Redhawk Caldera Ten things you didn't know
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Changed the tag to "Mature" but this is an AW thread.

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Within the past week or so, both Towhee and Niamh had begun to show definite signs that they were pregnant, though the pregnancy seemed to be a bit more tough on Towhee, who'd begun to spend a bit more time in her hideaway with Reyes. Niamh had begun to emerge more frequently from the den she shared with Phox, to step in and do more patrols so that she could pull her weight, and allow Towhee to rest easy. 

As for Niamh, she'd lost the few remaining hairs on her belly a few days ago, so her pregnancy wasn't exactly painful, but losing the fur along her belly made her look absolutely wretched, and put her in a sour mood. This wasn't the time of year to go without fur, either, so her belly was constantly cold, which made her look even more ridiculous with the effect that it had on her nipples- which had swollen. Her belly jiggled as she walked, which irked her even more. How fat were her kids going to make her get this time? Everytime she began to feel resentful, she simply sought out a meal. At least if she was eating, she was less likely to be angry- so she began to sniff around, hoping she could find something to eat so that she could continue her daily duties in peace.
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Reyes wanted to stay in the warm, contained environment of the cave with Towhee as long as he could. He was slow to rise, but once he'd checked her out for any more dangers like her bad gas from the other day, he decided to stretch his legs. He told her it was just for a minute or two — but Towhee was fast asleep again by the time he'd left the cave.

He had the idea to hunt for something to share between them and then put that thought aside, not wanting to fill their love-cave with toxic fumes. The next best thing was a patrol and Reyes knew he could get a few runs in before needing to check in again. Off he went.

Along one of the paths he found a familiar scent and not long after that, the golden orb of Niamh's fattening figure came in to view. Just what I need to start my day, more hormones.

Reyes thought about turning around but by then it was too late; so he hiked closer, giving Niamh a once-over with his eyes as he drew up near her. Shouldn't you be on bedrest? The young man suggested. Given how Towhee was handling her pregnancy so far, Reyes presumed that all women were the same and should be hidden away in their dens, or something.
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She thought she'd caught a whiff of something- perhaps a rabbit- but the snowfall had covered its tracks and left little behind but a fading scent trail. Still- it was better than nothing, so she began to follow along, hoping that it might lead to a thicket where she could corner or flush out a rabbit or two to snack on for now. She simply assumed that Phox might have something for her to eat later, as a dutiful husband would. Fortunately for her, she'd chosen a mate who took her ravenous appetite very seriously- likely because he knew exactly how sharp she could get if she wasn't fed. 

She looked up when she saw the subtle autumn hues of Reyes' pelt off in the distance, but paid him little mind as she continued forward. She wasn't entirely sure she wanted to have a conversation with him just yet, not when she hadn't forgiven him for potentially making her into a great-aunt. But when he called out, she stopped dead in her tracks, and whipped her head around to glare at him so fast, that it made her slightly dizzy and caused her to stagger sideways two steps before she caught herself. 

Bedrest?! 

While she harboured no grudge toward Towhee by taking care of herself, if she was having dizzy spills, she felt perfectly capable of making decisions for her own state and well-being on her own, rather than being told by some young buck who'd only just sown his seed for what she assumed was the first time. She squinted at him ruthlessly. The comment seemed surprisingly well-intended, and not a joke at her condition but still. The fact he'd brought it up at all irked her. "I'm hungry. So you can either help hunt with me, or feed me," She said with a soft growl. Not that she would ever attempt to snack on her nephew, but the threat was too fun to pass up. Imaging explaining to Towhee that her new baby-daddy was gone because Niamh had needed a snack. That idea was amusing enough to brighten Niamh's mood a titch, so she cracked a crooked, half-grin, and gestured for him to follow along with her.
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For a second or two Reyes thought he was going to be attacked judging by the look on her face, but she didn't act on the impulse. That or she was weighted down by the new bulk she was carrying. Either way Reyes didn't mind the new sluggishness that imbued Niamh's body.

When she admitted to being hungry he huffed a little laugh — of course she's hungry. Towhee seemed insatiable in every regard, so why not his aunt too.

So where's your boyfriend? He countered. Isn't it his job to keep you fed? I've got Towhee covered. Reyes motions with a little head tilt back the way he had come, where the cave was nested within the trees.

He was quite proud of himself for all of his accomplishments so far; bedding his best friend, becoming a father, keeping Towhee fed and happy... It was his first time at all of this and he wanted to do a good job. Plus, well, Reyes felt a little competition never hurt anyone.

