Shallows Edge i waste all this time trying to run from you

sorry for the short post, but wanted to get an aw for 7 :B come meet the new kid~

The forest was different to the tundra he’d grown accustom to but it was better. There were more places to hide, things to explore; everything wasn’t so open. He felt safe, for the first time in a long time. And while part of him felt guilty for not taking up his uncle’s offer on staying in the north Seven was also glad to be close to another family member. He knew all sorts of things about his mother’s side of the family, but being close to Askan meant he could learn a little more about the Selwyn’s. Even if he wasn’t a proper Selwyn.

He meandered around the southern edge of the shallows, observing the frosted river as he trotted parallel to its frosted shores. Hunting seemed like a good idea, as the boy wanted to prove his worth to the Edge wolves. Perhaps he could work a patrol into his hunt… something to keep himself busy, instead of loitering around the shallows, plucking food from the caches. His new packmates wouldn’t like that very much… 

Askan still wasn't quite sure what to make of his 'cousin.'

He seemed like a good enough lad, but just because he was family didn't mean he got a free pass around here. In a way, Askan was rather relieved he wasn't from the Mountains, that he didn't have that hoighty air about him that so many of his other relatives were cursed with. Yes yes, the Selwyns were of high prestige and yes yes the name used to mean a lot, but here? They were just another blade of grass in a meadow, completely and utterly unremarkable in the grand scheme of thing.

The Edge Lord found Seven nosing about by the shore of the Shallows. From afar he looked very much like his Father, but as Askan drew closer the differences in their posture stood out as clear as day. Hadrian always stood tall, his shoulders square and his gaze level. He practically radiated confidence, and a sense of knowing, as though his brief escapades away from the mountains had taught him things no one else knew.

More often than not, Hadrian's attitude used to grate on Askan's nerves. After all, how could he be so smug when he'd been dragged over the coals upon his return? And worst of all, why the hell did he leave, yet again not long after he had returned? Askan could now see what had kept him away, for a time at least as Seven had never met his Father. Wherever he was...Askan hoped he was alive, for Seven's sake.

The thought of dead relatives made Askan's shoulders far too heavy for his tastes, so with a huff he rolled them out and closed the distance between them with an easy, if not confident trot.

"Hey kid."Askan said as way of greeting. His tail flicked from side to side in a brief-if not a little awkward- wag, he didn't know him well at all so he wasn't quite sure how to act around Seven yet, though in due time he would learn. Hopefully. "You're not mooching are you?"He asked,unable to stop the slight curve of his lips as his eyes narrowed in a (mock) accusing squint.

Whoever said Askan didn't have a sense of humour could die in a ditch for all he cared, he was hilarious.

He did not expect to be welcomed into Shallows Edge so easily, especially since Askan had been unaware of his existence until he came knocking on his door. Even his uncle, Lachesis, had offered him a place to stay after just meeting him. Either his relatives were super friendly or they were just looking for numbers for the winter months. Either way, Seven was just excited to have found them. He was already familiar with his mother’s side of the family—Seven knew about his uncle’s previous life on the reserve. It was the Selwyn’s that remained a mystery to the dark-legged yearling. Even his mother had not known much about his father’s side of the family, aside from a few minor details. While Askan had told him not to worry about meeting his father Seven couldn’t help but wonder what he was like. Even if he was an asshole, the muddy-eyed Selwyn still wanted to meet him. Figure out why he had not sought him and his siblings out.

His ears twitched in the direction of the voice, his nose spinning around to greet his new leader. His brows shot up high into his forehead as he shook his head from side to side in response, his ears flattening against the back of his skull. M-m-mooching? He repeated, the word sticking to the tip of his tongue before it catapulted off. No way! W-was just about to go off on a patrol, he added honestly, his tone almost defensive as he offered the dark Selwyn a sheepish smile.

Seven wouldn’t dare mooch off the wolf that had allowed him to join his pack. He wanted to earn his place in the Shallows, otherwise what was he doing here? He could have gone to look for his siblings instead of settling down, but joining Askan’s pack had been the better option. The more moving he did the less likely he was to run into one of his siblings. At least if he stayed put they had a better chance at finding him. Perhaps, if they were lucky, they’d run into one of the helpful wolves he had encountered after the trio had separated…

"Uh huh."

