She'd lost track of the days. Here in the far north with just Dread for company there was plenty to keep her occupied. They'd started to tidy up a bit, hunting in the snow was a novelty. Life was peaceful and good. Sure she had to get to that whole band thing, but it was a distant worry. Her brother was still doing shit for dad, there was no rush.

It had started as trying to clear a bit more room between the benches, and it had turned into a game of tag with a touch of shrieking and laughter. Then a wrestling match with growls and harmlessly snapping teeth, which had then turned into almost something indecent, when the sound of paws scratching on the stones towards the crack in the ice caught her ear. Her head popped up over the back of one of the toppled pews, eyes zeroing in on the only way into or out of the building. Who on earth could that be?

“Speech”

As much as Scald wanted to leave with Deluge, too much shit had been happening. And as much as he wanted to say that their parents were capable, he didn't really believe in that either. Why didn't their father have the balls to kick the ingrates from their ranks? Why had their mother been hiding for months only to appear right as that dog arrived? Not that it was any of his business... Until Flurry had screamed in his face about being upset about them leaving. Not that Scald really care to make his sister happy, but he couldn't really put a paw on it. Something about the little ones being heathens, Flurry attempting to mend old wounds, and their parents' relationship on the rocks made Scald concerned.

On a flimsy tip, Scald had left the isle in someone else's paws so he could go search for Deluge. Heading farther north than he had ever traveled, he stopped to admire the cathedral. It was tall, regal, and glistening with ice. Very... Deluge of her to be here. Though it was barren and hardly a place for scent to linger, he could catch wafts her and Dread every so often. Surely they were still here...

And indeed they were.

His nails clicked against slick stone as he slipped his way into the cathedral. Stopping to once more admire the extravagance of the interior, he didn't look down until Deluge popped her head over one of the pews. A brow raised before he rolls his eyes. "Get decen' will ya?" He scoffs before heading down the aisle toward the front of the room. Passing by his sister and Dread without a second look, Scald doesn't stop until he's standing in front of the podium and his chin is tilted up to examine the ornate design on the ceiling.

PAVIN' MY OWN PATH

It wasn't innocent, but it was far from the worst thing they'd done lately. Dread scrambled for a moment, registering Scald's arrival moments after Deluge. Fuck. Fuck. The little scrambling, curses mumbled under his breath, trying to right himself. Oops. Had they been carried away? Maybe. When were they not. It seemed that had been the theme of their entire relationship, showing no signs of stopping. Right. Scald. The fuck was he doing up here? It had to be important, to drag him this far out. Eventually rolling to his feet (knocking over one of the more precarious pews in the stack), and shaking his fur back to... well. Enough. Reaching over to fix a wayward cowlick on Deluge's forehead, before moving to join Sclad at the altar. "Long walk?" Conversational, trying to be uh. Relaxed. Something like that. Listen, Dread has never been the most social. Maybe the new aesthetic suits him, who knows.

Deluge laughed at her brother's request, a sly smile that turned into a smirk painted on her face. “Since when am I ever?” She countered, straightening a particularly mused up patch of fur just behind Dread's left ear after he fixed her cowlick. She couldn't contain her giggle. They were both... dishevelled to say the least.

Sauntering down the aisle like she owned the building, she used the space to stretch and shake, tongue rolling as she loosed a yawn. “Yer finally free then?” she questioned, canting her head, nostrils flaring ever so slightly. Hmm, no, it didn't feel right. He had a weight around his shoulders. Her eyes narrowed, What was going on?

“Speech”

They really were in love, weren't they? He can hear the giggles and other noises coming from them before he listens to the click of nails against stone. Disgusting. That's what love was. Gross all around, he couldn't understand why anyone would tie themselves down to just one wolf. But, it wasn't his business. No, he had other business to discuss.

His eyes continue to shift over the ceiling that while covered in ice also show intricate drawings of creatures he had no name for. They appeared furless, but their heads had long hair that kind of looked like a horse's tail? Scald couldn't quite place what he was looking at. Why were they covered in clouds? Were they holding weapons? Odd ones that appeared to be a piece of wood and a string? Confused, he wondered if anyone would know what these things were. Animals? Beasts? Mysterious creatures?

Before he could continue staring, Deluge is near him asking if he's free. He can't help but scoff before turning to look at her. "Mum needs ya ter come home," he replies, the look is clear in his eyes. Shit had happened and it wasn't good shit either. "Dad went off the walls, Mum is steppin' up to help lead," Scald puts emphasis on that part because they both knew that Modesty really had no care for the bull shit of it all. She hadn't wanted to be in charge of them when they were younger, what made her want to be in charge of an entire pack?

"Flurr went off to try and talk to Sirius without telling anyone," his eyes shift to Dread then back to Deluge. "Dad ain't happy. There's some new girl clingin' ter his legs, some dog. Mum ain' happy 'bout that nonsense either," he lets out a sigh. Unlike some, Scald somehow was always watching, always noticing. A fly on the wall. A good spy, really. "They went to go raid some pack in Auster by the name of Ethne. Not sure how that's goin'," Scald ends it with a shrug, but his gaze never leaves Deluge. There's no room for argument. Mum requested her presence so he would be leaving with Deluge whether she liked it or not.

Wrapped up in each other, Dread is hardly willing to take his hands off her. Disgusting, true. For as disheveled and gross as they were, Scald looked... like hell, actually. Dread straightened up, taking a long look at him. Sighing, it looked like they were in for a change of plans. The bombshell isn't the one he's expecting, and they don't stop coming. Dread's gaze flicks to Deluge, watching for her reaction. Their parents' relationship in questionable condition, Modesty taking the lead, and Flurry trying to speak to Sirius. Fuck. No good could come of that, they knew perhaps better than anyone. His sides ached, still feeling guilty about it all. There's no arguing with Scald, he's right. They were necessary.

Deluge's face would be unreadable as Scald spilled the latest batch of raider drama out at her feet. She scoffed, rolling her eyes finally and allowing her brows to draw together indignantly. “Th' fuck is any o' that our problem?” She finally questioned. Sounded like shit was falling down around their ears and it was no less than they deserved by her approximation. Their litter had been foisted out to practically raise themselves and now the youngest kids were actually being raised. Deluge had caught the sharp side of her mother's tongue more often than her siblings had, that Modesty thought she could summon Deluge back like any other subordinate had the hackles rising over her back. She was so close to freedom she could taste it.

“Seriously Scald, th' fuck am I meant ter do about it other'n add flames? She was on fire I wouldn' piss on 'er ter put it out. Why us? What's in it fer us?” Deluge needed incentive.

“Speech”

Scald understood the frustration emanating off of his sister. Unlike the others, he and Rexx had flown under the radar. Having their own adventures, trouble, and the like, but never quite catching those sharp words that Deluge and Flurry had. Something to do with genitals, perhaps? Or poor parenting? It was all above Scald's paygrade to care or even pay attention to, but he could sympathize in a way. Why would she go back? Her freedom was right there... "The pack, the Raiders, they would be ours. Flurs gone and squandered 'er chance an' Rexx ain' even aroun' so it woul' be us an' uh 'im too if ya plan on keepin' him," Scald turns to give Dread a cheeky grin before turning back to Deluge. "We take it from mum an' dad, fix 'em up, raid, pillage, or do shit all and jus' be drunk all the time. It won' matter once they're too old to give a shit anymore," he lifts a brow, waiting with bated breath. Freedom sounded nice, but so did having control of the pack too... Scald Fallen

table coding by bunni ♥