You Better Be Good To Me
04-17-2013, 06:26 PM
Quote: Collision's arrival was alongside Neo - and she wondered just how their meeting at the borders had gone. The beta wasn't sure what to say to the male, but she would find time to talk to her adopted brother as soon as she could. Hate her he may, but she wouldn't let him blindly hate Valhalla, at least hate them for the proper reasons, right? She quieted, listening to her eldest brother talk about alliances, and they were two that brought her joy at first. Glaciem had always been their sister in arms, and Seracia was a pack that she recognized and she was glad that they were on good terms because she was trying to make a relationship with Gideon work to the point of knowing whether or not they had a future together.
Yet his next bout of news brought everything to a screeching halt. The she froze, her eyes widened at the information that replayed in her mind - she was being married to Maverick. The name was somewhat recognizable, he had been mentioned as family to Gideon and heir to Seracia's throne. She was being sent off to secure an alliance, and what better way than making one of your sisters another pack's possible future queen? No, it wasn't the politics of it that made everything in her hurt and filled her head with colors of white hot and splatters of red. It was that she hadn't been told about it, she hadn't been consulted and this was her life that was in consideration. She wasn't a bartering chip or a pretty little prize that he could offer in condolences of an alliance. She was this pack's beta! She had fought and accepted members and done everything that she could to make sure that it flourished.
Cairo had... he had wanted this to be theirs, didn't he? His sons and daughters, he wanted them to have a constant, a place that they could always call home. Yet it wasn't her home anymore - she was to live somewhere else, somewhere far, and leave her family behind. And she couldn't even do so with a male of her choosing. Her ears flicked back, and she struggled to calm her heavy breathing to listen to what else Collision had done without she or Aislyn or... had her mentor known that she was to be sent away all along?
She cued in at Neo's name, and her pupils dialated as she pinpointed him with her gaze. He had not simply run away and found a girl? He had... betrayed them? The girl tore her gaze away - she was a fool. She had fought to bring him back into their family, but he was nothing but a betrayer. Aislyn's words echoed within her head for a moment, a question of whether or not she would be able to punish or kill family should the moment arise where it is necessary. She still wasn't sure herself, as no matter how much anger she felt looking at Neo she couldn't imagine him dead and her feeling obligated to do so. Yet she had no reason to think that it would be hard for Collision - he didn't seem to care for them much at all. She had idolized the male in her younger years, ignored the feelings of being ignored and placed aside for his own duties and... this was all that she needed to know that he had never truly cared about her.
She held her emotions in as well as she could, her lips twitched in agitation, her eyes pooled but the tears did not fall, and she kept her head level as she nodded - agreeing to systematically go through the motions long enough to decide how Neo was to be punished. Lastly she heard that Epiphron would be placed as alpha to Valhalla, in place of Collision's own mate, Soliel. She... hadn't known that the woman was sick - and there was a pang of guilt within her, because she had once been mindful to hunt for the woman and here lately she had been a bit preoccupied.
"Congratulations." She whispered to her sister, trying her hardest to look happy for her because she was. She had known from the beginning that the only lupine that could surpass her, that could take everything that she had trained for and hold the rank with more dignity and honor than she herself - was Epiphron. From the very beginning she had considered her sister her best and only true competition within Valhalla, and look where she was in the moment that she had the audacity to forget it? "Leadership suits you." She held back laughter, letting her smile spread over her muzzle, it was a graceful movement, executed with liquid ease - but one that she found she couldn't hold. Because not only had she passed her in rank, she had managed to be a more useful part of Valhalla than she had, and she hadn't even had a place in the council to do it. Collision saw her as someone that he could depend on, someone eloquent and beautiful and damn strong enough to handle the job of working beside him.
He needed her more. They all did.
This wasn't her home anymore - and unlike Neo, it wasn't that she wanted to leave - but she was being sent away.
Perhaps though, that was for the best. Because she couldn't look Collision in the eye anymore. Although she could never hate her eldest brother, she had loved him far too deeply - she didn't feel anything good toward he or toward herself when she did.
