The alabaster female was walking around her new found home. Sulking in the trees, she took little cover in the dawn light. Slumber was useless at this time. She had paced the night away with thoughts that would not let her weary mind sleep. As the sun peaked over the horizon, the female cursed to herself. Stepping out of her little abode, Zarzenova streached her back, arching upwards and down; seemingly like a cat. Blinking rapidly to cast the dreariness from them; the titian and azure where hidden from the world. The woman took delicate steps toward a water formation; known to many as a spring. Zarzenova stared at her reflection for a moment. She saw her fur, which seeming white but had a silver cast to it. She saw her eyes; they mirrored the color of the sunset and the sky. She saw her small, fine features, her slenderness. A smile formed on her face, not one of happiness, but of egotism. Lapping up the cool water felt refreshing to the female. After a long night, she was glad it was finally over. There was not much to do in the wee morning hours. She supposed she could wander the boarders. It would make her father happy if Zarzenova stopped being so pig headed and helped out more. At least so she thought. In truth, she knew not how to behave properly, or how her father thought of her. Snorting, she threw that idea to the side. No, the princess was going to just sit here, just be lazy and wait for a call, or for food to come to her. Why should she work? She was a princess after all, or would she be a former princess now with Kaien ruling? She knew not, but this mere fact did not bother her. Haunches buckled, Zarzenova sat on the earth; waiting.

Grinner, the torturer of all of Tortuga's prisoners and personal antagonist to all in his pack had woken with an awful crick in his neck. He was still too young, or so he thought, for the pains of maturity. It had to be the weather. Slowly he emerged from the holding den he had fallen asleep in and started his morning stroll through the rocky peaks of Tortuga, humming a pleasant tune as he so often did in times of such privacy. A happy tune that was interrupted by the scent of a young female. Damn. He did so enjoy the peacefulness of singularity, but now he had to go and ruin her day. Such a chore it was to be the only one to bring eality crashing down around the high spirited and optimistic. He moved toward her silently as a ghost until he was mere feet away from her. "Well good morning little one." He sang with his characteristically toothy grin"Such a fine morning for a stroll. Wouldn't you agree?" he hissed. Speech,

Zarzenova ears pricked forward at the sound of another. Silent the beast was, until its voice spoke. "Well good morning little one." It made her cringe. Turning around, she stood face to face with another lupine. Zarzenova snarled. "I am not a little one, and nothing is good about this morning." It came out in her sing song voice, with a hint of the annoyance within. Who did this male think he was anyway? "Such a fine morning for a stroll. Wouldn't you agree?" The beast spoke in a hiss. Did this man dare treat her as he was doing? Surely he did not know who SHE was. Throwing her head back, she stared at him a minute, letting him see her eyes. "If you like that sort of thing" She said. Getting up from her sitting position, she circled him, noting the weak tone of his body. Deciding not to mess with this one, as it was a waste of time, she merely sat down again. "What do you want beast? Do you not know who you are talking too? Saying in a raspy tone. Flicking her tail in impatience, she waited for this, this monsters reply. Ha, he was her slave after all. Why not, she decided, make him dance? Dance like the devil.

The lord couldn't help but here his child's outrage. How could he not hear her angry screams? She seemed to be eternally pissed. How terrible. He tsked at the thought. If only she knew how much farther it was pushing her away from the rank she so desired. She knew of her hatred for Kaien, her adoptive brother, but Nnoitra had good reasons for doing so. Raptoral had been a mighty pack. He was aware of who the boy's parents were. Powerful beings. Both had been in the top tiers. Nnoitra had seen it fit to give him power simply because he no longer wanted it. At least not directly. He was more of a leader from the shadows. It suited him better. Lanky legs brought him forward to the scene swiftly. Grinner was there and an amused light took place along with curiosity. Zarzenova was certainly his child although the attitude did not belong to him. She must have gotten it from her mother. He shook his head and two-toned blue eyes looked at his child with feigned disappointment. "Dear child of mine. If you wish to be a princess then act like it. Just because your brother has the throne does not mean that you're pushed out of place. The more you act out the more of a fool you make yourself look like. It'd not befitting of you. Besides, being my child I thought you would have a bit more..... tact then that." He chuckled before sitting down and looking at Grinner with an eyebrow raised and a grin halfway forming. "Good morning Grinner. I hope you're doing well." He used the same sickly sweet tone that he used when talking to others other than family or Morphine. It was a facade almost yet almost genuine. Putting on a face was something he did amazing at. Speech,

