Chade was quite proud of what he’d done!  He had found ample vines wrapped around stones to try and make a snare.  He really had never seen a snare before of course other than hearing that they existed so it was hard to say if he looked the same as others but, it seemed pretty simple, right?

It had taken a lot of work and needed his brother's help to tie a knot to connect the vine so that it formed a ring on one end.  It then took a few more tries before he figured out how to loop it so that the ring would actually tighten after something stepped in it.  What Chade wasn’t aware of was needing to make it sturdier by braiding it.  It looked good so it should work, right!  The other end of the rope was attached to a jagged piece of stone. What Chade wasn’t so sure of was how to get something to step into it.

Oh well, no harm in setting one up and go with potential luck until he figured it out.  Maybe you just make a lot of them?  Bribery maybe?  What if the wrong thing stepped into the trap?  This was hard!  Chade and Ricin had found an area that looked to have rabbits and that was his hope, to catch a rabbit!  Anything would do though, they were ready to eat fish and bugs or whatever it took to survive!

Maybe they were supposed to chase it to the rope?  Sitting back he glanced to Ricin, “Let's find one of the rabbits, then you chase it from one side and I’ll chase it from the other.  Let’s see if can get it run to the snare.”  It was a great plan, if they could the rabbits he could smell but not see.  Sure, Ricin wasn’t much for hunting either but all he had to do was treat this like play.  Not that it would matter if they couldn’t find a good rabbit to chase.  As it was they were sitting next to a stone, hoping that its darker shadow within the constant night shadows would help hide them from prey and predator both.

When Chade had announced his plan to make a snare, Ricin had reluctantly agreed to help. While hunting was more Chade’s department than his, the lighter boy still offered a helping paw. Eyes watch as his brother works, helping with the knots and laying of the snare. As an afterthought, Ricin kicked some loose stones and fallen leaves over the trap as he eyed the stone tied to the other end of snare. It seems like it should work and Ricin nods his approval.

When Chade voices his idea, Ricin tilts his head and asks, “But how do we find the rabbit Ny?” Sure, the small boy had seen rabbits nearby but they had all disappeared quickly when the brothers had passed. The small creatures where fast and, with the pups limited diet, appeared to have more energy. Ricin grumbled to his brother, “I’m hungry now Ny. Chasing a rabbit seems like a lot of work. Can’t we just place bait or somethin’ near the trap? What do rabbits like?”

Head tilts as he questions his brother, not keen on spending what little energy he has on running. Stomach gurgles loudly as he looks pitifully at Chade and whines, “Or we could just steal someone else’s food like the fox did?” Ricin is tired and hungry but he knows that Chade is too. Maybe something that requires less energy and more brain is needed here. The lighter brother racks his brain for ideas as he looks to Chade.

OOC: set before the mushrooms started growing on her

Avacyn didn't venture off the island very often, but when her mom said she was going to go scouting and gathering some supplies for the travel they had coming up she jumped at the chance to go out with her and do some exploring. Manea went to see about some prey she scented and left Temno and Chimney with her to keep an eye out on the purple-hued pup. She was instructed to say where she was in the Stone Steppe and with a kiss to her head Manea trotted off to go catch their dinner. Avacyn grinned and walked though the stoney ruins, dark eyes looking up at the crumbling pillars of rock and looking for any little trinkets she might be able to take home with her.

She spotted something shiny sticking out of one of the pillars that had fallen over and her white rimmed ears perked with curiosity. She was always looking for stuff to add to her hoard of pretty things that she liked to make things out of so even shiny pieces of metal could be helpful in that endeavor. With her eyes fixed on her prize she didn't even notice the trap that was slightly hidden among the grass and rocks around her or the scents of the boys that had just been here moments ago. Her paw stepped right into the loop of vine and it tightened around her foreleg, startling her and making her yelp. It suddenly pulled her leg up and for a few moments she was dangling by her foreleg before the flimsy vine snapped and she fell the couple of feet back to the ground with a soft thud. Avacyn blinked with surprise as she righted herself and shook her head to clear it, pulling herself back to her paws while she tried to figure out what had just happened.