04-17-2013, 07:03 PM
Erani |
Nova settled beside her, obviously still sleepy, and she nestled her muzzle into the powerful shoulder of her mate, before she pulled her head away as Cormalin arrived and greeted her. ?Thank you, Cormalin. How are those bruises? And lively as always. I think there?s a horse in there somewhere, the way that one kicks and writhes.? Her words were voiced in a teasing chuckle as she returned the lick to her shoulder with one to Cormalin?s shoulder. Deep blues turned to the horse as she arrived. ?Good day, Obsidian. How?s training going?? To Nova?s question, she smiled. ?Nothing yet, there are still members coming.? Her attention was captured by Chrysanthe?s arrival. She watched the young Beta make her way to Aislyn?s side with pride in her eyes. The young lass had nearly reached her full height, and had filled out to be one beautiful wolf. Another arrival tore her eyes away from Chrysanthe. A young black and grey male. Rumble? Morgan?s son? Well. It was good to see him back. There had been word that he?d died. Still another wolf arrived, this one unfamiliar. She was white, with crystalline blue eyes and a sweet face. Soon after her, another new face made its way into the gathering. Was that? Her memory aided her. Yes, it was. A Tortugan. Well. What was this about? Epiphron?s arrival caught her eye, and again, she felt pride for the girls she?d raised well in her heart. Epiphron had grown into a beauty as well, and sitting beside Chrysanthe as she was now, it was like fitting to pieces of the same stone together. Chrysanthe?s dark face and left ear, and the dark right ear of Epiphron. Both beautiful, both strong. She wondered when she would have the honor of meeting that young gentleman of Epiphron?s. Leon was next to arrive, taking a place beside Epiphron and leaning to speak to her. Syrinx made his appearance, greeting his sisters, but settling beside the new white female. Oh, there was Rayne, taking a place among them. She?d been a good student so far, eager to learn and quick, as well. There was Ashtoreth, arriving. Her amethyst eyes seemed to linger on Leon for the longest moment, and Erani hid a smile in the guise of smoothing a wayward tuft of fur on Nova?s head with her tongue. And then her heart gave a painful pang as she saw Neo arrive. Not only had his hatred grown since she?d seen him, he looked as though he?d been starved, or become ill. She gazed toward the male as he took a place far from the rest, hackles raised, eyes flaming. Preston settled beside her, saw his brother and began toward him, but stopped before he?d finished a step. She turned her head away. It hurt to see Neo this way, so changed from the intense young male he?d been. And finally, Collision finally made an appearance, and deep blue watched him coolly as he took his place at the head of the Pack and began speaking. Where was Cairo? She hadn?t seen him much lately, not since the day Eos? Where was Eos? Her head jerked away and she looked around for the third daughter of Cairo. No where. Soleil and her pups were absent as well. Her attention was drawn back to Collision. What did her mean ?The alliance with Glaciem has returned? When had there not been one? Her eyes narrowed as he went on to say that an alliance had been formed with Seracia. Well, that would make Epiphron quite hap-- A price? Her eyes narrowed to slits as Collision turned to Chrysanthe. His next words made her jowls lift to bare her teeth. From the way he said it and the wary way he looked at Chrysanthe, he hadn?t even had the sense to ask Chrysanthe?s feelings on it! The rumble in her chest rose. A mother?s fury whipping through her body. Her eyes iced over as she stared at the Alpha she had thought so promising in the beginning. She saw only disappointment. Sure, an alliance made would be a success. But A leader needed to consult with those included in the arrangements before he even made them. Her eyes flicked to Chrysanthe, wondering how she would take this. She would be strong, for Valhalla. But Erani wished she would fight for her say. Her eyes turned to Epiphron. Maverick was Epiphron?s love. Erani was no fool. She could see how Epiphron had felt for him. Love couldn?t be hidden, no matter how hard you tried to wipe it from your face. She knew Epiphron would be devastated by this. What would happen to her? Eyes whipped back to Collision as he went on. He explained that he wanted the Warriors to find Sparring partners. Oh he would be popping in would