The day after he and Hazel had welcomed Spider into their family officially, Basilisk rose earlier than usual to complete his tasks for the pack. Now that he was no longer spending time searching for his Father, he had a little more free time. He intended to spend that with his new kid. The newly-made Fatalis would need to learn how to use the dagger he had been gifted, and there was no better time than the present.

His early morning hunt was successful, and he dragged the deer home to the packs stores, before heading back to the treehouse. Hoping it was still early enough to catch Spider in their room. He trotted up the steps, and down the hall, knocking his paw against their door. “Spider, are you in?”

"Speech"

Spider…hadn’t been sleeping. they’d tried; the first few hours had been spent tossing and turning and snatching tidbits of sleep in between memories of rushing black water -

shutupshutup.

but after about hour three, they’d given up, and spent the remainder of the night worrying themselves into a sleep-deprived jumble. so it’s with near-tangible relief that they hear Bas calling them, glad for the distraction. not wanting him to worry, they muse their bedding to make it look well-used, ruffle their own fur, and affect a loud yawn as they swing open the door. “mph...morning, Dad. what’s up?”

"Speech"

A little jolt went through Basilisk as hearing Spider call him Dad. He wasn’t sure exactly if it was good or bad. Perhaps neither - just a surprise. This was his kid now. “Hey kiddo” He said, reaching over to smooth back their ruffled coat. Spider looked tired, and he wondered if he had woken them from a deep sleep. No help for it now.

“Up for learning how to use that dagger of yours?” He asked, smiling at the small pup. Since they had given them a sharp weapon, it would be wise to teach them the do’s and don’t about using it. Otherwise he would no doubt get an earful from Halo the first time Spider cuts themselves.


"Speech"

Spider leans into Bas’ touch, enjoying the fatherly gesture. they can’t even imagine how hastled they must look these days, but appearance has rarely been of much concern to them, and if they worry after the exhaustion on their face it’s only to alleviate suspicion. Bas has enough on his plate as Armada’s prince; he doesn’t need to hear about the juvenile nightmares of someone who’s meant to be growing out of childish things.

thankfully, Bas’ offer provides a much welcomed distraction, and they perk right up at the mention of training. “ooo, yes please!” they’ve been brandishing it around a little, trying out a few experimental swipes and moves, but it’d be nice to get some proper experience under their belt - especially when it has a tendency to slip through their fingers at inopportune moments. dagger stuff is hard, man.

"Speech"

He finished smoothing Spider’s fur, and looked them over for another few moments more. Were they eating right? Something looked a little different about them, but he couldn’t quite put his paw on it. Perhaps they were just going through a growth spurt. They were awfully small, even for a pup. Perhaps he needed to get them bigger helpings of food. Food was important, one of the most important parts of growing. At least, that had been his experience. He’d get Spider half a deer for dinner, after their training.

He let himself be distracted from his worries by Spider’s excited response. He grinned at the pup. “Sirius… your great grandfather-” Spider was a Fatalis now. His kid. That meant they got all the family that came with. “-is much more practised with the blade then I am, but let’s get you started on some basics. Have you ever cleaned or sharpened a blade before?”


"Speech"

they settle dutifully at Bas' feet, looking up with all the earnest enthusiasm of a model student. Bas, Sirius, Hazel - they're all such impressive wolves, and Spider desperately hopes to have at least half their skill and strength some day. and if they can't achieve this through size, then they'll just have to make up for it by being a badass swordsman. a part of them flushes with pride when Bas calls Sirius their great-grandfather; to have family, let alone such cool family, sparks a giddy feeling from the tips of their ears to the ends of their tail. pushing the thought aside to revel in later, they shift their focus completely to Bas' lesson.

had they ever cleaned their dagger? "nope," they chirp, thinking of the blade strapped to their thigh. "never." they'd cleaned off the worst of the blood and fur from that rabbit they'd hunted with Strai, but it probably isn't as pristine as it'd been when they'd first received it. "at least, not...properly." hoping he won't mind the mess too much, they unsheathe the dagger and show off its...questionable condition to Bas.

"Speech"

He grinned down at the tiny wolf as they settled at his paws. He had a lot of uncertainties in his life, and sure, he didn’t really know what to do with a kid… but Spider looked up at him like he was the world. He’d never had that before, and every time it happened, he could feel something shifting inside of him. A need to do well by this kid, to look after them.

Spider admitted a lack of cleaning with the blade, and Bas knew this was a spot he had faulted in his treatment of Spider. He should have shown them immediately. As Spider unsheathed the dagger and displayed it to him, Bas studied it critically. “A clean, sharp blade can mean the difference of a killing blow in a critical moment, or a failure to penetrate fur and sinew.” He warned Spider. He grabbed a cleaning rag, an oiling cloth, and a whetstone. “Clean off the blade as best you can, and then dampen the whetstone. Position the edge of your blade so it won’t slide. Use the coarse side of your whetstone to remove knots in your blade” he instructed Spider, walking them through each step.


"Speech"

Bas doesn’t comment on the mess, and for that they are grateful. instead, he produces a series of cleaning supplies and begins to instruct them on their uses, as patient and thorough as they could ask for. Spider follows his directions as best as they can, putting careful effort into cleaning the blade with a level of meticulousness they rarely reserve for anything. Spider isn’t exactly one for thinking things through, often too caught up in their own excitement or impulsivity to bother with something as mundane as consequences, but there’s a gratification in this work they appreciate, the satisfaction of taking pride in one’s weapon.

once the blade’s been cleaned, they dampen the whetstone as instructed and begin dragging the blade across its edge, relishing the slide and the metallic shing echoing through the air. it’s hard work, but it’s fulfilling, and the ache that burns through their shoulders is one they savour. “like this?” they ask finally, lifting the dagger for Bas’ inspection. it looks better already, sharp and gleaming s it had the day they’d first received it.

