Azure knew he was on a slippery slope, especially given that now he had moved from sourcing his own liquor to bartering for the product of one of his Howlers. He doubted the pack would blame him for his less-than-responsible actions with the knowledge of all that had happened in the past season, but Azure did not like the idea of being looked upon as a weak leader, and aimed to nip that in the bud before the rumours could even start.

It had been a while since he'd taken one of his wolves out on a one-on-one outing, and it only made sense that Grim would be the first invitee. At a time the Howler felt convenient and acceptable, the pair headed out south into the oasis that at one time supposedly, the Empire once owned.

Since the Empire's occupation there had been a new oasis found, spoken of by few passing travellers and cautioning that only the best of hunters were able to find the trail that led into it. As they approached, the first thing that caught Azure's eye were swift and scattering felines, much smaller than any cougar he'd ever seen. "Interesting.." He mused.

Stepping further into the hidden land, he turned his head to address Grim conversationally. "How is your mate finding life with us?"


"Speech"

Grimshaw wasn't sure what to think about Azure wanting to take him out on a trip down south. His own body had barely healed enough for the trip, but with enough promising he had won over Malachai's approval. It wasn't every day he was requested by someone, let alone an Alpha, to join them for any kind of trip or mission. Whatever was on Azure's mind beyond this 'trip' was a mystery to him and left him wondering for nearly the whole trip. It was probably a good thing neither of the men were very talkative.

Grim wasn't completely unaware of the mans recent actions, though to say he bothered himself with the details was a stretch. All he knew was that the man had helped himself to more of his alcohol than he'd like to admit. Although calling it his wasn't really the case either; it did belong to the pack in a sense. Grim wasn't upset over it anyway; the bar still had a long way until it would be completed, so as long as the man had an idea of how to help replace or make up for the loss, he wouldn't hold it against the man. Besides, giving a man a free pass in the light of recent events seemed more than fair.

A free pass hardly seemed like enough though. In the pack he carried with various supplies for his trip, and of course the medicines Malachai made him bring, was a bottle of alcohol. He didn't know if Azure felt any guilt or shame in taking or borrowing or whatever he told himself he had done, but Grim wasn't going to hold it against him. He wasn't in the business of holding grudges anymore and certainly not ones against his alpha. As far as he knew, the man was completely justified in his actions against the pirates. He doubted he would've acted any different if Malachai had been kidnapped.

Where Azure led him to was apparently some place once held by the Empire. It was far before his time and even before Azure's it seemed by the way they had to look for the hidden path that led them to a place he wasn't even sure he could've imagined if someone explained it to him. He'd seen these smaller cats before, though he picked a paw up awkwardly as he stepped as if the animals were weird and gross in a way. Like their larger cousins, Grimshaw didn't doubt their sharp claws and teeth and despite their size, Grimshaw didn't want to find out what tangling with a mad one or twenty felt like. He was careful not to step on the cats as they moved quickly around them, eyeing them with uncertainty. Was there a reason Azure had brought him here, or was this just a convienent place to end the journey south and now they'd turn around and make the trip back? This place was pretty hidden and he was back to an initial, fleeting fear he had at the beginning of this trip would end perhaps in a similar, however more final, way that his tumble down the mountain had. Azure seemed like the kind to go well out of his way to prove a point and Grimshaw was beginning to worry that perhaps he should be a bit more cautious around him.

He wasn't afraid of Azure though, perhaps just smart enough to avoid conflict? Maybe he was smarter than he thought bringing the bottle of alcohol with him. A peace offering perhaps could be what saves his life. Though, he couldn't imagine why the man would bother himself with Grimshaw's mistake when he seemed to have so much other shit going on, but Grimshaw also wasn't a stranger to taking out ones stress on another. Perhaps his mistake was small, but to Azure it could be massive. His rank should be enough to promise that he wouldn't go falling off mountains making stupid decisions in an attempt to show off to his boyfriend.

Azure's subtle recognition of the land they found had fallen on deaf ears, however the question brought his attention back quickly. He thought about his answer for a moment and sighed, unfortunately uncertain as the man spent far too much of his time worrying about him instead of anything else. Grimshaw couldn't say that he didn't adore the attention, but he certainly wished Malachai would take more time to integrate himself into the pack and make a friend or something. He didn't have much room to talk about making friends, but he certainly didn't want Malachai wasting time with him while he could be doing something else. Maybe it was the responsible side in him wanting Malachai to work more instead of worry, but he wasn't going to be the one to tell him.

"I think he likes it, but he was too busy worrying to do much else or really enjoy it if he had," he said with a light frown, really only predicting the other mans thoughts. In the way he didn't see himself acting much differently from Azure in his situation, he really didn't see himself acting any differently had Malachai been injured either though perhaps it was his rank that allowed him to think rationally, even if he didn't want to.

