Phoenix Maplewood i will take you as food and leave you as famine

Forward dated a day or two. If you want to test an angry Thuringwethil, feel free.

It did not take long for Thuringwethil to realize what was happening within her. Her advisor in Seageda would have noticed the signs early on and she wouldn’t have made a fool of herself. She would not what to do, unable to trust her own instinct. Her entire life, she relied on others—elders—to tell her what she could and could not do as Fos Goufa and, later, as Heda. There are rules and restrictions set in place for her and those like her that almost didn’t seem to matter here in the Teekon, with wolves that barely acknowledged who she is.

While she had the final say, the teachings of her advisors and mentors had settled early into her mind. They made sense, and after seeing Gyda, she understood the teachings even more. Gyda, early in her pregnancy, already proved to be an emotional wreck. The thought alone was enough to turn her nose up on the idea and slip from the borders of the pack to find some sort of distraction.

Her body itched and yearned and felt like it’s nothing but fire licking at her, waiting for some kind of reprieve and release. There’s a part of her that doesn’t trust herself not to act out in Sleeping Dragon, to not drive her wolves away from her—the healers of Seageda had things that would make the symptoms easier and Lucani was long gone at this point—and so she fled, temporarily, to hide.

Since the Phoenix wolves were gone, this side of the world had gone quiet, and her hiding had crossed the river into a territory she’d marked periodically with her own scent. A warning against any others that might want to lay claim that she wouldn’t let them, but now, her markers had faded and any mark she might leave behind would be an invitation she isn’t keen on delivering. Through the thick of the maplewood she finds herself, the sun hanging low in the sky, as she searches for something to occupy her mind when it takes everything in her power not to let her body take over.

*more ignoring of own timelines*

Warbone often reverted to his self-reliant mechanisms, alpha or not, so instead of sending his wolves out on individual scouting expeditions, he went himself. The members of the Keep did their fair share of work, and the wolf wanted to be a leader not a boss. He would share in the burden, not delegate around it. Years alone had given him the ability to move far and move fast, as quiet as the passing breeze. He searched for green and subsequently for roaming herds, but he was finding himself more and more disparaged each time he made such trips. The copper male shook himself, turning his thoughts from his failures to the present, and he realized that he was near the Maplewood.

Except it was not the Maplewood anymore, and it was just a wood— more devoid of life than he expected. The borders were stale and blanketed by dead locusts. No wolf had patrolled these lines in quite some time, and with his interest piqued, Warbone ventured in further.

It was not long before his exploration turned into a hunt, not for prey. A web of familiarity played on the winds. He knew at first that it was Thuringwethil. He hesitated at first to seek the inkwell queen, not particularly in the mood or in a great enough shape for needless confrontation, but the perfume dancing through her scent like a shy nymph pulled him forward despite his intention to turn around. Her heat beckoned him, as surely as it did any virile brute of their species. But it was so soft yet, he thought maybe she wasn't yet receptive.

And judging by her icy expression when he at last found her and they made distant eye contact, he felt right.

Corvus could smell the stench marking the edge of a territory nearby. While generally nonchalant, he was no fool; he would keep his distance. He continued his saunter in some aimless direction, merely in search of anything to keep that painfully familiar bite of hunger at bay. It had been his only concern for quite some time, and while he appreciated some thrill to entertain him, the simple struggle to survive kept him occupied and on his toes enough.

He distanced himself from the border until the wretched odors no longer plagued his sensitive nose. To his surprise, it was replaced with a scent much more... Pleasing, he would put it. It drew him in, consuming his thoughts. His feet brought him in the scent's direction without his command; he was on autopilot. However, as he neared, another scent - a male scent, appeared. It would likely mean trouble if he approached into eyeshot, he thought.

And so he did. He stopped at a safe distance coming up behind the female canine which was not intrusive, but he was not hidden, either, for he did not hide. Though, he did have plenty of room to hightail if need be, despite detesting the idea. Corvus was sure things would become interesting, which was just what he desired.

Instead of returning home after her fruitless tracking in the northern woods, Wildfire bypassed Sleeping Dragon and headed for the river. She crouched on the bank to take a drink, then slowly waded into the water to wash the dried mud off her legs. When she finished, she considered the far bank, then went ahead and swam across. The cold water on her back and shoulders earned a quiet ksssss from the yearling, though soon she was climbing onshore and shaking the wetness from her pelt.

That was when a tantalizing scent struck her. Wildfire's pupils widened as her head snapped in the direction of the maple forest. Her mouth practically watered as she followed the alluring odor through the warm May air, a gentle breeze gradually drying her wet pelt. When she finally came within visual distance of her quarry, the young she-wolf froze in place, her lips and her hips both quivering with lust. Her amber eyes raked over the curvy black figure in the distance, saliva pooling in her mouth, and her heart beat wildly in her chest as she suddenly ran toward the source of that heavenly smell.

