Firefly Glen But not by yourself
Ghost
3,526 Posts
Ooc — Me
Birdcatcher
Trapper
Master Storyteller
Offline
#1
Private 
@Charon 

It had been a while, since Wraen had wandered as far as the Great Bear Wilderness and come anywhere near her former home. Yet the cold temperatures, snow and delayed spring had got her worried. Especially now that any other day Olive's puppies would be born and everyone in the pack would be engaged in caring for the little family. Therefore on a fine spring day she set out on a multi-day journey further in the unclaimed territories to see, if things were any different or better elsewhere.

Small game aside and some difficulties in crossing the river, because the ice had begun to melt steadily, there weren't really any signs that would promise a positive report to her leaders. The cover of snow was notably thinner at some places and there were vast puddles of water at others, yet the ground was still frozen and therefore no sight of fresh green that would indicate that the spring had begun and that situation was going to be any better than it had been in winter months.

In the Firefly glen Wraen decided to stop for a while and have good look around - she had eaten breakfast that day and it was already lunch-time.
starboy
2,684 Posts
Ooc — Iris
Master Astronomer
Master Guardian
Master Warrior
Offline
#2
"Osprey," the word left his lips as he had stared out into the glen from the borders, ears perked forward. A few steps had been taken forward, and then another few, until he stood in the middle of the Glen and stared at her from afar, uttering that single word. A soft word, spoken with fondness of a friend reminiscing a friend. But as soon as the word had left his lips he realised that it wasn't her, couldn't be her. The softness in his eyes faded, the crinkles by the sides of his face faded into cold nothingness. His brow furrowed into a frown. Tail twitched tensely. He looked upon her, a King upon a traitor. Nothing more was there but the cold wrenching of the dagger in his heart upon the betrayal of Osprey's children. Of Dante's children.

Yet he could not will himself completely away from her, even though he wanted nothing more than to turn around and leave, back to the guardian's duty by the den's mouth. He wondered what she was doing here. He wondered if this was some elaborate plot devised by Rannoch and Liffey to see his children dead. He knew that wasn't a realistic thought, but still... What if it was true? He stared at her, watching what she did, finding himself unable to move.
Ghost
3,526 Posts
Ooc — Me
Birdcatcher
Trapper
Master Storyteller
Offline
#3
Wraen had heard Liffey's/Rannoch's and Terance's accounts on how things had gone down, when they had announced their intentions to leave Moonspear in order to start a pack of their own. It had sounded worse enough to make her feel happy that she had not been there to pour more salt in the "battle wounds", so to say. Two months ago having the argument with Terance and some very nasty words said about their then alphas fresh in memory, she had felt ashamed to face them as well.

Now, however, things were different - with so much to do, all the troubles associated with abandoning their former pack, had dulled somewhat and did not seem to matter that much anyway. With time and distance between the two packs she could also see the good side in Charon, Amekaze, Hydra and the rest and what's more - forgive them their flaws. After all no person was absolutely perfect being.

With this in mind, Wraen's reaction to spotting Charon in the distance stirred up quite a different palette of emotions. They were not friends and yet he was a person she respected so much that it would not sit well with her to pass him without acknowledging his presence. Therefore she approached him in a calm and confident manner, not as a subordinate, but as a person, who knows it's worth in life. "Hello, Charon," she greeted him, stopping, where her comfort zone met his. "How are you doing?"
starboy
2,684 Posts
Ooc — Iris
Master Astronomer
Master Guardian
Master Warrior
Offline
#4
Charon hoped that she would just pass along, that she wouldn't turn to look at him. And if she did, he thought she would have the decency to pretend that she hadn't seen him and turn away rather than remind him of the dagger that'd been so painfully twisted into his chest. Tail twitched tensely as she approached and greeted him as if things were normal between them; as if they were friends, or acquaintances at the very least; as if she'd said a proper good bye and had had good reasons to leave. He stood rooted to the ground even though he wanted to turn 'round and simply go back into his territory, maybe pretend that he had not seen her and quickly leave. But he could not and once it was clear he had seen her, too, he could no longer walk away without losing face.

"Wraen." When he said the word there was nothing left of the softness in his voice when he had previously spoken. There was a harsh edge to his voice that showed the betrayal he still felt in his heart. She should've been there for the pups, should've been a part of Moonspear still. But she wasn't, and it was unlikely that she ever would be again. He tried to decipher where they were at now, but could not notice anything but Rannoch, Liffey and Terance's scents thickly on her. Liffey's words resounded in his head again -- if your members leave, maybe you should think why they do -- and his hackles bristled as he thought of the outright insults she'd thrown at him.

He decided not to answer the question, because it seemed like a kick in the teeth to even ask. They were with young pups and lacking in members -- even though with what they had, they got by well enough -- and he didn't feel like letting her decide the conversation. "What are you doing here?" he asked sharply, with a note of suspicion and disbelief to his voice, though not threateningly so. It was clear from the tone in his voice that he thought it odd to see her here, so close to his territories, trying to do small talk with him.
Ghost
3,526 Posts
Ooc — Me
Birdcatcher
Trapper
Master Storyteller
Offline
#5
If Wraen had known, what was going on in Charon's head, when he acknowledged her presence, she would have been surprised, if not amazed as well. The strength of prior attachment from her former alpha's side was surprising, because she had never felt anything more than respect towards him and that too mostly out of him honouring her mother's request. If she was true to herself, then she found it hard to be entirely comfortable in his presence and did not find him particularly likeable as a person. And at times she wondered, had she spent less time in Moonspear, had it not been for her mother and the guilt over using someone else's good heart. 

