Blackfeather Woods Nocturne

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Tiny steps are taken towards the entrance, silent, while everyone sleeps. Kotake, though very young, was already a stealthy creature. She had developed her silence as a way to defend herself from the noise and the curtness of her environment, and it was clear by that point that the night princes was not going to take any sort of physical role within the hierarchy of Blackfeather Woods.

But like the rest of her siblings, Kotake was a curious girl. If not around her sister, enveloped in the little world they had created for the two alone, Kotake was discovering something, whether it was within her mind or in the physical plane. That night, cold like every other, was the moon that got the little spiderling's attention. She saluted it with a friendly shake of tail, and sat right by the entrance of her mother's chosen resting place to admire its beauty.

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Upon his promotion, Atshen had taken time into patrolling his mother's territory more often. He would do everything in his power to ensure that Nemesis' claim was safe. Stalking silently, the Silencer weaved through the snow-covered woods finding himself at an uncharacteristic sense of peace. 

It was as Atshen was satisfied with his patrolling and that he had decided to turn in for the night that his eyes settled on an unexpected sight due north of him. Halting suddenly, Atshen sought the perched child with his molten-like eyes and a smile quickly slithered onto his lips. But despite his advantage, he did not waver from where he stood. Instead, Atshen watched, wondering what the child would do next.

Another had come, and Kotake turned her head in their direction. This was a wolf whose face she recognized, and so she was not anxious when seeing it. His hate toward her family was not known to the cub, and so as he watched her mutely she did the same, her cool, unwavering gaze perhaps unsettling when coming from a face meant to be so sweet and cherubic. Other than her movement to turn her gaze toward him, Kotake was otherwise a statue. Nearby to Kotake was a day old rabbit carcass that she had been warned away from twice over. A breeze ruffled her furs, as well as the furs of the limp, cold thing nearly beside her.

It seemed as though the two were at a standoff. Unsure of what to do at that moment, Atshen kept his eyes on the small child. He did not even notice the rabbit at her side and instead kept his attention on her-- waiting to see what she would do in her moment of solidarity. After all, it didn't seem as if Potema were awake- at least, not from what he had smelled and observed. Perhaps this would be the moment that he would finally get to bring one of these wretched children back to Nemesis as a trophy of his devotion to her.

Neither of them moved. Kotake herself was as still as a statue, her disposition seemingly serene with the exception of her hard, stony gaze. She was calm. Kotake did not know this wolf, though she knew few with the exception of her family. Only now was Kotake able to leave her natal den and wander, after all. Though he had disturbed her, Kotake had no desire to return to her previous task any longer. Perhaps this wolf would teach her something. All, silent or otherwise, provided her with lessons she would not forget.

Time seemed to stand still in their exchange, and though Atshen grew all the more curious, he also felt himself growing tiresome of their exchange. His eyes sought the area around her, and his sight soon fell to the rabbit at her side. Licking his lips, Atshen stood and trotted forward with his eyes on a new prize: the morsel. Though he hadn't realized, he had been hungry for quite some time. Only the sight of the rabbit had stirred his hunger. 

Ignoring the girl once he stood before her, he bowed his head so that he could nudge the rabbit. He quickly realized that it reeked with a scent he had never sampled before. Hovering above the prey, and quite perplexed by the meal, he poked a few times it as if judging whether or not it was good to eat.

He moved toward her now, and Kotake was quickly able to deduce why as his sights were no longer upon her. Kotake stared at the thing he looked to, a thing she normally was permitted to eat. This one, for whatever reason, she had not been. Her keen memory caused her to turn to look at him, her eyes flashing. There was no challenge within her, no authoritative rise to her voice or her posture as she informed him, as the wolf whom had informed her, of his wrongdoing: No, came her first word, pronounced perfectly. She watched, though, interested. What would happen if he did not listen? And then, the food-possessive child within her reared its head. Kotake wanted the food for herself. For her own part, Kotake was unable to detect the scent the boy before her had noted. Scents were still things she was coming to learn about. All she knew was that the thing beside her smelled like food.

His advance was defied by the tot's retort, and he turned to her, his eyes curious as he regarded her. In a normal circumstance, Atshen would have been filled with rage if anybody, let alone a child, would defy him. But, given the questioning condition of the flesh, he would not stop her. Instead, he watched, curious about whether or not the smell had anything to do with the meat.

Again, the two were at an impasse. He heeded her words, and she wondered at the gravity of the word. Her gaze turned back toward the creature, which lay limp between them. As he had not made a move for it, neither had she. If a wolf as big as he obeyed the Word, then she supposed it held more meaning than she imagined. The creatures blood, or perhaps the creature itself, had been laced with something deadly—unbeknownst to either of the two wolves.

