Moonspear Hold your head even higher

for funsies!!!

Finally! Tired of lying around and waiting for Liffey or Hydra to come visit, or someone less happy, like Lyra or Charon, Gannet ventured a little further outside his normal area. Generally he stuck close by where they'd put him, but now when he stepped outside, he took a few awkward lolling paces past. His right hind leg rested awkwardly, and as he moved, it hitched heavily, unable or unwilling to hold much weight at all. As a result he was off balance.

But just the novelty of moving was enough, and for a moment, his mood lifted entirely as he slowly made his way out in the sun and snow. He couldn't do the slopes, nor did he wish to run into someone unfortunate, but he was content to simply amble a ways outside before sitting down a couple hundred feet away, head tipped up towards the sky.

Being with Ame had calmed Charon down, though it also brought him on edge knowing he needed to defend her while her heat lasted to make sure that the children were fully his. This was what drove him to Gannet at first, though by the time he'd reached their prisoner, Charon was left to think it was a silly idea that Gannet'd ever stand a chance with Amekaze at all and he felt himself calm considerably.

At first he watched from afar as he saw Gannet pass outside and make his way to enjoy the sun for a moment. His gait was improving though he was not fully healed yet. Charon wondered if Gannet ever thought of how he was going to repay all of the effort and resources Moonspear had put into him, and in the dead of winter no less, as well as his part in the getting away of Galaxy's murderer. He doubted the arrogant boy thought of such things at all.

He approached then, as Gannet settled somewhere to enjoy the sun. Charon approached from behind without much sound and then made to sit beside Gannet. "They don't seem to care much to have you back," Charon said after sitting down, regardless of whether Gannet'd already noticed him by that point. He sounded less irritated than the times they'd met before, almost kind, perhaps, this time.

((Ahhhh yay!!))

Despite Charon being one of the wolves Gannet had implicitly been avoiding, when his voice sounded, he found himself somewhat unbothered. It was too nice to be out. He hadn't seen him come, his eyes being somewhat closed, but now he turned to look at the alpha neutrally. A week ago his words would have hit home sharply; after his talk with Rannoch, however, he simply felt a sad sense of acceptance.

"There was a war," he said, then looked down. "I left. Wasn't there to help." In his mind, of course they wouldn't want him back. It didn't matter that he didn't know. He should have been there regardless. It still hurt, of course, that no one had come to check on him. But now that he had stopped expecting it, the disappointment was a bit less bitter. Somehow, he felt, no matter how Charon felt about him, he might understand this logic as well.

It surprised Charon that Gannet didn't seem nervous or bothered by his presence. Neither did his words seem to faze Gannet at all. It was almost like he was already expecting it; like he'd drawn the same conclusions.

Charon looked sideways at Gannet then and continued in similar subject: "How do you plan to repay us for all the resources we have spent to patch you up? For sparing your life?" It was clear from his voice that he meant those words. Charon felt that there should be some way to repay; he certainly did not intend to simply let Gannet wander on bank to Redhawk Caldera without some sort of repaying.

Charon didn't comment, but he didn't react unfavorably either. Instead he asked Gannet a question that caught him completely off guard.

Not because he wasn't willing, or because he didn't want to. But because that Charon thought he could 'make it up' to them meant he thought Gannet could perhaps work his way up in their eyes. It wasn't a concept he had thought possible. But it cheered him. So he looked at Charon with renewed interest. "What do you need?" He asked. He knew the basics he could give; once he was well, he could hunt, and protect, and help. But did Charon have something in mind?

Gannet seemed to almost light up at the thought of being able to repay his debts to Moonspear. What he perhaps didn't realise was that the debts that Charon had in mind were of the lifelong sort — the sort that might not be repaid so easily. "You owe us a life," said Charon in response to Gannet's words. He decided to let that sink in for a little bit. The only way that Charon would ever consider that Gannet's debt was truly paid was if he were to achieve an exceptional feat: Kill one of their enemies, save the lives of one of his family members, things like that. Maybe even something as tangible as time could help alleviate the debt, should Gannet become a part of Moonspear and serve there. Maybe in time, he'd become a friend...

... But for now, he was still an enemy, part of the plot to murder Galaxy, an accessory to murder. With a stern look to his face Charon looked at Gannet and said: "I want you to swear loyalty to Moonspear, to become a thrall in our service. That means you will not betray us in any way, that you will work not just to upkeep your own but the pack, and will follow orders from leadership and reasonable orders from membership. You will be a free wolf in that you can move around and do as you please, but your loyalty will be tied to Moonspear and the Ostrega family. These terms will last forever —" Again, a moment to let that sink in, "— Or until me or Amekaze decides otherwise." He didn't feel that Gannet was having such a terrible time in Moonspear altogether and the smile on his face showed he wanted to work to pay off his debts. Charon looked at Gannet, wondering if that smile would still be on his face now that the consequences of his actions were truly starting to sink in.

