Firefly Glen the truth and my lies are now falling like the rain

Hoping for @Antares @Osiris or maybe another MSP wolf! Tag for reference (but feel free to join in if you wanted)

Meeting the man at the lake who'd stared at her funny had been a curious encounter, as had meeting the wolf at the borders of the Plateau pack with her sister. Spica was quite intrigued and she decided that it was time for more adventures. She didn't want to leave without her sister, so she had ushered @Syrma along when she left the hoshor plains. Hoshor plains was the most dull place that Spica had ever encountered, and she longed for adventure outside of the territories. Some kind of cool quest!

Since there was literally nothing cool going on in her life right now (except maybe her missing sibling but he was probably just out adventuring, too! if anything, she felt envious of his wild life, and the only troublesome thing was that mother seemed worried) Spica would just have to come up with a cool reason to explore, rather than have one on her own. Like... What if her mother was sick, and they needed to find the super rare medicinal mushrooms? That sounded pretty cool and epic alright. Spica explained Syrma the deets of their quest and then they set off.

After a while they took a bit of rest, just as the sun started to set. Alright Swym, let's play hide 'n go seek for a bit, Spica suggested and before her sister could mention being tired or not wanting to play Spica was already off, while shouting, I'M HIDING!

With a cheerful smile Spica bounced across the next hill -- goodness, she loved hills and not seeing all the things right away! -- where she saw a big field of fireflies. Too caught off guard to even call for her sister to see this shit Spica stared at the lit up bugs in the glen, amazed by the beauty she saw before her.

Hydra navigated the territory with @Osiris to reveal to him the ins and outs of the Glen. How the hill could offer one a vantage point, but could also give them away. Equally, how the space between the hill rising and falling might be a good place to sequester onesself should their be trees there to slim down the options of him being discovered by their prey when he stalked them. As she educated her son, there came a holler: (I'M HIDING!!!); Hydra paused in her teachings and looked down at her son. Let us see what the commotion is about, hm? the mother offered. It would be good to take a break, even if only temporarily. 

The duo moved together in silence from then out until they came across the tawny girl; Hydra was taken aback when she noted fireflies hovering there. She paused in her step, a bit of wonder there on her features... before the sense of wrongness of it all settled in her stomach. Disconcerted, the matriarch did not look to Osiris as she murmured: the fireflies... they should be at rest in the Winter, which meant that these ones would die by the time the sun rose. It was not something she had ever seen before, but Hydra did not think too much about it. They were beautiful after all, and she would not take the moment for granted. 

Looking to Osiris, she drawled softly to him, Your grandfather, Charon, was quite fond of these creatures, his mother reiterated. She wished that he could know him for himself, but Hydra would breathe him to life in stories of him. Memories. The last memory she had of him here was when he had been here with Speedy—

Who was this tawny woman below? The white tail-tip was but the one thing that saved her as Hydra gazed at the back of her. Why were they here to ruin this memory she might create with her son? Found you, Hydra quipped in a low drawl then, her voice absent of humor. Nor was there any ire in it; though the judgment on her features was clear enough. You are terrible at this game.

They were so cool! So cool, in fact, that Spica didn't really notice the approach of other wolves, or the likeliness that Syrma would just wander up to find her (if her sister was playing at all, anyway). None of it mattered as she found this super cool new thing that was all the rage now. She'd always been easily distracted by cool things.

So distracted, in fact, that she didn't see the other wolves until she heard the woman's voice. Holy fuck!! Spica shouted and with her fur standing on end she jump-scared a little and turned around. Would you announce yourself next time?! You scared the shit out of me! she said, a little too rudely perhaps -- Spica wasn't exactly known for her manners, after all -- and then excused herself, because she'd learned that if you said sorry everything was k: I'm sorry if I'm rude, it's just that my mom's very sick and I got distracted by the bugs. She had no idea that their existence was very temporary due to the cold, or she might've been even more amazed by their existence here today, just for her.

