Mother Dearest [Open]

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[atrb=background,http://tinyurl.com/a2gmpjt] In all her life, Shayde never believed she would be where she was at that moment. Not only was she part of a pretty impressive pack, she was also its beta, one of the more trustworthy ranks a pack member can hold. That alone was a feat worthy of awe, something her past-self would never have forseen. But there was something else that would have made her past-self reel back in surprise. The three wiggling lumps at her side. Her pups. Hers. Shayde was a mother now, something she had only recently come to terms with. Well, sort of. It wasn’t like she could deny the fact that she was going to have puppies. She had grown so large that by the end, she thought she was going to explode. She just... Being a mother was something most wolves planned out or dreamed of. Shayde had reasoned with herself that it would never happen to her. She was far too levelheaded to let any male get that close to her without walking away with a few new scars. But things change. Quickly, as she came to realize. The beta femme’s mind wandered to the brooding brute who ruled over the pack, the father of the wiggling lumps at her side. Ever since telling him he was to be a father (again), Shayde hadn’t really seen much of him. Not that she wanted to. She had kept a secret from the alpha brute, something she swore she wasn’t going to do. Not with him. Vorilye was the kind of creature that had a sadistic way of punishing those who anger him. While she was more than capable of giving him lip without fear of retribution, this was something far different. She was the mother of his pups. And she had kept the fact that she was carrying at all from him. It was surprising enough that he hadn’t demoted her yet or chased her from the territory. Shayde sighed deeply, eyes pouring lovingly over her three young pups. Perhaps he wanted to be part of their lives, as he hadn’t gotten that privilege with Tike and his siblings. Maybe the only reason he kept her around was so she could raise them. Once they were old enough to fend for themselves... The femme shuddered. Oh yes. She would likely be chased off. Or worse... The light whimper of the pups brought Shayde back from her wild imagination. As usual, the two boys were shoving one another to nurse, thus shoving their sister as well. She cried as one of the boys kicked her in the face, though she quickly told him what was what as she clamped onto his leg. Of course, with no teeth in her tiny mouth, it was about as useful as poking water with a stick. A light laugh slipped from Shayde, and she reached over, picking up her daughter gently by the scruff. The pup whimpered a little, but grew very still under her mother’s guidance. Shayde placed the pup at her side next to her brothers, lightly nudging the two boys with her nose. They both grunted, shuffling to the side. It had only been a short time since the pup’s birth, but they grew bigger and bigger with each passing day. Before long, Shayde was certain she’d be up to her ears in trying to keep them in one place. And while she was pleased that there were only three little ones to keep an eye on, Shayde couldn’t help the pain in her chest. There had been five pups born that day, though two of them had been born dead. And, of course, Shayde blamed herself for their deaths. She was their mother, and yet she couldn’t protect them, even when they were inside her. She had failed them, and in a sense, Vorilye as well. He had already lost nearly an entire litter. And now she had killed two more of his children... If he didn’t hate her before, he certainly must now. words:: Six-Hundred and Eighty-Five muse:: Meh tags:: Open ooc:: Time to get this snowball rollin'!

[Ryker]

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[atrb=background,http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7738/94326341.png] Tike had made a conscious decision to try to stay away from the dens this past week or so. He had been sleeping in Kamari and justified it by saying that because that was where Sarin liked to train him that it was easier to just stay there instead of making the journey every day. But today, he wanted to go back. He wanted to see his half-siblings that he knew that had been born. He hadn't wanted to be there for the birth because that was gross. He also didn't know if Shayde wanted others around them yet. He hadn't had any experience with pregnant females in the past but Shayde seemed like the protective type. She had been protective over himself and he wasn't even her pup. But today, he wanted to see them. He would see them whether Shayde wanted him to or not. They were his half-siblings, his family. Despite his eagerness to see the newest additions to his family, he had split feelings about actually seeing them. A part of him already loved them and another part of him wanted to hate them. He was worried that with the new pups, Shayde and his father would forget about him and he would be pushed to the side again. Why wouldn't they? Vorilye hadn't even loved his mother and Shayde wasn't his mother although, sometimes he felt like she was. A piece of him wanted to protect these new puppies to make sure that their family didn't end up like his own and a part of him did. Tike was a vindictive wolf in that way. If someone hurt him, he tends to take it out on other wolves. He was split. He loved them, he hated them. He cared for them, he wanted them to be miserable. Tike hoped that when he saw them that the line would become more clear and that he would know how he felt to them. As he crossed the boarder from Kamari into Descai, Tike knew that he still had a while to go yet. He had to make it to the middle of Acerbus. His mind wandered to what he had heard. He had heard that there had been 4 or 5 of them born but only 3 had survived. He guessed that it was because Shayde was so small and Vorilye was so large that the other one or two didn't have enough room and died. He didn't know their genders. He didn't know their names or even if Shayde had named them. He didn't know if she was waiting for Vorilye to name them with her or if she just wanted to do it herself. His own mother had just named himself and his siblings. He believed that his mother hated him even from day one. Naming him Tike? Really? He guessed that it fit while he was as puppy but now he was stuck with it through adulthood? He felt like he got screwed over. He wondered if a name could be changed and if so, what one had to go through to get it changed. As the dens came into view, Tike stopped and took a deep breath before entering the mines. He kept his head low, so much so that his nose almost touched the ground. His body crouched and his tail hung low as he crawled a bit closer to them. He wasn't acting so submissive because he was afraid of Shayde, he wanted to her let know that he wasn't going to hurt them. He was so large, he wanted to make sure that he wouldn't accidently squish any of them. All he wanted to do was see them and touch them a little. He didn't know if his father had been here to see them or not. He knew that he had never seen them before. His emerald eyes looked to Shayde. His eyes asked her, "Can I touch them? Tike wanted to feel them, to smell them, to get close to them. From what he could see, there were two boys and a girl. The boys seemed to be already starting some kind of a rivalry. The girl looked like she could hold her own however. These pups were definitely his siblings. The reminded him of his brother and his sister. Kyra was always strong, despite her partial-blindness. He and his brother had also always had a rivalry. Even though he always lost in his mothers eyes. That didn't matter now though. All that mattered now was these new puppies.

