Larksong Grotto truth coming out of her well to shame mankind

In the Sunset Valley area, technically, but near the borders. :) It is unlikely I will reply with Gavriel since he is just my character and I'll PP him in here. I may make one post to stick in my thread log.

With the taste of Esaro’s blood in her mouth, she does not waste time leaving the Dragon with Gavriel in tow. She’d called for him and he is soon with her, making the trip to Larksong Grotto with speed she feels only with anger in her chest. Her reaching Reek’s pack had taken longer than she had, since she promised to return within a matter of days, but one thing after another kept her away but now the Phoenix wolves have brought war to her doorstep. While she doesn’t think she necessarily needs the Grotto to help wipe the pack from existence, the help would be beneficial, and securing their alliance would be what they all wanted—or so she thinks.

It’s night fall when she arrives in the valley and they settle somewhere for the night, in the cover, and alter watches until morning comes.

Thuringwethil is up early and Gavriel is already standing watch, waiting with a meal between his teeth that they split—nothing more than a snack—and they begin to move again once more. 

She finds the spot similar to where she stood with Warbone some time ago and the sour taste in her mouth burns, but she holds her tongue. A glance at Gavriel, however, sends him back several yards to wait as she reaches to call for @Reek (and by default, @Tavi, whomever she may be). The sun is rising then, birds are chirping, and they contradict the sound of war waiting in the background.

He took refuge in the caves, sleeping for most hours of the day in a fruitless attempt to keep his growing depression at bay. His dreams, however, were little respite from reality, because every time Reek closed his eyes — there was the bluenose, ready to rip another chunk of flesh away from Reek's homely face. When Reek's dreams were not tainted by Luke's presence, he dreamt of Tavi, and while less fearful than Reek's typical nightmares, they were not particularly pleasant either. Her face contorted, voice distorted, and she repeated one phrase over and over: I want to leave.

Waking up with his heart feeling as if it were about to jump from his chest, Reek's bloodshot eyes opened wide. The partcular dream that he had woken from faded from memory fast, but the usettleing feeling remained -- lingering on with a shiver sent down Reek's spine. Gasping for breath in a panic, Reek dared not to sleep again. He sat for time in silence and eventually regained his fragile composure (perhaps with @Tavi's help, who knows).

Once Reek found himself grounded (though a bit shaken) in the real world once again, a howl from the border caught his attention. He rose from spot in a careful, yet awkward stagger as he favored his mangled front forelimb. Reek's approach was slow due to his injuries, however, injured or not, he was not one to leave a howl on the border unanswered.

Limping over the ridge, beaten and bruised, Reek saw both Thurinwethil and a new, nameless guard at her side. He pushed forward toward them and tried to walk straight, summoning whatever strength he had left.

The Grotto’s landscape is unknown to her, and how long it takes Reek to reach her doesn’t seem abnormal—should he have been on the other side of wherever he’s claimed—but he comes with a gait of concern. Her eyes narrow and she shifts uneasily, hearing the crunching steps of Gavriel taking a step forward but she chuffs without turning back and he stops. Perhaps if she were kinder, she might make the effort and close the distance, but their relationship is different now, should their coalition come to fruition, but she waits with patience anyway. 

When he's close enough, she sees the wounds (what are his wounds? lmao) and the strange way he walks, trying to make up for a lame front leg. Her brows burrow between dark slate eyes and she turns her head, looking for someone that might show up behind him. As much as she wants to get to business, she’s suddenly worried she has more on her plate than she’s anticipated. Fighting a war against one pack is one thing—if someone had moved on the Grotto without her knowledge, she isn’t sure she has the wolf-power to fight off another.

“I am sorry it has taken longer than I intended to return,” she begins, and shifts marginally to square her shoulders and tighten the arch of her tail. “What has happened to you?”

They stood together, although while Reek got to his feet and leveraged his weight against her sturdy form, she was watching the cliffs and ridges in the direction the call had come from. She was distracted even while aiding him. Once they got moving things were slow but not impossible; she helped him when the need was there, let him lean upon her when the stress of walking was too much for his injured body, and gradually they moved together to the place where the call had come from. 