he? Would he even be home? Her ears pulled forward as he told for healers to be ready. And there they had it. Official Enemies with Tortuga. And now to the subject of Neo. With each word, Collision lessened himself in her eyes. Slave. This was not how Valhalla did things. Not in her eyes. He was hurting her children. No matter Neo?s faults and shortcomings, she would always see him as a son. Luna?s Light she needed to speak to Cairo. Collision seemed to be having a hard time picking what to say next. Finally, he addressed the hunters, and all able to hunt to catch as much prey as they could. And then he addressed Soleil?s absence. Her canines flashed angrily. Weakness?! She had been ill for Luna?s sake! And where had he been? Gallivanting off ruining the lives of Chrysanthe and Epiphron. She did feel a proud swell as Preston got a rank lift, but what was a Centurion? But she knew no amount of high ranking would make Epiphron feel better. It seemed he had no more to say. She rose, for the first time feeling a foul mood since she?d become pregnant. ?I am a member of this pack. Of this family, and I claim the right to speak my mind, for some of what you have told us does not set well with me. First, I have questions, and with all due respect, Collision, I hope I can trust you to answer them honestly. What do you mean by ?The Alliance with Glaciem has been returned?? When did the alliance ever get threatened? Glaciem has never once been a threat to us. It was Glaciem that warned Valhalla of the Eruption coming. If not for Glaciem, there would be no Valhalla. We would be ash in the old land. ?Second. Did you ever think to ask Chrysanthe how she might feel about being married off to someone she doesn?t remotely know? An Alliance with Seracia is wonderful, but will the cost be what you think? Or will Chrysanthe be miserable with someone she may not ever be able to love? Or who may not ever love her. Love is what makes a successful Alpha pair. Did we ever have problems while Guinevere and Cairo were mated and happy? ?Third. Under your rule, our alliance has been threatened, we are losing a promising beta. We have managed to become the official enemies of Tortuga. And we have a Slave. And we could very well end up in a war no one wants. The only good so far is a new Alliance, and even that comes with sadness. Do you see any happiness for her marriage on Chrysanthe?s face? Look in her eyes. Is she happy? You are sending her away from the home she loves. From her family. Family is what makes Valhalla strong. It?s what Cairo made Valhalla to be. A strong family who communicates with each other. ?You have been absent. You?ve made a decision in a young wolf?s life without even asking her if that is what she wanted in life. Your children have been searching for you and not finding you.? Her anger was eased a little as she finished her tirade. Her eyes softened slightly as she looked at the grey toned Alpha. Honestly, he seemed to feel as unsure about the goings on as anyone here. Chrysanthe?s pain was evident to her. She could feel it with the surety of a mother. ?I know being an Alpha is a struggle. I watched Cairo go through hard times and good times while I?ve been in Valhalla. I know he?s made mistakes, and he has atoned for them, let the past go, and that is what made him great as a Leader. And just as wonderful as a friend and a Father. I beg you to go to Soleil. Support her as she recovers. Stay home and be with your family. Throw away this nonsense of Slaves. That is not Valhalla?s way. I have spoken my piece. My anger is that of a mother?s. I see my daughter up there, hurt that her life has been decided for her. I beg pardon for any disrespect shown.? She rose further and looked toward her daughters. They weren?t her blood, but they were hers as much as her own litter would be. She offered her comfort in that gaze, before turning and slipping away. She felt sickened by what had happened today. Her head and tail would not lift from the low positions they held. She would be losing Chrysanthe. That piece of her heart hurt. Epiphron would be heartbroken. That place hurt, too. Neo had been made a Slave, forced away from his happiness. Another hurting place in her heart. Why was her family being torn apart like this? What had happened? She slid away into the forest and went back to her den at a slow trudge. -Exit one depressed Erani- |
04-17-2013, 08:30 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-17-2013, 08:34 PM by Epiphron.)