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[atrb=background,http://tinyurl.com/a2gmpjt] Shayde was turning into a perfectly doting mother. It was...odd. She had been motherly towards Tike ever since she got to know him, and that alone had been enough doting for her liking. But perhaps becoming a mother had caused the big change. The only daunting question haunting her mind was whether or not she was actually cut out for this. What made a good mother? Her own had been hopelessly pathetic, and she hadn’t really been around many mothers since abandoning hers. Was it an instinct that kicked in? Was it something a female was born with? Did she have that trait? The worrying thoughts swirled around her head, thickening into thunder clouds. What was she worrying about? All she had to do was make sure the pups lived long enough to be able to fend for themselves. That couldn’t be too difficult, right? They were protected, deep within the heart of the most terrifying pack on the continent. And even if he didn’t want anything to do with Shayde herself, these pups were Vorilye’s progeny. Shayde had no doubt that he would defend them to his last breath. The pups would be fine. They would grow up and be fine. Auds perked forward at the sound of footfalls approaching the den. Shayde let out a low growl, more to let the passerby know she was inside than as a threat. At first, she thought the wolf would simply walk past the den. For the most part, she hadn’t had any visitors since delivering the pups. Maybe it was because she was kind of protective of them. Or maybe the others just didn’t want to see the pups. But when the footfalls continued inside the den, Shayde knew one of the pack members was coming to visit. Or at least to lay down in the dens. What she didn’t expect was to see Vorilye. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest, and her ears immediately flew backward. Oh how she wanted to be angry with him. To yell at him for neglecting to see his children. But the fear of her own future won out. She didn’t want to be demoted; she didn’t want to be chased out for some silly reason. She wanted to be part of this pack, to see it consume all of Anikira, just as Vorilye had promised her. She wanted to stay as beta until her heart stopped beating. Shayde took a closer look as the alpha approached. His stance was submissive. Too submissive. As he came closer, Shayde realized it wasn’t Vorilye at all. It was Tike. She let out a deep sigh, her heart calming down in the process. He was looking more and more like his father now that his puppy fur had all but disappeared. His eyes and ears were the only two dead giveaways, but in the gloom of the cave, it was hard to see. She was conflicted on seeing that it was Tike. On the one hand, she didn’t want to see Vorilye. But on the other, she wanted to know that he gave a damn about his pups. Tike paused, hovering just a short distance from where she lay. Shayde tilted her head. It wasn’t like him to be so indecisive, at least not like this. When she saw the look in her eyes, however, she knew what he was here for. He wanted to meet his half-siblings. The sentiment behind his actions warmed Shayde’s heart. “You can come closer, Tike,” Shayde murmured, smiling gently at the young brute. She didn’t know how Tike felt about his siblings, but she wanted him to be part of their lives. He was their big brother, even if they didn’t share a mother. words:: Six-Hundred and Forty-One muse:: Better tags:: Tike, Open ooc::

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[atrb=background,http://tinyurl.com/a2q76bl] Bardou had his reasons for wandering towards the dens; call it concern, boredom, or loneliness, but he had his reasons. Primarily, he strove to watch over Shayde while she was in such a precarious condition. Not to say he was looking for babysitting duty (as he was so often given in his birth pack), but he worried over the female since their last, nerve wracking meeting. What if her stress, which was so obvious to the male, had caused her to weaken? Then there was the question regarding Vor's reaction; would he kill her? Had he killed her? Those bone pricking questions were exactly what had kept the brute anxious for the past two weeks or so. His everlasting smirk never betrayed said emotion, but nonetheless, Bardou didn't want to lose a friend... or more importantly, he didn't want to lose his place in the pack. Bardou, being no dummy, knew well enough how Vor viewed him. In fact, he imagined little more acceptance from the other pack members. Shayde was his ticket in and his way of staying in the alpha's good graces. Sure he cared about her, but at this point in their friendship he just happened to care a bit more about keeping his ass alive and well. So why wait until now to visit Shayde? Being no fool, the cripple knew to stay well away from a nursing mother for at least a week or two. Not even Vor's temper could match the protective rage of a newly made mother. Bardou witnessed the birthing process enough times, through his dear mother, to know this. Even as he approached the den now, Bardou retained a submissive position: ears humbly low and tail dragging. But his expression... oh it never quite changed. His jaw was split into something resembling a smile, and his eyes glimmered with intelligence and mischievous intent. Even when scraping through life, hanging by a thread, he was still Bardou. He was still one annoying bastard. And it appeared Bardou had even more company to annoy on this foggy day. Young Tike, strange name and all, was amongst the pups crowding near Shayde's stomach. An older brute like Bardou could not help but still view Tike as a young pup, barely old enough to leave the den let alone train for anything. It nearly shocked him to not see Tike racing playfully after his father's heels, as Bardou and his brother used to do. Course that was just the brute's sense of superiority acting up again. But still, he was not stupid. When dealing with an alpha's offspring, he knew just how to address their kind... but with some mocking laced artfully into his words. "Ah, the young prince." Bardou's smile flashed from the entrance of the den before he sauntered in (limp and all), while carefully staying a good distance away from Shayde and the little ones. He bowed his head quickly to the female to signal his harmless intent before diverting his attention back to Vor's eldest son. "Eager to see your siblings?" Bardou resolved to keep up some sense of idle chit chat with the younger male, if only to settle him into a more... welcoming state. If he was anything like his father, he was bound to be a tad defensive. But Bardou could not dwindle on Tike for long. His main objective was to see Shayde, after all. The brute proceeded to sway his muzzle in Shayde's direction as he talked. "So... you live." An airy quality sprung about his voice, as if he was breathing relief with his words. "And they live too." Bardou, with position still bent awkwardly into a submissive stance, flicked his head in the pups' direction. The spectacle was a rather happy one; his friend alive, the pups alive, and his security very much alive. That was, if Vor planned for Shayde to stay in such good health. words:: 653 muse:: Good tags:: Shayde, Tike, Open... ooc:: He's such a pest.

