Seth was limping heavily when he found the border of a pack territory and was forced to pause. He'd doctored himself up as best as he could before wandering away from the river to go find haven in Malleus' pack, the core of the Abraxas. But the concussion had been worse than he'd thought, and by the time the confusion and bad decision-making had cleared up, he'd been traveling north for days in Boreas. He certainly couldn't recall when he'd thought it was a good idea to go north on the land bridge rather than turn south inland, since he had very little memory of those days. Probably for the best, since the walking had certainly exacerbated the pain of his sprains and broken ribs. At least the bruises were working their way out. Once he'd realized he decided to keep going, curious and having the faint thought that he'd been prompted here. He'd never believed as strongly in the whole religiousy spiritual thing that some of his kin did, but he wasn't going to discount the idea either.

Now he'd found himself here, and a thought occurred that caused a faint smile to curve his muzzle. Well! That was an idea, wasn't it? He probably should have talked it over with Malleus first, or Razi since he was in her pack - him all unknowing that the pack had been disbanded, all the members scattered or joining with Malleus - but he wasn't going to walk all that way back across the continent to get permission.

He was going to join a pack.

A mortal pack, to be precise, and wasn't that exciting? It gave him the opportunity to learn more in the way of healing than he'd previously learned under the more warlike Abraxas, and more than that, it would give him the opportunity to learn about the wolves and the packs that made their homes here.

His spectacularly colored bruises were hidden beneath his earthy fur, though the sharp antiseptic smell of the herbal rinses he'd been treating them with were clear, as were the poultices that were bandaged around his sprains and the broken ribs, and the various lacerations he'd sustained. He was a walking pharmacopeia at this point, and though his nose had gotten used to the rather pungent herbal smell in the past couple weeks it would undoubtedly be a rather overwhelming scent. Better than reeking of infection from untreated wounds, though. Keeping himself warily on his aching paws in case he needed to make a break for it, he called out for the pack's alpha.

She was out checking her traps and doing her best to help Torin by checking the borders for breaches. She didnt want to be marking them though. It wasnt hed place to do anymore, Zell had mad it perfectly clear, she was not a member of this pack, she was a nusciance that faire had taken pity on. Even though she had been no different than her adoptive sister Kairi, who was never around either and always had wanted to explore. Jewell just seemed to have misfortune follow her around. She was moving up the border when an unfamiliar howl rang out. She picked up her pace and moved to meet the new stranger. She was wary as she approached. She knew Torin would come the moment she howled but she wanted to see who called first. Naeva also wasn't too far away, she knew her daughter was checking traps in the other direction. As she came upon the scene she sat a good few feet behind the safety of the border but still in plain sight, not like she could hide. Her companion, Alois, was quick to perch upon her head between her ears. Her nose was already sifting through the males scents. Herbs were heavy upon him, but one underlying scent caught her attention. It wasnt the same but she could tell it was close to the man from almost a year and a half ago. Her ears pinned and the recognition of who this Male was was plain on her face. He wasn't wanted near the pack in her opinion. They were rapists and took things they were not supposed to. Her tail curled close to her haunches to protect herself as much as possible. Her head tilted back as she gave a howl for more than Torin this time. It was for Frostbite, Blaise, Zell, and any that were capable of chasing the make way. Then her eyes were narrowed on the male. He was small but no doubt about it to her he was related to the man. "Your family with brown and white pelt who is he?" she wanted a name. With a name Torin could go and find him. If he even still lived. He could get jewell her answers. Why had he taken from her? Why had he forced her? She wasn't completely healed from it. She saw it every time she looked at her children but she didnt blame them. Walk, "Talk" Think