Thus far Reek had not mentioned anything about the Dragons or his deal with them to Tavi. She was oblivious, but recognized the narrow, swarthy figure of Thuringwethil from her encounter upon the glacier. The woman was a nameless entity to the Alpha, but Tavi knew she was dangerous by virtue of where she came from. Upon spotting her, Tavi halted. She stared with unconcealed surprise, and then glanced at Reek, brow furrowing with a look that clearly said, what the fuck? The stranger did not come alone, and this too bothered her. Before more than a moment could pass the gray woman departed from Reek's side and cut him off before he could get much further; she was moving while Thuringwethil was speaking, making a tactical decision to put her bulk between the two Dragons and her wounded partner.

Even if she was thinking about leaving the grotto, she wasn't about to let Reek be pulled apart at the seams by these beasts.

Thuringwethil's words sink in to Tavi's mind slowly, and she mulls them over, her face as impassive as she can make it — she desperately wants to turn and snap something at Reek. Questions flood her mind. Who are these wolves? Why are there Dragons on her doorstep? What did she mean by return? She remains silent and guarded, acting more like a Beta than a real leader while she lets Reek figure out this whole mess that Tavi is now faced with. It is clear she is not happy, but she isn't sure where to direct her emotions — towards Reek whose spirit was already decomposing, or towards these Dragons that dare come so close to the grotto?

Tavi had been Reek's crutch, both in a physical and emotional sense. Without her support Reek would have risked opening his wounds yet again from scaling the ridge. Despite trying to muster the strength to stand on his own, Reek still found himself leaning against his co-alpha and best friend as they approached the Dragon wolves together. Soon, however, she pulled away from Reek's side to put herself in between himself and what she perceived as a threat to the safety of the pack. Reek wobbled weakly in Tavi's absence, but remained upright.

For someone who wanted to leave, Reek expected Tavi to be much more apathetic, but her protective attitude made Reek's heart swell with emotion. Sometimes, it was her actions that spoke louder than words: she cared. "It's okay Tavi," he reassured. "They're friends." While he could not account for the Thuringwethil's gaurd, he could assume he came with the same intent as her. "They're here about a possible alliance— for our own protection."

Protection was what Reek felt they needed now more than ever. With Luke now at the helm ot the Maplewood, Reek entertained the possibility of an attack to be far more likely. Hell, now he expected it. In his current condition, Reek was not fit to defend his pack from any outside threat. He would have to trust Thuringwethil and the coalition.

Turning his attention back to Thuringwethil, Reek spoke. "It was the new alpha of the Maplewood. He attacked me." Luke's aggression on the borders spoke volumes about the Bluenose's violent tendancies. So much so, that Reek feared for the safety of his pack.

so it was a little awkward to acknowledge tavi when she didn't before you posted, lmao

As she speaks, the female (which takes her a moment to recognize as the woman from the glacier, but she doesn't have time to analyze that) steps in front of Reek. Thuringwethil regards her with a few blinks, but she doesn't speak, and Reek makes himself visible again. Tavi, she assumes her to be, doesn't speak and looks to the male in confusion. He hadn't told the other about the coalition it looks like and her ears twitch in her head and her jaws tighten.  She's suddenly reminded of all the confusion, the miscommunication, comes rushing forward but that remains an issue for later.

He briefs her, and she regrets standing in front of them. Eventually, Reek tells her what happen and her own fur bristles at the thought. A male had replaced Reek, attacked him enough to put him out of commission for a while, and now she reels back to consider her options quickly. If Reek can't fight, what fairness to his wolves does he bring?

"The Phoenix wolves can't be a problem anymore," she begins. "I met Saena at the river and she's threatened us with war and yesterday one shows up at my borders. We chased him out but they are coming."

With one showing up, the rest would come, and she fights the desire to shift when she looks to Tavi for her reaction, all this seemingly new to her. Thuringwethil can't wait to defend their home. "We need to take action, take it to them," she explains, "they need to go."

sorry i was at work when this was posted and i thought you'd wait for me.

Friends? The concept of having these wolves as friends of any kind makes her instantly regret appearing; she shoots Reek a hasty look of utter revulsion, as if she cannot even look at him, but by the time she turns to regard Thuringwethil her expression has been placated. She watches the other woman and keeps an ear out for the guard — wondering if any others are bound to show up in the area, or if they were sneaking around while the leaders were distracted — and she almost misses the conversation as it develops. 

When the dark woman looks to Tavi, at first the girl says nothing. 