[Ryker]

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[atrb=background,http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7738/94326341.png] Tike wasn't an indecisive wolf but he had never been around puppies before. Except for his siblings of course but that didn't count because he was a puppy at that time as well. They were so little..so young. He couldn't see their eyes as they were all facing Shayde's stomach but he would have been shocked to see that they were blue. The little babies were wiggling around a little and making some high pitched noises. They were cute..kind of. Tike still didn't know how he felt about them. But he didn't want them to be miserable any more. Did he like them? Was he neutral about them? He didn't know. It was kind of a mixture of the two at this point. As soon as Shayde said that he could come closer, he raised his stance slightly as it was uncomfortable to be crouching but he took his steps carefully and he kept his ears and tail down. Tike's cold nose felt the warm bodies of each of his half-siblings. He took in their scent with a deep breath inhaled on each of their backs. He then licked each of them carefully. He wanted to taste them. It made him feel closer to them. They were each so different. So unique. It was at that point that Tike realized that he cared about them. He didn't want anything to happen to them. No one should have had to go through what he has been through. He wanted them to live and to be happy and live safe lives here with the pack. He didn't want them to see a trace of danger. He now had a new reason to continue his training with Sarin. He still wanted the rank and the respect and the glory for sure but now he had a deeper reason. He had to keep his half-siblings safe. They were his chance to start over. To have a new family. To have a better family. He was their older brother and it was his responsibility to keep them safe. He felt protective over them. He saw a glorious future in them. They were his second chance, his chance to start over. He would not screw it up this time. He then backed up a step or two and sat down. He looked to Shayde, about to ask if they had names yet and if they did, what were they. But his thought got interrupted when he heard someone else heading in their direction. It could have been his father but it also might not have been. Better to be safe than sorry. Tike let out a low growl in warning to whoever that was. Tike may have been young but he matured quickly through the events that happened in his life and he was prepared to defend Shayde and his new siblings if need be. As the wolf came into view, Tike realized that it wasn't a wolf he recognized but he seemed to recognize him. The wolf had called him "young prince." Tike was a prince he guessed but he didn't believe that he was young. He was already almost a year old. He had been out of the dens and exploring on his own for 5 or 6 months now and he thought he had a pretty good handle on life. He smelled of the pack, however; and Shayde didn't seem overly concerned. Tike kept his guard through. He stopped growling at the wolf but he would keep an eye on him while he was here. The wolf had a limp and was in no condition to be fighting anyone unless he had a death wish and his body language seemed harmless but Tike wasn't taking chances with the newborns. Yes, Tike said in a somewhat friendly tone. He still wasn't trusting this male but it was better to not make enemies right away. Luckily, the male's attention didn't stay on him long. Tike wasn't good at conversations. He had never been a talkative wolf. He said what needed to be said and he didn't like going into a lot of detail. He guessed that he was just reserved in that way. That and Tike didn't enjoy to talk. He was developing an anxiety of social activity because of his awkwardness in such events. Tike's speech wasn't the clearest. He stuttered sometimes or got stuck on words and just kept repeating them which was beyond embarrassing for the black and gold brute. There wasn't a whole lot he could do about this other than avoiding talking as much as he could. He listened to Shayde and the bute who had yet to name himself's conversation. He waited until they were finished before he decided that he wanted to talk again. His attention went to Shayde to ask her the question that he was going to ask her before the other brute showed up. Do they have n...ames? Tike had held his "n" a little long. His tongue refused to finish the word when it was supposed to no matter how hard his brain demanded that it did. The stupid thing just stayed on the top of his mouth. Now he was embarrassed. He didn't want to show it on the outside because that would have just brought more attention to it but inside, he wanted to run out of there and hide somewhere.

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[atrb=background,http://tinyurl.com/a2gmpjt] Shayde watched Tike as he slowly moved forward. She was a little tense, having another so close to her young pups, but she knew that Tike would never harm them. Even if he felt he had to, she believed his feelings for her (whatever they happened to be) protected the pups from him. And why would he wish to harm them? Because Vorilye told him to? The idea made Shayde laugh inwardly. If Vorilye wished the pups dead, he would never send his son to do the deed. He would do it himself. And given that he hadn’t yet, Shayde doubted he would at all. As Tike touched the puppies, they all let out sounds of distress, but Shayde merely lay still. The pups hadn’t been around others yet, and they were likely unsure of whom was nosing them. They needed to be desensitized to the pack. After meeting Tike, and hopefully Vorilye, Shayde would have to allow the others to come see them. To get them somewhat assimilated into the pack as early as possible. But, of course, there was the topic of whether Vorilye would even allow them to remain in the pack. Would he turn them all away? If he did, would he at least allow her to remain until they were old enough to be moved? Shayde sighed deeply. None of her questions would be answered without the presence of the alpha himself. And she was far too frightened to call for him, let alone give him any reason to think she wanted to see him. If he felt she was attached to him in any way... From the look on Tike’s face, Shayde could tell he adored the little lifeforms at her side. Her heart swelled further. She knew that his own family was broken, what with his only living sister being Fenris-knows-where and the remaining siblings all dead. To see that he cared about siblings that only shared half of his blood... Tears leaked from the beta’s eyes, tracing the contours of her face as they trailed down her cheeks. She had never been moved to tears before; it was strange. There must have been some raging hormones left over from the pregnancy or something. Just as Shayde managed to control her tearducts again, Tike began growling. Shayde tensed, but as she sniffed the air, she relaxed again. It was only Bardou. She was somewhat pleased he had been accepted into the pack. The way he addressed Tike; somewhat sarcastically; made Shayde laugh. Young prince. It was cute; maybe she’d pick that up. Tike probably wouldn’t like it. She eyed the black and gold brute to see his reaction. He seemed a little confused by Bardou’s presence, and spoke curtly. So he hadn’t met Bardou yet... “What brings you here, Bardou?” Shayde asked pleasantly, glancing at Tike. Hopefully by acknowledging that she knew him, Tike would relax a little in the other brute’s presence. Well, as much as one could relax around Bardou. He had this certain presence that probably irritated many; even Shayde was irritated with him sometimes. The response she received from Bardou was surprising. He sounded...relieved. But why? Shayde studied his face as he gestured to the pups. Was he, perhaps, worried about her? Another wave of warmth seeped into the beta’s heart. It was strange. Having another feel concern for her was kind of new. She knew it was only because of the pups, but it still felt nice to be the center of attention. “I won’t be killed that easily, Bardou,” she teased, smirking in his direction. “Besides. I have to stick around to protect your ass, don’t I? Alpha doesn’t seem to care much for you and your lip.” She should have let the others come visiting sooner. She had actually missed having a conversation. Which was peculiar, considering how distant she had been lately. Tike jumped back into the conversation, stumbling over his question. Shayde smiled. He had never been one for conversation, and Bardou’s presence was probably not making that fact any easier. But still. His stammering was endearing, something that he would likely grow out of. Shayde said nothing about this, however, and turned her gaze to the pups nuzzling into her side. “I’ve decided to let your father, their father, name the boys.” If he even cares, she added in thought. She then smiled at her daughter, licking the russet female. “As for your sister... I named her Zirena.” Why exactly, she wasn’t sure. It just seemed to suit the young pup. words:: Seven-Hundred and Seventy-Seven (Jackpot!) muse:: *shrugs* tags:: Tike, Bardou, Open ooc:: She's all emotional XD

