The moment he stepped away from Asla, he raised his head and howled for Naiche. He would start with the fighter, and make his way to the healer. Put a little fear into their hearts and drum home the consequences of their actions. He respected the choices of his child, but that did not mean he was particularly happy with the two high ranking wolves for not having a little forethought. Asla might be above the rules, but they were not.
Yes, the inside of the Warlords head was a complicated place.

After howling for Naiche, he took to pacing. large paws beating against the earth at the joining of the grassy plains and the beach. thud, thud, thud, turn, and repeat. he needed to find the right balance. To let Naiche see his anger, his expectations, and the subtle acknowledgment that the man was now a part of the fatalis family through his blood, if he wanted to be or not.

Naiche was never one to make Sirius wait and at the howl was quick to turn from his gait along the border to lope toward the warlord with Pan riding along his back.  Naiche was far from being in a good mood but for Sirius the smaller wolf was doing his best to rid himself of his frustration before he’d get to where the giant warlord was. Coming up to where Sirius waited Naiche observed Sirius tension and could well guess what this discussion might be dealing with.  Asla.  Thinking of her brought on the irritation fresh but thinking further into the reason for the call brought on some self-questioning on how to feel.  Both things were pushed aside as he stepped in closer to Sirius. Naiche offered a somber nod of greeting to Sirius, remaining quiet to respectfully let the leader speak first.  Naiche hadn’t told Sirius yet but it wasn’t like he had known all that long himself.  Well, ok he knew of the fling but hadn’t really expected anything to come from it.  Why? Well, clearly he was a damned idiot.  This was bound to be a really fun conversation. "Naiche"

It wasn’t long before Naiche was before him. Seers eyes glanced across the yellow wolf for a moment as Naiche finished approaching, and stopped before the Warlord. He looked serious, and more than a little unhappy. Sirius thought of Asla, and narrowed his eyes at Naiche. What did that boy have to be unhappy about? His blood had unexpectedly joined with the bloodline of the Fatalis.

“General Naiche. Sirius said, voice formal as he got to his paws, and stalked around the other wolf, coming along his side, and pausing. Turning his eyes back to the yellows of Naiche. “Have you anything to say for yourself?”


"Speech"

Naiche’s eyes followed the warlord as he walked.  The formal demeanor was a thing he once had considered important for showing respect but now he realized it had another purpose in that it helped him not let any other extreme emotion slip out.  Fear, anger, hopeful were things that might not ever be completely hidden but they were downplayed at least. Anything to say for himself? Irritation at his daughter was there for a split second and then melted as what Sirius wanted to know about came across his mind. Puppies.  Maybe puppies.  What the heck would he do with pups if they were his?  Despite that, a hint of a smile flickered on his features.  Yeah, a little him mixed with a little Asla?  Ah hell, hopefully, it was a boy.   Naiche wasn’t dim to what Sirius was expecting of him to say but another thing came to his mind first, “Your daughter drives me absolutely crazy,” the words coming out without the sting he might normally have, instead some amusement laced in, “but I love her like none other despite that.”  There was no denying the sincerity in the last lines.  Naiche wasn’t one for admitting his feelings generally however this seemed one of those points it was best to do so, “and,” the part he imagined Sirius wanted to hear him confirm, “there’s a possibility that I could be a dad soon, maybe.”  Funny how Naiche wasn’t sure if he wanted pups and yet he definitely wanted the pups to be his over Mo’s.  He still had to figure that one out. "Speech"

Naiche surprised him, and that surprise brought out a soft laugh. It was more a chuckle than anything, but it eased down some of the tension Sirius was emanating. The acknowledgment that Naiche loved Asla also helped. Considering the responsibilities Sirius was going to be heaping upon his General, it was a good starting point.

“Alright, here's how I see it, Naiche. You love my daughter, you slept with her, and now she’s pregnant. Any other fact is irrelevant. You went through with actions that lead to childbirth, and if these pups are yours or not, you have a duty to them. A duty and a job, to care for and provide for them. In resources, love, and protection. Do you understand?” He would ensure no confusion on exactly what he meant, on what he believed the path Naiche needed to go down now.