"Awww there's no reason to be sour." he said with a pout. "The day is still young and just full of Surprises." He was as animated when he spoke as he was when he tortured. Constantly swaying like a vile serpent as he matched the yearling's circle formation counterclockwise. His eyes, hot burning embers that they were remained trailed on the adolescent, looking over her silky fur with a sultry gaze. But of course sins of the flesh did not belong in the twisted catalog Grinner advocated. Rather while most males would think of her first heat, he thought of what could be done at the present. Ripping into the soft flesh of her throat and lapping at her blood as it bubbled up from lacerations. Oh the joys of an onslaught. "What do you want beast? Do you not know who you are talking too?" The grin spread impossibly wide at that. "Should I little one?" he teased, running his tail under her chin as he trotted in a small circle to face her. He didn't like the notion of being addressed as a common beast. His tastes were much to refined. He was far too elegant to be associated with matted fur and lacking hygiene, and so he saw fit to retort with a belittling moniker of his own, especially one she had shown such distaste in. He inclined his head lazily toward the other wolf. Two was a party but three was a crowd. It was his words however that caught his interest. "Oh a Princess!" He chirped, glee dripping from his voice."Next time I will greet you with a curtsy." he mocked. The larger wolf greeted him in a way he had become quite accustomed to. "Neomenia wasn't it?" Speech,

Little one. Oh how she detested those words. They rang in her ears, making her feel vulnerable. Zarzenova was a small wolf, and her size did bother her. Even worse was in one mocked her about her size. Snarling at him, she was about to speak, but before she could begin her father waltzed in. Oh crap. She felt weak at the knees, like a power had overcome her body. Her father, Nnoitra, spoke many words; each berating the wolf. It stung her ego, but she would not back down. The ivory female stood up, ignoring her new toy. As her father chuckled, and spoke to the one known as Grinner, she began to think. What did Nnoitra want from her!? She tried to please him again and again and failed each and every time. So was the wolf not supposed to act like the bitch she was? Shaking her head, she simply said "Yes Father" in a meek voice. She did not want her father thinking her weak. Then that Grinner spoke again; mocking her princess hood. She was ready to walk out, to leave them behind. Remember girl to keep your calm. Dad wants a princess; well he will get a damn good one! Zarzenova was getting tired of this act. Seating herself by the water?s edge, her alabaster tail curled around her body. She felt small compared to the two males before her. But she would wait, and be the princess her father wanted her to be.

His daughter accepted his condescending words with a meek "yes father" and it pleased the male. A content noise escaped from his vocals before he approached her and pressed a nose to her forehead in an odd, yet affectionate gesture. He wasn't fond of others, not truly at least. He'd put on a face and pretend to like others, but if he had to say something, he truly did love his children. They reminded him of his deceased siblings, and they were his blood. He wasn't completely a monster. "Good girl." He praised her now that she had accepted his harsh words. He wouldn't badger her about her behavior. If he was lucky she would continue to behave, then he could convince Kaien to give her a position worth having if she proved herself. For now she had a bit of growing up to do. An amused look entered his eyes as his attention turned to Grinner as he got an answer. He was used to sarcastic remarks and mocking tones. It was no different than what he did and he was remarkable at letting it roll off his shoulders like it was nothing. "I'm afraid your mistake. Nnoitra Jaeger though I don't expect a wolf such as yourself to care much for such names. The fair minded can only handle so many syllables after all." Grinner had teased his young and then joked about his own name. Nnoitra meant no harm with the jokes himself, but he wasn't about to take damage without returning it. No. He'd play games too. Even if it meant possibly pissing the other off. Though if they couldn't take a good joke then they really had no business being in Tortuga. Speech,

A loud cackle escaped his maw. "Flattery will get you nowhere. Nnitre." He simpered. To Grinner life was a game. Everything from the horrors of war to simple greetings was a game he had mastered and flaunted well. "It's no fun keeping your children so in line." He said, sensing the growing tension between daughter and father. "You'll just make them easier targets." He said, shaking his head almost remorsefully, the grin still planted over his features."Not that there's anything wrong with that." He shifted his attention to the female, licking his chops hungrily. "Of course if they build up all that bile, it will make them taste bitter. A good countermeasure I suppose." He mused, trotting toward the tree line. "And now, I leave you both to rip at each onther's throats in peace."Two was a party but three was a crowd, and while he could certainly wait for the other two to chase one another off, leaving him to pick at the remainder he felt he had other, more important matters to attend to. "Toodloo Princess...Nnitro." He said before cantering away into the sparse woods, hopefully never to be seen again Exit Grinner Speech,

As Grinner spoke his piece, his two cents worth, and departed; the female sat in frustration and resentment towards the wolf. Even still she felt a sudden awe at the creature?s performance. Determined to keep her eyes on him in the future, she turned towards her father. As the damsel looked, she noticed the oldness that had crept into her father?s features, the grey and the frailness. Zarzenova felt odd. Seeing him in this state made her feel?sad? Even with not caring much for her old man, the female felt it was her duty to help tend to him, as she was his only blood relative in the pack. How are you feeling father? Her vocals rang. Her eyes shifted to the trees, wanting to slink away into their fortress. No, she would wait. Let the old one speak his mind, and feel like he did something good in his daughter?s life. Then, oh yes then, she would live in the darkness in the forest of the night.