The coldness he met her with was not too surprising, she had expected nothing less and therefore did not feel intimidated by it. She was curious about, how this would turn out, and somehow her confidence was strengthened by the fact that they were meeting on neutral grounds. "I am scouting for hunting spots," she replied her tone calm, polite and unaffected. "Might come in handy, if we ever run short on food. What about you?"
starboy
2,684 Posts
Ooc — Iris
Master Astronomer
Master Guardian
Master Warrior
Offline
#6
Charon tried to be civil, he really did, but when she said that she was scouting for hunting spots he felt anger boil his blood. She continued on quite casually so about how it might come in handy if they ran short on food. A split second he thought it might be smarter to play politics and ask where they'd settled, find out more about how they were doing, but it was too short and was soon pushed away by his anger about scouting for hunting grounds here, in what he perceived as his Glen.

This was where his children took their first steps outside of the pack, this was where he had spent countless nights joyfully chasing fireflies, as a child and adult both, where friendships were forged. This place felt as much his as Moonspear did, even though he had no real claim over it.

It was as if he was snapped back to reality, outside of his mind which drifted off to places -- to Osprey -- as if he suddenly realised that she was really not her mother in any way. "Fuck off," he said threateningly, his tail and head arching upwards as his body grew more dominant. "If I ever see any of you hunting in this Glen, so close to the pack you betrayed, I will tear your heads off." His eyes narrowed as he spoke and he waited for her to actually fuck off for a moment there, figuring that this would be enough and he would not need to exert violence to make her leave.
Ghost
3,526 Posts
Ooc — Me
Birdcatcher
Trapper
Master Storyteller
Offline
#7
Wraen did not expect Charon to burst out as he did, but her moment of bewilderment at his ill-founded insult lasted only for a few seconds. Her eyes grew cold and body became stiff, fur along her spine bristled and she dug her paws in the ground and in response to his display of dominance, raised her tail as well. She was so overcome with emotions that she did not stop to think about their difference in size and strength. He had wounded her pride and she was not going to take this lying down. 

"I want to see you try," she growled back at him. "Don't throw threats around that you will regret later. If you assault me or any of us expect that the favour will be returned, if you or any of your kin happens to be in our area."
starboy
2,684 Posts
Ooc — Iris
Master Astronomer
Master Guardian
Master Warrior
Offline
#8
He did not really want to fight, for every fight brought a risk with it, and he had fully expected her to back off at his threat. When she did not and in fact heightened her body posture too, showing more dominance, a growl rumbled in his throat. Not only did she defiantly stand up to him, but she told him off, too; threatened him on his own doorstep.

"I will make you swallow that threat," he hissed and with bared teeth Charon closed in on Wraen. He approached with teeth bared and fur bristling. Should she not back up as he came into her personal space Charon would try to bite for her scruff, intending to grab it and push her to the ground. Should she give in the littlest inch in body posture or space he would keep his dominant posture but not attack, further continuing his game of intimidation.
Ghost
3,526 Posts
Ooc — Me
Birdcatcher
Trapper
Master Storyteller
Offline
#9
Somewhere in the back of Wraen's head a small voice of reason was banging against rock solid walls and screaming that for the sake of self-preserverance she must back down now and get out of the brewing conflict with dignity and as little harm as possible. And yet the remaining 80% of her mind were dead-set of not letting herself be scared and cowed into submission by her former alpha. A mother's former friend or not, an older and battle-worn wolf or not, she had her pride as well as that of the Sunspire's to defend. They were not a bunch of weaklings and every member of the pack should be a good reflection of that.

Therefore she stood her ground, scrutinizing Charon's face and met him with a set of bared teeth herself. Wraen avoided his attempt to grab her scruff and push her down with a quick step back and to the side and snapped her teeth inches from his muzzle in warning - Don't you dare to touch me!
starboy
2,684 Posts
Ooc — Iris
Master Astronomer
Master Guardian
Master Warrior
Offline
#10
His teeth hit nothing but air and he expected her to run off. That was the only thing he wanted and expected of her. Choosing the smart way rather than hang out here for no reason, on the grounds he and his pack had used for so long. She knew what it meant to him -- she had to know. All Charon wanted was to throw some fear at her, enough for her to leave, but it seemed she had found courage somewhere; he didn't understand her reasonings.

As her teeth snapped forward in warning, Charon already made a move towards Wraen again and teeth scraped along the fur of his muzzle as he hadn't expected her threat to come so quickly. Without registering if she had drawn blood or even taken the chance to bite his muzzle (up to you, Me!) Charon stepped forward, teeth bared as he tried to physically get in her space and push her out until he was satisfied enough with her distance from his mountain.
Ghost
3,526 Posts
Ooc — Me
Birdcatcher
Trapper
Master Storyteller
Offline
#11
It's interesting, how easily people can get into conflict, by misunderstanding each other's reasons. Wraen was in the game to defend her honor, because the things Charon had said, had been very insulting. He had got in the action, because of the false assumption that Sunspire was about to come here and claim the lands for themselves. And each of them had the right to stand their ground, even if clearing matters would have been easier. But apparently diplomacy was neither Charon's, nor - surprisingly - Wraen's strong suite. 

She was a little surprised, when her teeth grazed against Charon's muzzle, for she had acted in self-defence and not because she had ever wanted to do the slightest harm to him. Maybe this had had some effect on him too, because now he tried to prove his point by emphasizing/radiating the Presence. She met this tactics boldly and then, when she felt that she had made her point here clear, she let the aggression subside and picked up a more neutral position, by turning her head to the side and then slowly retreating.

Once within a safe distance from the King of the Moonspear, she stood and watching him from afar, wondering, whether the thing she had done had been for the best or the worst, and in a long time wishing that Osprey would have been here to tell her this.

Last post from me!