Seven clearly didn't know him well enough yet but Askan was pulling his tail. He believed him, if he said that he was about to go on a patrol then it was so. It wasn't really family favouritism that was coming into play here, the kid seemed so eager to earn his place that mooching was no doubt the last thing on his mind. In a way Seven reminded Askan of a certain blond cousin...but not quite as annoying, nor a backstabbing son of a whore that- Askan squinted as the tip of his tail flicked, a somewhat subtle hint of his souring mood.

Anyway, that was neither here nor there.

"I'll be coming with you then , just to make sure." He announced, allowing his lips to twitch up into a smile, just to let the kid know he had no reason to piss himself. All was fine. "Where did you plan going first?" There was a lot of ground to cover, the kid better have had some sort of plan in mind of they would end up meandering through the forest all day.

Askan was difficult to read. While he wanted to believe that the dark Selwyn was joking and not actually accusing him of being a moocher the nervous yearling wasn’t sure what to think… he wasn’t good at reading others. He blamed it on being born on the reserve and not meeting ferals until he, and his siblings, decided to sneak through the fence and embark on their adventure. The wolves beyond the fence had always frightened him, for he had always envisioned them to be cruel and sharp-tongued. The boy was pleased to discover that the majority of the wolves he’d encountered during his trip south were the complete opposite. But, he was still cautious around others. Seven did not trust easy.

I’ll be coming with you then, his ears twitched at the older Selwyn’s words, his muddy gaze fixated on the yellow-eyed leader, just to make sure. Oh no—oh no, oh no, oh no. That meant… that meant he had to impress Askan. Was this some sort of test? Was he trying to see if Seven was being truthful? Or useful? If wolves were capable of sweating Seven Selwyn would be a spitting image of the waterfall on the opposite side of the shallows. Well, he started, his tongue feeling heavy as it moved around his mouth and spat words into the space between them, I w-was gonna head south, m-mostly because I haven’t been there y-yet. His lips tightened, his caramel eyes soft as he stepped forward in the direction he had spoken of. 

"Mmm, that's fine." Askan wasn't an outright bully, he didn't intend to give his cousin too hard of a time. There was having a bit of fun then there was just being outright mean. He took care not to push too far lest he upset the kid or something. "It looks a lot better without all the snow, for now we just have to make do."

With that said, Askan turned to face the south and with a flick of his snout gestured for him to take the lead. As tempting as it was to take over he wasn't going to start pulling ranks on him, not over something as silly as this. Perhaps in time Seven would settle into his skin, he'd feel more at home, more confident in his words and actions. Askan knew that when he was his age he wasn't the best to be around, if his memory served correctly he was moodier than he was even now. Growing up did weird things to the mind and body, it would pass in time. Hopefully.

"So you said you grew up in Lach's homeland, right?"He asked after a little while of comfortable silence. "Tell me about it. What was it like there?"

Perhaps his upbringing could explain a thing or two. In the Mountains Askan had been raised to respect the old ways, to adhere to tradition, for that was what enabled the Selwyns to rise to such greatness. At the time he had never put too much stock in it and that rang all the more true now. Attending Mass and meeting after meeting hadn't made him a better person, he felt no closer to God or even his angels. It all seemed like bullshit to him, things said to give the Selwyns cause to act better than everyone else.

(This post was last modified: Feb 16, 2018, 12:12 AM by Askan.)

Why was he so nervous? Sure, his cousin was quite intimidating in size and exuded confidence, but that didn’t mean Seven should be nervous or anxious around him. But he was; he couldn’t help it. The yearling offered his older cousin a small smile and nodded softly at his words. ’M used to the snow, he offered, his shoulders rolling as he followed after the yellow-eyed Edge Lord, his gangly legs easily falling in time with Askan’s. D-don’t mind it actually. But I image this place looks a lot b-better without it. He was rambling. Oh god, he was rambling. Should he apologize? Ignore his frantic words? Talk further? He just hoped Askan didn’t think he was some sort of bumbling fool. A little naive, maybe, and timid. But certainly no fool. His mother raised him better than that.

His thoughts were disrupted by his leader’s voice paired with a familiar name. Lach. His uncle. He’d forgotten that the two wolves were familiar with each other. Tell me abut it. Oh no, the older Selwyn wanted him to talk more. He didn’t really mean that, did he? He swallowed, the words hesitating on the tip of his tongue. The smudge had no choice but to obey. It was his leader asking, after all. And it sounded kind of like an order.