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[atrb=background,http://tinyurl.com/a2q76bl] Tike's growl didn't faze the older male, but rather, it provided more evidence regarding the youngling's blood. He was undoubtedly Vorilye's son. His defensive nature - like Vor's - rang clearly, and the physical traits of the two wolves had an uncanny likeness. Some may have assumed Vor and Tike were brothers rather than father and son. But judging by the alpha's age and lack of other wolves sharing Vor's appearance, Bardou guessed his parents were either long dead or had at least stopped mating. By default, the inquisitive male figured out Tike's true lineage, although he knew nothing of the pup's mother. Could Shayde have... well, Vor did seem fairly surprised about Shayde's current litter. Bardou, smart as he was, assumed Shayde and Vor did not mate very often. Where Tike's mother resided, the brute could not tell. But, least he'd gathered a fairly extensive list of information about young Tike, and all from narrowing down the possibilities. Smart bastard! With the pup figured out - the basics, anyway - Bardou let his attention slip away from the darkly colored wolf. Instead, his amber gaze fell onto the newly made mother. "Why, figured you'd might enjoy a little company. Surprised?" He cocked his brow and barked a sharp, echoing laugh. As if that very laugh had broken the tension in the room and given Bardou rights beyond his rank, the brute stepped closer to the pups and loomed above their soft bodies. He frequently cast glances at Shayde so to acknowledge her presence; hopefully making Shayde more comfortable in the process. Bardou also remained careful not to touch the pups. Besides, if Vor had not yet touched them... well, God forbid Bardou be mistaken as their father. Oh the hell that would raise! At least the pups' appearance would prove Vor wrong if the alpha decided to make such an assumption. "Mmm... looks like they might develop their father's gold plated jaw." He was, of course, referring to the alpha's rather... unusual coloring. Obviously, Vor's eldest also shared such markings. "That one looks like you though." He flicked his nose in the young female's direction. Yes, the little bundle of russet fur already showed signs of her mother's beauty. Course, if she was a bitch difficult character like her father, Bardou would be surprised if she had any takers when she reached sexual maturity. With a quiet chuckle, Bardou's eyes once more flickered to his safety net of a wolf. And she was so quick to point it out too! "Exactly! Therefore, you are not allowed to die... ever. Or at least stay alive until Vor realizes how wonderful I am." The male laughed again at his own "ego," if you could call it that; in reality, his ego was just facade he'd conjured up to disguise his insecurities. No one would ever know that, though. He'd make sure of it! Bardou let the young male and Shayde chatter about for a moment or two as he made himself comfortable on the ground. He didn't fancy standing around while his leg proceeded to cramp up in protest. The crippled brute, now sitting, tucked his tail around his paws before contributing his two cents to the conversation. "I like the name Zirena... oh! You ought to name the boys after meh!" He flashed a winning grin then settled back into his chronic smirk. words:: 563 muse:: Decent tags:: Shayde, Tike, Open... ooc:: None

[Vorilye]