"Avacyn Mendacium"

Chade was keeping an eye on the snare even as Ry listed off his fears and complaints.  Chade was hungry too, he was almost always hungry.  There had been a few lucky moments of getting a nice meal to keep them going but more often they had small things like rats, mice, and fish when there was a chance.  “Sorry Ry,” Chade spoke softly after his brother had finished speaking, “stealing food means possibly a fight.” Chade glanced at his brother meaningfully, “That could end even end worse than a night going hungry.”  It seemed silly to use the word ‘day’ now.  How many times had he chased rabbits to end up with nothing?    Chade had managed to catch a rabbit once and at this point he had to acknowledge it must have been weak or injured as it was one time then fail after fail after fail.

As Chade was imagining how wonderful another rabbit would taste noise was heard.  They were already deep in the shadow but something between excitement and fear he shoved himself up against the stone hoping it was enough to not be seen. His eyes flicked to his brother and forward to make sure he had also heard something coming.   What came into view wasn’t what he’d expected, eyes wide he stared at another wolf coming into view.  She had to be around their age and the blue wolf had no idea what he should do now!  Should he warn them of the trap?  Should they remain hidden to not let the stranger he see them?  Was there an adult with them?  Ears flat and brow narrowed slowly shifted to awe as she went straight for the snare.  

She stepped in it!  That’s how it worked!  The snare did its job lifting her up in the air and despite any courtesy to the other wolf, his spirits lifted seeing how well it worked!  A breath later the snare broke and the pup crashed to the earth.  He’d worked hard on that snare!  Would it have worked for a rabbit or also broke?  Either way, she broke it!  Was she hurt?  His emotions hopped between fear, anger, curiosity, and guilt.

He didn’t see an adult with her at least.  Chade glanced to Ricin then slowly left their hiding spot in the shadows towards the other pup, some distance still kept.  “Hey,” he called out to the other wolf, “that was meant for rabbits.”  Now if he wanted to try snares he’d have to make it all over again! “You alright?” The realization suddenly occurred she might be a better hunter than them! Maybe if they were nice she’d pay him back for that snare with some food.  She might have a family though and in fact, probably did which still made her a threat in a way.

Chade didn’t look at Ricin, not so much as an ear flick.  It was up to his brother if he wanted to show himself or remain hidden.  Chade wasn’t sure what was smartest but they were both hungry and if he could get her to help them get a meal it was worth it.  It felt strange to see another wolf again and a part of him wanted to be happy about it but there had been too much death of family and one betrayal to hollow out that excitement.

"Speech"

Stomach rumbles unhappily at the pup, as Ricin lays quietly in the shadows as Chade explains about why stealing food is a bad idea. Grumbling softly, Ricin stops mid grouse as Chade’s eyes meet his own and the lighter brother tips his head in acknowledgement. Yes, he had heard the noise and with that, Ricin slides his form deeper into the shadows, coiling his muscles tightly in case they have to chase to their food. Saliva pools in his mouth at the thought of fresh meat and Ricin completely misses the note of alarm that appears on his brother’s face. In fact, the lighter brother is so engrossed in his thoughts of filling his empty belly, that he misses the moment the new wolf steps into their trap and is caught.

Eyes blink confusedly as Ricin finally notices the other pup in their trap. Head tilts and Ricin reminds himself to tell Chade how smart he is. Later. When no one else is around. The sound of a vine snapping has the female pup plunging back to the earth and Ricin almost giggles at the funny scene. But giggling can get you killed, so instead, he curls back and away from the new comer sharing a worried look with his brother. Chade was the first one to move, slowly leaving their hiding spot to talk this strange wolf. It feels so wrong that his brother is out in the open, talking.

Steeling his nerves, Ricin slips out of shadows to stands next to and slightly behind his brother. Ricin is offering Chade support and keeping the stranger in his full line of sight. Ricin wasn’t sure what he is supposed to feel but something tells him it shouldn’t be disappointment at the sight of their broken trap and the wolf. Sad voice says, “Oh darn Ny. You worked so hard on that.” Crimson eyes turn toward the female pup and he adds, “That wasn’t very nice. Ny… I mean Chade, worked really hard on that!” Ricin’s stomach once again rumbles deeply and he feels tears spring to his eyes at the prospect of missing another meal.

