Greatwater Lake Super sleuths

@Judas and @Malice, and any Dark Brotherhood wolves.

After an unanticipated wake up call, Mitanni found herself on a wolfhunt. Judas had sensed something amiss in their territory, and on their way to inform their leader the pair had been unable to locate her. Her den was empty, no sign of her about, and after locating and following her trail it seemed she'd stepped outside of Moonlit Hills territory.

With the intent of locating her and ensuring that she was alright--Mitanni wasn't sure what all a pregnant wolf could or couldn't do--they'd set off together in search of her. The trail they followed led them toward the Greatwater Lake, but despite the openness of the territory the brown, lithe little wolf didn't see hide nor hair of their missing leader. "We followed the right trail, right?" she asked nervously of Judas, beginning to second guess herself as she stopped alongside the lake and peered around them.

The scent seemed just a little stronger here, still faint but stronger, and as she followed it along the southern end of the lake Mitanni thought she realized where it was headed. She stopped, stared toward the Blackfeather Woods, and with her ears tipped back again turned to look anxiously at Judas.

Judas had stuck beside Mitanni along the entire trail while watching out for anything that could provide a clue to Malice's location. Nothing but the trail was all they had. He huffed in annoyance. What would drive a pregnant alpha to such lengths as to walk out into a dangerous world?

"I was sure. What would drive her to come out here?" he asked her as well as himself. He rose a brow to her, hoping for some kind of answer. Something wasn't right about this. "What is this way?" he asked again, noticing her anxious look.

Seeing Malice withing her territory was a major shock. Though, she doubted it would be permanent. Once Malice popped and actaully had to prove her worth, there would be nothing to show. The Brotherhood had a specific taste of wolves, and Malice had already proven not to be one. However, if she could prove Nemesis wrong, she would be more obliging. But one thing would never change. Malice would never be their Queen. There would only ever be one, and that would never change, even in death. While Burke may have been content moving on, she did not think other would. Namely, Damien if he ever returned. There were some others she precived would have a quarrel with the new arrival, and it was to her satisfaction that was the case. Once Burke seen that Malice was no good, the better.

But if there was one thing she hated more than Malice herself, it was the Moonlit wolves. All of them she had come to know were twice as annoying and overall abnoxious than Malice, which was definatly saying something. So when two showed up just outside her territory, she was not at all pleased. She paced to meet them, knowing exactly what they wanted. But they would not have their Alpha back, no matter how much she wanted to give her up. Malice was apart Blackfeather and housed her Alpha's children. These wolves needed to leave. 

"Malice is here, and by her own terms," She wanted to make that clear to the raging imbicles they were. But they would not be allowed to see her, nor visit, and definatly not join. They had one, they did not need another. "And you will leave," It was a command, and though it was calm, it was a warning. Burke would fight for what he cared for and nobody escaped his wrath, nor hers. Malice was no longer Moonlit, and they would have to accept that, even though she did not either.

As Mitanni eyed the lake, she thought she understood what could have drawn Malice out this way. Fish. She'd been drawn out of the territory by them too, wrangled into a fishing expedition in the hopes of having something to fill the bellies of herself and her packmates. She couldn't see anything presently, but with a lake this huge she didn't doubt there were fish inside.

But Malice's scent hadn't stayed here at the lakeside. It had continued on, away and toward the neighboring forest. "Blackfeather Woods," Mitanni answered, "the Dark Brotherhood and Burke." She turned to look toward the wood again, and was surprised at first to see a dark shape traveling their way. She thought at first that it must be Malice, but upon closer inspection the little wolf realized it wasn't her.

She knew very little about the Brotherhood, but what she did know made her wary. On instinct, Mitanni dropped into a semi-crouched posture, lowering her head and tail, and sidled a little closer to Judas. He might have scared her once upon a time, but at the moment he was the only friend she had against a very irritable looking stranger.

Who happened to know of Malice. The mottled brown female's ears perked at hearing the name of her leader, though she couldn't quite wrap her mind around what else she said. Malice was here of her own free will, but they weren't allowed to see her. "Why?" The word came out before she could stop it, and Mitanni visibly shrank at her own carelessness. Afraid she might blunder more, she bit her tongue and couldn't bring herself to clarify what she'd meant.

Judas followed her gaze to the water. So it must have been hunger that drew her here. But where was she now? Something wasn't right here. She would have come back, wouldn't she? Or did she no longer care? No, she cared about them. Why would she have spared him if she did not care? Why would she have come to Mitanni's rescue if she did not care?

He looked over at Blackfeather Woods. Could she have gone there...Wait. The name she said, it was familiar. The leader was the father of Malice's pups. Could this explain things? For sure, it must have. But why not return?