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[atrb=background,http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t26/corpes3/vorilyemid2.png] "Fat chance, you sniffling baffoon. I would never subject one of my sons to such a cruel fate," Vorilye snarked angrily, approaching the dens rapidly after he received news of the birth of the pups. While he had been on the far side of the territory, there was nothing that could have kept him away from his infant children, and now that he was here, he wanted this Bardou fellow gone. He was not worthy to be in the presence of the alpha's pups, let alone to be a member of Descai. It was only because of his children's mother that he was even afforded the chance to stay, and that fact alone also made Vorilye resent him. It was just a lose-lose situation wherever the gimpy male looked; Vorilye would never truly like him. Instead, he was quickly sinking lower in the alpha male's opinion, and it would not be long before he could find some reason to rid the pack of the foolish male that Shayde thought was such an asset to the pack. As Vorilye gazed down at his beta, he was more distracted by the tiny bundles of joy nestled against her side. One looked more like her mother by far, but the other two were much more in his likeness. The two little boys; two more heirs to the pack for him to raise, though these two could be more easily crafted to the pack's value system due to their full upbringing under the watch of Descai. He would have the opportunity to oversee them every step of the way, while Kallik had taken that opportunity away from him before. These were his children, and he could not be more proud. The alpha male even found himself smiling at Shayde, albeit briefly, as he was beyond pleased with the gifts she had brought into the pack. Perhaps not all hope was lost for him if he could still have such beautiful children. Vorilye's golden eyes fell briefly on his son, and he found himself wondering exactly what part Tike played in all this. Surely he could not have known, or he would have told him, right? He was a little skeptical to believe that, while Shayde was busy avoiding him, she had avoided the remainder of the pack as well. Someone definitely knew about it and her reasons behind hiding her pregnancy from him. However, that was all in the past, as right now, he had the opportunity for the first time in years to name his own offspring. The name Shayde had chosen for his daughter was satisfactory; it was not overly strong, yet it was not a weak name either. Zirena looked just like her mother, and the love Vorilye felt toward the small female was overwhelming. The first of his sons was quite intriguing to him. Unlike his litter with Kallik, there was little indication that he was the father of this small red pup other than the fact that he just knew. The bulky little pup was near the size of his brother, yet he reflected his mother's coloring. Unlike Shayde, however, his son was bright and strongly colored, differing from the normal, duller coats of red wolves. Such a strong pup needed a strong name. "My son, you will be Zephyros," he mused with a gentle smile, the fatherly nature in him arising once more. These pups would want to play with him and Shayde, not be virtually adults by the time he knew they existed. This was his saving grace. The last of his pups was unmistakably his son. The golden paws and black fur was indication enough that Shayde could not possibly be lying about their parenthood. In fact, even when she had first told him they were his, he knew better than to contradict her. While he had first believed her hiding the pregnancy to be because they were a loner's spawn, he knew better than to distrust his beta's word. She had no reason to lie to him, and now the evidence was right before him. "What to name you, my son?" he murmured gently, his eyes settled upon the third pup of the litter. Count | 708 words Muse | Pretty good. Tags | Shayde, Bardou, Tike Notes | Eh, this was okay. A little bit of a softer side to Vor.

[Ryker]

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[atrb=background,http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7738/94326341.png] As Shayde responded to the presence of this male whose name was apparently Bardou, she looked at him with a look like she knew him. That made Tike relax some more. Bardou didn't have the nicest sounding name. It made him think of some weird wolf that no one wanted to be around. It was still better than his own name but it wasn't the best sounding name that Tike had ever heard. The other male had then said that he thought that Shayde may have wanted some company and then asked her if she was surprised. The two talked about death and killing. Odd topics to talk about with newborn pups literally right there. But, he had never understood the ways of other wolves. They were odd. Tike was paying some attention to the conversation going on but, he was too busy looking at his new siblings. He didn't see them as any sort of a thread for potentially taking over some day after Vorilye's days were over. The female, she looked smaller than her brothers. Tike guessed that she would be more of Shayde's size. Not that a smaller size would mean less of a leader. Shayde was an example of how a smaller wolf could hold power. But he had a feeling that his father would choose a larger wolf. His new brothers, looked like they were going to be large. The black one with golden paws and some white on him..or at least he looked like he had white looked like he was more of a Mackenize Valley wolf and his other brother, the vibrant russet pup looked more like a red wolf. It appeared that the russet brother might have been a tiny bit bigger but it was impossible to tell which brother would be bigger at this age. He had heard Bardou say something about color. Yes, his sister did look more like Shayde. His sister was perhaps a little more vibrant but she looked quite similar other than her legs looking black. Odd markings. He kind of liked them though. Maybe it was just the darkness though. He went back into reality as he realized his question was being answered. Zirena. That was his sister's name. It was pretty. Not too masculine, not too feminine and not too childish for crying out loud! He liked the name. It was short, sweet, and to the point. It was much like Shayde herself. Tike nodded in approval, not that Shayde needed his approval to name her children. Just then, Vorilye had come in and had insulted Bardou and had said that there was a fat chance that he would name one of his sons after him. His father always had the funniest insults. Tike laughed a little on the inside. Vorilye then took his turn at seeing the new additions and he looked like he adored them. It made Tike wish that his father had been there at his own birth. Perhaps they would have a better relationship now if he had. Tike hadn't met his father until he was practically an adult. Vorilye had then named one of Tike's brothers. Zephyros. It was strong. Long, but strong. He had hesitated however with the next name. It was with the pup that looked more like himself and Vorilye. Tike thought. He wanted to name this one. He wanted to be a part of this. This was his new family just as much as it was theirs. His name is Sypher, Tike said calmly and a bit assertively. It wasn't a question. It was a statement. He didn't feel that he needed to assert himself over his father and Shayde but he wanted to make sure that there was no debating about it. He had named his brother and it felt fabulous. It made Tike feel more..apart of this new beginning. Like he was still important. He desperately still wanted to be important. He didn't know if he could take it if he was pushed to the side again.