What could she do? Refuse this offer when Reek had been so busy with it — though he worked behind her back as far as she could tell, he was only looking out for their pack — yet at the same time, why would the wolves of the grotto need to make this allegiance? Tavi just wants everything to be over with. She stands before Thuringwethil and gradually frowns, until finally — as Thuringwethil alludes to a more drastic solution — she cannot contain herself.

You mean you are going to attack them? And what, you want our help? It takes all of Tavi's concentration not to scoff loudly and begin laughing; she does turn her body so that Reek, Thuringwethil, and herself form a loose circle, and she stares daggers towards her partner, incredulous. Is this what you want? A war against your ex-wife because one of her idiot subordinates broke an old law? This is none of our business. It is clear by Tavi's tone that she is equal parts surprised and aghast. What kind of father was Reek choosing to be — making an alliance with wolves he knows not to trust, and rallying with them against his own children? 

Tavi's stomach begins to churn at the very idea of war. Or maybe it was one of Reek's new children, sounding the world's smallest war-drum from inside of her.

As Thuringwethil speaks, Reek realizes this is not the diplomatic trip she had spoken of in their previous encounter. No, this meeting is far more sinister and it carries the heavy implication of war. A war Reek desperately wishes not to entangle his wolves in. This coalition carried with it much more trouble than Reek had initially realized. Having been so set on making the right choices and ensuring the safety of his own wolves, he was inadvertently leading them into danger.

Tavi speaks first. Her tone drips with anger. Looking over to his co-alpha, Reek saw the disappointment, the avarice, and the surprise lingering behind her eyes. "This isn't at all what I wanted," speaks Reek, hanging his head low. The coalition was to be a defensive thing: a mechanism for deterrance against aggression from the maplewood... or so Reek had thought. "I just wanted to protect us Tav."

"There must be another way," he continues, this time directing his speech to Thuringwethil. War was to be avoided at all costs. Reek could not afford it, and Tavi, she would not have it (of that, Reek was sure). However, at this point, Reek knew there was no way to make everyone happy.

Tavi speaks first, with anger, and Thuringwethil watches the way she shifts it between the two darker wolves. Her defense is high and she opens her mouth to speak, hesitating as she's spoken down to. The young leader tenses and narrows her gaze. Even without Esaro showing up at her door, she would be considering it. The threat is there. Saena had made her promise and Thuringwethil wouldn't have it.

"Doing this," she gestures to Reek's presence, the wounds left by the new alpha, "is enough to warrant intervention." If their coalition had come to, Thuringwethil would have acted out revenge. With the Grotto under her paw, Reek one of her own, is an act against Drageda. Tavi finishes and she glances to the other, expecting a different response.

It is then Reek speaks up and she realizes this isn't what he wants at all. His selfish antics, only wanting security, and a sneer crosses her features. She doesn't need the grotto to win the war against the Phoenix wolves. She doesn't need him at all.

"No, they are nothing but a threat to us," she begins but she glances back to Gavriel and jerks her head a little. He shifts a step closer but prepares for departure. "Then you do not have your alliance, Reek. You do not have your security. Sleeping Dragon will take the Phoenix and will leave nothing in its wake," she says and lifts a brow, staring hard at him. Then Tavi and her swollen sides, like Saena. By now her children would like have been born, and if not, the queen would be left for her and Reek's legacy within wouldn't stand a chance. "Perhaps for both sets of your children, you should hope they win."

She lets the thought linger before she takes a step back, Gavriel coming to her side, and she turns to leave.

oops ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Only Gavriel post to get into his timeline and in case Thurin is not stopped.

Gavriel stays back the entire conversation; listening, watching. The creatures are strange and foreign to him. A coalition with Drageda would benefit more than each of them alone. Seageda has branched off into Trigeda generations ago, and when Thuringwethil became Heda, she made ties with others and their strength had been the reason the survived for as long as they did. Until the corruption, until the decline. Until his Heda did the only thing to cleanse her ranks and while she may face such problems here, acclimating wolves to their way of life, she would prevail again.

However, doubt and anger stood before him and he felt a heavy bit in his stomach. Even from standing back, he should see the discomfort in the young leader. Retreat, he thought, and soon she glanced back to him and he took several militarized steps forward, standing near her rump as she says her peace. When she turns, he waits to see if the other two would react and if they remained silent upon her threat, he too would turn to go.