Can you even hunt like that? Reyes asked next, giving Niamh's girth a small scrunched look.
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Had Reyes simply accepted her invitation without making any cracks at what was basically a perfect relationship, she might have simply allowed him to tag along, and then would have directed him to aid her in her hunt. She'd been hoping she might find something about him to like- some trace of Ambrose that she might be able to recognize in his behavior so that she might be a bit more comfortable with him tending to Towhee as much as he was. It made her a bit uncomfortable, knowing that he was still taking care of Towhee even after he'd done the deed. She'd been under the impression that Reyes was going to be used as a sperm donor, and no more than that but he seemed to have a different idea. 

He was bragging, and it annoyed her. "Every pregnancy is different, but I wouldn't expect you to know that," She responded. This was her third year bearing children, of course- so she considered herself to be fairly experienced in the matter by now. "My mate is out hunting. The two of us are our doing our jobs so that she can rest, because the three of us are a team." She said. She was possessive of Towhee, and wanted to make their closeness clear. 

When he eyed her belly, she snarled and bared her teeth in a brief warning; she didn't like him staring at her belly, nor did she appreciate the fact that he was questioning her physical abilities. "Pregnancy doesn't make us useless," She growled.
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Her annoyance didn't ring any alarms. Reyes found himself pleased upon seeing the effect his words had upon her, and he was equally amused that she wouldn't be able to lash out at him as readily; unless her anger got the better of her and she was willing to put her fat body under unneccessary strain. Think of the children!

The limited manner of her counter-points made him smirk thinly, then grin and laugh. I didn't say you were useless. But yeah, he had insinuated something along those lines and was glad she had picked up on it. Her comment about the three of them made his grin falter a little because it made no sense. Reyes decided to ignore it.

I'm hunting for my mate too. He says. He does not know yet if the proposal had been a real one, or if the result was meant to be secret, but he wanted to one-up his aunt wherever he could. Towhee's back in our cave resting. She's doing enough work carrying our kids so keeping her fed and happy is the least I can do. And if Niamh was being forced to hunt for her own brood, what kind of man had she married? But he didn't bother saying that out loud, it was implied.
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Had they perhaps not clashed the first time they had met, Niamh might have recognized some of the cheek Reyes possessed, and associated it fondly with memories of her brother. Ambrose had been feisty, sarcastic, buoyant- and they had played off each other well. Had she not grown up with Ambrose, she might not have liked him for his spirit, which was potentially why Reyes, now, rubbed her the wrong way. He'd also caused her some offense by mating with her Person, which would make Niamh a great-aunt in the spring and she loathed the idea of being so old. 

As it was, she failed the make the connection that maybe her nephew was simply doing what came best to wolves with their genes and nature- and instead pegged him as an asshole. Those qualities that irked her should have redeemed him, and given her faith in the fact that they were, in fact, related- but not right now. Not when she was hangry. 

She didn't react much to his statement. He'd implied that he'd thought she was an invalid, and that was enough to piss her off. But when he bragged about Towhee being his mate, she stopped, lifted her head abruptly and stared at him, her brow furrowed and nose wrinkled in distaste. Before she could interject, he went on and every time he used the word our, the fur along the back of her neck lifted a bit more- until she had a solid line of bristled fur all the way down to her rump. Niamh's pokerface, needless to say, was non-existant at best. 

"Look, kid- just because you did your...job, doesn't mean you're gonna be the father. And it certainly don't make you Towhee's mate." She said. Part of her, though- that little weeeee insecure part of her, wondered wildly if perhaps she should go and find Towhee, and warn her about how clingy Reyes was being. Surely, she thought, her friend would be horrified to hear the assumptions Reyes was making about their little union. "Hate to break your heart, champ, but there's no room for you in our trio." She responded with an air of haughty dignity.
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What he'd said really touched a nerve. Reyes watched as a change occurred within his aunt; more than the scowl she bore, more than the hate in her eyes, she was puffing up and looked ready to maim him for whatever she deemed as an indescretion. When she finally spoke it was with the chilling certainty he had done something wrong. Had Niamh not been so bloated Reyes might've been afraid of her in that moment. Hell, he was a little afraid of her anyway, given how they'd met — but he had the upper hand now.

Her words were meant to slice at him but Reyes felt buoyed by the fact Towhee did, indeed, love him. They had gone from fast friends to mates in the blink of an eye. Reyes scoffed at the accusation that he'd been used. Wow, you really have a thing for her don't you. Too back I'm the one with the dick.