Her eyes then fell on the young wolf who seemed a little older than her, but unmistakably a lot younger than the woman that he was with.

haha - i am a big foreign-nature noob and have never seen fireflies irl, but i'm glad you just rolled with it :')

Antares shadowed his mother and sibling from a fair distance, minding his path and ranging out on his own. At first his interest in traveling beyond with them at all had wavered more than he actually liked. Surely the mountain could keep him preoccupied if not, but their pawprints were freshly pressed into the new snow and he eventually decided to capitalize on the opportunity to go out into the beyonds. In his most true-to-form fashion, he went slinking silently to the shadows after them, although did not go charging forward enough to meet up with them entirely.

He was wholly enjoying his expanding horizons, and felt quite confident enough in roaming these nearby places knowing other Moonspearians were afoot just like now. There had already been chances for him to range just beyond a bit alongside others a few times already, so this was very much not an issue for the growing older and bolder Ostrega who went striding onward, purposefully on watch and the prowl.

Feeling good about it all and himself among it, his ears flicked when ahead, he heard voices. After the fact, he was keyed in to listen with a new appreciation; starting to go that way, he noticed the unfamiliar scent to go with it--enough to make him lick his lips, and trot a little lighter. Who? He did not encounter those beyond their own often.. so, not wanting to miss out on anything that could be worth it, he finally closed in towards his mother and brother's sides without a word and a pinning stare on the unfamiliar girl's explanation.

Hydra and Osiris walked through the glen with a purpose; today, he would learn all about the dell. Unexpectedly, a shrill exclamation interrupted their lesson, and Osiris turned towards the origin of the sound. Though their proposed recess was undesired, he nodded in agreement and followed Hydra's lead. They walked in silence until they came across Spica, though her presence was not what drew his attention first.

Fireflies swirled throughout the frigid air, though Osiris did not feel happiness at the sight of them. Instead, he felt confused, and he focused on them intently as Hydra spoke. "That's what I remember you telling me," he recalled. "I wonder what they're doing," he elaborated. Then. his voice softer, Osiris mused, "Maybe it's Grandfather welcoming us." And then, as if on cue, Osiris remembered that they were not alone; he had yet to realize that his brother was lurking nearby as well. 

Osiris did not welcome Spica's presence, and he stiffened the moment he laid eyes on her. Her language was brash—something that he did not appreciate. How could she be so naive? Moonspear's presence in the territory was blatant, and only a fool would make such a mistake. 

Deadpanned, Osiris agreed, "Yes, you are being quite rude."

An ear backturned as Antares arrived beside them, but Hydra did not look to him. He surely tracked them here, and had done so well enough to find them—not that they had been discreet this day. In the Glen, there was no need to be; it was theirs. Matter of factly, Hydra hummed to his consideration: grandfather thought these were pretty little creatures, but he would not possess the likes of them if he could take form of anything. No; his kingdom now is among the stars, she humored. Hydra took care not to bring any sort of faith within her children; gods, nor spirits, nor stars could save them. The only thing watching over them when they were alone was themselves—their only savior their own tooth and claw. Hydra had even taken care to acknowledge she could not be there for everything—but when she was, she would not fail them. She would bring whatever cared to harm them to a swift, albeit terrible, end. Still—if ever there was a reason for them to be here, it would be for his grandchildren. And, she whispered playfully, looking between the two, his favorite. 

Her, of course. 

Hydra's attention was then for the foul-mouthed girl alone; whoever had raised her had done a poor job of it, it appeared. Unamused and affronted, her tail lashed behind her as her eyes coldly assessed every inch of the tawny thing. Her appraisal was open and not at all without judgment until her eyes snapped back to the face of the the youth. The matriarch was displeased, though her features did not indicate this—only the hard look in her eyes foretold what was to come. 

