Blackfeather Woods You thought I'd just abandon you?

Potema was stunned by the barrenness of the Woods. While it still carried its foreboding nature, it was a shadow of its former self. There were no caws from the resident dark birds; the Woods had an overwhelming emptiness and deadness to it that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Potema felt her stomach gurgle, and the white witch scowled. She cursed Namira and Peyrite for the curse of pestilence brought upon the land, but stepped forth to the borders of her home. She needed to commune with Mother. She had wanted to for so long, first to try it, then to see if Pietro was alright in the Void, now to ask for her Mother's assistance.

Potema's head tipped back and she called for @Burke , her voice echoing through the barren trees. She hated seeing her mother's once proud forest brought low by the likes of mere insects, and wondered if she could have listened and looked for clues, telltale signs of their coming sooner. But she was a mere mortal playing the game of gods. She had little power in all of this. She would have to ask Mother when the time came.

Burke lifted his head when he heard a howl. The male rather did not pull himself away from Malice his side now he was finally resting beside her but he did recognize that howl, and that howl mean that Potema called out for him. Burke got to his feet, Malice probably heard that howl too so not much questions needed to be asked.

The male trotted through the territory, it was a shame to see what these bugs had done to it. The large male grunted softly in annoyance. Though once he saw Potema, who he hadn't seen in quite a while, he cheered up a bit. "Potema," he greeted. The girl had always been independant. So he wondered where she had been off to now. "You have returned, though I do not know from where."

Her tail wagged at the sight of her father, though a smile did not cross her face. She was glad to see him, but the sight of the Woods was too depressing for her to truly comprehend. Some part of her thought that the magic surrounding Blackfeather Woods would protect it from the clearly Daedra-sent swarm, but the bare trees disagreed with her. I can hardly recognize anything, what with all of the leaves being gone. She murmured, her eyes still fixed on the canopy, her ears perked for any raven or crow call. Nothing. I wandered around south of here trying to get a feel for what was ravaged and what was left. She sighed, remembering walking through the prarie and what remained of Bramblepoint. There's not much green left here. I can't say for sure how much of the Wilds was hit, but the damage is substantial enough to force us to scout for herbs and prey half a day away from here. Perhaps more.

Burke watched Potema and could only agree on what she had been saying. Potema came back with valuable information. It was great to have young adults that wanted to travel because it meant he would not have to do it. "Good to know Potema," he spoke instantly and nodded in approval. 

"Before you re-enter these woods though, there is something I'd like to tell you," he spoke to her. The male knew that Malice was in his den, and that Potema might see her as a replacement for her mother but she was not. Burke could neer replace her.

He is going to tell her about Malice, so you can assume in your threads he did!

Potema was ready to propose a scouting mission to find food and herbs. It was imperative for them to have both if they were to survive for the rest of the year. She didn't know how long this famine would last, but if it lasted until fall, they needed to store as much food as they could, in anyway they could. Of course, Burke knew this, but she would gladly take a few wolves to search for supplies. Mother's Dark Brotherhood needed to survive.

What is it? She asked, wondering what news her father had to give her.

Burke cleared his throat and then looked at her. "It is weird because I don't really know what  it means myself but... There is a new female, one a brought in myself," he started and then looked at Potema. He then shook his head a bit. "That might not be the right way. I knocked up a female and brought her here. But she means more to me, I think. I can... talk to her," he spoke, because that was a special thing, Burke did not talk to everyone.

"I don't know, for once in my life I don't know," he admitted to her and then smiled at her, kind of a fatherly smile. "I just wanted to tell you that she will not replace Meldresi in any way since no one was like her. Though, I am trying to explore what this thing is when I am around this um.. new female," he explained. He knew Potema was the jealous type but if he got her on his side she might calm down Damien too.

Confusion. Realization. Revulsion. Fury. All four stages played across Potema's face as Burke spoke. She didn't realize that she had met the woman before, but that would only make things worse if she knew the woman's identity. For now, the nameless breeding bitch was the subject of Potema's malice (hah). Her lip curled back into a snarl. You did what?! She couldn't believe that her father was blind enough to let some random bitch's heat control him! And now the pack was starving with young pups on the way?!

