The storms had finally quieted over Sawtooth lands, the wind had stopped howl and the rain was no longer pouring. Now she could finally take Psalm and Hymn from the den. She?d woken Ara and the two boys, their first stop would be her mother?s den. They needed to know who Song was in regards to the pack and where it was she lived in the pack. She would lead them on the paths that criss crossed the territory, her paws leading them on one such path that traveled along the border for a few hundred feet. She felt an anxiety well up within her gut as her oceanic eyes would watch the rogue lands that neighbored Sawtooth. She still held a fear that Lel was out there watching, just waiting to pounce on her once more. She had no doubt he?d wish to take the children he?d forced upon her. Her pace would slow as the anxiety obviously held her, eyes would switch back from her boys to the forest with each step she would carefully make. Ara and probably the twins too, would notice her obvious change in demeanor. She knew she might alarm them, but she was very much being clutched by fear. "Speech"

He?d been awoken that morning to find that the thunder had stopped, the sun was out. He?d never seen the sun before, it?s brilliance was almost overwhelming. Though he?d heard that they would be meeting other family members today he had squinted his eyes and pressed on. Following dutifully behind his mother his small stride would try to keep up with her, though it was obvious to see that his attention wanted to linger on all the new stuff he could see. Small nudges from his brother and mother Ara behind him would keep him in line however. At least until Novel?s paws had slowed by an off place in the trail.
For Psalm though her slowing down did not mean that he was going to, and as her attention would focus on the world out there his paws would continue him forward. His head was down as he plodded along with determination, his little body meters from where his family was creeping along. Not noticing the distress that was falling off his mother in waves.

speech

Though her time with them had been short, Ara already loved Psalm and Hymn as though they were her own flesh and blood. She had yet to introduce either of her parents to them, as they had been confined to the den for all of their short lives. Still she wondered how she might explain the feelings she had discovered she had for Novel, though she knew it would quickly become obvious when the tiny boys referred to her as mom as well as Novel.



She would let Novel lead the way, happy for her slowly growing courage, though she could sense a bit of wariness in her gait. slowly the woman would follow, nudging both of the brothers from behind to encourage them to follow Novel's pawsteps. Her own stance was guarded as she followed, wondering what caused the sudden tension in her mate's stance. A soft whine of inquiry would fall from her lips before she nuzzled Psalm's back, but he slipped away quickly as Novel's course changed. She would keep her eyes on them as they went, unwilling to let either from her sight for even an instant.

The boy moved quietly alongside his twin, cerulean gaze darting every which way and tiny jaw agape. As far as Hymn had been aware the world outside the den had been dark, and wet, but the howling and pounding had let up one day and now? Well it was much more open, much brighter than he had originally thought. They were heading out today to find more family, which made Hymn excited. He loved meeting new people! Or at least he thought he did. His knowledge of others were limited to his mothers and brother.

Hymn occasionally nudged his brother along, making sure that Psalm kept up with them. Hymn seemed to notice his mother?s change in pace before his brother did, slowing too and cocking his head to the side. "Momma?"He asked, only just starting to become aware of the shift in his birth mother.


""

Lel stalked unfamiliar lands, keeping himself as low to the ground as he could. All his senses were on high alert as he tracked her. Jian was starting to show her pregnancy and it had hit Lel that he may have very well left that little white and black bitch pregnant. If she carried his children he needed to know. His whole strategy depended upon it. Hindsight was 20/20 and in hindsight Lel was all too aware he had made an error. The girl had smelled of another pack and yet he had only too boldly thrown himself upon her. If she ended up pregnant he would have a whole pack to deal with, regardless of if she told or not. He would have to right it, for his safety and the safety of the children his sister carried. The behemoth moved with as much stealth as he could muster, which wasn?t much. A scent he recognized from the monochromatic girl told him he was on the right track. It didn?t occur to Lel what he would do when he arrived at the borders, it wasn?t like he could just walk right up and ask to see her? Fortunately for him he wouldn?t need to. As he peered out at the place he had first met Novel her familiar form drifted into view. Trailed quickly by two smaller ones and a female he did not recognize. A grin split across his muzzle and Lel picked himself up. Moving with confidence towards the small party the male did not speak, no not until he had moved directly into the girl?s line of sight. Keeping himself pointedly across the borderline, he would play by their rules? for now. "Well," he purred, "what have we here?" His violet gaze roved over the group, landing solidly upon each of the pups in turn before turning to the gold faced girl, a small frown creasing his brow as he drew in the unknown female. "Speech"