Her disregard of the girl was blatant, despite the fact that her eyes were upon her. And this, my sons, is why it is always wise to pay attention to what is going on around you. Were she to have met crueler wolves, she could have been killed. Easily, she drawled with a lash of her plume. As her fortune would have it she will learn only learn a lesson today, which her own mother did not take care to teach her, as I am feeling quite forgiving, here Hydra took a step toward the youth, no sign of her forgiving nature to be seen upon her countenance. The only kindness Hydra had to spare was for her own children, not those of others that were raised the wrong way.

It could not be helped; since the mother and father had not done so herself, Hydra would have to do the work herself. So now, she did speak to the girl. Take care not to be so rude; take better care to not be so dim. There are those out there that would kill you for less. Next time, mind your manners, she informed and advised dryly, before she hummed to her sons: Escort her from our Glen, she decided was consequence enough, encouraging Spica to move—and the way in which she would see her sons get this done if she was not so inclined to simply listen—with a quick snap of her fangs that were not aimed to strike or hit the girl (really, Hydra had no interest in hurting her given her age... but how else would she learn?). They struck empty air with a resounding clack. Neither did she expect her children to hurt her. Hydra simply wanted them to get her out of here; her shrill voice, her poor excuse for her way, it was all a disruption to her teachings she had not desired at all. Spica had only herself to blame. 

hahaha of course!!! the fireflies that light up hibernate in z winter <3

Another appeared and it was intimidating, to say the least, to see an adult accompanied by two young wolves who were all staring at her as if she was being the literal worst right now. She did suppose she was being pretty rude, which wasn't at all what she had intended to do, but c'mon, she said sorry and everything! Spica felt a little affronted herself because whenever she was bad and she said sorry to her pack mates or her mother or her siblings they pretty much always forgot her. That was the way the world worked! These wolves defied the laws of social logic!

Yet Spica managed to smooth her ruffled feathers because she didn't want them to walk away from her. Not before she tried out her sick mother shtick on them to see if they believed her. Maybe it wasn't the very best beginning of such a tale to insult them, but then again, they seemed pretty easy to insult. And if she could pull it off now, she could pull it off anywhere.

The woman first talked to the others beside her, who apparently were her sons. That made sense. Spica took trips out with her mom as well. Spica frowned at the boy who confirmed that she was rude and she considered sticking out her tongue, but she was also kinda scared of the intimidating woman and didn't want to risk invoking her anger. So she just gave him a pointed what do you know look, even though he was only confirming what she had already said.

Anyway -- the woman said she should take care not to be so rude next time, and Spica nodded at her. Her tone and demeanour changed considerably now that she was out of startled-mode and managed to tone down her booming voice and language, her head held low and her tail hanging loosely at her hocks now. I'm really sorry, my lady, she said, looking at the woman with a sad expression in her eyes. I didn't mean to, honestly, I didn't know this was yours -- it's just that I was looking for herbs for my sick mother. She said they grow near here. When the woman said that she should be escorted out, Spica did start moving just a little bit (she didn't need to be physically pushed out if the threat of such an act was there), but with her head turned back. Summoning all of her super saddest puppy eyes, Spica pleaded: Please? Maybe your sons could help find them, on the way out? Besides, she was having way too much fun playing with these boys, even if one of them was outright ruuuude and the other was just a quiet dud so far. But it was the first time she'd met anyone outside of her siblings that were her age, and she wasn't eager to let go of her new play mates so soon.

As his sights stayed locked on the strange girl, he drank in his mother's words of advice and even at his brother's contribution, he had to sneer a bit. They had her well outnumbered, even, and still this was all she had to say for herself? She was rude, making him realize how unwelcome it could be, but it just made him view her in a different way than even mere moments before. He wanted to see what else this could turn into, since this wasn't as enthralling as he had initially hoped so far.

It was with that snap of Hydra's teeth that he sharpened considerably, first with a blink and felt suddenly all the more aware of everything. His neck arched low and his posture drooped with it, poised to move now that he could follow the momentum in place by his mom--he stepped off quietly and swung wide around Syrma, branching away from beside his family then to pressure her out from another way, too.

