Deepwood Weald ta kryfá

'I do not give my name to strangers,'  @Astraios had said on the day they had first met Rodyn, and long had Melaneus considered them. What was in a name, that made its speaking so dangerous to those beyond the shadowed veil of the Weald? He had ideas, but Astraios had the answer.

So the shadow sought his father today, his words already carefully chosen, already carefully forming on the tip of his tongue. When he came to the end of Astraios' trail, he would be ready with his questions, for long had he considered, and long had he collected only partial knowledge.

Today, he would fully know.

His whelps were growing, almost too quickly. He found his son, or rather, his son found him, and Astraios grinned down at him, tail gently waving. The newly-made Greek was at a pond, where fish swam about lazily. They didn't even seem to notice the wolves. Gesturing to the fish, he asked his son, "Are you hungry?"

He was not hungry when he had first approached, but now that páppa pointed out the fish, a soft grumble filled his belly. He looked to his father and nodded. Questions still remembered - but first they would fish.

Melaneus stepped forward and peered into the river, then back towards his father. He had never fished before - what should he do?

Astraios grinned as his son examined the pond, and when looked at questioningly, the man moved closer. Fish are fast, but not all that bright. He traced a claw over the surface of the water, and most of the fish seemed to stop, watching. "χτυπήστε με το στόμα σας." Then, he added, If you fail, we wait a few minutes and try again.

Fast, but not bright.

The fish stopped to watch.

Strike with your mouth.

Melaneus paused, not nearly enough to catch the caveat of his father's command. He'd already sunk his face - snapping jaws and all - underwater without catching that final word. If he failed! He would not need to know.

Water filled his mouth and he nearly panicked, but then his teeth sunk into fish and he yanked the creature out of the depths. Fins slapped his face. He staggered backwards. Hold still!

He'd caught the fish, but how could he kill it? And where was its neck? He looked towards his father with sudden panic in his eyes. Should he bite it? Should he drown it with air? What was he supposed to do?

Rolled with the rng, expected him to fail but here he is by some stroke of luck! xD

Melaneus jumped the gun a bit, shoving his face and head into the water. Astraios could not help but chuckle, a warm sound that changed into full on laughter when his son emerged, fish in his maw. Very good! he praised, taking a few steps from the pond. Drop the fish, away from the water, or it might jump right back in, he instructed, Then, put your paws on its body, and bite just behind the head. It should kill it immediately.

This time, he listened to his father’s full advice. The fish thrashed in his jaws and though a Melaneus was much bigger than his prey, he couldn’t remember ever catching something so wiggly before!

He staggered up the riverbank, and almost slipped in a time or two. Eventually he made it to shore, and a place far enough away from the water he didn’t think he could lose the fish to the waters again.

Melaneus dropped the fish and somehow managed to slap his paws somewhat haphazardly on the slippery prey. But even though his grip was admittedly not so great, he struck the fish like a snake, nipping it’s neck before it even had the chance to think about getting back into that water, if fish could even think about such things.

His heart ran in his chest. He didn’t take his paws off the fish, even once it had stopped wriggling underfoot, and turned to his father with a bright smile on his usually stoic face.

I'm good to continue this thread, no need to fade yet, plus I want you to get a trade thread in <3

Astraios watched his son, a warm pride filling his chest as the boy brought the fish further from shore. His first kill, or so the Greek thought — he had not been very active in his children's lives, mostly out of his own fears, he thought, but he was trying to change that now. He thought of Themis, and, when had he seen her last? And the rest of his children... they had been gone for some time. Perhaps his wife had left to find them?

Astraios shook his head to clear it, and it was to see his remaining son smiling brightly at him. Clearing his throat, he praised, Καλό, πολύ καλό. The meat tastes much different than other animals, but it is still good. He grinned at his son, encouraging him to take a bite.