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Post by .Rabid Lycan. on Jul 3, 2011 15:59:28 GMT -5
Recognizing his Alphess’ signal, Rapier parted from his sister with a small bow-nod (bod? No…), and accompanied Babylonia to the designated prisoner’s chamber. Something in his blood boiled—was it Destiny’s blood? Maybe. But he didn’t seem all too pleased with Babylonia’s arrival all the same.
That look. All this time, he had been expecting it, preparing for it, but all the mantras in the world could not banish the sting of her gaze. His skin itched painfully, as if physical guilt were running its claws over his skull. But, glancing down at his siblings, he did not waver. That mantra again. You expected this.
It was bizarre, to say the least, to hear Fireflight speak of future opportunities for the pups. It seemed that history liked to repeat itself in some form or fashion. They’re looking more like my relatives every minute… But there was something he knew, instinctively. Fireflight had little compassion for his siblings, if any at all, and she certainly did not trust Babylonia. No, not like he did. And what was also for certain, Euphrates did care for his siblings. Even if Ishtar and Uruk (mostly Ishtar) hated his guts, even if Sargon and Phoenicia didn’t seem to care, he felt the blood there, the linkage there. It’s going to be a bitch getting Babylonia grandparent visitation rights.
“Explain.”
He stared evenly back at his mate, harnessing all the formality he could muster to his voice. The only way he could deal, and not shrivel under her accusing glare.
“When I heard about the kids, I went charging off to Blood Mist for some answers—and maybe, I hoped, even an improv rescue mission. As it turns out, a handful of familiar faces were left behind,” he motioned to the captives, “and Isis and Cleo were well-hidden by that point. Seemed a shame to leave the group there, especially considering she didn’t know we even had children, let alone where they’ve been kept.” His tone lowered slightly. “The matter of rescue, however, has transferred to Sumer for the time being. Assyria trusts him enough, and so do I. When he learns where they’ve been imprisoned, he’ll let us know.”
His breath caught as the final words left his tongue, and he went silent. He badly wished to turn away, to join his remaining children in the den and sleep away the following dusks and dawns. To just abandon the world, confusing as it was, for just a little bit.
I wonder… I wonder if Dad or Tigris or Lust are out there somewhere… if they knew we were here, would they have come to?
Nestled amongst the feathered Alpha’s den, a red, russet, and cream bundle peered his rather large head out of the entrance. His tail raised, and large eyes widened with awe, Ramses yelped to his trio of littermates. “Guys, look! New pups!”
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Post by Sivoncé™ on Jul 3, 2011 23:22:03 GMT -5
Fireflight's tail twitched in a gesture of thanks towards Rapier, but she couldn't move her eyes from Euphrates once he'd began his speech. The sharpness of betrayal gradually dulled in the eyes of the alphess, but it was replaced with a weary sadness that made her appear much elder than she was. He shoulders sagged and every few moments, her paws or tail quivered with anxiety. Fireflight had never felt more frail, or old, or feeble in her entire life as she gazed at Euphrates. Bitterly, she thought of the time she'd first encountered him -- on a run through the meadows long ago. It was a time where she had been carefree, a time when she had fallen carelessly and helplessly in love. She'd pictured their whole life together -- pups, watching them grow, growing old together. And then she'd become beta, and then alpha, and then Blood Mist, and then the catastrophe she was standing in at this very moment. Reeking in exhausted, Fireflight slowly nodded her head as Euphrates spoke, and eventually, she couldn't find the strength to return his gaze any longer. Her eyes dropped to the ground, and she was overwhelmed with weakness.
"And couldn't it be possible that Babylonia has this all planned out with Assyria, and this is all just a ploy? Why would Sumer betray the sister he left his own pack to be with?" Her voice was frail, but carried an sour edge. Suddenly, her voice grew sharp and she snapped her eyes back up to her mate, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm not just going to leave it all up to Sumer. And if it comes to the point where we have to trade her pups for ours, I would do it in a heartbeat!"
She turned to the rest of the pack. "This meeting is over. We will reconvene when I've had a chance to consider our options and everyone has had a chance to settle."
She stormed towards the nursery, pushing Ramses gently back with her tail as he advanced towards the other pups.
"They're not playmates, son," she murmured softly. "Please, go back inside the nest."
Her head was whirling. She needed to go, to run out in the forest and scream her sorrows to the sky, but she couldn't. She couldn't run away from all she was responsible for.
I used to wonder how all the great alphas did everything, but now I know they didn't manage it, either. When Blood Mist came, two of them died fighting, the other beat them, but went batshit insane and died in the process, and the fourth one survived. Destiny survived. The mother of my pack surivived, but only to be killed by her own family.
I wonder if I'll end up just like her.