In hearing more, he also swiftly decided he did not like her tone any, or any part of what she said--especially how it had come to involve Osiris and him helping her. Absolutely not, he wrinkled his muzzle at her distastefully, feeling more annoyed now after that and not at all sympathetic about her sick mother. As he went closer towards beside her (hopefully flanking her), his lips went pulling back in a slow, silent snarl until he finally flashed his teeth for another snap at the air from him to help enforce Hydra's law. That left little room for doubt: leave this glen.

Spica held Osiris' undivided attention for all the wrong reasons; there was nothing more that he wanted than for her to be gone. Spica stood upon sacred grounds—grandfather's claim. Not only had she disrespected Moonspear's queen, but she also disrespected Moospear's patriarch, and such a feat was unforgivable in his mind. 

The snap of Hydra's jaws solidified her orders, and Osiris obliged immediately. Drawing his body close to the earth, he slunk forward as Antares did. Acting as his brother's mirror-image, Osiris moved to flank Spica. Once in position, he bore his warning, snapping his jaws and growling—his message was clear: get out.

Hydra heard Spica, though her sons had arrived to the age where her own maternal sympathies and instinct were all but gone. The whining did little to appease the Ostrega, and Hydra's tail lashed behind her as she continued to speak on about her mother this, and her mother that. All that should have been thought of before the tawny cub thought to behave in a manner so... unbecoming. Whoever this girls mother was would need to be found, too, and corrected for stealing resources that were Moonspears own. In any case, it was Wintertime; the resources that could be found were precious few, and Hydra had already come to the decision that this wolf before her would not get a single one. 

Her sons behaved as the punctuation marks upon her words, and the cold look Hydra rewarded Spica with was cutting. She had no compassion for the stranger, or her situation. It would not have been this way if the other had only minded their manners. Hydra need not say anything on their behalf; they spoke for themselves through their actions. And, she felt, they did so less because of her own decree and more because of the way the other had acted; Hydra had raised them to know better, and it seemed that they very much so did to her pleasure. Spica seemed to get the signal, fortunately, and was at the very least beginning to move out. For that, Hydra stayed her teeth as she moved along behind the girl to ensure she did as she was told.

Spica was very used to be surrounded by generous wolves who would be nice to her and give her what she wanted, that she was utterly flabbergasted that her sob story drew no tears. Not even any sympathy. The boys seemed to be kinda daft, the way they just moved on their mother's commands. There was something totally eerie about that. And the woman just ignored all of her pleas. There was something utterly wrong with these wolves, and while something in her instincts told her to stay far away from them, another part of her was just utterly fascinated by wolves that were so very different, so very much colder, than what she was used to.

Wow, what a box of dicks with even bigger dicks up their arses, she thought to herself, finding the wisdom within her not to share this opinion with the subjects of her ire. Spica kept walking, a little more speedy now that it was decided they'd just up and ignore her, but she did keep talking. She glanced over her shoulder and then at the boys, then put her eyes outward again.

I'm really sorry, miss, I didn't mean to be a bother, she continued, deciding to keep up the act. Might as well practise her acting a bit more until she was fully out of this Glen. She'd not got much further than the frays, so it wouldn't be a long walk, she figured, depending on just how much of this place these wolves thought they were entitled to. She ignored the boys, because they were ignoring her, kinda sorta, and it was clear where the power was -- with their mama. Maybe I misinterpreted my mama's description. I don't know a lot about herbs, you see. I'll just look somewhere else to find it. Hopefully I'll find it before she goes to the skies. Spica frowned, trying to look super determined, as she continued a speedy trot out of the glen, feeling her role so much now that she was almost beginning to believe that her mother was sick and she needed to find these herbs. Which just made her think extra much about what a bunch of asshats these wolves were.

Meanwhile, with every step Spica really hoped to see @Syrma come over the hill so she wouldn't feel so intimidated. She just really needed her twin for support right now, but then again, she had run quite a while and had Syrma even been looking for her though?