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[atrb=background,http://tinyurl.com/a2gmpjt] Shayde’s eyes narrowed in amusement at Bardou’s words, a wry smirk slipping onto her maw. “Oh? And you thought your presence would be the one I seek?” Despite the harsh words, they were laced with teasing and happiness. His presence may not have been the first on her preference list, but she was pleased he was there nonetheless. He may have acted brash and sarcastic, but he, much like Vorilye, had a heart of gold. There was no reason not to believe his intentions were pure, even if his mouth said otherwise. Not once did Bardou step closer to the pups, and Shayde was actually expecting him to. Of course, if he had, she would have grown angry. Tike sniffing, licking, and nudging his siblings was one story, as he was their blood. Bardou, on the other hand, had no real right to investigate the little things. At least not until after their father had come to see them. If he would come to see them. As she thought about Vorilye, Bardou made a note about his coloring, saying the male pups may very well inherit the gorgeous gold maw that seemed to signify Vorilye’s lineage. The Apennine male then spoke of Zirena’s coloring, and how she would likely take after Shayde herself. The beta femme’s pride swelled just a bit. Yes. She would have a child that looked much like her running around soon. And even though Zirena had dark legs, Shayde felt it might very well become the only indication that she is Vorilye’s daughter. While Bardou went on, catching Shayde’s teasing words for their full worth, Tike remained silent. Shayde’s eyes flicked, on more than one occasion, in the pup’s direction, waiting for him to jump back into the conversation. But instead, he remained stoic and off to the side, looking so much like his father that it was almost painful for Shayde to look at him. Despite the fact that she felt nothing for the black and gold alpha, Shayde wanted to see him. To know for certain what his thoughts were. Was he planning on killing her and the pups? Would she need to find a new pack in due time? Was she to be demoted? There were thousands of questions swarming her head, all unanswered. Red gaze caught movement out of the corner of her eye, causing her head to whip around quickly. But it was only Bardou, reclining to a more comfortable position. Shayde nearly let out a sigh of disappointment. She had thought it might have been Vorilye. He had a tendency to appear when she was thinking about him. Bardou spoke up again, praising her daughter’s name, causing another swell of pride to warm Shayde’s heart. His added comment nearly made her laugh, but a booming voice sliced through the air before she could even open her mouth. He was here. Vorilye immediately snarled at Bardou for his impudence as he stalked into the den. Shayde’s eyes darted everywhere around, refusing to rest on the alpha as he grew ever closer. His air was that of anger, annoyance. This was it. The moment of truth. Yet nothing drastic happened. Slightly alarmed, Shayde risked a glance at the dominating alpha. He was...smiling? His focus was on the pups, of course, but there was a warmth about his face that Shayde hadn’t seen since that day in the clearing with Tike, and that had been months ago. When he turned his smile to her, Shayde couldn’t help but smile back at him, though it was a little weak. Vorilye then spoke up, naming the larger of the two males Zephyros. It was a powerful name, perfect for the son of the Descai alpha. Shayde gently nudged Zephyros, licking him as he whimpered at her touch. It surprised Shayde to see Vorilye flounder over naming his—their—second son. She assumed he would have just known what to name them. A small part of her was even hoping he had been thinking of names ever since she told him he was to be a father yet again. That part was fleeting, however. But it brought to surface a difficult task: What were they going to name their second son? Tike’s voice startled Shayde a bit, causing her to start. She hadn’t forgotten he was there, per se, but he’d been so quiet; she hadn’t expected him to speak again. And he had declared his brother’s name to be Sypher, in a tone that gave no room to argue. Not that she would have. It was a perfect name, as Zephyros’ was. “Zirena, Sypher, and Zephyros,” Shayde murmured lovingly to the pups snuggled at her side. She ran her tongue gently over each of her children, heart swelling with pride and deep affection. words:: Eight-Hundred and Eighteen muse:: Good tags:: Tike, Bardou, and Vorilye ooc:: The stupid middle image for my table won't show up D<

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[atrb=background,http://tinyurl.com/a2q76bl] Shayde just kept on dealing opportunities for Bardou's ego to grow. And grow it did! With a cocky sway in his step, the brute raised his chin and smirked at the female, but not with malevolent intent. Shayde was his friend after all, and she was probably very grateful for that. Least that's what Bardou quickly assumed. "Well of course!" He shook out his fur and wagged his tail, trying to look vain. Trying was the key word. Bardou, with all his acting, wasn't anywhere close to vain; secretly self conscious, yes. But damn, he did a pretty decent job at faking an ego as large as Descai's territory. "I am your favorite wolf after all. I can see it in your eyes." A laugh split his jaw and rocketed off the den walls. Eventually, he settled himself down, if only to make another joke. "Well, there is that alpha fella. I suppose he's more your favorite... though I can't pinpoint why." He chuckled, pleased with his dig at the alpha who resented him so much. And when Vor made his entrance, Bardou's grin never ceased; his laugh even carried on for a second or two. Would he stop dishing out jokes? Perhaps... but he still had to tease Vor a little, even if it was done in a more subtle manner. "My lord! Always the little... no wait, big jester, eh?" He barked another loud laugh, as it was out of character for Bardou to be anywhere near quiet. His entire expression seemed to radiate with the brute's snarkiness; even his eyes flashed with humor. Hold it in. As yes, his brain was talking to him again, and unlike many a fool of today's generation, Bardou listened. He held back any following jokes and lowered his head in a weak attempt to 'submit' to Vor. His face spoke of other intentions, but perhaps body position was all the alpha searched for. And so he remained: quiet, searching, and constantly noting his surroundings. Who looked ready to snap? Could he fit in another joke without losing his ears? How far could he go? Bardou sought to answer all these questions while the family busied over naming the little bundles of fur. The crippled wolf also worked on redeeming himself, so that he wouldn't fall too far in the alpha's favor. Build himself back up, then knock everything down! It was a favorite game of Bardou's. "They are beautiful pups, my lord." He crept forward so he stood around two feet away from Vor. "Congratulations." He grinned, with head bowed and humble. Hopefully, these soft comments and gestures would make up for any later impulses. words:: 445 muse:: Decent tags:: Shayde, Tike, Vor ooc:: None

[Vorilye]