Sniffling, Ricin looks to Chade and whines, “What are we going to do now Ny?” All that Ricin cares about is taking care of his aching stomach.



"Speech"

Avacyn sat back onto her haunches as she regained her bearings, frowning as she pulled the broken loop of vine off of her leg and tossed it aside. Just as she began to wonder where the trap even came from she heard someone call to her and she looked up, seeing the blue hued pup that was probably pretty close to her age, telling her it was meant for rabbits. Well she certainly didn't think it was meant for wolves! She didn't think anything bigger than a rabbit could actually be caught in such a small trap without breaking it like she did anyway, but she kept that comment to herself. He asked if she was alright and she nodded, getting to her paws again. Her hip was a little sore from where she hit the ground, but it wasn't really any worse than when she and Saracyn were wrestling real hard.

She was about to say something when another blue-hued boy appeared beside the first, looking almost like an inverse of the first. Were they twins like she and Saracyn were? Before she could properly greet either of them the second one said to the first that he had worked so hard on it—assuming he was talking about the trap she had broken—and then seemingly accused her of breaking it on purpose, saying how it wasn't very nice. She scoffed and frowned at the pair with a little furrow on her brow. "Well you shouldn't have just left a trap laying around then!" she said with a huff. Whatever, they made a bad trap anyway if it couldn't even keep from breaking, whether she was heavier than a rabbit or not.

She was about to irritably turn and storm off when she caught the darker of the two ask what they were going to do. She looked between them with a questioning glance. Now that she considered it more, why were two pups out here setting up traps? And why was he so worried about it even if the trap did get broken. She did a quick glance around for any adults or any companions like she had and didn't see any, at least not obvious ones. Were they actually trying to hunt like this? She glanced at the bit of vine that was still dangling from the rock beside her and sighed. She didn't know why they were on their own, but if this was their attempt to hunt then they were hopeless. Reluctantly she looked at the pair again and told them. "My mom's hunting right now... If you want I can ask her to give you some food." She didn't want to help them necessarily, but if she just left them and they starved to death or something then she'd probably feel at least a little bad.

"Avacyn Mendacium"

Chade’s gaze flicked towards Ricin listening to his brother voice his own concerns.  The darker-blue wolf looked to be pondering the same question Ricin was, ‘what to do now'. Aside from food he also needed to figure out what to do in regards to meeting someone new.  There was the response of a pup wanting to go and make friends and the guarded part of him not wanting to trust anything he wasn’t sure of.  Chade had to watch out for Ricin, after all, it wasn’t just about himself.

Chade was about to tell Ricin they’d just have to try and make another or look for something to hunt the old-fashioned way.  Like Ricin he was hungry now and didn’t want to chase anything but that might be the best odds for a meal.  The good thing about the sickness is they did occasionally find an easier bit of game due to it being sick.  It always scared them though with the risk of getting sick from it also.  No good options in life.  However, before he spoke the plan to Ricin this purple pup spoke up.

“Well nothing’s going to run into it if I’m just sitting there next to it,” Chade spoke out with some irritation though most of it was because he didn’t know if there was a better way to use it.  They were figuring things out as they went along!  The dark blue pup furrowed his brow trying to ponder this even as she said something far more useful.  Free food???

Chade’s head raised up higher, a cautious eye on the girl before glancing back at Ricin, “Let's do it, huh Ricin?”  He wanted to assure his brother they’d get some food tonight on their own but it was only a maybe whereas this pup’s mom had much better odds.  Was there a catch to this?  What danger could there be in this?  So many unexpected dangers had shown up in their life there was good reason to be cautious and not call it paranoid.

Chade nodded back to the girl. “I’m Chade.  This is Ricin.” Chade made his way closer to her, “We agree, in exchange for breaking the snare enough food to fill our stomachs will make it even. Uh, and your name.”  Chade aimed to sound formal for this even as his own stomach snarled in demand for food sooner over later.  It was hard to sound serious when your stomach is also talking.  While he did technically say he agreed another glance was given to Ricin to make sure there was no difference of opinion.  Gosh, he was hungry.