Speech

Basilisk watched as his kid put in the effort to follow his instructions, and care for their knife as best they could. Slowly but surely, the knife was cleaned and cared for. A sharp end was honed onto the blade, and the knots in the metal were smoothed over. It looked good as new. Spider held it up for him to inspect, and he did so with a critical eye “Good. Remember to care for your dagger often” He advised Spider.

He started to pack away the supplies they had used, bundling them up so he could hand them over to Spider. “There’s something else I wish to talk to you about, Spider” He added. Speaking slowly to buy himself some time and get his thoughts in order. Being responsible, and looking to not only his own future, but a kid’s as well was still very new to him. “You're a Fatalis now. Your my Fatalis.” He said with a soft note of possessiveness. “One day, this pack may well be mine.” The Warlord was incredibly old. He worried that day would come sooner than he was ready for. “You are my child, my oldest and only child. What do you want for your future, Spider?” If everything fell as it was line now, there was a chance that Spider could be heir one day.


"Speech"

there’s always a little drop to their stomach when Bas or Hazel want to talk, even if, so far, such conversations have only ever led to good things. they can’t help themselves. it’s like they’re just waiting for one of their parents to say, ‘actually, we’ve changed our minds - you have to go.’ thankfully, Bas immediately assuages that fear -  claiming them as his, making them feel safe and loved, as he always does. they trust him so whole-heartedly it scares them. they hadn’t known they could trust someone and love someone so deeply. ultimately, Bas is their whole world - their father. they’d never thought they’d get to have that. “my future?” they clarify, blinking in surprise. they’ve never really considered it beyond warrior status, but the idea that Bas might lead the pack one day, might be alpha…it’s dizzying. Spider can’t even imagine having that kind of power.

“there’s an elite kind of warrior i’ve heard about,” they say finally, “called Howlers. i think, maybe…i might one day like to become one. but beyond that…” they glance up at Bas, searching his face. he’d lead one day, most likely. is that something they want? “are you scared?” they ask finally, voice a low rasp. Bas didn’t seem to get scared of anything. maybe to him, leading the pack is just another one of those insurmountable things he has to face. just another challenge he’ll face head on with teeth and claws and strength. “are you scared to lead the pack?”

"Speech"

Spider has a male raven companion named Doomsday and a female snake companion named Lady Snakeskin. Assume they are present unless stated otherwise.

His child had a little ambition, and he wondered how far that would lead them. Spiders question however stalled him, and he stopped a moment to consider it. It surprised him that Spider asked it, and he weighed it carefully. When he spoke, it was the stark truth. “It’s a lot of responsibility, and it’s…not how I imagined it. It wasn’t Sirius who set me as heir, but my father, Azure.” He explained.

He hadn’t spoken much about Azure, the worry and loss was still very fresh to him. “I guess I’m just seeing where this leads me.” He finished softly. It wasn’t much of an explanation perhaps, but he wasn’t sure he had a better answer.


"Speech"

Azure. the name holds a weight to it Spider can’t quite grasp, a significance they can sense but don’t truly understand. they remember months ago when Bas had last mentioned their father, though he hasn’t divulged his name that day. “is he the one you’re trying to find?” Spider asks, a gently as possible. they don’t know how delicate the topic is, and they don’t want to push in case it upsets Bas. questions swirl through them, such as: why did he leave? is he a good person? does Bas have a good relationship with him? but they stay themselves, managing to hold their tongue. it’s hard, of course - they’re practically burning with curiosity - but if Bas hasn’t spoken much of their father, there has to be a reason for it.

"Speech"

Spider has a male raven companion named Doomsday and a female snake companion named Lady Snakeskin. Assume they are present unless stated otherwise.

Basilisk sighed softly, pushing the dagger caring kit to the side. He was of course happy to answer any of Spider’s questions. This was the kid's lineage now too, after all. “Yes, he went missing shortly after my grandmother - his mother - passed away. He gave no indication of where he was going or that he intended to leave.” He explained, some of that old resentment bleeding through in his words. His father had been his entire world at one point. Perhaps his leaving had allowed Basilisk to develop this family he now had, but still he resented his father for leaving them with so many questions.

“If there's anything else you wish to know about my father, the Armada, or the Fatalis, ask away.” he offered


"Speech"

he’d left - disappeared without a word, abandoning Bas during a time of grief and leaving him to wonder if he’d even return at all. Spider’s heart squeezes in painful sympathy, which is followed by a burst of anger. why are parents always hurting their children? why even have them in the first place if they just plan on leaving? although some older version of Spider might one day acknowledge the nuance of such a topic, in their youth they know only the blacks and whites of right and wrong. “i’m sorry,” they offer, attempting to resting their head on his flank in a comforting gesture. “that must’ve been hard.” a heartbeat passes in which they sit im contemplative silence. “so then…has the Fatalis line always ruled the Armada?” just how far back does Bas’ bloodline go?

"Speech"

Spider has a male raven companion named Doomsday and a female snake companion named Lady Snakeskin. Assume they are present unless stated otherwise.