Judas caught sight of the third figure on the scene. He narrowed his eyes, lowering his head but his tail lifted slightly. They had not passed any scent borders. He took a step forth, feeling a protective instinct on Mitanni. "We are not on any pack lands. Or has my nose suddenly stopped working for me?" He made a light scowl, a feeling he didn't want to come up coming up slowly. Theo ther side of him wanted out. "We just want to know why she has not come back."

Her eyes narrowed, as if this was an insult to her intelligence. Of course she knew they were not on claimed lands, hence why she stepped past the borderline. "Yes, I know we are not on pack lands," She jeered, at the one who looked like coyote. Odd, these wolves were, and certianly not smart or very brave, seeing the one that cowered behind the other. No wonder Malice left. For once, she could not help but to feel bad for the dark bitch. Was this what she had to deal with? Nemesis would have already thrown herself off a cliff. Nevermind, though. She had a point to make, and they would do well listening. 

She rolled her eyes, did they truly not get it? "Uh, because she doesn't want to?" She said it like it was the most simple thing in the world and they did not understand, which it was precisely that. "Maybe because she had been surrounded by idiots who cower behind each other like children. And other's who run their mouths but have nothing to show for it. No sane wolf wants that as their pack. It's embarrasing," The sudden protectiveness had her stunned. She hated the bitch but yet she was defending her? The part that wanted to scream at them to take Malice back for goodness sake, was gone. She placed her worries in the fact that Malice was carrying Burke's children and that's what inclined her to defend her enemy. "She probably did not even think she would be missed," ​Well, she didn't know that for sure but it was probably true.

"Malice is apart of Blackfeather Woods, and the kin within her. She is in a pack that is worthy unlike the runt's you keep. Now get lost, I will not tell you again," Her tone hardened, she was serious this time. She could not do anything since they were not on Blackfeather territory, but it was heavily implied the outcome would not be good if they did not comply.

we can hold off on them leaving till Malice replies for now

Don't question why she's here, I don't even know myself XD

With Burke on patrol, and Malice not knowing anyone except for Kendra and Nemesis, it was only natural she'd wander off some time. She wouldn't go far, she promised herself, just to stretch her legs and keep her thoughts off of Moonlit Hills. She got out of the den and wandered through the disorientating woods. She recognized some parts of it, but was mostly just lost. It would take ages for her to know where the hell she was going, especially with the whole tunnel system beneath her paws. At least in Phantom Hollow, she knew exactly where everything was.

She crossed the Red thingydingy and soon reached the border. She had thought she was going the opposite way, but fate had it's ways of screwing up. She shrugged and stepped over the border. She would just go to the Greatwater Lake, maybe to train her fishing skills or something. What was peculiar though, was that Nemesis' scent was going that way too. Malice wasn't all too fond of having her near, but her being a packmate now drove her to follow the other dark woman's scent.

The familiar frame of Nemesis' came into sight, back turned to her and talking to... Judas and Mitanni? What in the name of Lucifer were they doing here? With her tail hugging the insides of her legs and head low, she came beside Nemesis, her "Dark Sister". She didn't say anything, she just stood there, numbed by the fact that they had noticed she was gone.

Mitanni felt her nervousness spike at the challenge implied in Judas' words, her ears falling back against her head with an anxious glance sent his way, shuffling a step closer. They shouldn't argue. The mottled brown wolf wasn't by any means a fighter, and she dreaded confrontation of any sort.

But Judas must have known what he was doing. The Brotherhood stranger didn't keep information from them, but answered with statements both confusing and hurtful. Mitanni's brow furrowed, her expression falling. That's not true, she thought to herself, it can't be true. Malice had never expressed displeasure with them, not over these reasons. She'd been just and encouraging, and stuck with them even when her previous mate had stepped out on her.

It didn't compute with the little wolf. She couldn't see her leader, who'd been so optimistic and empowering from the start, caring so little for them, feeling as if they were a worthless bunch. But neither could she deny it to this stranger who could easily have shredded her to bits if she wanted to, and Mitanni could only manage a nervous scowl as she took a step back, ready to leave if they would get no further.

But another dark, rounded figure striding toward them made her stop and brighten just a bit. "Malice." She was here. That was good news, but the ex-Moonlit Hills alpha's posture was disconcerting. This wasn't her either. She'd never behave so meekly. Her expression fell into worry again, ears folding, and Mitanni watched her previous leader from her spot beside Judas.