He let the grin return to his face before he took a bold step towards her, lifting his chin so that they held the same lofty, proud posture. Considering she was the one to propose to me, I'd say you're wrong. Maybe you should talk to her before you run your mouth. We're together, whether you approve or not.

Reyes lifted his lip slightly to flash his canines, less-so as a warning to Niamh and more as a gloating gesture. And as far as I'm concerned, its just her and me. Looks like you've been voted off the island, auntie. Then he stepped back, but the pride carried with him. Reyes had no intention to contest Niamh's rank or anything, but if that's how she took his posturing then he'd gladly push the issue. He doubted she would fight him outright for his attitude considering her condition — but he didn't know her that well. Maybe she'd let her anger override good judgement.
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You are TOO MUCH FUN <3

She continued to give him a smug, scrupulous gaze as he tried to convince her that Towhee might like him more than her. As if. She rolled her eyes and uttered a brisk, sharp sigh. This nephew of hers was really getting too big for his britches. And if he was going to get petty, she was going to get petty too. She was fairly certain she could win any petty-off that she was chalenged to. "Pretty sure you are one too, ya dick" She drawled sarcastically. She and Towhee were tight. They were each other's "Person." No homo, of course- as Towhee'd called it, often. But she wouldn't have expected Reyes to get that, and she figured that his little outburst was simply happening because he was jealous. 

But when he measured her posture and matched it, he struck a match that ignited almost immediately. He was a tradesman who had clearly forgotten his place in the pack, and she was keen to remind him. Provoking Niamh with words was one thing- she could hurl nasty words back and forth for hours just because it felt good to shout at someone else- but provoking her with posturing was a dangerous thing. She sized him up with her gaze, flicking her ears back as he made up some nonsense about Towhee proposing to him. The idea that Towhee would wed Reyes, of all wolves, was a ridiculous notion that she didn't believe in the slightest. This was simply her nephew, who had turned out to be a really bad egg.

So when he flashed his fangs at her, it was taken as a threat. She held her position until he hissed the word auntie and stepped back. "Maybe you should remember your rank before you run your mouth you ungrateful little shit!" She snarled, snapping her jaws together once before she charged at him- and given the fact she'd lost every ounce of her patience with her nephew, she would hold absolutely nothing back.
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Her catty reply wasn't much to work with so he let that slide, but then she was snapping her teeth and actively lunging at him. Reyes knew better than to challenge Niamh considering how grabby she got the first go-round, but he still egged her on. To see her react to his banter and his posturing — instead of exacting a level of restraint for her unborn — told Reyes a lot. He didn't have that much time to react but the snap of her teeth was enough warning to get him moving; he backed off as she lunged, so when she tried to grab and him the tradesman could keep out of her reach.

Really? You're gonna try and fight me right now? He jousted verbally, having backed up enough to avoid her initial attack. It left him out of range to counter her too, but Reyes wasn't going to swing at a pregnant woman, even someone as irascible as Niamh. Maybe it was the build-up that gave ample warning to her attack, or the fact she was so fat that her balance would be off, but Reyes was glad to have avoided that smack to the face.

He gave a small warning growl in response but that was all; the last thing he wanted was to get up close and personal with Niamh. Maybe remember your place, Niamh. Y'know, being below Towhee. Smacking around her mate isn't gonna go over well. He hissed. Back off.
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He backed up- relinquishing the space she sought to close, which at least saved him from her first attack. He spat words at her, so in those few moments, she simply closed in like a hunter stalking its prey, snaking her way toward him with careful footsteps so that he might not spook and dash away again. She wanted to get closer, so that her next strike might land. His warnings fell on deaf ears; she knew who she was, and she knew the authority she had. She also felt that if Towhee knew the way he treated her, she would not mind if Niamh knocked him down a peg.

"Fucking an alpha doesn't make you one," She snarled as a response, before she lunged for him again, aiming for his shoulder so that she could potentially grab him and shove him to the ground where he should have been cowering.
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No shit— he spat back at her snarl, prowling opposite her approach and watching for her next attempt. Seeing how agitated she was, and having that challenge thrown in her face, meant he could only anticipate one response; Reyes knew how to handle angry pirates and snarky wenches best of all, so he was not yet ready to back down. Niamh might have kicked his ass before but he was stronger now, and anyway, she was putting other lives on the line by fighting with him. It wouldn't be his fault if she got hurt during her little tantrum.