They were getting their way, somewhat. It came with some extra fussing and apologizing that didn't matter one bit to the ears of the Ostrega, which he didn't even like bothering to hear, spurring up his hackles more. He did like Osiris opposite to him beside her, and it made the dark boy bolder, each step lighter, easier as he could find that good groove.

Yet, his annoyance compounded the more she talked--making it sound like she didn't even know what she was doing out here if she didn't know the herbs to spare her sick mother from the skies, which was only more bother to him, a quiet wolf and raised aimed for purpose by a hale mother who dealt death instead; Antares couldn't relate himself to anything about all of her whinging.

Why wouldn't she just quit rambling and go, though? Was that too simple an instruction? She was leaving but it couldn't be fast enough. He was feeling enough like being a bite-y asshole after that. On his next step to come he sped up and tried to bring it closer to her so he could rudely gnash his teeth at her rump about it--planning on being about as rough as he would with his brothers in play, if she didn't sidestep him entirely. If so, he'd at least hope for a mean-sounding clack to help keep the intimidation on. He was tired of her, and he didn't like the way she smelled.. too much like she didn't belong here.

Spica's blathering was like nails against slate to Osiris, and he was quickly becoming irritated by the trespasser and her monologue. Osiris had accumulated no sympathy for Spica; she was a criminal and deserved to be treated as such—especially since she had committed a crime on their sacred claim. 

Osiris continued as Antares did, abiding Hydra's law while harboring feelings of frustration. He remained silent, his gaze pointedly ahead as they acted as an escort. Like Antares, Osiris was thankful for his brother's presence; his family grounded him and reminded him to act accordingly—sheer annoyance would not cause him to lash out.

Skies? Hydra withheld a snort. Her mother would belong to the earth; the only two wolves who would ever reach the skies, in her own mind, were her own family. The worthy members of it, anyway. Her whining was met with a muted snarl, not at all interested in the girls points but for the one that she would look elsewhere. Good; there, Hydra hoped she founded what she needed. Or else some sort of plant to prevent more of this emerging from her wombspace again—the voice was one that grated, but Hydra remained cordial [enough] to continue to escort her through the place. At the very least the quartet kept others away that would do worse to the she-wolf.

Spica moved none too slowly, and once she passed that invisible boundary Hydra knew all too well she would pause to watch the girl depart for a while longer 'til she determined to show her sons more of the Glen, and advise them that Spica was not the norm; Hydra recognized this place as a neutral territory [except by ways of hunting], but was intolerant toward the rude. Which now her sons knew well to mind their manners before all others. Next time, she hoped Spica would be better.

When her sad story fell to deaf ears Spica quickly became silent and just kept walking. She looked sad, because she was determined to keep up the story in hopes they'd at least feel kinda bad-ish when they were all gone and all that, even though she totally felt the urge to become super rude again. Not 'cause she was rude or anything, but 'cause these assholes deserved to be ruded. Anyway -- not much happened initially as they walked and Spica was beginning to feel a little less on edge, despite the looming three wolves that were determined to escort her aaaaall the way out of what little bit she'd even gone into 'their' territory.

Which meant she didn't see the snap from one of the boys coming until it was there and he nipped roughly at her shoulder, causing her to move sideways -- albeit too late to avoid it. Hey! she shouted reflexively, but even though she was caught off guard a grin appeared on her face as she saw an opportunity for play. While she continued on her way out of the territory Spica looked at the boy who had snapped at her with a playful twinkle in her eyes and she snapped back at his shoulder before speeding up considerably. I mean, the worst that could happen she supposed a second after was being hunted down by all three of them but like, he started it and also, oh boy she had never felt so alive! and also, playing was fun! ... She just hoped that the boy saw it the same way.

Antares' snap elicited a spirited change within Spica, and Osiris scrutinized her as she sped ahead; her behavior was unacceptable.  "Hey!" Osiris barked. "This is not a game." With the hairs along his neck on edge and his tail lifted, all while keeping pace with Antares, Osiris followed Spica on braced legs. 