"Speech"

Watching as the purple girl speaks up, admonishing them for leaving a trap out in the open. Brows knit together with confusion and amusement as Ricin wonders if she knows how traps work. When Chade reminds her that nothing would run into if he sat next to it, the lighter pup adds, “Yeah! Besides, traps are made to not be seen. You might say we did a good job. I mean… if we can catch a wolf, imagine all the rabbits we will get now!” Ricin looks toward Chade with pride on his face at the cleverness of his brother’s handiwork. No matter how much his stomach hurts, Ricin will always praise Chade’s smart ideas.

When the Ricin asks what they are going to do now, he never expected the answer the purple pup gives. Worry knots his stomach at the prospect of having to meet adult wolves and he looks to Chade for guidance. When the darker pup glances to him before suggesting they do it, Ricin feels his eyes widen. Sure, his stomach hurts and a free meal sounds amazing but who knows what they want in return! Just as the lighter brother opens to mouth to question his brother, Chade offers this new wolf their names.

Ricin’s brain grinds to a halt and his mouth hangs open as Chade moves toward the stranger. Chade is negotiating for food as alarm bells ring through Ricin. When the darker brother looks back, Ricin finally acts. Snapping his mouth shut and moving toward Chade, Ricin says, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Time out. Chade, I know we are hungry but… is this the smartest idea?” Looking toward the purple pup he adds, “No offense Miss. We just…” voice trails off as he shrugs and tries to smile, “don’t trust many.”

Indeed, the brothers had lost faith in others but what pups that had been abandoned by their mother and watched three siblings die wouldn’t have? Sure, this purple girl appears to be similar in age to them but still… the world is against them and they know it. Anxious crimson eyes flicker between his brother and the stranger as Ricin tries to whisper to his brother, “Besides, we don’t know what kind of food she is offering. It could just be berries for all we know.”

Ricin’s tummy gurgles unhappily as the thought of berries causes his mouth to water and stomach to cramp. Dang. Had it really been that long since they last ate? As he weighs his options, Ricin sighs heavily and turns his cynical eyes to the purple stranger. Swallowing down the excess saliva that is pooled in his mouth, Ricin clears his throat and asks, “If we do take food from you… promise not to poison it?” While it might seem like a poor attempt at a joke, Ricin’s question holds no humor in the words. If the world is against them, who knows what strangers might try to do?


"Speech"

The response she got from the darker colored one was more what she was expecting—agreeing to take the food in exchange for "breaking" their trap even though she was fairly certain it would have broken whether she stepped in it or not and it was an awful use of a trap anyway. She liked to imagine this was the kind of stuff her mom told her about having to have decorum and be patient with wolves that she didn't like for the sake of alliances and things like that. She didn't know what these two could possibly offer her for her kindness, but it was probably better to not create enemies either way unless she knew for sure she didn't need them for anything. Besides, her mother would be back soon enough and if she saw the two hungry boys maybe she'd want to feed them anyway so she might as well make it look like she was doing something really nice for them.

But then the lighter colored brother spoke up, pretty much claiming that she couldn't be trusted and then after some whispering with his brother questioned her, trying to get her to promise not to poison their food. She scoffed and rolled her eyes at that, replying, "Why would I waste perfectly good poisons on you? They're too much trouble to make to use them on some random boys." She hadn't made any personally yet, but she had seen her mother and Irilyth work on stuff like that before and she knew they were dangerous things to mess with! She shrugged her scaled shoulders and added, "I mean if you really don't want it you don't have to take it. I was just trying to be nice." She turned and started to walk away with a flick of her tail, walking off toward the land bridge to get back to the island since she figured her mother would be on her way back soon too and she'd rather be there waiting for her than hanging around these jerks any longer.

"Avacyn Mendacium"

Chade didn’t want to rely on others but he had failed on his last few hunts and he hadn’t explained to Ricin how each hunt got harder the longer he went without food.  It didn't matter if he caught them meet a week ago, it hadn’t been enough to tide them over for long.  He needed energy or they were back to fish which was still something but he wanted meat.  To get real strength back he wanted a big meal with meat of any kind.