Forever was a long time.

What Charon asked, Gannet couldn't have imagined, despite its predictable nature. It made sense; but he was surprised, honestly, to learn that Charon saw value in his presence. He'd thought the alpha wanted him gone. Now he was asking for a lifetime, potentially.

His ears tipped back, indecision clearly written across his face. Saying yes would mean turning his back on the Redhawks, possibly for good. It meant, if this did come down to war, he'd be fighting for the other side. Against Finley, Elwood, all of them. Joining the pack, even just as a thrall, who detested his family and him as a result.

But it could be a chance to change their minds. If he was loyal, showed them his worth, the sort of wolves the Caldera actually turned out; would it change their minds? Maybe. And on a deeper level; despite his initial dislike of Charon, there was a heavy, instinctual need in Gannet to submit to leadership. To have them like him, appreciate him, and trust him. That Charon did not made him intensely uncomfortable, and the chance to change that was tempting in itself.

"Okay." He said, softly, but when he looked up at Charon again it was with resolve. He would do it. And war, or conflict, or whatever.... he would cross that bridge when he got there.

There was a silence between them as he gave Gannet some time to think it all over. Right now Charon didn't think that Gannet held much value and the urge was high to slather his innards all over Redhawk Caldera's borders, especially considering his wounds. But he would heal (and if he did not, they could always kick him out after all), and when he healed he would become stronger and possibly an asset to the pack. It was a risk, but one he was willing to take to get something back for all of the resources they'd invested in him so far. Besides, a part of him felt sorry for the boy that his own pack, his own family, didn't seem to think he was valuable enough to get back. Even in the dead of war, Charon would go looking for other Moonspear members; and if he knew they were at another pack, he'd make a decision. Leave them there or take them, but not let them dangle in the middle without making any sort of choice. To think that nobody'd gotten off their arse to do that for Gannet made it seem like he'd be better off in another pack. Even if he was there as a prisoner, sentenced to life.

Charon didn't know what he'd do if Gannet said no, so he was glad when after a silence he heard Gannet's "okay". His voice was soft but when Charon looked at Gannet he noticed something in him that he didn't remember seeing before (or maybe he'd just seen it on the wrong side of things when he'd seen it, before). "Welcome," he said with a glimpse of a smile on his face, and Charon rose his nose to inform the pack @Lyra @Alya @Terance @Wraen @Rannoch @Liffey @Dirge @Drogon @Ganondorf @Bernard @Vela, and his family in particular, that Gannet was now a part of Moonspear. In his howl he didn't mention his status as thrall and Omega — it was clear enough to anyone who knew Gannet's status as prisoner in the pack, and if they had questions he would gladly answer them should they come to seek him out.

He'd take his time to inform @Amekaze and @Hydra more personally to let them know the exact terms of the agreement he had made with Gannet. He was now thrall, enslaved to the Ostrega family and in some ways to Moonspear, but he would live and he would hopefully make himself useful in due time.

Gerra and Kit: as far as I'm concerned we can assume Charon filling 'em in happens behind the scenes (he'd tell them all the details of the agreement) but feel free to tag me if y'all want a thread for it! :)

last from me unless Charon has more, feel free to archive!

Gannet didn't miss the smile, but he didn't take it for granted. Instead, it encouraged him somewhat that he had made the correct decision. His process was not, in fact, that different from Charon's... minus the pity part. He wasn't too sorry for himself; this could turn out ok.

He simply nodded in response, the echoes of the announcing howl ringing in his ears. Then he waited, either for additional instructors or Charon to depart. As he did, his mind ran with what the next few weeks might hold.

The howl — presumably followed by those of the pack, as infectious as howls were — died out slowly and soon they were sitting together in silence once more. Gannet seemed to be waiting for some sort of order and Charon nodded at him and said, "I'm going for a patrol. Good luck resting up." Charon didn't actually know yet that Gannet's leg might never get better, but even if it did not then surely he'd be able to do some other things, or learn to walk properly on three legs...

Charon started making his way to the borders while he thought about whether he'd made the right decision. He had had half a mind to simply dispose of Gannet, to set an example for Redhawk, to warn them to back the fuck off. Couldn't quite tell whether he was getting soft or if he'd simply done the favourable thing to keep the rest of his pack reined in and happy. Time would tell if the decision he had made was the right one — and the same went for Gannet.