Nurturing and ever-vigilant

Bancha could not lie when he thought about how wonderful the mangrove forest was. Compared to the rapids, this place was a blooming landscape of life and opportunity. While the rapids did provide water and fish, this place also provided that plus more. Shade, security, privacy, and potential danger to anyone who didn’t know their way around. It was no wonder the alligators frequented the shallows…

He didn’t feel as if he were any danger today though. No beady eyes lingering on him as he carefully inspected each milkweed that he gathered. It would do no good if he harvested sick or dying specimens. That would only worsen the illness of whoever he applied it to. Pleased with what he had gathered so far, he looks up as Scylla makes her way closer to him. Giving the Sovereign a smile, he can’t help the way his tail wags happily as she speaks.

“I suppose one cannot call me lazy if I do,” Bancha jokes, his eyes crinkling at the corners as his paws continue to carefully move over the milkweed’s stems. “I’m sorry if it’s a bad time. I forget sometimes that I’m an early riser compared to most,” there is sincerity in his tone, no doubt. He wasn’t one to purposefully wish harm or upset upon anyone. “I-I just,” Bancha hesitates, taking a deep breath and swallowing before he musters up enough courage to say what’s on his mind. “I want to work my way up the ranks. I don’t want to be a freeloader you took on from Kotori or my father’s. I’d like… to be my own wolf,” his voice is soft, feminine almost, a betrayal in the way his hormones were beginning to develop.

BANCHA