Trahearne sagged in relief as the femme walked away. Yay, she was gone. Now if only they left; then he could join his mother in peace. But no... instead she... started carrying a limb of food back to him. Where did she get that from? Where was there food? How did he not notice it? His stomach rumbled loudly. He didn't want to accept the food... but it smelled so good, and the smell hurt him. It made his stomach hurt. As the woman set the leg down and trotted off, Tra fell upon it ravenously, tearing into it as much as he could with his sharp puppy teeth. The blood felt so warm running down his throat, and despite the normally searing heat of the outside he loved the sensation. It warmed him up on the inside where he had been so cold. Words drifted to him and then away from him; he paid them no mind - his focus was on the food. He didn't know what the food was - he ate lizards and anything else that came in the desert with his mother when she was alive. And prior entering the desert, he was fed milk. His stomach soon began to hurt, and he drew away, reluctantly. The leg still had a good bit of meat on it, and he was still hungry, but the pain. He didn't like the pain. He leaned forward and nibbled the meat, blood staining his jaws and chest.


He got distracted, though, when Aoto moved over. The pup crouched over the leg, staring up at Aoto. It was his, he wasn't going to let anyone take it. It was soon evident that Aoto wasn't going to take it - at least, not right that instant. Trahearne eased away, sitting down with one paw balanced on the leg. He stared stonily at Aoto, mistrust clear in his gaze. "You know nothing," he whispered. He wanted to die. He didn't want to live - not in this cruel world. But now, it seems they weren't going to leave him alone and he hated them for it. Why can't they just go away? The male moved back to where the pup presumed the food was, but he didn't go away.

After a few moments with both of the wolves away from him, Trahearne began to draw in his legs again. Warmth, although warmth radiated through him. He pressed against the limb of deer, warmth flooding that side of his body as blood soaked into his pelt. It didn't last for long though - rain fell, a heavy rain that washed all the blood away and soaked him to the bone. His fluffy and light puppy pelt did nothing to keep the rain off. He snarled quietly, digging his nose under his tail and staring out. He was thirsty, but damnit he would resist. He eyed Tallulah as she approached and tried to usher him out from under the cactus, but he snapped at her - he wasn't going anywhere. Then Aoto approached, and his shoulders hunched and he growled again, although what Aoto said was true... had Trahearne wanted to leave. He didn't. He knew his mother would most likely want him to live... but he wanted to be with her not these strange wolves who knew nothing.



speech thoughts

When she heard that the young pup said that they knew nothing, her felt like it would explode out of her chest. A look of sadness went over her, but she paid no heed as the young dame walked over to the pup and stood over him, looking intimidating despite her somewhat large stature. She could sense that the young pup had been through a lot, but she had too and was willing to tell the young one about her life. She could smell the death that came off of the boy's pelt, and a sad expression came over her as she sat down in front of the him, head hung low and eyes closed.

"My pack had banished me a year ago. I was standing up for the things I believed in since my alpha, my father, had been defeated and killed as a new alpha had taken his place. My mother fought the alpha, to try and stay strong and lead on the pack, but she got killed as well. I know death is never easy for us, believe me I had seen a lot of my friends and family die. But, even though I am young, I believe that loved ones are never truly gone. They live on inside of you and in your heart. Your mother loves you still and will always watch over and protect you from where her spirit lives on, which is in you. I may not be your mother, but, I would love to help her and raise you so that you could be the strong and confident wolf that she knows you will be," Tallulah meant every word she spoke, soon opening her eyes and meeting the pup's gaze. "I know you do not trust me or my mate, that is understandable. But, I want you to grow up and live your life, for it would break my heart to see you die when I had done nothing to help you. I have given you food, and the Gods have blessed you with water. What is it that I can do to prove that you will be safe with me and my mate?"

Aoto listened to what his mate told the pup and heard the what the pup said before she started to speak. There was a sad look that befell Aoto's face as he didn't know what to do. He was lost, not understanding what the problem was and to him that left a emotional scar in his mind. Aoto wasn't a big bad wolf at all but instead someone who cared about everyone and everything even if they didn't exactly accept him. Aoto spoke but his voice was filled with sorrow "I can't help anyone who doesn't want to be helped... so I won't help you if you won't accept my help, I hope you can make it through this rough place and find a place to live... but it seems I cannot be the one to help you, I'm sorry".

Aoto turned away from pup and walked away. He needed some time to himself, to think and to breathe. The brute felt like he failed to help the pup. He didn't know what it was like to lose anyone, and didn't know anything to help those who hurt emotionally. Aoto was true to his word though and he wouldn't help the pup if the pup didn't want his help. The thought pained Aoto but perhaps the young one would be alright on his own.

He was far enough away from his mate that he could only see her and not the pup as he let his haunches fold beneath him as the brute sat down. Tail curled around covering his dusty brown paws as he sat there thinking to himself about the many possible outcomes of the pup's future with and without his and Tallulah's help. Whatever the pup would do next would be for him to decide, not Aoto's decision and not Tallulah's decision but his. No matter though Aoto would sit there continuing to wallow in his own feelings, afraid that he wasn't going to be a good father to his future pups... what happens if they are like this pup, the thought brought worry to Aoto's heart.