It’s cold, he started with a small laugh, his muddy gaze fixated on the path before them. An’ flat, for the most part. Some mountains ’n forests here ’n there, but mostly flat. Like the lowlands up n-north here. The peppered yearling’s shoulders rolled as he spoke. D-did my uncle tell you anythin’ about it? He asked, unsure of whether he should reveal the two-leg part of their home. Their tattoos, unfortunately, were a permanent reminder of the pink creatures’ involvement with the pack in the north. 

Lach had once said his home was somewhere in the north, so Askan couldn't help but wonder whether it was close to the Mountains. It couldn't have been that close, otherwise Askan surely would have heard of it, or of Lach's family of gangly, pale wolves. On the other paw though, he didn't think Hadrian would have roamed too far... Or maybe he would, it wasn't as if they were particularly close so the Edge Lord had a hard time gauging what he would and wouldn't do. Either way, the exact location didn't really matter. Askan had no intentions of going that way ever again, and why would he? All had been lost, there was likely nothing left but ruins of what once was.

"Nothing really" He admitted, now just realising how tight lipped his friend had been about it. It was okay, it wasn't as though Askan blabbed about the Mountains but still, it was a little strange that he knew next to nothing about his friend's past. "He's never brought it up, there were always other things to talk about, I suppose."

"So he's your uncle, that means his sister is your Mother, right?" He had heard it all before, he was just reaffirming it in his mind. "What was she like?" He asked as he kept on walking, pushing on through the snow as they continued south.

Ah. Either his yellow-eyed leader was lying to him or his uncle had not mentioned anything about the reserve. Which, if it was the latter, it did not surprise the peppered Selwyn. While the reserve was a safe place, it wasn’t an ideal home. It was too safe; comfortable. It didn’t offer the same sort of exhilaration as the lands of Relic Lore. There was no danger—not even from the strange, pink two-legs. No, the naked creatures often provided food and medicine for the wolves of the reserve. Which was why life was so boring behind the silver fences. It’s, uh, he started lamely, his shoulders rolling into a soft shrug as he examined their surroundings, not that exciting. We were close t’some mountains b-but I never explored 'em. Once he had gotten a taste of freedom he, and his siblings, had headed south for Relic Lore.

… that means his sister is your mother, right? He nodded. You bet’cha, he hummed in response, his tail swaying absently behind him. She was very kind; thoughtful. Another nod. This time a smile accompanied his words, his posture growing more relaxed. She was very protective of us, but she wanted us to have a b-better life. Which was why she encouraged us t-to leave. To find Uncle Lachesis. And they had! It almost made him want to return, just to tell her. Maybe one day… She kind of reminds me of him, actually. Just softer, y’know? She was more cautious and reserved. Which was why she had chosen to stay at the reserve instead of returning to the Lore a second time.

You’re from the Selwyn mountains, right? He asked, his tone growing softer as he glanced over at his leader. She mentioned 'em before.

In hindsight, Askan couldn't describe his homeland like that either. They were many things, majestic, structured, but exciting? Perhaps when he had been little he might have considered it as such...but through the eyes of adult it was just home. A place he used to love, a place he had lost. Not that it mattered, Shallows Edge was his home now and it would be until the day he died. He had all he wanted right here, his mate, his friends and allies, what more could he possibly ask for?

Seven's Mother sounded like a decent lady, clearly raised her kids right-which must have been difficult considering the Father wasn't in the picture. It seemed as though she wasn't alone though, especially if she was surrounded by her relatives. That was reminiscent of how Askan was raised, really. His Mother had been forever present,  worrying and fussing over him and his siblings but all of the other Selwyns had pitched in too. Mostly anyways,  Deron did jack shit and it was for the best that Savion came and went as he pleased, rather than pulling his damn weight. Evil bastard.

"Softer huh? Lach is like that too, you haven't seen him talk about his missus. That was some tooth rotting shit, I tell you." Askan was never going to let that go. Never.

"Yep, born and raised in the Homeland."Askan said, his steps faltering. He came to a stop and idly kicked a fallen branch, thin and spindly like a spiders leg. This clearly wasn't his favourite topic, but the kid deserved to know. Even if only a little. "What do you want to know about it?" He asked, his expression was softer around the edges, pained almost.

He could try to hide it as much as he liked, could try to push it to the back of his mind, but the hurt still remained. Probably would till the end of his days, after all what man could forget his family like that? Even if they hadn't always gotten along, none of them deserved such an awful end.

(This post was last modified: Mar 01, 2018, 09:55 PM by Askan.)