Before long, Neo showed his pathetic face, and though he seemed far weaker than she had ever seen him, somehow he was still seething with anger. She didn't blame him entirely -- he'd left Valhalla for a reason, and certainly wasn't impressed with being dragged back here. She wondered who had done it, and why, but supposed those things would be address in this meeting. Epiphron's gaze followed Neo, eyelids narrowing over sapphire eyes until they were merely slits from which she scrutinized him. She truly had no interest in conversing with him, nor did she want to give him the satisfaction of noticing her fiery gaze, so she averted her attention to Collision as he began to speak. Vibrant blue gaze fixated on her oldest brother as he began to speak. He was certainly following nicely in Cairo's footsteps, his presence strong and uplifting, despite his seriousness. The girl straightened her back, ears perked attentively. For a moment Maverick completely slipped her mind, as the girl was rather curious as to what Collision had to address today.
He first announced that the alliance with Glaciem had been kept. A gentle smile graced her lips -- perhaps she should visit them sometime, with approval, of course. Genesis had seemed an honorable enough creature, and she was certain that if her brother approved of the alliance, the whole lot of them were certainly more than decent. He also explained his own brother had been crowned Alpha. He went on to announce that they had forged an alliance with Seracia. Epiphron's jaw unhinged, a barely audible gasp escaping her throat, a sound she hadn't meant to make and hoped nobody heard. This would be good! The possibilities suddenly seemed suddenly endless, but in the same breath, Collision shattered what felt like all of her hopes and dreams. Her heart had surged in her chest, and then subsequently fell to the ground and smashed into a thousand tiny pieces.
Chrysanthe would be wedded to the Seracian heir. To Maverick. Eyes widened slightly, but she skillfully contained the horribly surprised expression that threatened to overtake her. Her gaze would fall to her sister; as hard as her sister tried to compose herself, Epiphron knew the girl better than most did, and what she knew was that Chrysanthe was not happy. Not at all. She was effectively being traded away, used like a pawn in a game. She knew the honor with which Chrysanthe had accepted the position of Beta, and how dedicated her sister had been to training and assisting the pack to her fullest.
Epiphron felt her own upper lip quiver, suddenly feeling defensive for Chrys. But she dared not to argue with Collision, especially if the marriage would bring the packs a strong alliance that would certainly last for generations to come. Her slight anger soon faded and she felt her posture slacken, her mind whirling a thousand miles a minute. Not only was her sister being given to Seracia, perhaps to someday rule, but the girl would be marrying the very boy she was falling in love with. Did he know? He'd never mentioned it to her. Would it be a surprise to him, or was he simply enjoying her company while he could, before he was wedded off to a stranger? Her outward demeanor was one of slight confusion, but little else showed through her composed expression. Erani and Syrinx were the only ones who knew of her feelings for Maverick, and she hoped neither of them would say a word. She didn't want to think of Maverick or the fact that Chrysanthe would be the one spending the rest of her life with him. Would they fall in love? Have children? Would they coexist, as equals, or would something deeper grow between them? The mere possibility of that was hard to think about.
In that exact moment, Epiphron's young heart broke instantaneously. Maverick, in an instant, was gone, forever out of her grasp. Not only would distance separate them, but something far more strong. Epiphron would never betray Collision's decision, she would never betray her sister.
She knew it was stupid to care so deeply for him in the first place. So stupid to let down her guard, to trust that whatever they had would work out between them. Should she find him, talk to him? It wouldn't soothe the pain she suddenly felt. It would likely agitate it, make it even more unsettling, more unbearable. This was what true loss felt like -- and she was losing the boy she was falling in love with not to just anyone, but to her sister, the sister she envied and cared for so deeply. The sister that probably didn't even want to leave Valhalla, let alone be married off to one of Seracia.
Collision went on, explaining that ranks would be adjusted slightly, that warriors would need to find sparring partners, that Tortuga was now an enemy... and Neo had been the one that betrayed them. The emotion that threatened to take over suddenly appeared as she gazed at Neo, eyes burning with something akin to hatred. She could not afford to cry right now, no, she needed to be strong for Chrysanthe and Valhalla and Collision. But she could glare at Neo, the betrayer, and take out all her anger on him in a single glance. She should've seen it coming. Her brother's words seemed to wash over her, her vision growing blurry as tears welled in her eyes. She held them in, her head bowed slightly toward the ground, hoping nobody saw the emotion that had crept onto her face.