"Speech"

It was good Sirius took his comments well.  Naiche had wondered as he said it if pointing out his irritation at Asla but apparently loving her was enough to make up for it.  Sirius chuckling was a nice easing off the concern of any wrath from his leader.  The man had been through a lot with family death which meant his tension was already riding high.  Naiche had experienced those he loved and those he cared for dying.  Too many deaths.  How many had Sirius faced?  Asla would never become another notch on the death count.  Somehow Naiche would keep her safe even when he wasn’t near her.  Even when he felt like he hated Asla, Naiche would still do his best to keep her safe.   Actions that lead to childbirth?  Well, only maybe was the cause of her having childbirth.  Sirius made it a point that in his mind the ‘maybe’ meant nothing.  Duty in loving them?  If the kids weren’t his he still had to offer love?  Did Sirius realize love wasn’t something Naiche was all that great at showing?  Yes.  Naiche realized Sirius knew but he didn’t particularly care at the moment.  Wait.  Did that mean Naiche figured he would love them if they were his?  The golden-wolf was still trying to sort through his own feelings alone and having not figured them out while in this discussion wasn’t helping him any. “Whether they are mine or not, they are Asla’s.”  Naiche shrugged as if that should leave the rest of it obvious, “So of course I will help care for them regardless in whatever their needs.  I’d never dishonor her, you, her children, or myself.”  Another thought occurred, “As to everything aside from the love I would make sure any wolf in this pack had such basics.” Love was a pain-in-the-tail so no reason he’d want to help force this insanity upon others.  He thought about asking Sirius if Zee drove him crazy then recalled the man still dealing with her death and decided that would have to be a story for the future.   "Speech"

“Walk with me” He ordered Naiche, getting back to his paws as he began to move through Armada lands. He didn’t have a destination in mind, buthe found it helped to jostle out his thoughts if he moved while he spoke.

He waited a moment for Naiche to comply, nodding his head as the brighter-toned wolf pointed out that the fact they were Asla’s mattered to him. His loyalty had always been absolute - to Sirius, to the Armada, and to Asla. That was why, of all the wolves, he didn’t mind terribly that Naiche was caught up in all of this. He needed those wolves with a strong sense of loyalty beside him. Now, more than ever.

He liked and respected Naiche, but the two of them weren’t often sentimental to each other. Loyal, certainly, but sentimental? “Naiche… You’ve been a part of the Armada a long time now. Loyal, dedicated. You're a part of this family, whether or not those kids are yours.”


"Speech"

Naiche was almost always more comfortable during waking hours in motion and so he was more than happy to walk with Sirius.  Where were they going in particular?  Was there any spot in particular?  Naiche had taken one or more new wolves into a patrol while getting to know them.  There was just not enough time in a day to waste it sitting around. Naiche at first just assumed being part of the family was a reminder of being part of the pack.  In a sense a pack was a family even if not by blood.  However, being a part of a family in a way that might have only mattered were the kids his another matter.  Naiche was silent for a bit, hell his mind was silent for a bit.  What if it was still as simple as being part of the pack and he was misreading it?  Sure didn’t sound like it. What part of the family would that make him?  Asla’s mate?  How did she feel about locking such a thing down?  She loved Indigo so even though they might or might not have pups how would that feel to her?  Another part of him remembered the family he’d once had.  Parents, siblings, grandfather and of course some of them were dead, some having just split off from him over a year ago now.  Naiche remembered in watered-down amusement when he had first arrived and worked so hard wanting to hear Sirius acknowledge him as someone of value.  At that time it had meant so much, what did it mean now to have it?  Naiche wasn’t a child anymore needing some dad or guardians approval.  That said in some part of Naiche’s mind Sirius had been the closest one to fill in those shoes even if Naiche had never mentioned it.  A child playing the adult, that’s what he had been doing. So, all those thoughts aside – what was he feeling?  Hope mixed with apprehension.  Family sounded wonderful but having a family meant to risk losing it once again.  Well, the relationship was different now, Naiche wasn’t a child.  Perhaps even more than Naiche, Sirius might need more family after what he had suffered.  Hadn’t Naiche been relieved to find Asla to lean on after Rue’s death? “Thank you,” Sure, it had been some silence first but once again the simple thanks had a sincere note to it. “Well,” the words measured out with thought, “as a member of the family then,” the word ‘family’ felt odd on his tongue, “you should know that If you need anything you can come to me” a glance to Sirius's face, “including just an ear to listen, then I'd be happy to help.  It's what family does.”  Naiche took family seriously.  He knew how precious a thing it was and Sirius deserved to know how much family meant to Naiche as well.  Sirius could always have come to him with pack orders but this was now the offer of family instead of a general. Speech:"Live to fight" Think

He gave Naiche a moment to process through that. The possessive Warlord liked to hold tight to those he let himself care about. Was Naiche willing to give a little bit of himself to the asshole king?

Sirius shouldn’t have thought twice about it, Naiche’s loyalty was unshakable. The mossy wolf filled the silence with a soft thanks. Simple, sincere, and honest. “It is indeed” Sirius agreed softly, reaching forward to clap Naiche over the shoulder. “And the same goes to you, for you are mine. ” he gave the smaller wolf a sly grin then, as he settled back onto his hunches. “But if you ever intentionally hurt Asla, you’ll wish you’d walked away.” He trusted Naiche’s loyalty, but it still had to be said. Asla was also his His first born daughter, and Reaper to the Armada.


"Speech"