He listened to Ricin’s concerns and imagined they needed to have a talk later about that later.  Ry might not understand how important regularly successful hunts were with what they were doing. He gave Ricin an apologetic look but as Ry spoke to the other pup Chade grimaced as she turned away.  Chade had pride, plenty of it, but he also was hungry and struggling to hunt for two.  They had seen the reality of death.  It was gruesome and once you were dead there was no reason for pride.

She had also said something interesting.  Poison?  It wasn’t that Chade had an interest in killing by poison but that would mean knowing what plants were dangerous!  “Wait,” Chade cast Ry an apologetic look as he jogged a few steps after the other wolf.  “Hey, we’re sorry.  It’s true we are a bit wary but, the food would be appreciated, and” hopefully Ry wouldn’t kill him for asking for more, “You know how to make poison? I assume that means you know which plants are poisonous?”  If they knew which ones were poisonous they would know which ones were safe to eat!

Chade glanced quickly at Ricin again, hopeful he realized the importance of the question.  Chade could worry later about if she’d lie or not.  Hunting animals that were sick was already a danger of risky either way, but if they came to a point they had to eat plants he’d take a bet on trusting their words over not.  Most likely they wouldn’t bother lying as he couldn’t imagine what they’d get for it, right?  There were a lot of things Chade didn’t know about the world.  Everything was dangerous but they wouldn’t survive without taking some risks.  Every time Chade hunted it was a risk but it determined if they lived or died.

“It’ll be ok Ricin,” He spoke softly to his brother, wishing he fully knew it.  Chade recalled all to well what it could look like to die from something poisonous.  They would probably never know which plant had done it.  It had been a horrible way to go though.  Chade imagined Ricin remembered their brother's death well also.

"Speech"

Ricin’s weary gaze flicks between the purple pup and his brother. When she scoffs and rolls her at him, the lighter brother smirks at her, only to have his eyebrows shoot upward in surprise a moment later. Wait, she really knows about poisons? His statement had been made mostly in jest, never mind the biting, cynical delivery of it. The brothers are usually wary of any outsiders, let alone those offering them food, and Ricin wavers between the need to eat and his mistrustful nature.

In their short lives, the brothers have learned that there are only two constants in their world; death and each other. Adults were hard to trust, due to their own mother having kicked out the pups after their father’s death. But another pup their age… Ricin stands at a crossroads and he is uncertain which road to take. So, when she turns to leave, Ricin looks to Chade for guidance and help. The lighter boy does not know if they can trust this wolf but he will follow his brother to the ends of the earth.

Chade calls for the purple girl to wait and casts him an apologetic look but Ricin only smiles, knowing the decision has been made. Lingering behind for a moment, Ricin allows his brother to jog a few steps forward before slowly following in his brother’s wake. The lighter brother knows he has made a bad impression on this stranger and he quickly tries to think of a way to right that wrong. Ears are perked forward to listen to his brother’s words, catching Chade’s attempt to apologize for the both of them.

The darker hued boy asks about poisonous plants and casts him a quick glance. Ricin greets his brother’s eyes with a nod and smile while still remaining slightly behind and to the right Chade. The words of comfort are unnecessary and Ricin simply nods his understanding. Chade is the level-headed brother and Ricin can be prone to flights of fancy. The need to eat outweighs his distrust and Ricin understands that. When he finally speaks up, Ricin says, “Look, I’m sorry for being rude but we had to learn some pretty hard quickly. My name’s Ricin and I am glad our trap caught something so pretty.”

The smile that appears is filled with good humor and mirth as Ricin tries to bury his worry underneath them. Finally stepping up to Chade’s side, walking shoulder to shoulder with his brother, the lighter boy says, “I am really hungry and food sounds amazing right now. How about you forgive me and we all get some food? Chade can tell some pretty cool hunting stories while we eat!” His empty belly rumbles its displeasure into the silence that falls and the smile stays on his lips.


"Speech"

Finding prey that wasn't infected by the strange mushrooms or crystals that had started to pop up all over anything and everything had become increasingly difficult, but she had managed to find a whitetail buck that was seemingly unaffected. It was on the smaller side for a buck so it wouldn't be the largest meal she had ever brought home, but it was good enough for now. They still had plenty in their stores of food to eat on for a while still, but if she could preserve the dried meats for as long as she could she would. It seemed better to not dip into the things that were easier to transport and would keep a long time than it was to eat on that first. She was dragging the buck back toward the land bridge when she heard a collection of voices up ahead, spotting her daughter and two pups about her age talking.