Of course this slut won't replace Mother. Mother wasn't stupid enough to let just any man come up an impregnate her. She hissed, her eye blazing in a ball of blue flame. This was a joke, right? He didn't really walk up to some woman and fuck her. And now we have more mouths to feed? Why did you let her in? Are you in love with her?

It seemed Potema did not react the way he wanted to. How could he even expect her to. Yet, Burke felt an incredible sadness. He opened up to Potema and now she was clearly judging him. The male had always been there for her, and been supportive of everythign she did or went to, but once he decided something the princess could not look past her own feelings. It said a lot about her age, at least Burke realized that, because he did not picture her as the yearling she was. So young in life.

Her insults towards Malice made him bare his teeth mentally but as always Burke kept his calm mask. Though there was now a hint of sadness in it. She hit the spot right on by asking if he was in love with her, in truth he did not know. But now he opened up to her and got beaten down instantly with insults he was not going to open up to her again. At least not in this conversation. "I do not see a point of opening up to you about what I feel if you are filled with so much hatred for someone you don't know," he spoke to her with a bit of dissapointment in his voice. After all he already said that Malice was not going to replace Potema's mother. 

Burke kept his pale eyes on her. He did this the right way, instantly telling her once she arrived. She did not find out after she joined which might be even more disastrous. Burke's face turned more sullen. "I thought that I could share such things with you, Potema," he spoke with a light frown. This was probably the sole reason why Malice was here. In his eyes he was always there for everyone, being their counselor and therapist. But also as a steady leader, always there. But once he had something himself he could not open up to anyone.

A part of her wanted to scream: I don't care what you feel! She's replacing my mother! But she bit her tongue before the crippling words slithered out. She glared at her father for a moment, then looked down, eyes smouldering as she thought and mentally calmed herself down. You can. She huffed, returning her glare to Burke's face. I just... The words trailed off as she recollected herself again. It was like a volcano that constantly threatened to erupt at any moment; she could felt a rant boiling inside her. A gust of air exited her mouth as she channeled her inner Meldresi. There's a lot riding behind this that makes the situation worse. I do not know what kind of history you two have and I could honestly care less; it does not matter to me. But I do know that this will not end well, Father. She thought of all the that has happened the weeks prior: Pietro's death, the locusts, the famine...now a (seemingly) random pregnant woman shows up at their doorstep and is granted sanctuary? Without knowing the history behind Moonlit Hills, Malice and the Dark Brotherhood, she knew that something wicked was coming. Her guard hairs raised slightly as she sensed many bad omens on the wind.

Burke looked at Potema with that same stict but dissapointing gaze. "I want to, Potema. I want to," he spoke. For Burke this was not complicated at all, and Malice was not going to replace Meldresi because she was so different from the previous queen. "She is here for me. Not for you, for me. I am not sure what I am feeling towards her but for once I choose for myself instead of every selfless act I did for this pack," Burke spoke to Potema.

Her thread that this would not end well was not something he would want to disregard. He knew how dangerous the spiderlings could be, but he was not going to allow Malice being hurt. That was not how their pack worked. "If you don't care what she means to me but you want to hurt her then you might want to think harder. Would you really want to hurt me so badly because of your harted towards this female? Don't you think I already had enough of hardship to endure?," he questioned her. He saw Potema as his own daughter and would never wish ill towards her as she just did in his eyes.

Fade here?

Potema wanted to speak up in protest; how selfish he was! But then she stopped, thinking for a moment. Almost, no, everything he did was for the pack, the Dark Brotherhood. Wasn't it enough to give him one moment of repose? But then again, selfish acts never had to include random pregnant women. I don't approve of this, but it doesn't mean I want to kill her. She huffed, slightly peeved that he would even think that. Though she could use a body for a ritua- no. She wouldn't. But I cannot say the same for the others. And by others, she meant her brother Damien and Nemesis. Of all of the Dark Siblings in the Woods, those two were by far the most dangerous. I'll meet her and then I'll decide how I truly feel about this. She rose to her feet, shouldering past Burke and into the woods.

Yes!

Burke kept his eye on Potema and then nodded. "Thank you," he spoke before stepping aside and granting her access to the Dark Brother grounds once more. The male had a lot to think about, especially with what Potema said. He had the feeling that the one she was talking about would be Damien. He always seemed to be a bit of the troublemaker.

With that in mind he went back into the forest, going in a different direction as Potema. He had enough on his mind right now.