Tavi hears the reply from Reek but doesn't trust it. They were both well aware of what kind of wolves the dragons were, and yet he had been ready to make a deal with them — and whatever fondness she still had for Reek was swiftly destroyed by the fact he had lied to her about this. Lying or simply not telling her, it didn't matter - it felt the same. 

And then the dark woman is talking again, and Tavi feels more on-edge than before. This wasn't a good situation and her own anger was making it worse; but how could she stay quiet? Thuringwethil goes on to threaten her unborn children and Tavi wants to intercept her, to bound forward and do something to thwart her before such threats can be realized. She ends up doing the opposite — slinking back next to Reek while the dragon and her lackey begin to depart.

She won't stop them, but she does snap hastily at Reek under her breath, Since you didn't include me in this, this is your problem to figure out. She thought he had made up his mind on what he desired, who he desired, and yet it looked to Tavi like her partner still wanted everything. Maybe this coalition was necessary now if only for the safety of her own brood, but Tavi wasn't about to forfeit herself and be ruled by a Dragon unless it was absolutely necessary.

Then again, If we don't do this, she might choose war against us next. I can't fight like this Reek. It all came down to him and his decisions. Once she'd thrown her hasty words in to his ear Tavi fell silent and began to walk alone towards the grotto, where she could rest herself in peace. She would be leaving Reek behind to struggle through this alone, being utterly done with him.

The lack of communication on Reek's part is a blunder entirely his own, but as Tavi verbally accosts him, Reek cannot help but feel like the victim. She had been asleep — then, before Reek could get around to telling her the details of the initial meeting between himself and Thuringwethil, Tavi had gone inexplicably missing. During Reek's downward spiral into depression and ill-mental health, the deal with the dragons has become simply an afterthought.

Before Reek has a chance to retort, Tavi is already walking away. He opens his mouth to call for her, but the whining sound of weakness is all that blossoms forth. Between Thuringwethil and his Co-Alpha, Reek's paws are tied. Reek's heart bids him to break, here and now, but somehow, he remains standing.

Tavi's closing statement still rings true in Reek's mind as she walks away. For the sake of his litter in the Maplewood and the one brewing in Tavi's belly, Reek knows what he must do. He takes a step forward and bids Thuringwethil, "Wait."

He pauses, waiting to see if the leader of Sleeping Dragon has stopped. "I'll fight." Though not in the condition to fight himself, Reek wasn't one to let his own flesh and blood come under fire. It was the only way he could ensure the safety of both sides. "But, once this is over -- there is no coalition."  With the Maplewood handled -- the looming threat finally gone -- Reek felt it best to return to business as usual.

Last post from me!

While she could hear Tavi's voice, her words are beyond her, and she gives Gavriel a glimpse. He returns with a nod of approval. The grotto wolves, Reek, aren't worth their time. Their claim and numbers hint at being small and his communication with everyone is out of place. She knew she was saving herself by getting out of that one.

Wait.

Thuringwethil stops then but she doesn't turn, not yet.

I'll fight.

Once more does she glance at her guard, his eyes speaking loudly even if they are not directed at her. No, she thinks, and when she turns to look at the Grotto alpha, she gets her answer.

"Let me make this clear for you, Reek. I do not need you," she sneers, inching forward the distance she'd put between them a moment ago. "You got your security from them because when I am done, there won't be a Phoenix left."

She gives him a few seconds to let that sink in, before she begins her pivot back. Before she makes her final turn to leave, "Do not come near the Dragon for any reason." Thuringwethil flashes her teeth at him, then turning and leaving with Gavriel.

Thuringwethil and her guard take their leave, and as Reek is left alone on the borders of the grotto, the full weight of the implication that the Dragon's leader leaves him with hits Reek hard. His pups are doomed to die, and there is nothing he can do to save them. He can't run to warn them, or else run the risk of being attacked, and possibly killed, by Luke. Nor could he make it there fast enough with his injuries. He was at a loss either way.

A panic settles over him and Reek is launched into a neurotic fit. He collapses on the border: his breathing, erratic. He needs to find Tavi before he breaks. Rising to his feet, Reek runs to the grotto (completely disregarding his injuries as he went, allowing them to reopen and bleed) in search of his companion.