She would hear Hymn?s voice as the sight of him would overcome her senses. Eyes would land on his pale pelt and her heart would stop. The color would drain from her face, she would whimper and involuntarily step back as he drew near, unaware that Psalm had continued forward. She would become frozen in place as his words were given to her, "Well, what have we here?" She?d feel her confidence boost and a growl would replace the frightened whine. He did not belong here, and he would not harm her children. Her hackles would raise along her back as she took a few steps forward. Shielding what she thought was both of her pups from his gaze. She would raise her features to the sky, calling for her family for aide. She?d ready herself for his retaliation, ears folding back on her skull as she snarled at him. Then she?d see where Psalm had gotten himself to.

His mismatched paws would continue to propel him forward along the trail. Eventually the sight of the tall white male would catch his attention, by the time he?d heard the howl and Novel had growled he was already looking up at the man from his paws. Incredibly bright blue eyes would look up into the odd swirling abyss that were this man?s eyes. An amused smile would cover his tiny features as his tail would wag behind him. "Who?!" He would ask both excitedly and curious as he was always eager to meet a new face. His mismatched front paws would dance as he awaited an answer, completely oblivious to the danger in which he?d put himself by being so close to his sire. ""

Still she was growing accustomed to being a parent to Psalm and Hymn. They were too young to understand that she was not their birth parent. They seemed closer to Novel in some ways -- it was she that had fed them from birth, so the relationship they shared was understandable. She could only hope they would stay close to her, and love her, even when they realized that she was not a parent by blood. She dreaded the day when they would have to find out -- and she could only hope today wouldn't be that day.


The unfamiliar scent of a stranger suddenly impinged on her senses. Instantly she drew herself closer to the boys, an uncomfortable look stretching across her features. It was not someone from Sawtooth, and a flash of fur out of the corner of her eye told her that someone was near. Protectively she felt her hackles raising, turning to face the male, a stranger to her. He had not yet trespassed and yet she felt a pit of fear forming in her stomach at the way he spoke and how strangely he eyed the boys. Novel instantly reacted, bristling with anger. "Novel," she began under her breath, forcing herself to keep her voice level. "Who is this?" There was unmistakable recognition in her gaze as she watched him, but Ara knew exactly who it was. Novel's reaction said it all. Never had she seen her angry at all -- let alone this angry.


Her stomach would lurch as Psalm rushed forward toward the male. Knowing she would be putting herself into danger by being so close to this male -- but truly not caring -- she would rush forward, aiming to grab Pslam by his scruff and yank him away from potential danger.

Hymn looked up at his mother a frown creasing his small brow and giving him a slightly comical look. "Momma?" He repeated just as two forms moved out into view. The first was a large white male, one he did not recognize though he felt his mother tensing up beside him. The second was Psalm going to meet the stranger. Normally friendly the tenseness rolling off his mother caused him to push in closer into her. The male spoke and even the pup was aware of the strangeness of his voice.
Things were moving too fast then Ara, his other mother, was rushing forwards to grab hold of Psalm and without thinking Hymn himself leapt after her, moving as quick as his little legs could take him to stand before both his brother and mother, hackles raising and fangs glinting as he let out a hissing growl. He would protect them!


""

Lel reveled in the expression that fell across the girl?s face, he grinned wider at her, then things began to move. One of the small dark shapes had moved towards him, asking a question in his small voice, the bronze faced girl raced forwards, the white bitch tipped her head back to call for others and the second pup raced out in front of them all. Lel was moving instantly, grabbing hold of the boy that had planted himself in front of the now retreating woman and pup. The boy squirmed in his grip but Lel held tight taking a few steps back and placing him almost gently at his paws, moving his right one in tight to grip the child against his leg. The boy hissed and squirmed and when that proved futile whined. "I wouldn?t be so hasty if I were you!" He barked, anger coursing through him. "I came to talk and I will speak!" He pushed his paws in tighter and the boy let out a slightly pained whine. His message clear, he would say his piece and if they tried to stop he?d hurt the boy before they could even get to him. "Speech"

She couldn?t comfort or reassure Hymn at all, her own fear was too gripping as her blue eyes became locked on Lel?s face. She wouldn?t even need to tell Ara who it was that stood before them. Psalm would easily trot up to the disgusting man, his tail wagging and excitement running through him as he hoped to meet another new wolf. As she called for anyone to come Ara was there grabbing their smaller son, and as she still stood there frozen Hymn would take his place before the tall white man. Then Lel had him. He?d grab hold of her son and she?d whine, taking a step forward before Lel?s words would make their way to her ears. He?d emphasize his point as he squeezed little Hymn and she?d whimper, stuck. She could do nothing for her little boy, mismatched ears would fall to her head as she watched helplessly, ?Then say it!? she?d sneer ?and give me back my son!? a growl would make its way through her chest as she glared at his form.

