Blackfeather Woods The ghost of me was true but you've been haunted too

@Titmouse would be fun but AW!

As a boy growing up in the woods, it was rare to find Ramsay in the territory's eastern reaches. Something about it was foreboding to him back then, and it remained foreboding now as he waded slowly through the marsh. The water was icy, only half melted with spring's temperamental weather, but it didn't seep into his bones the same way the chill in the air did. He knew it was because the spirits were heavily concentrated here and silently judging him. He'd long since abandoned his faith in things like daedra and phantoms, keeping only the practical points of his lessons in his mind, but that didn't mean he didn't feel the weight of them watching him.

He sloshed onward, intent on familiarizing himself with this part of his family's domain so he could protect it as adequately as he did the western woods. The marsh wasn't exactly as defensible as the trees, he thought, but it didn't need to be; its structure would hinder even the most persistent of invaders enough for a hunting party to find them. Better to know all its nooks and crannies before that ever happened.

It had been a while since he'd attempted to hunt anything; the benefit of Undersea being so small, one might suppose. There was always food readily available in one cache or another, or easily scrounged from the beachfront. This place was as far from the island as he could imagine, though. In the days since departing - with Maegi at his side - he'd tried to adapt back to the mainland so that they could support one another. The forest was another matter entirely. The paths he remembered were overgrown, it would take time to fight his way through again let alone find something worth killing.

With that in mind, Tit's effort to find anything of value to eat (or at least share with Maegi) was a wasted effort. Maybe the prey were keeping their distance from the woods because of the onslaught of fresh wolf scent, or maybe it was an instinctual thing - like how most wolves avoided the place. Whatever the reason, Titmouse was heading towards the eastern edge of the woods and he'd not found anything substantial — and the ground was beginning to soften as it turned in to marsh. Fantastic.

Ramsay wouldn't have expected anyone else to be out this way save maybe his sister, who'd always been drawn to the more ethereal aspects of their religion. Otherwise he assumed most wolves, like him, preferred the solid ground offered in the hardy forest to the west. So his eyes landed on Titmouse with some surprise when he crossed paths with the scarred wolf, and he drew himself up short, prepared to field the usual questions about his figure or what he knew about the woods.

Titmouse might recognize Ramsay as the twisted little cub who'd tried to interact with him during his imprisonment in the glen. Ramsay, on the other hand, didn't recognize Titmouse at all. He'd looked very different back then, whereas Ramsay looked more or less the same, just bigger. You're Maegi's friend, Ramsay remarked, peering cautiously at Titmouse with fathomless indigo eyes. How'd you meet?

The further he went the more he had to fight against the sinking of the soil, and he slogged noisily deeper in to the marshland; however he did not have to go far before a voice cut through the quiet, and he stopped mid-stride. His one eye landed on the stunted figure and for a moment Titmouse wasn't sure what he was looking at - but then he heard the question, and recognized not only the voice of Maegi's friend but their shape among the otherwise abyssal obscurity of the trees. His memory tried to rouse something within him at the sight of the mutant, but Titmouse was distracted by the question - plus it had been ages since his own incarceration, his memory wasn't exactly the healthiest thing.

The boy opened his mouth to reply and out snaked a breathy, Undasee. He wheezed a breath, clearing his throat as best he could, not that it would change the outcome. Titmouse's voice was forever altered just like the rest of him. But he was watching the stranger for a few moments of studious silence, and tried to enunciate as he said, How you know M'gee?

Hm. Can't say he knew what Undasee was. He tried to fit it somewhere in Maegi's story and reckoned that it was either the mountain she'd been kidnapped on, or it was a place she'd gone to afterward. Flicker had suggested that Maegi defected from the woods prior to its demise, so perhaps she went to wherever Undasee was and met Titmouse there. He couldn't have guessed at the true complexity of their relationship or all they'd been through even if he tried.

I see, he said, dipping his muzzle awkwardly as though to indicate that Titmouse could continue leading the way if he wished. You've been with her a while, then? Maybe, depending where Undasee fit in the timeline, even longer than Ramsay had been with his sister before they set upon diverging paths. The thought made him frown just a little. It really was an inexcusable amount of time that he was away.

