Ain't Half As Sweet as Rotting Meat

*Naiche* · 09-02-2021, 05:24 PM

The calm manner on Naiche shifted to tense muscles, ears moving forward having of course surely having heard Asla wrong. She had his entire focus from the moment she said ‘leaving.’ Leaving with the pups? With Arc?

It took an effort to keep quiet the few moments it took for her to get out the explanation. The simple answer ‘No’ hung in his mind with a strained desire to put the whole notion to rest without debate. Too bad he didn’t like Asla because she was easy to sway, even as he wanted to fling it out there Naiche was well aware that wouldn’t get him anywhere. Muscles tensed with strained self-control.
“Glad I get an opinion in what happens with them, with my own pup.” there was no way he could hold back all his agitation, at least a dry note of irritation wasn’t an outright challenge. Naiche took a slow controlled breath, working to suppress his emotions.

“Asla,” An exhale that seemed to help blow off agitation to something softer, “I grew up in a band with several members. Mom died. Group broke up. Grandfather died. I was alone. That sucked.” It was a very short diluted summary of something he had no intention of thinking back on further. It had hurt a lot more a year ago. Now it was mostly a remembered pain he had shut off as a thing of childhood. Kids clung to past pains, it wasn’t a proper thing to do now.
“As I recall my family was less inclined to find trouble. That could have just been safer lands maybe, I was younger.” How often did the two of them find danger when they had been out together? “Getting past how it would affect me to lose them or you, or affect you should something happen to you, what about the pups?”

“I have no doubt you’d put your life before theres. So I’m not saying you wouldn’t protect them. What if you died? What if you become too injured to hunt or defend? What if you needed care? Even if they managed to survive, could they survive without you? If they could what sort of scars would it leave with them?” Defensive of his son and horror at the scenes in his mind had agitation wanting to slide back in. Love was a cruel thing. What sort of idiot hoped for love?

Mom’s death had put a coldness in his gut and stolen any sort of carefree demeanor Naiche had as a pup. Losing his grandfather and being alone had put a nail to the coffin of his emotions for a good while. It was why formality and some extent of distance were best. Protect, respect, care for but not get so close losing could hurt. Arc should never have to deal with that.

It apparently took time for the last part to sink in. Fear for losing his son came first. “Why are you miserable here?” What had changed lately? Their mother and brother's death and their return were both changes that had happened. Did it have to do with that? Perhaps something about Indigo and the pack? Was it him? Naiche didn’t think he had done anything personally though Asla did surprise him at times.

"Speech"

Login
Username:
Password:	Lost Password?
	Remember me