The pup glowered as the woman walked over again. He stayed silent this time; obviously growling didn't work. Annoyance flashed through him as she gave him a pitying look. He didn't want her pity, her sorrow. She didn't try to move him, though, just sat down and closed her eyes and had her head tipped to the ground. His own head lifted for a moment, to shake off the rain that had collected on his muzzle. As he did so, the femme began to speak.

He listened stoically, but he was rather surprised. She had a history; one of pain and death like him. So maybe she knew something. Not much though. She can't know a lot, she just can't. He stayed silent, only blinking at her words. He had to resist scoffing, though when she said that his mother was still with him. If that was the case, why couldn't he feel her inside of him? Why did he feel so alone? So caught up in thoughts, he flinched when she met his eyes, and he found he couldn't look away when she spoke her next words. And her words confused him. Why would sh care, whether he lived or died? Why would she be hurt by it? It didn't make any sense. Why? He regarded her solemnly. Her question... made him think. And honestly, there was only one answer. "You can't. Prove to me. There's nothing you can do. There's no such thing as safety," he murmured, though loud enough for Tallulah to hear. "But I'll go with you." He had his reasons for it, reasons he only partially understood, and reasons he wasn't going to share.



speech thoughts

Tallulah looked to the young male and smiled. She could sense the uncertainty that came over him, but, she would not pester the young pup anymore than what he already had been so many times before with her and Aoto. A smile crept over the dame's maw, giving the pup a small, friendly nudge as she looked to the pup, "What is your name?" The cream and orange pelted she-wolf exclaimed, tilting her head slightly as ears were erect when she looked to the kill that still had not been touched in a while, and then back to the young pup.

"I know that what you have gone through must have been hard on you. But, you must look forward and away from the past, for if you look forward you can think about your future," she spoke and smiled kindly to the young pup.

Aoto barely noticed the pup speaking to Tallulah but he heard her speak to him. He decided to swallow in a deep breath before making his way back to Tallulah's side. Even if the pup didn't like him, Aoto was going to be by his mate's side. Gently as he moved, Aoto brushed up against Tallulah's left side and lovingly licked her cheek before letting his gaze set on the pup once more. He came to apologize for his words, perhaps he was too harsh with what he had chosen to say. However Aoto's words came once more from his maw "I apologize for if I sounded rude... for giving up so easily... I just worry" Aoto's voice trailed off as he pressed his face up against Tallulah's neck.

The dusty brown brute sought forgiveness from his mate for his own weakness to have given up where she had not. Was he even a worthy mate would he even be a worthy father to this pup if the pup tagged along and if they ever actually had a chance to properly speak. Thoughts flew through Aoto's mind clouding what was right in front of him. He did care about his mate and the pup but right now he didn't know how to completely express that. Perhaps he was very confused, and Tallulah was his mate, his ease of mind when his thoughts got the better of him. Her beautiful cream and orange colored pelt a blessing in not only beauty but also in helping him calm down when he could think about how she was happy when they first met.

He would care for the pup if he did come with them, gave them a chance. That might ease his mind even more. With the sandstorm that passed them, the fear of losing his mate, and then coming across the pup. He was beginning to wear down tremendously, how was his mate fairing he wondered, was she alright. He would ask the pup for more of his own story later, once he got to know the pup a little better that is.

Trahearne flinched away from the nudge. No, he didn't want her touching him. He didn't want anyone to touch him. To touch him would form a connection to him, and then they would die. He followed Tallulah's glance back to the food. "My name is Trahearne. Trahearne..." His mother had never given him a last name. She herself had one, but she didn't give it to him; she never explained why either. And now he'll never know.

Jaws clenched at the thought; a small sniffle escaped the young boy as he struggled to contain the depth of his misery - the depths of his agonizing sorrow. It was difficult, and Trahearne knew he was only partially succeeding. He looked away from the pair, not saying anything for the time being. He didn't care what the adult wolves said... he just... didn't care. Why did I agree to live again?



speech thoughts

Tallulah sighed and gave the pup a small nudge. Her topaz optics looked around her, her head looking upward as she looked to Aoto. "You wanted to take me to the Avian Estuary?" She asked, her head tilting slightly as she stood upward and listened to the sounds of the world around her. Some buzzards called out as she snarled in warning to them. She wasn't going to die, and she definitely was not going to let her mate or this pup die as well. Her ears were erect, sometimes shifting to make sure nothing was going to come and hurt them. She gave Aoto a small lick on the cheek as she let Aoto lead the way to where he wanted to take her.

Aoto nodded to Tallulah, he indeed wanted to take her there. Something just stuck with him after his first time there and that was where he wanted to call their home. However he was unsure of Trahearne so he spoke to pup "Trahearne, would you like to come with us to the Avian Estuary, I think you might actually like it as there is something I want to show both you and Tallulah, and Trahearne why don't you become apart of our family, I'm sure Tallulah would be delighted to have you with us but that is your decision" He tried to smile however he was still somewhat hurt by his own thoughts. Would he be a poor adoptive father to Trahearne if he did agree to join their family or would things turn out to be better down the road. One could never tell upon a first meeting with those who are unknown to them as Aoto thought about it.

He softly spoke "Follow me you two and stay close, don't want to lose both of you as it seems the long road is ahead of us before we get out of here" His voice was lingering between gentle but emotionless as he shut his maw and turned as he began to move in the direction he thought would lead them to the Avian Estuary. He knew that Tallulah would most likely follow but would the pup willingly follow Aoto or Tallulah.

-exit Aoto unless stopped or Tallulah doesn't follow-