Her jaws wrapped around the squirrel's throat even as it screamed and attempted to flee. For the first time in days, Wildfire knew the taste of blood on her lips. Her eyes closed and she simply clung to the dead, broken body in her jaws. She remained utterly oblivious to her own commander a few hundred yards to her left, as well as the two wolves—one a stranger, the other a friend—closing in on Thuringwethil's position.

Link to roll.

Whatever teachings she had been given in Seageda are gone in that moment. They could only prepare her for so much when it had yet to happen and reaching a certain maturity without the aid of those around her, that understood, left her dangling in the wind. The few days this would last would not be much compared to the two months should she conceive—and carry—children. None that she even desires. Anger already boils within her, fighting the urge with her mind as much as she could allow.

However, she sees him before she smells him—her own scent overwhelming her—and their eye contact is enough to bristle the fur around her neck. She exhales a slow, steady breath and turns so that she faces him, her lips lifting in warning; peeled back against sharpened, hungry teeth.

Thuringwethil takes a slow step back to keep the distance between them, but something else catches her attention and she turns to see another. Her ears press against the back of her head at the sudden intrusion of another—one she doesn’t know—and glances back at Warbone. She knows she can’t keep an eye on both wolves at the same time, stuck between them, so she moves carefully to put a little more distance between the herself and the other two. Leaving the Dragon, while maybe a good idea at the time, had turned into more than she might be able to handle.

The shrill shriek of death catches her attention and she jerks her head in the direction, feeling her heart sink. With another around the corner, her legs frozen, she's uncertain of the best course of action. She might have been able to fend off Warbone. Maybe she could have outran the both of them, if she'd turned and tucked tail a moment ago, but a third cornering her in left a new rage in and a final warning of a snarl given even if there isn't much weight of her advantage to it.

She immediately became defensive, and Warbone resisted the urge to go any further. His body thrummed intensely, and he kept his tail lifted in an eager fashion, wagging slowly back and forth. Would Thuringwethil deny herself this instinctual dance? Would she deny the winner, should he fight for the right to utilize her divine ability? Would she forgo the chance for a handsome brood, just as the vixen on the beach had? He knew now that she would, and dissatisfaction peeled across his body. It was painful, really. And he felt it right it in his groin.

His eyes danced wildly to the other would-be suitor, and then suddenly there was the noise of a kill being made. Warbone was distracted very briefly, because the Dragon commander began snarling, shining her teeth at him (at them), as if she thought he might force himself upon her. She poised as if she thought to fend him off, and Warbone gave his great body a shake, nose to tail, and stood his ground. If she was not interested, then how could he be? And because he knew her, knew her scent, knew her voice, knew her body, how she ran, how she hunted, how she breathed... He felt he must respect her immediate decision.

The earthen wolf breathed hard, his hormones swirling and his desire unfurling tightly around his lips. He looked for a distraction, eyes hunting for the sound of food while remaining on the defensive for the presence of the other wolf. He wondered if he would step forth to forcibly claim her.

Corvus cracked a grin, amused at the female's agitation. He had heard the sound of a nearby kill, as well, but it concerned him little. That is, until he saw the culprit, another female, bounding towards them. He wondered what their relationship was for a moment before realizing that it mattered none to him.

The other male did not seem keen on approaching the frazzled female. Corvus felt quite the opposite, taking several daring but non-threatening steps nearer. He wanted to see if her vocal threat was a true warning or merely empty. Though he was certainly drawn in through means beyond his conscious control, a coward was of no interest to him; in fact, cowards disgusted him.

Corvus would only ever sire that of a respectable dame. He intended to push this female and gauge her reaction, downloading as much information as he could to determine whether she was worth his time. He would continue taking his leisurely steps towards her as close as she would allow.

She was sorely tempted to gobble the furry rodent down in a single bite, especially as its warm blood trickled over her tongue and down her throat. It's for Thur, she firmly reminded herself, pivoting to make a beeline back toward Sleeping Dragon. The sound of a snarl stopped her mid-turnabout, causing the yearling's limbs to lock as she finally became properly aware of her surroundings.

Her head snapped in the direction of the angry growl, eyes clapping upon none other than the Heda herself. Wildfire's brows scrunched for half a second before her expression opened and she began moving toward the commander, her prize dangling from her mouth. But then she suddenly realized the reason for her superior's warning snarl. She stopped again, amber eyes tracking between Warbone's familiar face and the dark stranger. They narrowed infinitesimally.

Thuringwethil's heat signature (ahaha) hadn't registered with her yet, not over the bloodied carcass between her teeth, but it didn't take long for Wildfire to deduce that the males' attention was unwanted. Although she was small, young and a failed warrior to boot, an overwhelming sense of protectiveness washed over her. Like her desire to keep the Alpha fed, it didn't really make much sense; Thuringwethil could look after herself. All the same, Wildfire quickly closed the distance and stood beside the commander, gently setting the dead squirrel at her feet before facing their encroaching rivals(?) as a united front.

Everything happened quickly and where her mind would typically be cleared, ready, tactical, she struggled to focus between the two she sees and the third she doesn't. Her body cries out against her head with a continuous rumble, low, mixed between directing it at herself and the males on either side of her. Warbone does not move, but his eager stance is clear. The other advances with a smoothness that unsettles the dark bitch, and her slate eyes narrow. With each step he makes, Thuringwethil's growl increases, but it does not stop his daring saunter.