Her attention was snatched away from whatever was lurking in the depths of her mind as her name was spoken. Muzzle jerked towards Collision, eyes once again widening. She would become alpha, at his side, due to Soleil's sickness. It was all wrong, all so wrong... shouldn't Chrys be in this spot, and she in the other? Her stomach turned and her heart thumped weakly in her chest.
Hadn't she always wanted this? She should be honored, should be proud and overjoyed and everything else. But she knew she hadn't worked as hard as Chrysanthe, though certainly Collision saw potential in her, to not only promote her, but place her at his side. As Alpha. Leader. She would never dream of arguing, of questioning his rule -- she would be foolish to deny such a grand opportunity. Epiphron rose to her feet to near Collision, nudging her brother's neck with clear affection and gratitude. There was no smile on her face, but she was able to look her brother in the eye. "Thank you, Collision. And congratulations, my dear brother Preston -- and you too, Chrysanthe." Her sister would surely catch the turbulent storm of emotion in her eyes -- she wanted so badly to talk to her, but not right now. Her congratulations was sincere, though she was fairly certain her sister wasn't thrilled. She would accept her duty with just as much grace as Epiphron. The sisters would grin and bear it, like they always had, like they always would. Chrysanthe's duty was not preferable, but important, and needed; she would not argue, either. She would accept her fate, perhaps with a heavy heart, but with the grace and dignity of a princess.
Erani then spoke up, clearly upset with nearly everything that Collision had said. She flashed the healer a pleading stare, not wanting her to get herself punished for her or Chrysanthe's sakes. They would persevere, as they always had, but Erani's motherly instincts were strong, and she was ridden with hormones from the pups kicking inside her belly. Epiphron lowered her head, eyes cast to her feet as Erani's pained words echoed all around her. This was not helping, not at all...
04-17-2013, 09:34 PM
Epiphron's gaze quickly was redirected to a black-furred brute that spoke up upon Erani's departure. The girl couldn't bring herself to watch Erani go. She was upset herself, and seeing her caretaker's own pain would do nothing to assuage the situation. The unfamiliar male spoke up rather quickly, stating his displeasure with the fact that Neo had been taken as a slave. She had no idea who he was -- she really ought to be more involved with the pack, with getting to know the newer wolves. No, she HAD to, now that she was Alpha. It was her responsibility now.
The girl's expression changed quite suddenly. Collision's judgment seemed to be coming under question, and she shot Fenrir a less-than-pleasant glance. "Neo's freedom is not being taken away, he has forfeited it," she retorted, her voice sharp and quite void of the typical sweetness that her tones held. "If what Collision says is true -- and I have no doubt in my brother's words -- then Neo has betrayed information about our pack to Tortuga. After giving him everything and more, he has still decided to go against us, and for that, a punishment is warranted. Neo was well aware what he was doing, and his betrayal will not come without a price." His departure had hurt them all deeply, but he'd done far more than just leave. His punishment had yet to be set, but it would be fitting for the crimes he had committed.
Fenrir went on with his concerns about the situation, and her eyes burned as she watched him. The two wolves who's lives were changing most drastically -- Neo didn't count, as he had earned his fate entirely -- had no qualms with undertaking the duties they had been given, but the others seemed inclined to defend them. No. She didn't need to be defended; was her uncertainty so readily visible that even this stranger to her could see it? The girl straightened herself, finding strength from somewhere deep within to strand tall and confidently. Later, she could cry, she could whine and act like a child, all alone in her den, but the time for that was not right now. Collision's choices were being attacked, and the girl was growing irritated.
"I could ask for no greater privilege than serving my family," she explained calmly. Yes, the position of Alpha was not just one of power, but something far more important and crucial. She would lead her family, be responsible for their safety and well-being. Their happiness, and their survival. "I will admit I am inexperienced, but anyone who knows me, knows that my family is the most important thing to me. Collision would not have chosen me if he had any doubt that I could do this. I will do everything in my power to ensure this pack flourishes." Whatever that was, she did not know. Collision would help her, her father would help her, Valhalla would not fail under her rule.