Once, such fear would've gripped her and paralyzed her completely. This man was here to hurt them -- whether it be Novel or their sons. But now, she suddenly felt a fierce rage building in her stomach, her maternal instincts quickly kicking in. All she wanted to do was to protect them and Novel, to get rid of this man and to retreat to safety. The fur along the ridge of her back bristled as she quickly pulled Psalm back, but she soon realized that something awful had happened. Hymn had loped forward to join his brother, bristling with the contagious anger of his mothers, before Lel grabbed him and pinned him tightly against his leg.


Ara's initial reaction was to strike. To hurt the man that had done this to Novel, that had dared to return to-- to what? To seek retribution for something? To take back children he thought were his own? A sneer found its way onto her lips, an ugly expression that she wasn't sure she had ever worn before, her anger coming forth suddenly and with little abandon. The man said he wanted to speak -- Ara had to contain herself from rushing forward, eying Lel unblinkingly, unwilling to let him harm Hymn if she could help it. What could he possibly want to say? The woman felt angry tears well in her eyes as she stood and waited, tense and alert.

Lel was pleased to see the pair adjusting for his move. The bronze faced girl seemed like she wanted to strike and Lel pushed in with his paw again, reminding her as the boy whimpered again. His violet gaze flew up towards Novel as she spoke, bristling. A wicked grin split across his face. "Good to see you have some sense." He spoke evenly, his voice taking on a tone of authority. He looked down at the boy for a moment, unspeaking. Strange just how small and weak they really were, how easy it would be to break the child right then and there. "I want protection." He said, looking down at the child. "I know how likely it is your pack and family are to seek retribution." Now he looked up, the grin gone and replaced with a frown. "I want you to swear that you will stop that from happening." He moved his muzzle so that it was pressed against the pup?s neck, lips curling up so that fangs pushed against his flesh. "I want you to swear on your pups life, and in return I will leave you and them alone." "Speech"

The sight of Lel with her son would physically hurt the girl as she heard the pup squeal in pain. She would visibly flinch as her hackles raised and a low growl would escape from her chest. She could do nothing but watch as he handled her little boy. Ara too, was stunnined into a defensive position over Psalm, both boys having found no issue with being in Lel?s presence beforehand. Why didn?t they have any fear? A snarl would rush across her features as finally Lel would speak, his eyes glued to the child he?d created. She could feel hate welling up within her breast, she didn?t want him to look at her babies. He didn?t even deserve to know of their existence. She?d growl again as finally he made his demand, the logic that he spewed was undeniable. Her family wished for his blood. Though his end deal was more than she could hope for. As long as she never saw him again, she didn?t care if he was dead or alive. This time she wouldn?t look to Ara for guidance first, this was her decision and she would make it with no hesitation. ?I swear it.? She?d say simply as her blue eyes bored into his gaze. He would not harm her children. From the way he handled Hymn it was obvious he cared not for his forcefully placed seed.

The rage inside her chest would only build as she watched the stranger tighten his grip on the son he had helped produce -- her son. Anger flared in her blue gaze, fixated unblinkingly on him. She knew now why her father seemed so cold, so distant sometimes; life was cruel and the creatures in it could be even more relentless. No matter how badly she wanted to strike him then and there, to make him hurt for what he had done to her mate, she was frozen to the earth as he began to proposition them.


'I want protection,' he began, explaining he wanted to make sure that their pack would not try to find him and punish him. Honestly, though he didn't know this, Sawtooth was unlikely to search for him for the sole reason of punishing him, so long as he was not a threat to them any longer. Most of the wolves of both Sawtooth and their sister pack Threar were peaceful, more likely to protect those they loved rather than hunting down their enemies. Still Ara found a sneer lingering on her lips, but she would nod slowly, trying to relax her guarded stance. Novel was quick to accept his bargain and she would simply nod in agreement. All she wanted was for them to be safe -- whatever it took.