I've known Maegi since our days in the womb, he answered, with a wry shadow of a smile. I'm her brother. One of her brothers.

You've been with her a while, then? he said. Titmouse nodded emphatically.

When the stranger went on to announce he was one of Maegi's brothers, the boy paused. He had heard very little about her relatives - she kept those hurts closer to her heart, he supposed. It stung a little to know that there were things she would not openly talk about; then again, they shared a lot more with other another. Maybe she had mentioned them and he just... Didn't recall it. Their shared lives were tumultuous.

Lived here once, he explained after a moment of consideration. M'gee, Relmyna, her dottors, but again, it was like his memories were being stolen away, locked somewhere he could not readily access. The names of the others were on the tip of his tongue. He rolls his shoulders; that is the past, and they were here now to rekindle something in the woods. Instead he murmured, I 'em Tetmas. Um, Teet... Teetmou, fuck, he forgot how difficult his actual name was to pronounce. With a bit of a fluster he shook his head and tried again: M'gee call me Mou.

Ah, I see, said Ramsay, you knew Relmyna too. It was a long time ago that he knew the patchwork mute, long before Blackfeather fled and then fell, before the birth of the daughters she told Maegi were Cicero's. He'd been only a boy then, attempting to communicate with someone who was kind to him. Truth be told he scarcely remembered the interaction.

I wasn't as close with her as I would have liked, he admitted. Even if he firmly believed that Relmyna lied to Maegi about who fathered her cubs, perhaps to secure Maegi's aid in raising them, he'd respected the woman well enough. He'd have struggled not to speak poorly to her after discovering her dishonesty, but she was gone, so Ramsay would never have the opportunity to know how that would go.

When the scarred wolf tried to pronounce his name, Ramsay was reminded almost distastefully of teats. Who the fuck names their kid after teats? he thought. Small wonder Maegi called him Mou. My name is Ramsay Malacath, he said, and for good measure (mostly because Mou had), he said, Maegi calls me Rams. It's my pleasure to meet a friend of my sister, Mou. There was a lot of bridge building to do before he would say he trusted any one of Maegi's friends, but unlike Flicker with her admission about Damien, Ramsay at least got the impression Mou did genuinely care for Maegi. That was enough for him to like him at least.

He smiled, the corners of his mouth curving only slightly, as the wolf gave his name. It seemed fitting that the blackwoods be repopulated with the children born of the glade; better yet that it was Maegi and Ramsey, for they knew the history of the forest and its power.

Realizing he had been standing in the mire for a bit too long now, Titmouse carefully cat-stepped through the remaining muck until he found more solid earth. His toes splayed as he tried to stay level, slipping because of how damp the soil was, but he managed well enough. Brown mud streaked his limbs.

As he settled for trying to flick the grime off his paws in a similarly feline manner, Titmouse tried to keep his mind off the odd sensation of the mud drying to his fur by continuing the conversation. He thought of Relmyna - of missing her presence here where she belonged.

Relmyna save me. Gave me home, tee.. Teesh me. Her an' Maegi, make me.. Fam-lee. It would hurt to think about the magical woman no longer being here to guide them, but maybe they didn't need her here in body. Her soul would persist, gods willing, and they would rebuild what they could. Mou Sithis, but... I don' know your gosh. Gots... Gods. Tit struggled for a few moments and when he managed to finally get the word out, he looked to Ramsey - pondering if the admittance might offend him. It wasn't meant to.

Titmouse sought higher ground, but Ramsay remained in the mire, seeming less bothered by the wetness that soaked into his legs. In truth he didn't really notice it. He did slosh closer, and refused to sit down in it, but didn't attempt to clamber onto the narrow bank with the red-ribbed man. He cast a look around the mire, turning slowly on the spot as he once more felt the weight of the spirits watching them. If there was favour in their invisible eyes, it was for Mou more than Ramsay.

Any family of Maegi's is mine to protect as well, he vowed, though it sent an odd, swooping feeling through his chest to think of Titmouse as Maegi's family. What did they mean to one another? But he knew his definition of family was a narrow and strange one, encompassing only a few select wolves and leaving out most of the rest of his bloodline. Bless Relmyna for her kindness.