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Post by .Rabid Lycan. on Jul 4, 2011 0:33:29 GMT -5
A harsh rhythm of breathing forced air into and out of his lungs, but his external expressions remained stoic in the midst of her doubts. If it there was any compensation at all, it was that Fireflight no longer trained her eyes on him—which allowed him room to abandon some of his hardened (and hard-to-manage) façade, and yet felt even worse in the long run. He knew she would be upset—what sane wolf wouldn’t be?—but… again… it was different in the here, in the now. And as her pupils swerved from view, he felt some dimension of himself being dismissed. It hurt.
How can I make you understand…
She was walking away, then, and the crowd of wolves began to slowly disperse—or, rather, shift toward where the new arrivals had settled down. He was silently grateful for the attentions to alter, but his eyes failed to find comfort in any area of the camp. It was too soon to go visit Babylonia and his siblings, and Fireflight…
…just go.
As much as she probably didn’t want to speak with him at the moment, Euphrates padded after his mate, ducking his head under the nursery wall and pursuing her to the back of the den.
Imhotep brightened. “Dad!”
Euphrates brushed against his son, pausing to acknowledge him, but his eyes were focused on Fireflight.
“They’re not tricking us. I know you don’t want to believe it, or can’t believe it, but they aren’t. Babylonia has no ill intentions here, and neither does Sumer. He’ll find Isis and Cleo for us, without sacrificing my brothers and sisters. He may care for Assyria, but hell, even I care for Assyria, at least to some degree. That doesn’t mean I forgive her for stealing the pups, or trying to kill everyone I love. Fireflight, Sumer was a pup when we left Blood Mist. In fact, he’s the only reason I’m currently not a Hellfirian psychopath standing alongside my sister—he’s the reason I joined Grey Mist, for Verlust’s sakes! An he left us because he wanted his family, his mother again! Assyria… Assyria’s gone. Babylonia knows it, Sumer knows it. And the only reason Sumer isn’t here with us right now is because he’s on our goddamn side!”
He ended up lifting his voice more than he intended, but at this point, he was too confused and tired to care.
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Post by Sivoncé™ on Jul 4, 2011 0:50:29 GMT -5
Anger boiled in her veins. She didn't want to do this here and now -- she wanted to go somewhere private and ask Euphrates what in hell's name he'd been thinking. But she couldn't. And as he spoke, her fury burned higher. What right did he have to say these things to her, to be angry with her? Can't he hear himself. She whirled on him, eyes flaming.
"Trying to kill everyone you love? Euphrates, I fought harder than I ever had in my life and the bitch killed me twice while you were gone. She had it planned so I would walk into a death trap the minute I stepped onto the battlefield! And you're right -- I don't fucking believe it! And what I find most unbelieveable is that you're comfortable just sitting here waiting for Sumer to get our daughters back. I'm not fine with that! I won't just sit here while god know's what is happening to them and do nothing but wait!" Halfway through her speech, her voice had broken and the tears had rushed down in a waterfall.
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Post by .Rabid Lycan. on Jul 4, 2011 1:24:57 GMT -5
He retreated one step and about half of another, not entirely prepared for the verbal flogging that snapped its response. Well, the first half was news to him, and his mind spent most of the tirade’s remainder trying to register the fact. …fuck. Just… fuck. How exactly was he intended to respond to that? How did he respond to that? It wasn’t exactly… enraged so much as… distantly enraged. Sort of like switching to an out-of-body experience and looking down at a Euphrates who was about to erupt like a volcano, but the detached nature muted nearly all the emotion.
He blinked, realizing that Fireflight had stopped speaking and was instead leaking tears all over the floor—in front of the fearful eyes of the pups, no less. The numbness wavered, allowing the weight of depression to seep into his chest, and permitting guilt to puddle at his paws. He wasn’t angry with her, though his voice may have hinted as such. He wanted her to understand.
…at least, he hadn’t been angry. Maybe it was something that Ashur had passed onto him, or maybe it was just something that boiled naturally inside of him, but a slight temper burned under his skin. The numbness was thinning, and it wasn’t because of Assyria.
“Well, what the hell do you want to do then, huh? You want to charge into Blood Mist and get yourself completely killed trying to turn over every rock, every tree? You wouldn’t get five fucking minutes into that fortress—great job, Fireflight. Wonderful display of bravery! Oh, and by the way, you left your other children without a mother. And why? Because you couldn’t trust one wolf! One fucking wolf! There’s not always a goddamn side, Fireflight. Just because he’s in Blood Mist doesn’t mean he’s a terrible person—or, no, wait… maybe it does. Maybe he’s evil… oh, and Babylonia too. Wait… I was in Blood Mist too. Well, guess I’m out too, right? We’re all just fucking around waiting for you to die off so we can take the rest of the kids to Blood Mist and turn them into blood-drinking cultists. Doesn’t that sound fun? I bet they’re really, really going to enjoy it. Auntie Assyria’s just been dying to meet them.”
Disgusted—almost entirely with himself but still too mentally distant to notice—Euphrates turned away and moved toward the entrance. He paused.