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[atrb=background,http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t26/corpes3/vorilyemid2.png] It annoyed Vorilye greatly that Bardou was here to share this moment with his family. Tike was at least his blood, but he and Shayde were the parents of this litter, and yet the appenine male was sticking his nose into the situation where he really did not belong. Could he not tell that the alpha male did not want him there in any way, shape, or form? For all he cared, the invalid could go throw himself off the top of the plateau and he would not be missed in the slightest. But no, Shayde had to take a liking to the fucker and so he got himself a cozy little gig in Descai. Once the beta female was back in working order, Vorilye would make him her complete responsibility. He did not want to see, hear, or even think of Bardou. The snide bugger was just a thorn in Vorilye's side that he wished would vanish away in the night. While Vorilye was debating what to name his second son, Tike stepped in and offered up Sypher. While Vorilye typically would've bickered with the choice based solely on the fact that they were his offspring to name, the black and gold alpha was quite pleased with his son's offered name. "That is a wonderful name, my son. He shall be called Sypher," he agreed with a nod of his head and a flash of a smile in the male's direction. Had he been given the opportunity to beat some sense into Kallik, Tike would not be named Tike. Instead, he would have a strong name like Zirena, Zephyros and Sypher. But alas, he did not have the input there, and Vorilye was in no position to suggest to his son that his name sucked. It was quite poor etiquette to tell a young male that his name reeked of Kallik's illiteracy. After all, the female herself had come to Descai unable to form a proper sentence, and she thought that naming his beast of a son "Tike" was humorous? Surely she was laughing in her watery grave at that very moment. Finally, some worthwhile words escaped Bardou's mouth, and Vor dipped his head slightly in acknowledgement of the smaller male's words. He would not bother to respond to the brat, as he did not want to deal with whatever obnoxious retort the male might have pulled out of his rectum. It was enough that he had to share the same air with the male, let alone swap conversational words with him. Vorilye would need to find some way to keep him out of his well-groomed fur. Maybe if he did not have to look at his face, they would be able to come to some sort of agreement. He was still resentful that Shayde had pressed the male on the pack, but he would not dare anger a mother wolf, particularly with her first litter. Vor might have been the father of the pups, but he was absolutely certain the Shayde's hormones were not only out of whack, but that she was also in over-protective overdrive. Any words out of place could likely make him the target of the beta's anger, and that would be disappointing right now. He could not be made a fool in front of the village idiot, yet he could not harm the mother of his pups. It was a total catch twenty two. "Shayde, you are relieved from your duties," he spoke to the female cautiously, "until the pups are weaned, at least. I do not want you venturing from these dens and putting yourself, or the pups, in danger. Scab!" The last word he snapped in Bardou's direction. "You got any hunting bones in your body? I don't care if they're small rodents and mockingbirds, but I want you to keep Shayde from going hungry in any way, shape, or form. And by god, if you fail... Well, just don't fuck up," he snarked at the grungy male. He was dirty, filthy, and all sorts of unseemly. Why the hell did Shayde even want him around? "And Tike, how is your training with Sarin progressing?" Count | 708 words Muse | Pretty good. Tags | Shayde, Bardou, Tike Notes | More muse than my last post for sure..

[Ryker]

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[atrb=background,http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7738/94326341.png] Tike was good at staying stoic and still like a statue. He didn't think about moving or talking. He was completely content exactly where he was and with what he was doing. He was listening a little to the mundane conversation going on around him but that wasn't important so it was no use joining in. Tike hated speaking. His speech wasn't clear and it was difficult for him to find words inside of his head. He knew what he wanted to say but he didn't have to vocabulary to express them. He had been taught to speak by his mother after all. She hadn't taught him how to speak correctly. She taught him how to speak like a mute wolf. He was surprised that his siblings had nearly perfect speech while his was messy. Of course. He got the short end of the stick, again. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that the cards had always been against him. He wasn't meant to be successful. Well fuck the world. What the hell did it know? It knew nothing. Certainly nothing about him. He had always needed to fight for what he wanted. Nothing was handed to him. It had made him stronger. When he put up the thought of naming his brother Sypher, Shayde responded well and so did his father. Neither of them had objected. Shayde took the name almost instantly and called him that along with saying the names of the other two as well. Vorilye even gave him a slight smile. Tike's pride swelled within his soul. He felt good. He had done something correctly and others were proud of him. That was all he ever really wanted. He wanted to do well and to be treated decently and not like the screw up twin. But guess what? He was alive and his twin wasn't. He was sitting here with his family and his twin wasn't. He had three new siblings and his twin didn't. He had come out on top of his twin even though it didn't always feel that way. He still had this baggage around him that tied him to his past. He didn't want to have that life any more. He wanted to be new. Vorilye talked to Shayde for a moment, telling her that she was relieved of her duties until the pups were weaned at least. That made sense. Then he called Bardou a scab. The made Tike smile a little. His father was so serious that it was funny sometimes. He wondered if he came off that way to others as well. He said that Bardou would be in charge of feeding Shayde. This shocked Tike. "Bardou is a cripple, What is he thinking? Tike thought to himself and gave Vorilye a look that said just that. Tike was good at communicating in ways other than with his mouth. That was one thing that he had learned from his mother. Tike was apprehensive of that decision. He was probably going to be bringing Shayde food as well because he didn't trust a cripple with hunting for his siblings and their mother. Vorilye then asked him how his training was going. He thought for a moment before responding. He knew how it was going but he didn't want to stumble in front of his father. It's going well. I've learned many th..ings. Tike wanted to quit talking. What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he do something that others did effortlessly? It was so frustrating but he had to continue. He needed to ask his father a favor. Tike looked down at his paws for a split second before looking back at his father. I want you..to change my name. Mine is a symbol of my m-mother's hate..red of me and the p..ast I don't want to be attached to. That was all that Tike could utter out. His voice on the outside didn't sound too bad in terms of confidence but on the inside he felt like he was dying. It pained him so much that he couldn't speak. His new name was at the complete mercy of his father. He may have asked for Shayde's opinion but with previous experience, he wasn't to impressed with the female naming ability. He hated the fact that Bardou was here with them. He wished that the other male would just dissapear but he didn't think that it was physically possible to do that. Tike waited for a new name to be put upon him. He wondered if he would get asked any questions or if this could just be done and they could all get on with their day and the celebration of these new puppies.

