Whispers had reached Ezekiel’s ears of things happening to his nieces and nephews, things that made the brute unhappy. The sky glowed red, the earth shook, a new land appeared and yet these things did not concern him because his family always came first. Ely had become reclusive, hiding away from him and the pack after she had lost the challenge to Flare which was another thing Zeke was not pleased about.

Not that he was angry with his sister, no he could never fault her, the blame lay solely on that stranger’s shoulders. Who did he think he was to just walk into their pack and wrest control from a true Saxe? But that would have to wait because, right now, he had to find his beloved sister and straighten some things out. Blood would soon flow if the rumors he had heard are true.


"Ezekiel Saxe"

Ely was a disgrace and her perfect world was crumbling all around her. She was failing as a mother and she had failed as a saxe. She didn’t want to show her face anymore. She was spiraling and couldn’t stop it. She’d lost her rank to some Random new comer who wasn’t even a saxe. And her cousin, her sultan was starting to have a group of officials that weren’t family because of her failure.

And her children had left her gone to their father now. For there was no way scald would have come here to steal them away without them seeking him out first. And that was another failure on her part. She’d neglected her lover, neglected her children.

She paced the den she’d given birth in, her little heaven on the border of Syndicate lands. No one came here looking for her anymore, not since she’d moved her children back into her shared den with Ezekiel. The anger rolled off of her as she paced back and forth. She was angry and displaced, a terrible thing for the saxe to be. She was unraveling… slowly.


"Ely & Ezekiel"

The den is well known to Ezekiel, the den where his sister had given birth to his nieces and nephews, and he slows as he approaches the opening, feeling his sister’s distress long before he even lays eyes on the opening. Features had been pinched, serious, deadly but he stops and makes great effort to relax them so as not to cause Ely any further stress.

Taking a deep breath, he steps up to the fur that separates thos den from the rest of the world and gently pushes it aside, rumbling out her name softly, “El? Do you have a moment to talk?” Gentle, that is what he is trying to go for because she doesn’t need any harsh words or degrading comments. No, right now, they need to hash out their plans and figure out how to get back what is rightfully theirs.


"Ezekiel Saxe"

Ely continued to pace her den even as her brother’s familiar scent drifted in from outside, and even still as she heard his steps drawing closer to her and his voice calling out to her softly. The softest she’d heard him address her in a while. He was Angry with her still, over her involvement with Scald. She knew it, he knew it, the syndicate knew it.

She paused regardless and cast him a glance. Her eyes bothe alive with crazed fury and yet hollow with self hate, a whirlpool of negativity. But she continued to pace again, the constant movement helped to ease her mind to tire her out so she didn’t act rashly.

”If you’ve come here to walk on eggshells while talking Ze , save it. I’m not a little girl anymore… I know I’ve fucked up miserably in every aspect of my life currently” she snapped before she sighed.

She mumbled to herself, not an apology but cast him a softer look before she continued. ”we can talk Ze, what’s on your mind?” it was as close as he’d get to an apology from her.


"Ely & Ezekiel"

While he tries to be gentle, for Ely’s sake, his sister’s sharp voice bites back at him. A smirk tugs at his lips as he enters the den, proud that she can at least acknowledge that things really have become fucked up and he comes to a stop before her. With a softer look, she concedes that they can talk and he dips his head in acknowledgement and settles his haunches before beginning to say his piece, “Well, yes. Things are, as you say ‘fucked up’ in many aspects of your life. However, I know you are not a quitter and I came to ask, what our plan of action is going to be.”

It is simple, things got out of paw but, together, they can straighten things out. The Saxe are strong, determined, and they do not take lightly the taking of what is rightfully theirs. And, if the Raiders really had forcibly taken what they should not have touched, then there will be hell to pay.

At least that is one thing Ezekiel can make certain of.


"Ezekiel Saxe"

Though her body ached for the soothing movement of constant movement, the physical manifestation of the turmoil inside her mind, she resigned herself to sit beside her brother. Leaning against his side for comfort. With a heavy sigh she looks at her brother. ” I’m not a quitter, but I also have no idea what to do right now… I wish mama was here” she mumbled that last bit.

Sure their mother wasn’t the most loving person or anything like a traditional mother. But she did have a way of saying what needed to be done. ” she’d know what to do… I know I should have been around more. I pushed them away, but I wasn’t exactly ready to be a mom… and I had no clue what I was doing. Juggling four children and trying to be good for our sultan… I bit off more than I can chew Ze and now I have nothing to show for one and I assume my children have run away to be with their father…” she closed her eyes

”They belong here with us, but maybe scald has more time for them, maybe that’s what they need? Or maybe I should step up more, try to bring them home if that’s where they went… what do you think ze? What am I supposed to do?”


"Ely & Ezekiel"

Purple clad ears are perked, locked onto his sister’s voice as he waits to hear what her plan is for unfucking her life. Zeke will always stand beside her, no matter what happens or what questionable decisions she makes but, right now, she has to decided what action she wishes to take in this situation. Tail curls around his hips as he sits before her, face blank as he patiently waits, listening to her mumble about wishing their mother was here and that causes one dark brow to cock in silent surprise.

There is no love lost between him and the matriarchal figure from his childhood but he does understand where that statement comes from because, for all her faults, their mother was a woman of action. Head tilts as he listens to her speak, allowing his sister the time she needs to voice the issues she is struggling with. His features are passive, showing no hint of emotions as she finishes, questioning what he thinks about the pups having running away to be with their father and finally, asking what she should do.

Jaw clinches as he processes her words, mulling over the options that lay before them and the missing pups that belong here in the Syndicate. No matter he looks at it, all paths lead back to one option and, with steel in his duel-toned eyes, Ezekiel meets her gaze and says, “We fight.” Silence fills the space around him as he looks her dead in the eye and says, “Those pups belong here. It doesn’t matter what has happened, they need to come home. Now, when I say fight, I don’t mean with teeth and claws. No, we fight with passion and compromises.”

Head gives a curt nod as he slowly forms a plan and lays it out for them, “We go to Seph and tell him what has happened and your intentions to get those pups back. Then, together, we go to the Raiders and carefully negotiate the release of your children back to their home. While we do not need a war, we will not let them take what is ours without a fight.” Ice edges his voice as he thinks of his nieces and nephews in another land, with strangers that were not their blood… and it makes him sick to his stomach.

However, this is Ely’s mess and, while he voiced the actions he wishes to take, the final decision comes down to her. With a smirk, Ezekiel adds, “We should fight for what is ours.” and leaves it at that.


"Ely & Ezekiel"

Ely was grateful for her brother, he was her rock and always had been. Even now he held he didn’t put the blame on her for her missing children or the loss of her title. He was just here to support her. She took a couple deep breaths after her lengthy rant as Ze mulled over her words. But when his gaze met her own and those two words left his mouth she felt her fire reignited. We fight truer words had yet to be spoken between the Saxe siblings.

She nodded along as her brother spoke. Children were the future of their pack, their family. And her children were no different. They’d have to understand that they belong here, they were Saxe kids. And they needed to come home. Part of her felt… Relieved… though she wouldn’t admit that, when he said they wouldn’t be fighting with teeth and nails. Ely loved scald and modesty. And she didn’t particularly want it to come to that, but if her sultan ordered it, she’d have no choice. Family before all else.

“I agree, but maybe we should seek out uncle Rhazien first, he is far more level headed than our dear Sultan, and far better at politics. He knows how to talk to Sephrian better too” she mused.

“Today we plan, tomorrow we fight” she nodded.


"Ely & Ezekiel"