He was clear across the territory, patrolling the borders and ensuring things were in place. A howl coming from the borders was quick to draw his attention. He altered his course and began his travels towards where the howl had come from. He was keeping a quick and steady pace, but he had quite a distance to travel. After a while another howl in the same direction, a familiar howl, drew his curiosity and concern. Jewell had met with the stranger and her howl sounded commanding, requesting assistance from others. He picked up his pace to a run, fearful something bad had went down while he was making his way there. Why would she even get close to a stranger for something bad to happen? Long strides carried him quickly and when the two came into view it made him all the more confused. The stranger was small, vary small, he looked horribly beat up and reeked of herbal medicine. There was a great deal of distance between himself and Jewell which made him horribly confused. Nothing bad had happened which made him question why exactly Jewell had called for backup. Slowing his pace he closed the rest of the distance in a quick trot, stopping somewhere between Jewell and the stranger, facing to look at both of them. He didn't look upset, more confused then anything as he looked to Jewell then to the stranger. "What is going on here?" he stated needing to address that first. "Talk" & 'Think"

Art by Kanvos

Seth shifted with discomfort as he waited. Just standing here,his abuse body was starting to cramp up. He had walked much the length of a continent with major injuries atop a body already bestowed by nature with crippling deformities. Everything hurt.

So when the brightly colored stranger showed up, Seth's first thought was that he was hallucinating. He shook his head carefully and blinked, but the apparition didn't dissipate. It did in fact speak, though it's words seemed somewhat garbled. Not a hallucination, probably, but just a weirdly colored wolf.

And frankly Seth had no idea what she was talking about, or why she was showing a hostile manner. He would certainly have remembered meeting her before.

"Madam," he began. "I have no idea what you are talking about." His family that was brown and white? That could describe half the population! Brown and white? Did he even have any family that was brown and white? Andras had been brown with some white, but also black, and his distinctive markings and eyes didn't resemble Seth in the least. In fact, there were very few in his family that resembled Seth at all.

He did however resemble his mortal father's family quite heavily. Perhaps she was talking of one of them? It seemed unlikely though since he had never so much as met his father, deceased since before his cursed birth.

Another wolf appeared, and Seth dropped painfully to his belly, ears down submissively, a faint whimper driven from him at the jostling of broken ribs. He had years of practice abasing himself for Abraxas, and he had no pride tied up in showing submission to a mortal. It was just another tool in his survival toolkit, after all. "I came seeking to join your pack, sir, but your wolf seems to have mistaken me for someone else?" Wide green eyes moved back to the female, brows raised in polite, confused inquiry.

He spoke back and seemed to have no clue but she knew the family scent was there underneath everything. She wasnt stupid, she knew his family would be like him. Evil and vile. "Big man, brown and white marked. Blue and yellow eyes. Evil man. You smell like family of him." she remembered the family name the starry pelted woman had used. Should she blurt it out? No, not until torin or someone got there. The sound of frostbite racing closer brought her to stand again. Her tail tucked though, she wasnt taking chances. As frostbite came to be between them and asked what was going on she waited to see if this smaller male would run or try to use lines to deceive Frost. She moved to stand next to frost then. Her gaze didnt leave the Male even as he cowared and spoke. "Not mistake. Smell like family of Abraxas rape man. Not want him near family." she was clear as she could be. Though some words were definitely not the ones she meant exactly. She still remembered the Male though like it was yesterday. It was surprising that this smaller male thought his family had been overlooked. There was already enough damage done to the pack by these wolves. Walk, "Talk" Think

((Liquid timing the heck out of this to be after the Derecho drama, with permission from Blue))

speech

There was nothing more that Torin wanted right now than to settle down and allow himself a moment to breath so when he had heard the call he hadn't exactly been in a hurry, he knew Frostbite was patrolling and would likely make sure he answered. Rest seemed a vain hope though, especially considering his position; and certainly when he heard his sister's call it seemed his hope was doomed to fail. He rocked from his haunches onto his paws, groaning as his sore limbs protested that they be forced to go back to work again so soon.

