"Speech"

The aging wolf had searched far and wide for her daughter, coming to find her in the least of expected places. She had been passing through the Lore for old time's sake. Nia had been shocked to catch wind of the faint trail. She followed it for miles, crossing through different territories within a certain range. Was her daughter a scout? The fresher the scent became the more aware she was of males. By the time she’d finally come close to her daughter’s pack, she could no longer smell her over the potency of the men. She regarded it as a safe move, one that protected against the prowling loners. To that, she was grateful to the alphas.

The old wolf stopped far from the borders. She would call her daughter out of her territory and into mutual grounds. Where she could still control the tides, and hopefully not be interrupted by prying eyes.

During her journey, an oddity had struck the matriarch. She couldn’t smell the trademark in-season scent mixed with her daughter's perfume. Nia had a faint one this year, but that was per her age. Her brows furrowed. With the season grandchildren were heavy on her mind and she expected them. She wanted to see them come into existence before she passed on. Her muzzle lifted to the sky and her voice rang out for her dearest girl.

Tags: @Viorel and @Eros as they will be mentioned further down.

OOC: Please note I've been working on this thread for a bit. I will note when I get to the end of the back-and-forth between my characters. If you wish to join, please mention me in plotting. EDIT TO ADD: Dated for 3/10/2024 to align with Nia's DEB join.

Nia’s heart swelled at the sight of her baby girl, “You look so mature.” She whispered in awe and shock. She could visualize the tiny tot her daughter had once been coming up to show her a dandelion. Those silly weeds she insisted were flowers. Nia could recall correcting her, time and time again, with little to no success. Even now, she didn’t consider it to have been an ill-picked battle. Failing to see how her nick-picking affected the confidence of her child. Now here she was a woman.

Nia’s eyes flickered over her daughter's face, landing on her familiar green eyes. Her voice was bold, an announcement, “I came to collect you.” It was clear the senior thought this would be a walk in the park. She hadn’t considered her daughter's feelings on the matter. “It’s time you end your adventure and become a woman.”

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OOC: The audacity

“I’m your family.” Nia corrected her, disregarding any bonds her daughter might’ve made. “Not them, not anyone else. You have me.” Her tone was demanding. “I’ve come to collect you, it’s time you continue the family line.” Pride stirred within emerald eyes. Nia looked down at her shorter daughter, arching her neck. Her hackles were on end but unlike the younger wolf, she did not snarl. No threat lingered on her face, only the sternness of a mother. Her dominance was clear in the way she relentlessly postured at her child. 

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OOC:

Nia was losing the battle, but not the war. As the argument steered against her favor she fought to turn the tides. “That’s not fair.”  She spat, unable to provide a reason why Sage was wrong. Instead, she launched into a verbal attack. “You are the eldest child, thus it is your responsibility. Do you want your mother to whither away without seeing grandbabies? True love, Sage, true love?!” Outwardly she looked beastly, but the inner workings of her mind she was working the scene. Manipulating her response so that it’d jab the tenderheartedness of her spawn, ”True love is for fools. They string you along and make you think you’re their world. Then, when you least expect it, they pull the rug from under your paws.” She would know best about this, after all.

After the harsh onslaught Nia shifted gears, adjusting her tactic. Her arched head lowered to a respectful position. “...Sage…the Glade is no more.” Her voice fell to a whisper. A defeated expression washed over the old wolf. The once so big and proud matriarch allowed herself to seem so small. Painting the image of a shell of the proud woman she once was. Still was. Whether it was all an act to win her child over or mixed with true vulnerabilities was hard to decipher. “After you left, your dad and I decided to have another litter…” Her eyes fell to her paws, “I..he…we…” She knew the words but played the fiddle to the beat.

“Honey, your dad abandoned the pack while I was pregnant.” The heavy words fell from her mouth with little regard. Nia had time to process the pain, now filled with bitterness. That did not stop the crocodile tears she shed to tug at her daughter's heartstrings.

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OOC:

Her daughter crumbled beneath her, the mother casting a look of pity. She followed suit so that her large frame curled around. She began to shush the girl, grooming her fur. "I know it's a lot to take in, but I'm here, momma's here." She cooed, still faking her tears.

Then Sage scanned the trees as if searching and Nia's facade fell. Her act crumbled, her head falling into the creamy fur of her daughter. She let out a heartbreaking cry. How did it come to this, where was her mate? Her children had died and the one left disobeyed her! He should've been here to help. To prevent the loss of their litter and to guide their eldest. Her chest ached with the reverence of genuine sobs as they overtook her.

Bitterness continued to melt into pain. The words cut into her like a dagger, no amount of time could heal this, “They didn’t make it.” Her mate was one thing. Her children were her entirety.

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