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Ears flicked forward as Grinner began to cackle before speaking once more. A smirk tugged at his lips at the other man's words. The oddly marked brute had a way with words that he found amusing. It didn't bother him in the slightest that Grinner was a cannibal. It would have been hypocritical of him to condemn him for it. The ex Alpha had once been a cannibal too. Still was, he just hadn't partaken in the flesh of any wolf for months. Not since Tortuga's founding. As Grinner took his leave he flicked his tail as a farewell then looked to Zarzenova as the girl began to speak. Two-toned blue orbs studied her. Did she truly wish to know how he was? He was indeed aging. He had turned six last winter and age was beginning to creep up on his lanky frame. Had his fur not already been pale the gray and silver hairs beginning to line his muzzle would be more prominent. He didn't quite have the same spunk that he used to either. Part of that was the lack of proper nutrition. Shoulders rolled in a sort of shrug. He'd been fairly well. Roving. But he doubted she wished to hear his stories. He could see her eyes flickering towards the woods. She wished to escape and he could understand. He'd never been a father before, children never came with instruction manuals, so he wouldn't pretend to have been the best father. In fact he could have tried harder. Why hadn't he? He couldn't answer that. "Fine child. Hardly anything worth talking about. The better question is, how have you been daughter of mine? You seem... oh what's the word? Irritated and in mental agony. What plagues you?" Perhaps he was trying to make up with Zarzenova for his failure in raising Jokull and Ricochet. Was he trying to silently ask for Zarzenova's forgiveness? In a way he did owe her. He'd passed the throne on to Kaien prematurely. She might have gotten the throne had he waited until he was seven or eight. Instead he stepped down. He'd gotten lazy near the end and no longer wanted it. Who could blame him? He was a nomad of sorts. He had no wish to continue leading when he could lead so much better from the sidelines. It'd been the better option after all. But no one knew that. So they wouldn't understand. He doubted they ever would. Save for Kaien. Even then the young boy didn't fully get it. He just so happened to be ignorant in some aspects. Either way it didn't matter. He'd done what he accomplished. Speech,

As the alabaster female waited for her father?s answer and blessing to depart, she thought of what the now growing day would hold. She of course had not eaten as of yet, and a tiny tinge of hungry clawed her belly. She wished to spend this day meander the forests edge, seeking company among ones who could not judge her. Truly the female wished for a companion that would listen to her, and see her, the real her. She felt like a wolf in sheep?s clothing, pretending to be something she was not to please the ones around her.



Nnoitra?s words rang out, like a church bell. Her ears leaned forward, catching his syllables spoken. "Fine child. Hardly anything worth talking about. The better question is, how have you been daughter of mine? You seem... oh what's the word? Irritated and in mental agony. What plagues you?" At least he was fine, or so he said. Zarzenova hardly knew what to do with the question given. What is plaguing her? Even she did not know the answer. Thinking something up quickly, she didn?t even take offense to what her father has said.I am well father. Nothing plagues me as of now. I simply woke up on the wrong side of the bed. She said with a smirk. The lass did not know what to do with herself; oddly she felt uncomfortable in the presence of her father and yet she didn?t want to displease him. So she remand rooted to the spot, standing and conversing with her old man, or at least trying to make peace, for a measure of time. Something they could both take away with them, leaving the sense of right.




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The man watched his daughter with a curious expression. He didn't really expect her to answer him truthfully, or for her to even understand herself fully. She seemed confused. It was hard to tell, she had his and Brinshana's genes. No doubt she was just as good at being manipulative and sly as he. He nodded at her words. He didn't quite believe them, but he could at least seem pleased to hear that she was doing well, even if she didn't quite mean it. "That's good to here Zarzenova. He rose to his feet and then stepped forwards in front of her and then went on to press a nose to her cheek if she allowed him to. "It was a pleasure to see you daughter. Run along now, I shall see you later." With that he padded off to attend to a few things at least somewhat content that this meeting had gone better than he had originally thought. He'd share good news with her another time. For now he would leave her be. -exit Nnoitra, unless stopped- "Speech"