A sidelong glance swept between his sibling and mother, as a silent inquiry was proposed: "Can we go and get her—please?" Only with Hydra's word would he chase after and wrangle Spica into submission.

Despite him keeping the pressure on, and even getting a nice little pinch on her shoulder, she still did not seem to be taking this seriously at all. She just took it all with a playful glint, which honestly, just irked him more.. Accordingly, Antares dodged and snapped back at her, though she had already turned and taken off by then with him in pursuit. Go away! he hissed, snapping then for her hindquarters to shoo her off that way, maybe--if she'd realize it. He felt like he still within the boundaries of being nice, and she ought to be grateful! His mom was right there so that certainly kept him thinking before he threw teeth around any harder than that, but with Osiris was here, she was probably lucky they didn't have worse to say about her crimes of being downright obnoxious.

He took a pointed look over his shoulder almost as if to say you seeing this nonsense?? at his family, then glanced Osiris over last as he seemed to implore for more, perhaps with a quirking brow--he could work with that. Antares wasn't quite sure, but he snapped his focus back to the gray-coated girl, who he rallied from close with more quick bites, some a little more aimed than others.

Less than thrilled with the girls childish attempts, she listened and looked to her sons. She looked to Osiris in particular, trotting alongside him and murmuring, her leaving is her submission to our decision. There is no need to use our teeth unless she uses her own with malicious intent, she informed for he and Antares both to know that they were not in the business of assaulting others without reason. They were more dignified than that, and had better uses for their teeth. The moment Spica obeyed, she put herself in a better light. 

But Spica snapping back at her son caused Hydra to nip lazily at a heel. If the hit landed, it would be a rough pinch (but not at all crippling, as it was more to serve as a warning): do not touch my sons with your mongrel teeth. That, she would not tolerate. The three of them would see her off together, and once Spica was gone from the Glen Hydra would teach her children more of their place in the Glen. As guardians of it, but not necessarily rulers unless it came to the hunting of large game. That, Hydra typically claimed now given the famine of the year prior.

Although the one guy said this is not a game, his brother seemed to suggest otherwise with his nipping. As Spica nipped back she felt the nip of the woman's teeth at her heels and wondered if she wanted to play too, but a quick glance over her shoulder showed otherwise and reminded her more of when mom was in one of her moods. He started it! she shouted over her shoulder with indignation in her voice, but the feeling soon wavered as she reached the edge of Firefly Glen. The game and the restrictions to her freedom were both over.

There, she left their stupid dumb old glen. Who even wanted a glen when you couldn't play games in it?! Have fun in the no friends club! Spica called over her shoulder when she saw her sister Syrma in the distance, suddenly feeling a lot braver then, and she took off towards her sister at full speed, just in case any of them decided they weren't happy with her sass.

Despite his divided attention, Osiris nodded in reply to Hydra. "I won't," he promised after a brief pause, his voice quiet. Even though his patience had been wearing thin, he wouldn't disobey her. 

Hydra reprimanded Spica soon after Osiris had made his promise, and he stiffened. He was ready to assist as needed, and he was sure Anatares was, too, but thankfully they were not needed. They had made it to the edge of the glen, and Spica raced away—but not without getting her last word in. He wasn't bothered by what she had said, as he felt that the opposite was true—she was the one in the no friends club. She had been all alone, after all. 

"Good riddance," Osiris snorted, watching as Spica disappeared from view.

Only further irritated, and not at all pleased by her returns in which he thought she entirely failed to see the point, he was glad to see her go. He didn't care about her remarks and watched her go with a narrowed-eye squint, remembering the direction she took off in, and unfortunately, the scents and sights she carried with her. In case of a repeating offense, of course. She had been warned and if she didn't take them seriously, then so be it. That would be on her entirely.

With a quiet glower and a lick to his lips, the dark boy regrouped and fell into place beside his family to simmer down, then eventually move on. Carrying a lesson with them and a fresh reminder of what was beyond their own, eventually, they made their way back to the mountain of home.