She lunged for him and this time grabbed at his scruff, forcing her considerable weight against him, and he spun to try and compensate; his front-end dipped with the force of the collision and he shook his shoulders to rid himself of her touch, snarling. He ripped himself free; when Reyes looked up again, glaring and bristling at his aunt, he saw a chunk of skin and red-black fur clutched in her teeth.

You bitch! Reyes snapped. That's the last time you're allowed to touch me! And with that he lunged, shoving off the stonework beneath his feet in order to ram himself like a battering ram in to Niamh's waiting body. If anything were to happen to her Reyes knew Towhee would not forgive him; but in his mind this was Niamh's fault, and she would have to deal with the aftermath once the dust settled. It was never about titles, or children — this was about Towhee, and Reyes wasn't going to play nice anymore.
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When she caught a hold of him, she bit down as hard as she could and gritted her jaws together. She did not release when he dipped his shoulder to pull away, and instead wrenched her head back. She felt a momentary resistance, before his skin tore, and he pulled away from her, leaving behind a strip of fur and skin in her jaws. She'd threatened earlier to eat him- but she wouldn't simply settle for his pelt. Pelts were used for lining the den so when the puppies made a mess, she could simply toss it out, and find another one. A red fur carpet like Reyes' would have been a nice accent to the den she shared with Phox. ..But not so nice she wouldn't toss it out once it got soiled, too. 

He shouted a threat and retaliated, thrusting his body against hers and causing her hind feet to skid backwards in the snow. He'd been on fairer ground, and using that to his advantage he managed to shove her backwards, snapping jaws and all, a good foot at least. The force of his skeleton against hers sent a shock of impact through her body and she released an ugly, horrible and loud caterwaul into the Caldera, where it would rebound off the rocky edges. 

In refusing to submit, he had pulled the last straw. Insubordination had never been tolerated by the Redhawks- and now that he chose to fight back, she knew she'd lured him into waters he wouldn't possibly be able to drag himself out of. She did not shy away from the fight- so she pivoted slightly, and lunged for the open wound on his shoulder again. In close proximity, she knew she endangered herself as well- but she was beyond considering what the fight was even worth. All she wanted was to see him shrivel, cry out, and beg for mercy.
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Their sameness bled from the fresh wound on his shoulder; that blood which ran through both their veins, which likened Reyes so much to the father he'd never met, and the aunt he now despised, linked them for eternity. He would never be able to separate the innate connection he held with Niamh regardless of how often they argued, nor how fervently they fought one-another. They were both bullish, pig-headed messes; this sameness meant that, when Niamh squared off for another round, so did Reyes.

His shoulder ached. A crimson streak matted the dark fur where the skin had been ripped clear away from muscle. She threw herself towards the wound and tried to grab for it again. Reyes' legs were starting to get stiff but he was now fueled as much by adrenaline as by the twisted rage of past trauma, so he was not yet slowed by the injury. If anything he was empowered — and welcomed the closing of the gap between Niamh and himself, eager to sink his teeth in to her as payback.

She aimed for his shoulder and he anticipated as much. Teeth snapped, he ducked, she pivoted, he moved with her; then at last he launched with open jaws at her nearest leg, her shoulder, any part he could reach and drive back with slicing teeth. Reyes had lost a piece of himself and he was owed a pound of flesh.
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Like partners trained in a dance, they moved and whirled together, which for a moment left a whisper of air between them. The last chance they had to disengage before sinking into a battle that could possibly cripple both of them lingered for only a moment, but neither saw it as an opportunity. The only opening they saw, was not one that existed for them to step back and reconsider- but to plan their next strike. 

It would happen that the leg Reyes bit would be the one that Kiwi had injured earlier in the year. She heard and felt a sickening crunch as his jaws clapped around her forelimb just above her knee. The wound had healed, for the most part- but it wouldn't have mattered at that point if there had been a previous injury or not. She didn't know, in that moment, if he'd broken her femur or if he'd caused a tendon to snap- but something had given out. With a banshee's wail she hollered out in anger and in pain- a sound to be stifled only a moment later as she tucked her chin, and struck out like a viper aiming to grab him by the tender spot at the base of his skull.
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Reyes felt something give. There was a split in the bone, a shriek sounding too close to his head, then the clatter of teeth against the base of his skull. The clunky assault left him feeling dazed but not dead; he released the limb and snaked around Niamh half expecting to be horse-kicked as he made his way.