He moved with quick, dedicated steps. He was focused on Jewell as he approached, gaze immediately searching her over for any signs of a fight before he shifted his attention to... well the only way to describe him was... tiny, wolf standing across the scent border. Jewell was beside Frostbite and though her posture spoke of tension Frost was clearly not jumping to anyone's defense.

He approached just as the tail of his sister's words fell from her lips and for a moment his eyes narrowed darting suspiciously towards the, altogether nonthreatening, stranger. He couldn't help it, some part of Torin was already jumping to conclusions, his brown coloration did sort of resemble that of one of his nephews... but then it wasn't as if brown was an uncommon color, heck if he didn't know better he could have made the argument that the boy resembled Frostbite as much as this stranger... in fact this particular wolf didn't really bring to mind any of his sister's children...

Torin gently brushed up on Jewell's free side, letting his body lean into her for a moment so she'd feel his approach. Then he gently wrapped his tail around behind her, trying to create a physical barrier between her and Frostbite. He searched her face determined to catch her gaze before he spoke.

"Vous savez que moi et Frostbite ne serait jamais vous met en danger, oui?"   He slipped into french, the language a bit rusty but feeling it was more important that she understood him completely than his own comfort with his adopted language. "A confiance en nous."   He spoke gently, his words meant for her ears only.

Gently, ever so gently he would try to steer her away from the man using his tail, using his weight to turn her back towards the packlands. If she'd allow him he'd take her all the way to her den and see her rested there before coming back to help Frostbite and try to get to the bottom of everything that was happening.

Original Coding by Shelby

He didn't understand her hostility, her emotions right now to this much smaller wolf, a complete stranger. Ears were drawn forward and brows were raised as he tried to figure out what the problem was. Especially since the man flattened himself at the approach of him. The male wanted to join Lirim and seemed to be just as confused as himself. Then Jewell came out and said what she had thought the problem was. His eyes looked to the smaller wolf noting the brown, but he had none of the markings Iskra had explained and he was a lot smaller then Iskra had explained as well. He looked back to Jewell wondering if she was pulling his paw. He didn't know what to say, what to do to diffuse the situation. Sad to say he didn't know Jewell well enough to know how to calm her down. Although Torin came which gave the older man some relief. Torin had a close enough relationship to know how to diffuse the situation and allow him and Torin to figure this situation out. It was a shame though, he was hoping to give Torin the day off to recover from his journey and stress, but with Jewell's call he was now here despite being exhausted. He looked back to the male and calmly gave him a nod. "Give us a few minutes we will have this sorted out," he tried to remain as kind and neutral as possible, not wanting Jewell to distrust him and Torin's decisions. "Talk" & 'Think"

Art by Kanvos

The woman continued in her strident insistence that he was related to someone who had raped her. Seth just blinked at her in confusion as she tried to describe to him her attacker, and shook his head. No idea who she was talking about. "I can't possibly smell that much like anyone you could know," he protested, for once quite sincerely. "I assure you, my immediate family all died long before you were born." His mother, his father, his siblings, all dead by the time he was a pup. The closest living relations he had were distant enough that any scent similarities were incidental. You could hardly trace back an entire genetic line by scent alone, after all. The wolves closest in blood relation and the only ones likely to smell much like him were his mother's full-blooded siblings, and none of them were "tall, brown and white marked" males...

The male that appeared next in answer to the woman's call actually DID match the description she gave, though Seth perhaps wisely refrained from pointing THAT out. Instead, he continued to keep his head down and his posture submissive, even going as far as to roll slightly to the side to flash his belly despite the sharp pain in his ribs.