She considers her next move. She could run but would they follow? Glancing toward Warbone, she doesn't think he would pursue, but she couldn't be sure. The strange male, however, she can't speak for, as he continues his approach despite her warnings.

Before she moves again, she catches a flash of fire in the corner of her eye and she jerks to snap. Catching herself before she makes contact, she stammers a little to the side. Wildfire's presence only confuses her, applies worry, and a whine escapes her throat and she masks it by topping it off with a growl. Thuringwethil takes a few even steps toward Warbone's position. The distance barely closes, but the closer to him means she's further away from the stranger. Her dark, hungry eyes turn toward Wildfire, trying to relay her own message for the girl: go home.

Warbone watched the tide as it changed. His eyes saw Wildfire, with recognition of both her and her defensiveness of his former sovereign. He saw the stranger prowl forward, with the intent to take what had not been offered, and he saw Thuringwethil move marginally in his own favor. This was all the alpha of the Keep needed to fuel his desire in another direction. If he could not sate his energy by satisfying the raven queen, then he would revert his bodily lust into a blood lust. His cold eyes turned violently on the other male, and his hackles rose as the bronze titan surged forward to side with the Dragons. Now the "outsider" had been left with the decision to potentially face three wolves, or preserve his blood and energy for his future. But Warbone did not bank on the lusting male doing the smart thing.

To his surprise, the other male moved to stand beside the female, despite her not seeming fond of him. That fiery glow in his eyes was all-too familiar, and Corvus could not deny a challenge. He stopped only a few feet before the trio, standing arrogantly tall. Corvus wondered if he would be ganged up on. If so, to his chagrin, he would have no choice but to flee. It was common for him to face danger head-on; dying shook no fear into him, though he was not keen on dying foolishly.

He met the opposing male's dangerous gaze with a cool one of his own, lips cracking into a challenging grin. Corvus stood his ground solidly, though his posture was quite relaxed. Even so, he was ready to spring into action if needed.

Even if this female would have none of him, he at least wanted to enjoy a good fight.

The Heda did not react favorably to her presence and punctuated her agitated reaction with a silent command to go home. Wildfire blinked, torn between obeying her commander and refusing to leave her in this situation. Before the yearling could decide on which course of action to take, Warbone and the stranger began to square off for a fight. Wildfire sucked in a rapid breath, wondering what on earth they were fighting for exactly—and that's when Thuringwethil's scent hit her nose.

She knew about the birds and the bees, having been heavily exposed to it during her own parents' reproductive cycle, and she remembered the strange scent that had clung to her mother during her heat. It hadn't affected her much, though she'd seen how twitchy it had made the pack's males. Her father had become particularly possessive and aggressive during that time period. This definitely explained the two males' behavior right now, though nothing about this entire situation explained the exquisite dipping and swooping in the pit of Wildfire's belly as her stomach muscles seemed to jump and clench with excitement.

Not sure what to make of it, the yearling swallowed and narrowed her eyes at the pair of brutes even as they readied for a fight. "What, do they think you're some sort of prize that can be won or something?" she muttered under her breath, glancing sidelong at Thuringwethil. She felt that same flare of protectiveness, as well as a decided covetousness that was as clear as day despite making very little sense to her, given the circumstances. She was no horny dude hellbent on fathering offspring, after all...

"Do you really want me to leave?" she added in the next breath, still keeping her voice low, trying to school her expression to avoid giving away all of her mixed emotions. "I want to stay with you," Wildfire said so quietly that practically no noise escaped her barely moving lips.

Sorrt for the delay. Have been sick. :( editing bc the boys are gone

It would be easy to let Warbone go forward and take care of the other male. She could usher Wildfire out of here safely and not look back. Her legs remained rooted and she watches Warbone step quickly to their side and continue to advance forward, pushing the limit with the other advancing wolf. Letting him take over puts more in his favor, like she owes him something, and the thought sends her stomach in knots. He's the one that abandoned them, he doesn't deserve the satisfaction. She sighs and shakes her head, looking toward Wildfire when she realizes she's speaking.

"I don't want you to get hurt," she says, quietly, but Wildfire's objection leaves her feeling like she isn't going to leave easily. She doesn't press it further, now that Warbone wavered to their side. Two against one would be beneficial and even if Wildfire professed her lack of skill, three-to-one had unfavorable odds. Thuringwethil shakes the thought and looks toward the dark, unknown wolf. He's unfamiliar, now that she's got a good chance to look him over, and his scent isn't familiar. Her teeth shows then, leaving Wildfire's side and stepping forward to join the match and shed the helpless feeling that settles somewhere in the back of her mind.

However, as much as she'd rather use her aggression on the dark wolf, he decides against his odds and disappears with Warbone on his tail as if to make sure he's gone. Thuringwethil glances to Wildfire then and nudges her along, returning home before she gets a chance to properly exchange with the other male but perhaps for the better.