Haunted Wood The Vanishing

@Rosina

After his last encounter with Valour, the little prince avoided the Warlord lately. He didn't respect that man, not that he respected anyone, to be honest. He was unruly, brattish and spoiled. How dare any of the other puppies get attention from the adults and not him! Didn't they see how great he was? Were they blind?!

Bah! 

So instead of trying to get attention from anyone, Valium found himself pacing along the borders of the pack, building himself up to strut out and show them all just how big and brave he is by crossing the borders and seeing what was beyond it all. It would be his first time crossing over, Conquest had gone missing when she did so - so, he was better than her, right? He could go and come back all on his own!

But oh how wrong he was...

It would certainly take some searching but Rosina had every intention of collecting her pound (or two) of flesh. After @Merrick having been unable to fulfill the deal which they had struck, Rosina had went outward to look for the blood which she so craved on her own as she had done time and time before. The children of Ursus were safe, safe even from her as she had no intention of taking from her own allies. 

It was hard work, however. Still early in the season of birthing, most children were still nestled in their dens or confined to a very small portion of their territory. So Rosina moved, quick as a winter fox until opportunity presented itself. And finally, finally, it had...

A beautiful chocolate and blackened mixed child nearly delivered to her on a slivered platter. Rosina knew pups and knew them well, having raised many and many times before. She assessed him - nearly three months old, with a capability of coming and leaving the densite his own, even venturing on hunting trips to watch the adults work. It was a stage of adolescence. A stage where since they were beginning to do things on there own, it made them feel like they could do anything on their own. 

Well hello there, pretty boy. She smiles deeply, her bright blue eyes transfixed on him. If she only were the snake Kaa, her eyes would mesmerize him into a spell. Perhaps still, the little witch might be able to pull off the trick. Out for an adventure are you?

Indeed he was fearless. No matter how much shit everyone talked about his dad, his dad created their pack! He was the first Warlord! They followed him after all and were probably all jealous of the power he had to have at the time. So why would Valium, his son, be afraid of anything! Even as this strange woman approached, speaking softly and sweetly all he did was puff out his chest as he stood firm on the border. Even if he had not left the sanctuary of their lands yet - this, to face her, was enough to boost his ego all the same. 

I patrol! He barked proudly, Just like adults. Damn straight like the adults. He was just small for now, he was growing fast! He could do anything they could, just with smaller legs and teeth. Calling him pretty was another drop in his ego bucket that was already overflowing into a puddle on the ground. Who you? Silver and red eyes narrowed onto the woman as he tilted his head just enough to look at her beyond his snout as if he was trying to look down on her... despite being diminutive in comparison.

He was a proud little pup for sure. His chest puffed, his eyes, one silver and one red as the puppy blue was nearly gone, staring her down without an ounce of fear. He knew no fear. He had not met fear yet. 

Rosina inches closer but keeps his space and the space from the border cautiously. As you should. A lazy wolf is a useless packmate. She speaks, her words firm, sure. She does not lecture but it is a tone to allow the child to know he wouldnt be worth anything to the pack if he didnt do anything for the pack. A very true statement, but at his age when wandering would likely do more harm then good? Not so much.

And look how big you are already! A fine warrior you'll become. Rosina was a very slight woman, small, compact and quite petite. She was not much when it came to any sort of power but was both quick footed and quick witted to boot! The child was but a few months old but already half her size she thought. I am Rosina, little prince. And you are?

She understood! She had to be a smart lady if she knew where he was coming from, or at least was on the same brainwave as he was when thinking of his "packmates". I 'm not lazy. No, he was busy, everyday busy getting stronger and discovering new places in the pack's lands, some he was almost certain no one new but him. His little secret hidey holes away from all the other stupid people who kept treating him like a nuisance and not like the prince he was.

My daddy was big and I will be big too! he stood so proudly, even his little tail curled with pride over his hips while he stood with a powerful posture despite his little pudgey everything. Valium! Son of phirst Warlord and my mom. Consort, but he kept forgetting the word she use to go by before she was General. Even then, he only knew of the title as Warlord and Alpha Pup, the only two roles that he thought was important.

Unfortunately for him, he was starting to like this lady and the way she spoke to him.

As told and would be told again, Rosina truly and honestly was very good with pups - understanding them, speaking with them, teaching them and gaining their trust just as well as helping to rear them as a wet nurse. So many times before she had cared for children, though unsettlingly none of her own  (given the fact that she failed to birth any live children) and yet still, despite all this, equally enjoyed bathing in children as well. And I do not mean a puppy pile either. 

She listened to the boy intensely and though her bright blues locked to him, they searched in her peripherals for any oncoming members. Son of the very first hu? So your not only a prince, but an heir! Do you know this meaning dear, an "heir"? She pauses but a moment to hear him out and then, It means at your coming of age, your rightful to the throne. It's in your blood. His beautiful, warm, delicious blood. He was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Young and ripe for the picking, a beautifully made little boy who equally was a son to the first Warlord - royal blood. 

Rosina began to salivate and quickly licked her slender mug and gave an ever soft whine. Would a future Warlord possibly spare his time for a little lady? There is food near, I smelt it in a hollow not far from here. But the cave is so dark and I would feel a whole lot better with a warrior at my side to patrol it. Her eyes widened in a puppy's begging manner, tail waving behind her.

Uh huh. He shook his head at the title of Heir, like hair? He had a lot of that but the way she spoke didn't sound like she meant the things covering his body. What is that? He didn't wait for her to answer herself, he demanded an answer, he had to know! And just like that she did answer - unfortunately, he was just not the patient type to do so quietly. 

Hell yeah! Warlord was his throne! He was going to lead the nightwalkers, his father's creation. The boy's tail wagged at her description, boosting his ego further; and he didn't even think twice at her question. Her request. Of course he would do it! Where? I help. The poor woman was so incapable, it wasn't her fault that her blood was so weak - unlike the prince who was more than capable to do anything. He was the future Warlord after all.

Prancing up next to her in a way only he could see as "cool", little strides with a serious face on while looking around to where she might be talking about. Let's go. He didn't know this could have easily been the last time he saw home...

Maybe a good place to wrap up? Can have our next one at the Mesa?

His tail wagged excitedly to her words and he was quick to accept her asking of help. He pranced up to her, mismatched eyes seeking and her smile crept further. He certainly was a cute little thing - bold, daring, proud and quite helpful even to strangers like her who were in need. The blood of the pure, of the innocent, the noble... Valium was just the right kind she was looking for. The dark lord and night mothers had been looking out for little Rosina after all. 

Rosina's skull lifted, looking around her surroundings at the outskirts of the territory one last time before tilting her head and jutting her muzzle out to the arid plains. Come, young heir, it is just this way... And so she turned, prancing off with the child in tow, right out of the Nightwalker's protection.