think he said three of them came straight up to him. He was talking to them all nice, and he asked them what they intended, and they got really bristly. He pointed out we used the forest for hunting but they seemed to think they had a complete right to it – they didn’t even think to come and speak with Dad first, out of politeness! I think Dad said he mentioned moving the borders back, to try and keep a bit of no-one territory between our two borders. They let him go without attacking but, Dad said they seemed really peeved off about him even seeking them out.
 
“Anyway then he – Dad I mean - called a pack meeting and told us all about it. So I went down to see the borders an’ I think they'll only move the scents to pretend they're being good, but Dad said it might take them time to get around the territory. Anyway I was angry anyone would talk to Dad like that so I rolled on some of their marks, and then the alpha spotted me and he chased me. I got away safely, but I think they’ll be really mad. Considerin’ what Dad said about them being so defensive, I think they’d be ready to attack for almost no reason at all.” Mason peered off to his left and right as though expecting the wolves of Neverwinter Forest to descend upon them at this very moment, called by his somewhat childish and undiplomatic description of their alpha.
 
“I don’t know what the Alpha was called, but his Alpha female was Esh or something like that Dad said. I dunno where they came from – they didn’t seem to care how close our pack was, or the other ones nearby. They just swanned in and started marking out the territory. For all they knew we would have started a war right there and then, so I suppose they’re either a fighting pack or they were hoping we wouldn’t care without actually bothering to ask us.
 
“Zaria, my Step-mom, said she didn’t want to fight though ‘cause she’s worried about her puppies. So I’m gonna make sure I keep away from now on. Unless they come across our border.” Mason stopped his chattering and tilted his head to one side. He knew he had done wrong, but in his eyes they had done wrong first – they would have been able to tell Silvertip wolves frequented the forest for hunting from the scents already there. They had shown no diplomacy until , and Mason didn’t trust this sort of wolf pack at all. He had never had to deal with close neighbours and he had hoped it would always stay that way.

At his request for information, a lot of information came flashing his way. Charon hadn't expected Mason to open up to him so suddenly, which further made it obvious just how relieved the boy had to be to have gotten their help. Charon wasn't the helpful type normally, but aside from having fond memories of FitzDutiful inviting him into Silvertip Mountain territory as a boy and showing him the landmarks, Charon had some moral decency left in him. And it told him that if a pack was fleeing, that it seemed like an asshole move to chase them and try and assault them even as they fled. If that would happen, he would be there to defend them. After all, Charon might care most about himself and his pack, but he also thought himself quite the noble knight in shining armour. A story of helpless fleeing wolves being attacked near his territories could not go unpunished, and so he would defend them. Charon doubted it'd get to that, however.

Flóki had met Eshe, from what Charon remembered, and had briefed back positively. Then again, Flóki was someone that instantly seemed to get along with most (except his own twin brother, it appeared) and it would've been different had it been Moonspear that the wolves had crowded up on. The way Mason described everything was a bit childish, but then again, he was yet young and clearly this had done much to him. Charon could imagine it must have. The young Alpha nodded when the information was concluded. He was disappointed that the name of the Alpha Female was all he'd get, but maybe he would check up on the Forest himself or send Dhole there to check. He wanted to know who they were dealing with. While not too close for comfort to Moonspear, he knew that Amekaze enjoyed travelling through and hunting in the Forest, and he didn't like it taken from them. But it was too far for him to hold any sort of claim over it.

"Maybe I'll go and see them myself to see what sort of wolves they are," said Charon. "I'm in no position to force them out, but I'd prefer not to have them there. Bad timing, though, with puppies on the way." It seemed early, and suddenly Charon felt a stirring within him that told him maybe it would be his time soon, too. Spring was nearing more rapidly than he had realised, and only now that he heard that another was pregnant, he felt excited with anticipation for his own. He wondered how much longer it would be until Amekaze would go into heat, and though nothing was official yet between them, Charon felt confident enough to know that he would be the one to father her children. He was her Alpha Male, after all, so it only made sense, and their moments of closeness had become more and more.

Popped back to present time, Charon said: "Anyway — Let me know if you find out any more about them and their intentions, or run into trouble. I'd like to be kept up to date." There was a certain suggestion in his words that he intended to help Silvertip Mountain should shit hit the fan, but he made no promises. It wasn't his pack, after all, so he wasn't sure he'd be looking to pick any fights either. But he was a curious being, and he liked to know how Fitz' pack was doing.

Charon’s words solidified in the youth’s mind. He was going to go and check them out, but he didn’t really want them there either. To be honest, Mason wanted them gone entirely, but given what Zaria had said as long as they kept to their side of the bargain then he could see no other way. Silvertip wasn’t in much a position to march to war at the moment.
 
Mason nodded vigorously when Charon asked to be kept apprised. He could do that: it was a Scout’s mission. No matter how badly their two meetings had gone for Mason, he would still come and tell Charon if anything got worse. Other than that, the Beta doubted he would be near Moonspear again; Charon was not the wolf that FitzDutiful had painted to him.


“I’ll let you know anything I find out.” He felt suddenly that his information gleaning had been lacking. Clearly he was failing to think like a scout, and therefore he needed to rectify this. “I’m gonna go head that way,” Mason whisked his head to his left, indicating south of Moonspear. He needed to scout out potential escape territories. And he needed to get away from here, before he mangled Charon’s opinion of him again.

Having learnt some sort of lesson, he waited for permission to move.

The amount of control he had over the boy pleased Charon. He had been able to show the boy not to get ahead of himself, not to be too cocky. Charon believed that it would mean the boy now held an innate respect for him, especially what with the help that he had offered. Respect and gratitude. The boy said that he would go, probably scout out some more or whatever, and Charon nodded to indicate that he was free to go. "Good luck," said the young Alpha in response, and he stayed to watch Mason leave before turning away, back towards Moonspear territory.

He climbed halfway up the mountain to find a ledge from which he could see the green forest in the distance. Charon broodily stared at it, deciding the best course of action to see what they were really dealing with was to go see for himself.