“…sor…”
He shook himself and continued walking.
Imhotep whimpered slightly, looking from Euphrates’ disappearing form and to his mother. “…?” Tears glistening but not having the faintest idea what they were for, Imhotep crept up to his mother and nudged her paw, licking it.
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Post by Sivoncé™ on Jul 4, 2011 1:39:12 GMT -5
The tears continued to leak, and her heart continued to ache, but she had no words for him after his tirade. Instead, she watched him as he left, wishing she could be the one storming away. She pulled Imhotep closter to her with a movement of her tail. "Shh, love." She comforted him with an affectionate lick across his forehead.
"Hypocrisy at it's finest, Euphrates," she growled. Her voice was calm now -- like the eye of a hurricane, surrounded with storm. The tears hadn't stopped, and the rage was still waiting to explode from her chest, but swallowed it and called out to him one last time.
"So walk away and blame it on me. Beg me to understand your side and storm off when I don't, but don't try to see where I'm coming from, either. Walk away."
And then the crack in voice broke the calm and the tears rushed once more.
"But if you do, if you do walk away right now, understand that I won't ever look at you the same when you come back."
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Post by .Rabid Lycan. on Jul 4, 2011 2:24:14 GMT -5
His paws nearly carried him out of sight, but her words, however softer in volume, met his ears. He didn’t so much turn around as lean to one side, uttering something equally audible. “…I don’t blame you… not anyone, really. All just talk, I suppose.” His voice was hollowed now, but his eyes shimmered with a new strangeness—something that was easily missed, but seized his attention all the same.
Now.
“And I am sorry, b…” His head fell slightly, brow knitting—and not with anger or despair or any denomination of the mood swing he had just endured. “…I need to take care of something… now.”
I love her, don’t I?
Distracted gaze guiding him forward, Euphrates retraced his steps to the camp entrance, and vanished from the Destinian walls.
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Post by Sivoncé™ on Jul 4, 2011 13:01:54 GMT -5
It was in that moment that the final thread of hope she'd stored for herself and Euphrates was severed completely. Her body slumped dejectedly as she watched the wolf she'd once helplessly loved walk away from her. They still loved each other, perhaps. But it was a dying love. A love that's existence was doomed and had no hope of repairing the damage that was done to it. Or at least that's how it felt right now. Maybe she had more hope than she thought, or maybe she was just numb from the weight of so many catastrophes landing on her shoulders all at once. That was one thing Euphrates had forgotten; she had to look out for the whole of the pack. She didn't have time to go sneaking around and making deals with old Blood Mist hags. But as he left, her anger faded from a boil to a simmer, and she was able to regain her composure.
When Euphrates returned, she wouldn't be waiting for him anymore. She would be there, but she would make good on her promise. She wouldn't look at him the same ever again. She ushered her pups into the nursery. "Don't worry, loves, Daddy will be back soon," she promised them. She wasn't all that sure, actually.
There was something Fireflight needed to do, too, but with the present state of affiars, she knew she couldn't leave her pups to do it. Anger flared once more at Euphrates for leaving.
I need to speak with Twilight, and soon. Babylonia or no Babylonia, if Assyria has taken over Blood Mist, the tables will have completely turned against us.
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Post by Acacia on Jul 8, 2011 14:33:20 GMT -5
Whisper jumped at the order and hurried to diagnose the one named Svel to determine the ailment which was most important first. Hurrying the young, but proficient healer sprinted to her den only to return mere seconds later. She ignored the others who had come into camp following her alpha's mate... well maybe not anymore but it was none of her business so she continued to work on getting the right herbs to the correct ailment. She ground a few herbs together and slathered it on the sick wolves lolling tongue. she then moved to give a little of the same concoction though the other fallen wolf. he seemed to be maintaining a fever as well. While his did not seem as severe as the other wolf it was what she could do while waiting for it to react to her body cooling her slowly. the wolf who laid curled up seemed to be suffering from something different from this wolf though.
She tended the dying wolf determined not to let her die. She worked frantically to find herbs that would open her air ways and help her light breathing become stronger with less effort. The wolf's fever had come down some but not enough to please the healer. she gave her a different herb to ease it farther and would aid her work.
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Post by Sivoncé™ on Jul 8, 2011 15:30:59 GMT -5
Wearily, Fireflight realized it was time to turn back to the pack. As much as Euphrates had hurt her, her pack was hurting to. She was their alpha, and it was her duty to be strong for them. Straightening slightly, she padded over to Whisper. "What can I do to help? I can fetch herbs for you, if you'd like." Watching the young healer at work, Fireflight felt a new warmth towards her packmate. Whisper had had little to no instruction from anyone older than her, but here she was, treating her packmates with keen insight and quick paws.
She deserves her full healer ceremony once this is all over.
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"My name is Percy Jackson, and I am INVINCIBLE!!"