Her pain kept her bowed long enough for him to give her more space and he climbed the path nearby — not to escape, but to position himself at an angle over her. He could have dropped down across her back and delivered a final blow; from that angle he could see the bloat of her sides and it gave him pause.

Fighting further would put her litter at higher risk. Angry as Reyes was, even he knew when to back down. He stood there triumphantly and glared down at his aunt. If this was a real challenge, he'd beaten her. The chance that Niamh would accept that was low to nil; to be fair, Reyes didn't care for taking her rank. It felt good to know he was the victor here, whatever the fallout.
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She had wanted to grip him and rake the spine out of the back of his skull- but she would have needed a bear's jaws in order to accomplish such a feat, so her ambition fell far short of her goal. Instead, she struck him with a blow that wouldn't hold a grip and would do little more than stun him.

She felt the cool breeze whip against her side as they parted and the arrogant creature had the gall to clamber up the slope- simply to get higher than her. He didn't attack- but his posture was defiant. Niamh radiated rage, but the pain from her injured limb made her feverish with delirium.

Perhaps he'd won the fight- but she wouldn't let him win the war. So she tilted her head back and emitted a short but loud wail- a rally-cry for her packmates, to swarm to her side and take down the arrogant man who thought himself to be above pack law. Imbedded in her howl was a message clear as day:

"USURPER!" 

Breathless, she staggered, but lifted her gaze and bared her teeth at him, blood dribbling from her lips. If she couldn't be the winner, she would play the victim.
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He stared at her. When Niamh raised her gaze to match his, Reyes' spine bristled but he gave no quarter; he did not change his pose or back down. That came when her shout filled the tree line.

Usurper.

Had he really tried to take her power away? It sure looked like it; he couldn't help that now. The sound of the cry rolled across the caldera and he could only stand there, slack-jawed until the moment passed.

Oh, fuck off. Reyes countered. By now Niamh was all teeth; snarling up at him, hocks trembling from the break in her leg. You came at me, you stupid bitch. What had she been thinking? That he'd take all her insinuations laying down? That she could insult his relationship with Towhee, and he'd just accept it? None of this was his fault.

Reyes finally turned his back to the injured woman. He began to leave, letting her fester in her anger and pain. As if I'd want to overtake you. I have what I want, a pause, and he glares over his shoulder at her. And you better remember that next time you waddle anywhere near me or my mate.

And that was that. Or, so Reyes thought.
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She wasn't sure what to make of his expression. Was he fearful now that she was flexing her full power against him? He would not have the pack's favour- she would make sure of it. She'd been here longer, she'd known the leaders longer- and she was an efficient actress when she needed to be.

"You're days here are done." She growled, her voice low and bubbly. He turned to leave- and thus her dramatics began.

She howled out in agony- a wretched, gut-wrenching sound that was prompted when she attempted to put weight on her injured leg. Her ankle felt numb- everything from the knee down did. Any within earshot of her last howl would know now that she had been grieviously injured. 

Her cry bellowed into the skies again- now begging for her packmates to come to her aid. She would need @Eljay, and she would need the strength of the others as well. She called for @Phox with a pleading tone she'd never used before, as her voice began to fade. As a warning- and to make sure her target was set- she weakly added a warning to her cry before she slowly sank to the ground in snow that had begun to melt in a divet beneath her, from her own bloodloss.

"Reyes. Betrayal."
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Reyes wasn't going to hang around while she made a scene. Sure, she'd gotten a broken leg out of the ordeal — but he still didn't see the issue. It was her decision to lose her shit at him, her own bullshit which had led to their fight. Reyes took no comfort in the sight of her struggling, and did his best to ignore the calls for help as she rallied for aid; he moved through the trees and up the hill, seeking out the only place he had felt safe and happy across the whole of the caldera: the nest he had made with Towhee. 

At the very least he could trust that she would be on his side. That was all that mattered.

Reyes out!
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Phox had been off hunting, as he so often did these days. With none of the kids around, he felt a bit like an empty nester. Of course, there would be plenty of pitter-pattering feet around in the next month, and Niamh's belly was proof of that. Towhee's, too. They were going to have their hands paws full this year, no doubt. They'd been full last year, but they hadn't even known about Meerkat until she popped into the world. This year, the signs on Towhee were astoundingly obvious. Maybe her body had been saving up to spend all its energy on this year's litter.

Daydreaming about the chaos that would surely unfold when their kids came into the world, Phox was shaken out of it by two howls in rapid succession, both in Niamh's voice.