But the woman's words jerked his head up in indignation. He inched back in a cringe, wincing away as though frightened of her anger. It wasn't even much of an act since even a little thing like her would be a danger to a crippled dwarf. It wasn't like he could just move out of the way if her hostility turned violent, let alone fight back. "I... I thought you said you didn't know his name?" He kept his tone even and neutral, quiet, tentative, even confused, but inside he quivered in fury. Not just at the fact that this abomination of a creature would dare accuse an Abraxas of something like that, but that an Abraxas would be so profane as to rape a woman and abandon her, risk the blood of Abraxas being desecrated and befouled by mortal weaknesses. It was a mortal sin, unacceptable to the very ideals their family had been given. "I really don't know the man you're talking about. Perhaps you should seek out the Risen Empire in the southern continent if you have proof one of their members... violated you? I am very sorry for what happened to you, madam, I really am. But you are quite mistaken."

And if they showed up at Risen with their accusations, Malleus could deal with them, and the accused, much better than Seth could.

He blinked beseechingly at both the males who had appeared, his misshapen face wide-eyed and cow-docile. The second male had stepped between the brightly colored female and him, and was talking to her quietly. "Is it normal for your members to be so hostile to strangers looking to join you? I had been told that your pack could provide sanctuary to even a cripple like I am, but... but it seems like I'm being held accountable for the... the hideous actions of someone I don't even know." He darted his gaze fearfully towards the female, allowing a shimmer of tears to well into the bright spring green of his eyes. He dropped his voice to a fainter tone, a frantic little voice directed towards the males. "Please don't let her hurt me."

(Assumption Jewell would allow Torin to lead her away allowed by Asena)

speech

Torin felt some amount of relief as he felt Jewell relent, still the unknown male was clearly also distressed by the encounter. Torin's mask slipping into place as he choked back the slight resentment the man's words gave him; he had to think about it from the stranger's perspective. He had approached a pack with... the prospect of joining and the first face he'd seen had been that of a clearly emotionally distressed woman accusing him of being related to someone who'd clearly done something absolutely terrible. In answer he shook his head; trying to hold the stranger's gaze as he did so. "No one," He began; his tone strong as he first fixed his sister with a soft but meaningful gaze before turning his attention to the stranger, "will be allowed to hurt anyone." He particularly meant that for the wolf standing across their borders. He would have to have a talk with Jewell after all this; he had been harsh with his father for his treatment of her and now it seemed he was going to have to give her the same speech.

Still he would start steering his sister back towards the packlands, giving Frostbite a quick nod as they passed. He trusted the man to maintain the peace while he was gone, maybe help to salvage whatever goodwill they might have left.

-Exit Torin with Jewell-

Original Coding by Shelby

This whole thing was a big mess, a big fricken mess and he was feeling absolutely horrible for it. They were a fairly peaceful pack and for something like this to happen that would make a potential member cower. He was upset and had even considered loosing his normal calm cool. He could understand why Jewell was freaking out, she had something happen to her that scarred her mentally and emotionally. He could understand if she had trouble dealing with it, but she was out of line. She was completely out of line and this rash unusual behavior made him want to go fetch a healer. She needed help and this whole outburst screamed it to him. He felt horrible that this male had to witness it, had to feel threatened by simply having an interest in joining the pack. He protested to Jewell and remained in his submissive position. All Frost could do was sigh quietly. He blocked out what most of the male said as he looked back to Jewell. How could they possibly help her get over this? He didn't know if reprimand or taking her seriously would do any good. He looked back to seth as he spoke again and Frost shook his head. "No and I apologize for all this mess," Frost replied, trying to keep the peace. Then the male said not to let her hurt him and before Frost could answer, Torin spoke up. No one would be allowed to hurt anyone, it would have been the same thing Frost would have stated. That is not how Lirim was and he was sure that Torin already knew what he had to do, what he needed to say to Jewell about all this. Frost remained quiet as Torin led Jewell away and once out of sight he sighed again before looking to the male. "I am truly sorry, she had been through a vary traumatic event. She has never acted out this way and I think she just needs the aid of a healer. It must just be a bad day for her," he shook his head unsure what else needed to be said. "That being said that type of behavior towards others is not permitted and we will be addressing her behavior." He knew Torin would be able to handle it, he trusted that because Torin was closer to her and knew what would be the best way to address things. There was no way Frost could fix or erase how things went down and he would understand if this male was scared off. "Talk" & 'Think"

