Earned in Blood

Bane observed Maverick come at his call, the elder beyond apprehensive and a quiver going through his body at his alphas words. The jester was shaking as he spoke, a sick feeling rising in his stomach as everything gushed out as quick as it could. "Maverick, Maverick I have done something terrible. I took a pup of Alena's, Nako. But he is also mine. I took him away from his family, like when I was young with the forest fire. Except i was the fire this time. And I lied to our Loccian. Why did I lie to our Loccian? She didn't have to be lied to. I told her I took Nako aside and asked him if he wanted to live with me. But I didn't, I scarred him, like the old covered burns on my muzzle and paws and stomach, right in front of his mothers eyes. Like with mine, except she was dead. And I have now called him a bastard, like with my adoptive father... this is... an unfortunate cycle." The words gushed out towards his alpha as tears leaked from his eyes and he collapsed onto the snow as his legs buckled. "I created myself, I created myself, I created myself." Bane shuddered and snarled into the snow, the jester curling up and biting at his legs and tearing at his chest. "It's all wrong. I was never going to kill him, I just said I would so I could take him." Bane braced himself for the pain and tore out patch of fur, a part of the scar of burned flesh on his chest being shown to his alpha. "Maverick help me, I've created myself. Scars when I was young, scars when he is young. I need help!" Bane roared the last word and sat seething in the snow, a sorrowful scowl on his face as he looked down at his paws and continued to cry.

"I wasn't going to kill him..." Bane trailed off and softly touched his forepaws together in thought. "Monster, it's what the other pups called me. And its true in more ways than one Maverick. I pray that you never have to feel to strips of flesh hanging from your body. Or the ticking and sizzling of skin being cooked, except it's your own." Bane sniffed his runny nose and peered up at his alpha. I've been so alone, so alone, and soon I will be gone." A sudden realization came to him and a look of awe overcame him upon discovering the fact, a sad smile appearing at the corner of his muzzle. "Maverick, you might not remember, but how were you found in the ashlands? Was a parent protecting your little forms with their own? Did Gerhardt ever tell you? I last saw Rancor running back when he told me to run. Can you try to remember?" This was so strange... both wolves having survived the flames of their youth.