Her ears perked with surprise and she dropped the deer once she got a bit closer, walking up to the trio and eyeing the pair of blue-hued boys curiously. She overheard the lighter hued of the pair mention how hungry he was and how good food sounded as she walked up behind Avacyn and she was even more curious about who these two were and what Avacyn was doing with them. She settled behind Avacyn, scooping up her daughter and pulling her close while giving the boys a soft smile. "I see you've found some new friends while I was hunting," she said with. a chuckle, glancing between her purple hued girl and the two boys. "Who might you two be?"

Manea | Temno | Ciemny

It was good to see Ricin was going along with it, well, right up to the part of his suggesting Chade tell hunting stories.  Hunting stories?  Sure, Chade had merrily told his brother some details about the hunt but they might not sound as great to another wolf.  What if it sounded silly?

A moment later it didn’t even matter.  The smell of fresh meat came to his nose and he could feel the saliva collecting in his throat without even seeing it.  When the adult showed up Chade took two cautious steps back, lowering his head cautiously but it only took a second to remember the deal they’d tried for.  Wariness became mered with a bit of hope glancing to where she’d left the meat.

It would be a lie to say he didn’t think of just running to the meat and seeing how much he and Ry could swallow down before they might stop him.  Eating was always best done fast in case something decided to steal the food. Her motion of pulling the other pup to her caused an unexpected pang in Chade’s heart.  A small gesture, one that dad might have done.  The sadness was shoved away quickly, preserving life was more important than memories that no longer held relevance.

“Hello,” Chade swallowed back some nervousness.  She looked nice but she also could kill them if they were wrong.  “We were striking a bargain,” Chade pushed out, “She broke our snare,” flicking a glance to the pup, “accidentally, maybe it wasn't strong enough” he added to not sound like it was harsh blame, before glancing back up at Manea, “So, in return for the broken snare that you’d share some of the food.”  Chade tried to speak evenly, formally like an adult to an adult, well aware of how far he was from it.

Puppies got killed trying to live on their own so he and Ry weren’t puppies, just still growing adults. “Please?” The statement had been given but considering their situation it seemed a good idea to still remember who the strongest one was here.  It definitely wasn’t Chade or Ricin.


"Speech"

A warm smile rests on Ricin’s face as he walks next to Chade. His confidence is building as they follow the purple pup. The thought of food does sound amazing and he would never say no to an easy meal. Chade does deserve a break after all. However, when the scent of a fresh kill reaches his nostrils, the lighter pup’s stomach cramps unexpectedly. While Chade has been able to provide food for the both of them, the animals are usually small and can only fill a hungry belly so much. Even as his mouth waters and he has to swallow the drool that pools in his mouth, Ricin tries not to let his hunger show.

When the adult appears and moves towards the purple pup, scooping her up and toward her, Ricin instinctively takes serval steps away eyes widening. While it appears his eyes widen in fear, it is actually to help his limited peripheral vison. Widening his eyes allows him to see slightly more and plan an escape route should the brothers need it. Finding a safe path, Ricin relaxes his eyelids as Chade speaks up for them. The lighter boy nods along to his brother’s explanation, showing support for the darker pup while carefully eyeing the adult wolf.

She is very pretty but Ricin is still wary of her. Their own mother didn’t want them, why would another mother want them? Worry clouds the lighter pup’s crimson eyes as he hears Chade ask permission for the food. Here he had been thinking it was done deal, the purple pup had offered it, so it was theirs… right? Looking from Chade to the purple adult, Ricin takes a tentative step forward and speaks up, “Hello ma’am. My name is Ricin and this is my brother, Chade.” He points a dark dipped paw toward his brother.

Swallowing nervously, he continues, “We… we have been on our own for a while. Chade was trying to make a snare to catch us dinner and it broke.” Crimson eyes fall the purple pup. There is no malice or anger in them, only a fearful desperation for understanding. Eyes flick back to Chade as Ricin tries to find the correct words. Looking back to the adult, tears filling the hungry pup’s eyes, he pleads, “Please… we are so hungry.” As if on cue, his stomach rumbles its displeasure at being empty and Ricin looks to his brother before stepping back and lowering his head. Ricin feels ashamed for having to beg for food and he wonders if Chade is mad at him for not believing his brother can find them food.