Judas stood still, not budging a bit. Reason for this; he didn't believe a single word coming out of her mouth. He didn't want to, but his brain made it seem like he knew she was lying. Even though he didn't exactly know if she was or not. Hi glare hardened, trying to make their nerves break under his stare until they finally told the truth he wanted to hear.

"Then call her. I want to hear this from her my-" He stopped short as another approached. From their territory, Malice came. No, this couldn't be. She must have been escaping, right? But then why wasn't she running? It all added up as she stopped beside the Blackfeather wolf. He sighed, his glare softening to one of hopelessness. "It's true, isn't it?" he asked, directed at Malice. But he knew he had his answer.

Judas turned away slowly, as if expecting Malice to follow. The urge from his other side became stronger, knowing that she had left them. "Mitanni...let's go. It seems she has a pack to look after her." He sent one more cold glance at the two before starting to walk away. His debt was to Malice. And with her gone, he was utterly confused as to what to do.

Her statutre did not change as Malice arrived, head hanging. And it did not waver when the two moonlit wolves realised what was going on. She did not relish in their failure to keep their Alpha happy, regardless of what many believed. She was not a horrible wolf without reason, and if she was, it was in defense of her own. Malice was not her own, but she was Burke's. And what would she be if she did not stick up for her Alpha's happiness? It was the only reason she cared. "Yes, she does," She did not think she needed to repeat herself again, they got the message. And they would do well remebering it and telling the others. They were not welcome, and Malice no longer belonged to them.

"Malice, come. You owe them nothing now," Really, she just wanted to usher Malice but to Burke's den where she could not run in to trouble as she was bound to do. There, her concern was for the children. At concerned her when the pups would finally be born and Malice could not cope. This would not do. No doubt Burke would resnstate her as official baby sitter again, and she only cared because it was his children too. Shaking the thoughts from her head, she indicated for them to retreat back to Blackfeather. Burke would not like this, and she would not have Malice wander around with them for much longer.

Malice avoided eye contact, feeling just slightly guilty for choosing for herself. She had given her everything to the moonlit wolves, they were somehow part of who she was, but if her kindness could not be returned... Well, she would seek new wolves that could. She was sure they didn't dislike her, but she had just felt under appreciated as an alpha of Moonlit Hills. At least in the Dark Brotherhood she had Burke that cared. And maybe even the young Kendra, though they had barely just met.

She flinched when her name was spoken by the small Mitanni, her brow furrowing and eyes slowly closing as to hold back tears. She would not cry, not in front of her former followers nor Nemesis. No one would ever see her cry, not about something as stupid as this. If she recalled, which was hard for the scarred female as that only brought back memories that were now painful, Judas had been the only one to have ever seen her upset. Her ears twitched looking up when Nemesis spoke to the Moonlit Wolves, to them.

Her faint yellow gaze, one scarred eye from the man who had seen her cry, rested upon Judas. His words hurt. She couldn't explain the pain with words, but the writer is doing her best, truly. It was as if she had grown a tree in the land of the Moonlit Wolves, one that had grown while she was growing too. As if she was connected to that tree, and that once the locusts had eaten all the green off of it, there was almost nothing left. Judas' words were like axes, cutting down that tree to let it die. I... I... She stuttered, not knowing what to say to them.

A single tear ran down her face when Judas turned to walk away, probably taking Mitanni with him. She stepped forward quickly, and with a desperate, broken voice, she called out; I'm sorry! She let her head hang again. I'm sorry... She whispered, turning her swollen body back the way from which she had come from.

She looked up to Nemesis, clearing her throat, but it didn't help much. A hollow place had formed in her soul, one that would be healed by time, but felt years and years after this event. Right... Let's go home. She croaked.

Malice wouldn't meet their eyes and kept hers averted, looking to Mitanni like she carried some sense of guilt. Was it because of what the other dark-hued female had said? Was it because she'd left them without word of where she was going or what she intended to do? The little brown wolf couldn't pin it down, and she desperately wished her ex-alpha would speak but no explanation came.

Mitanni flinched a little when Judas spoke her name, a stern inflection behind the word, and though she obediently turned, ready to follow him, she did so reluctantly. This wasn't right. Malice had been the one to draw her into the Moonlit Hills pack, the one who had founded everything and gave each of them a purpose. How could she abandon it all so easily, so carelessly, and without even owning up herself to what she felt or needed to do?

The new sense of hurt that settled in the little wolf's chest gave her strength to turn away and follow Judas, hardened her to apology that her ex-alpha called out behind her. Her ears remained pinned, an expression of her disappointment, but her face was a stony, solemn mask that would likely only hold until they got closer to home. But for now, as she hurriedly trotted at her friend's heels toward the Phantom Hollow, that was as far as it needed to get her.