Testing the waters of their interaction, Atshen placed a paw gently on the body, his eyes shining as he attempted to stir the pot. Whether she would react with defiance or sorrow was up in the air, but Atshen anticipated either as a smile snaked onto his lips.

As the male moved to place a paw upon the thing, Kotake rose to all fours and mirrored his movements. Her gaze shifted from morsel to man, and though she licked her chops she repeated, as steadily as before: no. His obedience, or lack thereof, would determine her next move.

Kotake-- or was it Koume? The Silencer didn't know-- was quick reprimand his actions. Pulling the meal closer, the man lifted his eyebrows as if silently asking her just what she was going to do about it.

She was not strong enough to mimic him now. She could try to pull it toward her, and she did for a moment. But the weight of the creature was too much for the cub who was not yet even two months. And so she, when he stopped, placed her paw atop it again. This was hers. She attempted to even mirror his facial expression, but as she did not oft express herself this way it was a poor attempt.

He was reverting to the ways that he treated his siblings at her age. Feeling an uncharacteristic spark of childishness, Atshen leaned over and began to pretend to eat the rabbit. He looked to her as he did this, his eyes taunting as watched on for her reaction.

Ah!

As he moved to eat it, Kotake—not even noting the look in his eye—let out another: no, before her anger at his impertinence reached its threshold. He did not regard no. Why should she? And so she moved to take a bite of the thing before his lips could quite touch it, her victory at having gotten a bite first simple as she glanced to him. There was no gloating, no song and dance. Kotake was not smug, either; she simply felt she had won by getting at it, first.

The nauseous feeling came but a few minutes after. Her stoic expression morphed into one of pain as she felt her stomach twist in a way she had not once experienced before. She glanced toward Atshen, knowing he was not guilty of the pain caused but wondering what it meant. It didn't feel good, and the change in her demeanor was obvious.

The teasing lead Kotake to the ultimate decision to dig into the kill, and as she acted, he pulled away to watch what would follow. As he observed her, the Silencer took the time to commit the memory of the scent into his mind, just in case this rabbit happened to be poisonous. 

Her metamorphosis from well to ill was swift, and he observed it without a word. Noting the pain on her face, with a flutter of delight in his chest, he watched on as the disturbance shaped her from in her system. Despite his pleasure, and knowing that mother would be thrilled, Atshen felt a pang of regret. If this was her end, what would come next? Sure, there were here siblings-- but was this ending for Kotake satisfying? In addition, would mother think it was the best way to kill her? By the hands of foolishness rather than by the will of his teeth? 

No, he assumed that Nemesis would not be pleased by this ending. He would kill her by his means, not by the terms of her stupidity. 

Not knowing a remedy, Atshen leapt to his paws and came to her side all the while peering into @Potema's den. An urgent bark was ushered into the family's cave for her, and he waited, hoping that she would wake.

Again a familiar scene; Potema sleeping, her children sprawled out about her. The den was warm and heady; Potema found herself uncomfortably shifting over towards the open chill of the mouth of the den. It was auspicious then that her head was near the entrance when Atshen, Atshen of all wolves, chuffed for her. 

Her head raised, her single, still seeing eye twinkling at the molten-eyed Silencer. Potema stared at him curiously, then gasped as she saw her daughter twisted in agony. Potema rose, not caring if her sons and daughter slid off her body and protested, rushing to her daughter. The question — What happened? — choked in her throat as she saw the rabbit. The woman cursed and sped off, back to the den. She kept a few herbs on hand, especially for moments like this. Yarrow was the best thing to have for especially young and curious children. Potema snatched a clump, not caring for dosage, only that she had some. She returned, looking to Atshen, then her daughter, swallowing apprehensively. I need you to open her mouth,

It was all happening at what felt like, within herself, a minute. The pain was not yet excruciating, and she was able to understand her mother. She moved to open her own mouth, and fortunately Atshen did, in fact, assist her in this. But she was unable to express her appreciation in the moment; her mind was clouded, and she was growing quite tired.

PP consent granted! Also, feel free to PP Kota here :)

Potema was quick in her arrival to the scene, witnessing her daughter's agony. Instead of dwelling about the ordeal, she acted quickly and dissapeared back to the den. He did not act as she gathered herbs and instead turned his attention to Kotake. He kept close attention to her withering, seeing how the poision affected her-- truely, it was fascinating to the Silencer. 

He only turned from his observations as Potema returned bearing the herbs that would help her daughter. Not taking much time in the matter, Atshen obliged to what she said and reached down. Though a killed by nature, he grabbed the top of her snout gentle and used a large forepaw to open up the bottom of her mouth.

couldn't resist!