Art by Kanvos

The second male succeeded in leading the brightly colored female away, and Seth's gaze tracked them until they'd disappeared from sight. He was surprised at the urge to stick his tongue out at the woman, though the childish urge was easily suppressed. He did think, rather bitterly, that it was just his luck to have had her had... whatever mental breakdown happen just as he was seeking to join the pack. However she had known of his relation to the Abraxas, the fact was that she'd likely ruined any chance of him being taken in by these wolves. The idea of trudging all the way back to Auster made his stomach twist in dread, but if he struck out here then rejoining his cousin's pack might be his best hope of survival.

Once the woman had passed entirely out of sight, Seth cautiously struggled back to his paws. He had to stand a moment, eyes closed, until a wave of pain and dizziness had receded. "I understand, the young woman must have had quite a terrible experience," he said softly and tentatively when he could speak, injecting sympathy into his voice. "I am a healer, which I'm afraid I recently had great need of my own services," he gave a self deprecating smile and a pained gesture at the poultices on his wounds, "and I have in the past worked with others with similar traumas. Working with the mentally ill and traumatized is my passion, and I find my appearance tends to put them at ease despite my gender. It's a pity she so strongly believes my family had something to do with her... situation. I would have liked to try to help her."

He blinked innocently up at the male, though he couldn't help but shudder at the pain in his ribs and various other injuries as he moved. "I didn't want to say in front of the young woman, since she seemed so distressed and I didn't feel it would help her to know, but only bring her more distress... but you should know my name is Seth Abraxas. I have no reason to lie about it, except of course by omission in order to keep the lady from more pain." He tilted his head to the side, puzzlement showing on his dwarven features. "Could you... could you perhaps tell me why the surname Abraxas seems to bring such alarm? Though I suppose if someone claiming to be Abraxas is doing such... terrible things to young ladies, I can certainly understand the hostility." He shook his head slightly, eyes wide and pleading. "I... I'm afraid it took me by surprise, and frightened me. I was hoping for sanctuary. My uncle took me in when my family passed, but he has passed now as well so I have no one to hunt for me and protect me. I... I would not have tried to join a pack, but I have nowhere else to go."

speech

Jewell now tucked away safely in the den Torin picked up the pace, eager to return to Frostbite and the male at the border, he wanted to reassure the man that this sort of behavior was not something they considered acceptable in Lirim... even if it was too late now to save their reputation in the man's eyes. As he approached, he slowed from a trot to a brisk walk, ears perking as he heard and saw the man speaking. A name finally being supplied, Seth...

And well if things weren't just getting more complicated. He approached, listening, and keeping his face placid, doing his best to keep the swirl of guilt and anger and confusion hidden. "Unfortunately someone bearing your family name, or claiming to bear it, attacked her a little over a year ago." Torin spoke, keeping his tone as even as he could, drawing up beside Frostbite. "The kind of attack that bore children." He fixed the man with a pointed stare... not that he was blaming this particular man; simply that he wanted to make it clear the severity of the incident.

Still, he couldn't help the sympathy that washed over him as the man explained his situation. He cast a glance at Frostbite for a moment, took a deep breath, and gave Seth a second glance over, he was clearly injured and he did not think that either of them in could, in good conscience, turn away someone who needed help. "If you would still have us, we can promise you shelter and care. Lirim does not turn away those in need, regardless of their familial ties. I will personally guarantee you will not be accosted like that again." He felt personally responsible for what had happened, Jewell was his sister and he wondered if maybe he'd spent too much time protecting her. Which of course only made him feel worse, the worst thing someone could do to another had happened to her... but how she thought this sort of behavior was okay was beyond him... maybe his sister and father had more in common than they thought.

Original Coding by Shelby