"Speech!"

art © basilisk ─ code © skelle 2022

The cats continued to scatter around the men as they walked and Azure eyed them with mild disgust. He wasn't truly adverse to cats (seeing as he did live side by side with one for a long while in the Armada) though their small size and ruby eyes were an unsettling sight. Weirder yet was the massive structure in the middle of the oasis, a carved piece of what looked to be almost sandstone fashioned into an even larger and more imposing feline. Azure squinted up into the sunlight to look upon it's 'face', tilting his head with interest at the inlaid crimson gemstones that made up the statue's eyes.

Grimshaw's response did not give much away and Azure raised a brow. "Worrying?" Truthfully, he knew very little about the personal issues of his pack mates (and in fact wasn't even aware Grim had fallen off a mountain, for all the man's worrying) and while he hardly cared to therapize a grown man or his mate, Az knew it was his responsibility to be informed of potential unrest. "What worries Malachai?"

"Speech"

Mercurial gaze followed Azure's to the face of the stone, cat-like structure. Brows pressed together as he wondered. The ruby eyes of the structure and the matching eyes of the small felines was more than unsettling, but he was adept at not letting it show in favor of keeping good company. Instead, he moved slowly through the ominous felines and was careful to not step on any tails or toes.

"Me," he said bluntly at first, a small sigh coming before he finished his thought. "When I fell off the mountain, he... worried too much, he still worries." Grim frowned as he trailed off, knowing it was because of his love for Malachai that he knew he wouldn't act any differently had it been his life on the line. He didn't blame the man for it, he had just wished that he'd worried less and had instead distracted himself with settling in. Grim would be lying if he said he didn't appreciate his concern and care, though.

He was certain Azure didn't want to hear about the details of his relationship, so he wouldn't continue it. Grimshaw was fine now and soon the bar would open. Malachai would be able to find his place soon and so he wouldn't allow himself to worry. He looked away from the large feline structure and to the many cats moving around them, changing the subject to the first thought that came to his mind. "Do you think that they worship that structure?"
"Speech!"

art © basilisk ─ code © skelle 2022

It was not surprising that the man's mate's worries were centered around Grimshaw himself, but what followed was surprising indeed. "You fell off a mountain?" Azure asked bluntly, tone tinged with confusion and a tiny bit of judgement. How did one fall off a mountain? They lived on a mountain. Was Grimshaw struggling to adjust to the change in terrain that badly? He realized belatedly that this was information he probably should have been informed of earlier (and he may have been and simply forgot) and elaborated, giving a half-apology that was more of an excuse. "I wasn't aware - I've had my paws full." It wasn't even a lie - the pirates had taken up every ounce of his energy.

At the mention of the statue he shrugged, not knowing or caring what sort of Gods a cat would pray to. "They're stupid enough to worship it, I'd think." He judged the felines, sending a glare the way of a black one that scattered beneath his gaze. Moving further in, he approached the pool of water in the center. A hidden oasis, guarded by an oversized cat-god thing. Now he'd seen everything.

"Speech"

Tyrfing had simply been wandering when he stumbled upon the strange territory, so caught up in observing the unique felines and the statue-god they seemed to worship when suddenly, voices drew his ear. The viking stood up straight, alerted to the sound and ready to fight or flee if need be. The men were large and well muscled, both clearly warriors and familiar with each other. That might lead Tyrfing into a two-on-one fight if he was unlucky.

What was odd however was the mark across one man's face, a mark he'd seen before... as well as the stripes upon his hind... and saber fangs... Was this wolf related to Aris? Gulping, he moved to back slowly out of the occupied territory - his pace kicking up into a sprint as he heard pawsteps following along after him.

As Azure approached the pool of water a new sound caught his ear - pawprints, larger ones then the cats who frequented these lands. His nostrils flared to catch the scent, but all he could gather was the thick smell of feline and algae from the oasis before him. Az swept his gaze across the territory, touching on each lounging ruby-eyed cat and even glancing across the clear water's surface as he investigated quietly. Grimshaw was with him and with the two of them there was nothing to fear, but Azure was scarred both physically and mentally by the harassment of pirates and he saw their shadows everywhere he looked.

Continuing forward, he looped around the cat-statue's massive base, peering around the corner just in time to see a departing tail in the distance. Azure bristled and stiffened, his lips pulling back in a silent snarl as he watched the stranger flee. Was it a spy? Just a coincidence? Azure couldn't tell, he couldn't place the scent so close to the marble forming the statue. It seemed the cats nearby rubbed up upon their godly idol frequently, leaving their stench plastered permanently across it's smooth form. Ugh.

"Speech"