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The memories were flowing in more constantly now, and Damien had slowly, but steadily, recovered most of his personality from the foggy past. He had returned to his own den, leaving Potema and the pups to their own space, to their own deals; but he'd been devoted to their protection ever since his return.

He was around when Atshen sounded the alarm. His strange voice, and the urgency it carried made the shadow prince spring up almost instantly. Potema's shape was the first Damien recognized, and a sharp Sister, announced his presence as he arrived with hurried leaps. Nemesis' boy -which Damien vaguely remembered- was there, over his niece, and Damien did not know what to think of it all. What's going on? he questioned his sister almost anxiously, seeing the distress in his precious niece's face.

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Potema is glad that the boy responds to her orders, and waits for Kotake to open her mouth fully. As she does she gingerly chews the yarrow into a paste, careful not to swallow much of it. She prepares to insert the yarrow when Damien arrive. The woman shushes him sharply, her eye blazing before she places the yarrow within Kotake's mouth. Swallow it, jorrāelagon, She murmurs to Kotake, urging the girl to take in the potent mixture, which would quickly make her vomit up whatever was ailing her. She steps back, gingerly waiting for it to occur.

Kotake did as she was told, as she hadn't any reason not to. Her mother had not endangered her before, and it did not occur to her she would now. She swallowed the salve, though it was difficult to, and but minutes later she felt further discomfort. Her stomach began to churn, she felt warm, too warm, and felt ill as she had never felt before. Kotake rose to all fours and stumbled beside her mother before a violent wave erupted from stomach to lips. She fell sick, not once but many times. Whatever was within her system was quickly expelled, but there was a semblance of mistrust in her that took root. Kotake connected what her mother had given her to sickness, and she withdrew from beside her to sit near Atshen, her eyes confused but vexed as she looked to Potema. As a child sometimes could, she remembered only the most recent pain endured. Her eyes then turned toward Damien. Her stomach turned, and she was tired and confused. Betrayed, too, by her mother—but she did not understand much from what had transpired. She felt, in the moment, that she might be safest beside Atshen. Of course, she was oblivious to his vendetta against the entirety of her family.

The medicine was deposited successfully, and once Atshen was sure that she had ingested it he let got and took a step back, all the while keeping his eyes on the Spiderling. He only glanced up briefly to a wolf he didn't know, his eyes beholding Damien as a whole and commitng the man to memory. He had never been in the Disgraced's presence, so, he was not fully aware of just who this dark-furred man was. 

His attention returned Kotake as she erupted, spewing vomit. He felt his stomach turn at this sight, yet he held down his own. Keeping his attention to on the girl, he soon found her at his side and he felt surprised at this. Confused, he glanced up to Potema and Damien before returning his attention to Kotake. 

"You are safe now," he said before turned to Potema. "I saw her outside and smelled the rabbit. I tried to take it away because of the smell and she went for it because she thought it was hers." He explained, looking from sibling to sibling, knowing that Potema would want an explanation for what happened.

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The next seconds after Damien's arrival were slow pictures. Potema warned him away before he could even approach, and Damien, seeing that it was perhaps a matter of life or death to the vulnerable Kotake, knew that it was not in his hands to save her this time. Atshen seemed to be doing a good job, judging by Potema's approval of his presence, and so Damien did not intervene but mere watched with an acidic pain in the knot that had become his throat as the scene unfolded.

Damien didn't know enough to identify what Potema was pushing down Kotake's throat to be Yarrow, but within seconds of doing Kotake was up, trembling on her feet and then throwing up whatever she'd just ingested. Her displeasure was evident, but her reaction was unsettling to Damien. She chose to scuttle closer to Atshen than to her own mother, and such impression earned the fire-eyed boy a cold stare. But he spoke before Damien could even decide to push him away from his niece, and his words sounded honest enough to change the course of Damien's actions.

"Thanks, boy... I'm glad you were here to help..." he told the boy with a thankful nod as he approached and nosed Kotake back towards her mother with who Damien felt she'd be safer. He was genuinely thankful for the boy's help, but Damien was simply too protective over Potema's litter to allow them to be exposed for too long.

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There is a soft sigh of relief as Kotake begins to vomit up the vile poison crippling her stomach. But just as she leans forward to sooth her child, she turns to Atshen instead for comfort. Potema looks to Atshen for any sign of smugness in his face, but is glad when he is just as perplexed as she. He explains himself, which does little to calm Potema's suspicions. Who would leave a rotting carcass so close to her children anyway? She nods, seemingly accepting his tale before she turns to her daughter. Kotake, come here, dōna prūmia, She beckons to her.