His back hair lifted just a little at the mention of Sithis, but he wasn't as terrified of the void deity as some of his family were. Koume and Kotake had taught their little siblings enough about the daedra to get by, but admittedly, I don't know much about them either. Their names, what they stand for... little else. Ramsay wasn't even certain he believed they were more than stories. I was named for Malacath, daedra of the shunned. Maegi for Peryite, daedra of pestilence and order. He snorted derisively, then said, pretty sure our mother dearest meant to make mockery of us but she failed.

He had never known their mother. For a long while he thought Relmyna was mother to them, but once Maegi opened up about Potema and all the faults and issues she carried, things became clearer. It was not a subject he brought up since it upset Maegi so much, but all the same Tit was curious. He couldn't remember his own mother - but his connections had severed long ago.

Ramsey had a similar loathing for Potema, it seemed. His comment made Titmouse a little bit sad; there was no reason in his own mind to mock Maegi or Ramsey, they were survivors, they were powerful. Perhaps their mother had a fear she would be eclipsed by them. What was she like? he queried, surprising himself with how clear his voice carried. Mgee doesn't talk about her.

He couldn't blame his sister for not speaking of Potema. She'd always held promise as a priestess of the dark order, and Potema was the master of that domain. Maegi could have learned so much from their mother if only she'd given them half a thought... but no. As surely as Maegi wanted to be the fang that laid Potema in the ground, Ramsay wanted to be the one that taught her what real fear tasted like as she sunk into the earth.

Mother was cruel, he said, rolling broad shoulders uncomfortably and letting a small scowl overtake his features. I scarce remember her, but I know we would have been worth more to her dead than alive. It hurt Maegi the most, I fear. She worshipped our grandmother growing up, and Potema was the next best thing in the brotherhood, and would sooner snuff her life than acknowledge her. He wondered what might be if any of them ran into their dam again, and thought it best not to find out.

Eager to move on from a topic he deemed depressing. Ramsay lifted his head on his nonexistent neck as best he could and asked, have you been to Nightcaller Temple? It was a special place to Maegi, but I confess I avoided it as a cub. I wouldn't mind paying tribute to Relmyna's spirit there, if you'd care to join? He had no offering to give, and didn't know the appropriate words, but he was sure they could pick something up on the way and he hoped it would be appreciated without a prayer.

Why are phone posts so painful gdi ......

Some of what Ramsey said rang true without further elaboration, but it helped to understand the relationship all the same. The ghost wondered how he might have developed if he had known his mother; perhaps he would be entirely different if Fox had raised him. He could not fault the network of Redhawks he had been born to - although they hated him, vehemently so. He realized then, that Maegi was like him. They both sought family and connection because of the burning hate around them.

Ramsey went on to mention the temple, and his dark ears flicked at the words. It was a familiar place - a good place - which he would love to see again. The temple had been so important to Relmyna.... it was worth a look. So he quietly nodded, letting their earlier conversation conclude, and moved to join Ramsey.

Can fade with your post or continue, either is good with me!

Titmouse nodded and Ramsay turned to lead the way, though he was sure Mou knew it as well. It came from somewhere deep in his memory; he certainly hadn't spent enough time in Namira's Mire to give directions to anyone, but his feet knew where to go. Along the way he secured a ball of moss and a smooth, glimmering stone. Pitiful offerings if he meant to give thanks to the daedra, but he hoped Relmyna's spirit, if it lingered here, would appreciate the thought.

The hollow was as foreboding to the twisted yearling as he remembered; the pair clambered down into the rocky hollow, Ramsay with some difficulty, and at last approached the cleaved stone that served as Blackfeather's most sacred altar. Here Ramsay placed the moss and stone, closed his eyes and dipped his head with a heave of his shoulders, silently hoping Relmyna's spirit was watching.

I'll fade! :)

Neither needed to be shown how to reach the temple; it was ingrained in Mou after months of living in this place before, and he imagined a similar familiarity within Ramsey. More-so, perhaps, for the forest had a certain influence upon those born within it. Maegi had been called back and presumably, so had he. Perhaps the woods were home to daedric spirits after all?