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[atrb=background,http://tinyurl.com/a2gmpjt] There was something about Bardou that Shayde couldn’t exactly place. He was irritating, even to her, yet for some reason, she found it refreshing. So refreshing, in fact, that she had the gall to tell Vorilye to allow him into the pack. The pack was full of misfits, each caring more for themselves than for others. Bardou fit right into that mix. Plus, Shayde needed a companion, and the Apennine’s sharp tongue rivaled her own. And despite the fact that she could see how much Vorilye hated his presence—how much anyone hated his presence—she just couldn’t bring herself to step aside from her post of defending him. The male went on to make a joke, claiming he was her favorite. Shayde rolled her eyes, shaking her head with a smirk. His ego was clearly inflated. She didn’t have a favorite. But when Bardou spoke of Vorilye, Shyade froze, turning to him with a dark look. “What makes you say that?” she asked, voice void of any amusement. There was an edge to her tone that almost dared him to answer. Why should Vorilye be her favorite? Because the pair mated once a long time ago? She waited, somewhat irate, for the brute’s answer. It warmed Shayde’s heart to hear Vorilye accept the name Tike had given their remaining son. She wasn’t entirely sure how well the alpha brute would have taken that—a subordinate naming his child for him—but it went by without a hitch. Three beautiful pups suckling at her side. All given powerful names. All born in the Descai pack. Perhaps this new life would be the glue the pack needed to become a true family. Young blood running around the territory, each with claims to the title of alpha when Vorilye stepped down. Not that he would any time soon. Shayde couldn’t see any other male as the alpha to Descai, even if that male were her own flesh and blood. Upon hearing her name from Vorilye’s mouth, Shayde perked up, eyes focused almost curiously on him. What he said, however, caused a growl to ripple through the air. “What?” She was to be relieved of her duties? She was to be demoted? Before she could explode, Vorilye continued, claiming it was only temporary. Shayde sighed deeply, the anger that had surged quelling immediately. “So you’re keeping me penned up in here? Wonderful.” Despite the harsh words, she was quite pleased by the order. He was worried for her safety, something she honestly hadn’t expected from him. She almost expected he was going to have her hunting for herself. Not that she wouldn’t have been able to manage... But the task of keeping her fed fell on Bardou—or as Vorilye called him, Scab. The nickname made Shayde snicker. Oh she would have to use that later on. His request for Bardou to hunt, however, made Shayde laugh harder. “You can’t be serious, Alpha.” When was he not serious, though? “Asking Bardou to hunt is like asking for snow in the summer.” She turned to Bardou. “But if you think you can handle it, Bardou, I’m in no position to protest. I’m only a subordinate after all.” The last comment was directed toward Vorilye, and her eyes darted to his to make sure he caught how displeased she was by the notion. Even if it was temporary. Shayde then proceeded to lie there sulking. She didn’t want to be forced to stay in the dens until the pups were older. She didn’t want to be relieved of her duties. She didn’t want to rely on anyone else to hunt for her, even if Vorilye himself had volunteered for the task. She was a strong, capable, young wolf. She didn’t need anyone to wait on her all day long. But she kept her protests to a minimum, sending dark looks to Vorilye when he wasn’t looking her way. She’d get over it. Eventually. When Tike asked to have his name changed, Shayde’s eyes darted between father and son. This was a rather intense moment. Tike, having just recently reached a year of age, was asking to have a different name. It saddened Shayde a little, as she liked his name. It was cute. But what male wants to be thought of as cute? Clearly not Tike. For some odd reason, Shayde felt a little betrayed by his desire. She wasn’t his mother or anything, but shouldn’t she have an opinion on what his name should be? Didn’t he look up to her as a surrogate mother? Or was she simply fooling herself into believing she was important to him. The red femme resumed her sulking, lying her head down on her paws. Well fine then. If Tike wanted to go and change his name without even asking her opinion, that was fine by her! But if Vorilye gave him a stupid name, Shayde was going to laugh, and refuse to call him anything other than that stupid name. Just to spite the young pup. words:: Eight-Hundred and Sixty-Four muse:: Great <3 tags:: Tike, Bardou, and Vorilye ooc:: Mood swing XD She's all bitchy now.

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[atrb=background,http://tinyurl.com/a2q76bl] Vor's new nickname for Bardou has the older male smirking. The alpha was so easily angered that it was almost... comical! Yet again, Bardou could always get a good laugh out of getting a rise out of someone. So of course he had to play into Vor's anger. "Oh a nickname!" His head remained lowered with ears down and humble, but his jaw had split into a mocking smile. The tip of his tail was practically twitching as he tried to resist the urge to wag the entire appendage. "I knew we'd bond eventually meh lord. Are we getting friendship bracelets sometime soon?" He held a look of seriousness in his eyes for quite some time, but it was quickly disturbed by a rocket of laughter. And this... this was exactly why Bardou often interrupted his own jokes with comments expressing his nonexistent humility; to save his own ass! But the alpha seemed to have his own retribution in mind. Bardou's expression barely changed, but he was not exempt from whatever pain Vor had intended to deal. Smart bastard... real smart bastard. What hurt the most was not Vor's dig into him, but the reaction of the other two wolves. Tikes very expression seemed to show shock; why would you give a cripple such a job? Are you insane!? And then Shayde... she just had to vocalize her concern. "Shayde..." His expression had barely faltered - in fact, he had frozen it on his face as a sort of defense mechanism - but he had to speak. He had to try and stop them from pursuing this any further; his pride was at stake. Bardou would do almost anything to hide his self consciousness. His very personality was constructed on the necessity to hide his deformity. If he refused Vor's offer... well, then he'd have to openly admit that he was less of a wolf than all of them. But if he agreed, there was a high chance than he would fail. Bardou's lip twitched; the smallest expression of his indecision. He finally spoke. "I'd be honored to keep Shayde well fed. Be nice to spend time with her and talk... gossip a little." He shot a pointed look in Vor's direction. I will hunt as you wish, my lord. But you better hope that Shayde doesn't have any dirt on you. "Anything for you, lord." Bardou was smug. But while he flaunted himself like a cocky peacock, he was still absorbed in his own insecurities; they could see it. They could see all his flaws and all his... damn deformities! As Tike pleaded his father for a new name, Bardou busied himself by reflecting and worrying. words:: 447 muse:: Meh tags:: Shayde, Tike, Vor ooc:: Sorry it took me forever to get this piece of crud up.