The message was clear: Usurper! Reyes! Betrayal!

What. The. Fuck.

Phox admittedly hadn't taken the time to get to know Reyes, but this already left a bitter taste in his mouth. Abandoning his hunt, tearing through the packlands, Phox arrived to see Reyes running away and Niamh folding her leg close to her. Was that the same one that had been hurt before? He couldn't remember.

The fuck happened? he asked, immediately keen to inspect her leg, but knowing he couldn't do much about it. He also knew that, if she was in pain, she'd likely lash out at him unintentionally, so he kept enough distance that he could pull back if that was the case.
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rolled and got a fractured radius.
She watched as Reyes stalked away, disappearing out of sight. She wished she could send curses after him, but she was quite frankly, in shock and too weakened by the injury to her forelimb. From the puncture wounds left behind by his teeth and to her ankle, her leg had swollen up quite a bit, and the skin felt hot and stretched. She'd sank to the ground and now set to cleaning the wound, but became more and more aware of the fact that she couldn't move her ankle. It felt like a hunk of ice, from the bite mark down- and while she wasn't really educated enough to have made a well-founded guess, she was correct in assuming that this meant that something was wrong with the bone in her leg. 

His assumption was totally valid- most often when Niamh was in pain, she pushed others away- but then again, in those situations, she often come off as the victor. This time, she felt wronged- and there was nothing Niamh hated more than injustice. So when Phox appeared she whimpered, and immediately felt ashamed of herself for having made such a pathetic sound. Her eyes were glassy and wild. "He's broken it," She said shakily, indicating the leg Reyes had obviously bitten. She felt dizzy just looking at it- but she had to keep herself together. She could only hope that Eljay would come soon- a broken leg could mean the end of her, if she couldn't hunt, patrol or fight. 

"Reyes- Phox, it was Reyes." She said urgently. "He- oh Phox," She said, as she tensed, and shuddered. Something in her stomach felt restless, uneasy. She felt a rippling feeling in her abdomen. "Oh Phox, our pups," She cried as she curled up tighter, listlessly dragging her wounded forelimb across the bloody snow as she sought to squeeze out her pain by curling into a little ball.
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Broken. Fuck. Fuck.

She repeated the name. The name of the father of Towhee's pups. The name of the wolf Towhee had asked Phox to meet. The name of the wolf whom she'd seemed almost giddy about. And he'd done this? Phox no longer had any desire to "get to know" Reyes. Unless it meant his teeth getting to meet his sister's lover's and rip him limb from limb.

When she said "our pups," Phox curled his lip to reveal teeth and looked to where Reyes had run off to. What kind of monster would attack and injure a pregnant mother? And what was to say he wouldn't turn on Towhee, too? Regrettably, Phox knew what he had to do.

Stay here. Wait for Eljay. I will be back. I love you. He knew that he couldn't give her any leeway. As much as he wanted to stay here and comfort her, he could not let Reyes run free any longer. He had to make sure Towhee was safe. He had to make sure Towhee's children were safe. From their own goddamn father, no less.

He kissed Niamh on the head and took off after the bastard.
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Ooc — Jess
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He issued a command she wouldn't even be physically capable of disobeying- but it worried her to know that Phox was about to take off and hunt Reyes down- without hearing her side of the story first. She knew Reyes to be a mouthy little asshole- just like her- and that he would likely try to pin the blame on her before she even had a chance to paint him as the villain, to make sure that Phox got him. But something about the determination in Phox's glare, as he spotted Reyes' tracks leading away in the snow, assured her that she could have faith in her mate to simply conclude that Reyes- as a subordinate- deserved punishment for attacking a leader, and that he ought to be severely punished also for attacking a pregnant woman. Perhaps Phox had all the motivation he needed. 

"No, no, please, Phox, don't leave me-" She keened, and lifted her head to try and reach out with her muzzle, in search of another caress. There was a chance that Reyes could hurt him too, but that wasn't why she wanted him to stay. "I love you," She whimpered softly, as he began move, and she reached up to kiss his cheek- but he was already a step away. She was more woozy than she thought. He began to lope away and she didn't know what to shout after him. Had she not been in shock, she might have hurled more motivation- yelled that Reyes had insulted her, threatened her, and then had disobeyed an order to stand down- but the words didn't come to her. This was an injury that took more from her than she'd bargained for- and her head slowly sank to the ground once Phox disappeared from sight, and she passed out cold.