"Speech"

While the darker of the two blue brothers began to speak she took a moment to examine them both. Even without them saying so she could tell how hungry they must be. Boys their age should still have a bit of puppy fat on their bones and there was no hint of it left on either of them. Her gaze flicked up to the land behind them, wondering where their parents were, but she didn't see anyone across the steppe and hadn't scented any strangers through this area on her hunt. She listened as the seemingly more confident of the two explained how Avacyn had broken their snare—possibly because it wasn't strong enough—and that the bargain had been struck that they would get some some food in return. She looked down at Avacyn with a raised brow, but her daughter confirmed the tale with a nod. While they most certainly had more than enough food to go around for the two boys, she was still needed to have a chat with Avacyn about bargaining with things she couldn't yet provide herself.

She looked back up at the pair of stray boys when the other more timid of the two stepped forward to speak, introducing them both and giving a bit of context for their presence here—how they had been alone for a while and had been using the snare to try and catch dinner. She frowned a bit at that the fact that they were alone far before they were equipped to do so, but she knew the world was a cruel place and there was many reasons why that might have been the case. It was easy to put together the pieces of how Avacyn had ended up in this situation from there though. Two pups that didn't truly know what they were doing when it came to building out the trap, her daughter unknowingly stepping into the snare and causing it to break. Even without the boy's pleas to help them with how hungry they were she already knew she was going to help them, but she would be lying if she said seeing his desperation didn't tug at her. Pups were so precious and cherished in their family and seeing two boys simply left out to fend for themselves sparked an anger in her.

Manea glanced up and made a brief whistle, one of her ravens quickly swooping down to land on her shoulder. "Ciemny, please escort Avacyn back to the dens," she told her companion which took flight again and started circling overhead to wait for the violet and black pup to start making her way across the land bridge. Manea kissed the top of Avacyn's head between her sprouting horns before releasing her and nudging her onward. "Go on. Tell your father I'll be home shortly." Once her daughter was on her way she stood and looked back to the two orphans and nodded toward the buck behind her. "Come on then. Lets get some food into you." She went to the buck and started cutting into its hide with her claws, pulling back the skin to reveal the meat underneath and cutting off a portion for each of the boys. "I know you're both hungry, but don't eat too quickly. No need to make yourselves sick, okay?" she instructed them both before handing a piece to each of them.

Manea | Temno | Ciemny

Chade’s ears pulled back as Ricin spoke feeling embarrassed.  He’d been able to catch enough food to keep them going and whenever he got a meal there was plenty of self-pride at the achievements.  Not the last few days though, and here they were begging someone else for a meal.  Chade was proud of the fact they’d managed to survive and now the achievements seemed trashed and they were just two helpless kids.  What mattered right now was getting food though.  Pride didn’t mean much if you died.  

Ah damn.  Now Ry was crying. Chade looks to Ricin, a flicker of a smile to try and offer confidence that he wasn’t really feeling.  Chade would go to comfort but not when he had to keep most of his focus on an adult.  She was talking to a bird and sending her daughter off.  Her daughter got a kiss before leaving.  Chade thought back to their mom, rough and sharp-edged of their mom seemed nothing like the picture of what this kid got with her mom. Well, who cares?  He had Ry and Ry had him.  They didn’t need kisses no matter how nice it looked.

The dark blue pups' ears shot up high fast when Manea mentioned getting them food.  He could smell that meat, imagine the taste of that meat, even the texture when chewing on it.  The second clearance had been granted Chade glanced to Ricin to make sure he was coming before running towards the corpse.  It wasn’t his kill.  Restraint forced Chade to slow down so that Manea was t the corpse first.  They were getting a portion of this kill and it was up to this wolf to decide how much.

CHade watched Manea as cautiously as any hawk with her every movement.  When the meat was placed before them Chade did quickly take his first bite fast, explaining as he did, “gotta eat fast, make sure no one steals it.” The words were quite mumbled as there was no way he’d let go of his food to make a statement.  It tasted wonderful.  

