You Better Be Good To Me
04-17-2013, 06:03 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- |