Since the wolf was still there Chade reluctantly slowed down the speed he chewed at.  Eating slower sounded nice and if she was next to them it was unlikely something would try to steal their food.  How long was she staying there though?  The moment she left their food would be easy game for other large predators.

Chade kept his paws on either side of his meat, claiming ownership of what was his.  He could make himself chew slower but the moment a piece was swallowed he’d be grabbing the next bite.  Food in his stomach today meant hope for tomorrow.  He’d be stronger to have better odds at hunting.  One day at a time, that was life.   Into that second bite, he thought to add in a, “Thank you,” again mumbled around the food in his mouth.

"Speech"

Ricin keeps his head down and crimson eyes latched onto a very interesting spot between his paws. Truth is, the lighter pup saw the embarrassed look on his brother’s face when he had begged for the food. A knife of shame pierced the lighter pup’s heart and, when the tears had welled, Ricin’s humiliation had become a crushing weight. The tears slide free and Ricin’s head lowered further. Suddenly, he is fearful that Chade may abandon him for his weakness and the lighter blue boy’s throat squeezes painful shut for a moment. Ricin shoots a quick, tear-filled glance to his brother, trying to understand just how deeply his words have hurt the darker pup. Instead of anger, there is a flicker of a smile on his brother’s lips and Ricin sees Chade’s attempt to give him confidence. A smile appears the lighter pup’s face as he realizes how foolish his fears are. They had promised to stick together through everything and nothing will separate the brothers.

With his worry washed away, Ricin scrubs the tears from his eyes as the adult calls for the ravens to escort her daughter away. He watches as the purple pup leaves, wondering if she will ever like him. Then the purple adult talks about getting them food and Ricin almost laughs in giddy relief at the prospect of getting a decent meal. It isn’t Chade’s fault that the prey are fast and the boys are barely scrap by but Ricin is still eager at the thought of getting to fill his belly. Chade takes off and Ricin realizes just how hungry his brother has been. The lighter-hued pup is quick to follow after his brother, albeit he lags slightly further back from the adult wolf. As kind as she is acting, Ricin still remembers the painful smacks and words his own mother use to hurl at him.

When she cuts them each a portion of meat and places it before them, Ricin slowly steps up to his piece of meat. Drool pools in his mouth and his stomach cramps painfully at the need to scarf down the food. Casting a glance over toward Chade, the lighter boy watches as his brother starts to devour the meat. The darker pup explains why they usually eat so fast but Ricin just stares down at his piece. Nausea washes over him as he leans down to take a tentative nibble. It isn’t that he doesn’t appreciate the food, Ricin just hadn’t realized how hungry he really is. Maybe slipping Chade more of his portions of food is finally catching up with him. His brother needs the energy to hunt and Ricin had taken it upon himself to make sure Chade always ate more than him. Usually that meant causing a small distraction his brother would have to check out while Ricin slipped chunks of his food into Chade’s portion.

The small nibble of food causes his stomach to roll and the lighter pup opts to talk with the adult to take his mind off his stomach. He tells her about their life, about their father who loved them with all his heart. He told her about their mother and how she never wanted them or their siblings. He speaks of the fateful day when their father died and their mother had kicked them and their three siblings out into the world. Of the first night and how their oldest brother died from eating something poisonous and how their two sisters eventually passed. How their sister had fallen through the ice and could not make it back out and how their other sister was killed by a grizzly bear. However, Ricin does not share that it should have been him that died, that he had tripped and would have been eaten if not for Chade. It is the brothers’ secret shame but it has drawn them closer together.

The whole time he talks, the lighter pup reaches down to occasionally take small bites of food. When his stomach no longer rebels with each bite, the lighter pup takes larger and larger bites until he eventually finishes up his meal. The brothers talk with the adult for a long time, learning about her band and what Manea’s plans are for the future. She offers the boys a place in her band and they politely decline… for now. They do not tell her that they must ask the moon for its approval before they join her. She accepts their answer tells the pups where the band is heading. The brothers promise to see her again and, with a friendly farewell, the brothers slip back into the night, determined to find Manea and her band soon.


"Speech"