What had become of his world?

For five long years he had lived in some sort of shadow. Though he had the posture of a leader, it was always the command of another that he would echo. It was as though he'd become some sort of puppet, a willing mouthpiece for what he considered to be a greater good, a family that he loved...No, a sister that he loved. And he did love @Naira. She had not beaten him into submission, imposed her will upon him, no. He'd come of his own volition, certain that this was what he was meant to do. To be a willing soldier and servant to his Queen. It had been fine. It really had, but since he'd come to this place, these damned lands, he'd felt different somehow. The soldier found his hair growing longer, vision becoming clearer.

He could no longer be a pawn because he'd experienced too much freedom. Chulyin had shared smiles with wolves that had become part of his family, he'd taught them and...Yes, even watched them disappear. Where an inkling of sadness had started to bloom, sprouting delicate daylilies over the graves of what might be called "lost love", was suddenly set ablaze. The flowers of mourning shriveled up and were consumed by the fire, a fire set into motion by that damned woman who came to him with her heat scent and eyes of smoldering coals. And she broke him. He was suddenly free from the bonds that he'd placed onto his own wrists and it stung. The cruel light of day upon his skin and his face. For what soldier would speak so kindly with strangers and lie with cruel women? His mission had been to his sister, his family, his entire being, and he had watched it go up in flames.

And he had done NOTHING about it.

The pack didn't know, and since that day, he had not put any thought towards it. He let it boil away from within, setting his own eyes aflame, and he avoided his packmates. Thankfully for Chulyin this was no odd occurrence. He could go through life as though nothing had changed and yet everything had changed. He was lost and there were no chains to lead him back home.

And so he wandered. Not far, but further than he ought to have gone. Prey had long since returned to the Wood and so there was hardly any need to stray outside of the packlands. But he wandered away and away. Past Bramble Falls and west to the Wildwood. He supposed this place might have been thriving at some point; Chulyin could still smell the remnants of livelihood, but it was far gone. Occasionally his eyes would glance over a notch in a tree or a hole beneath a rock, now stuffed full with twigs...This had been someone's home. He paused, tongue passing slowly over his jowls. Maybe one day it could be his.

Passing his tongue over yellowed teeth, he began to move about the mossy trunks, letting his chin and cheeks pass over them. He swept his scent over the tall trees, though they did not belong to him, he found that he enjoyed the illusion. The strange illusion of power, a sense of pride the came from owning something. Wolves might pass through the trees with their tails between their legs, praying that the man that marked this land might not come after them. But in a few days, his scent would fade, and who knew if he'd come back again. His lips pulled back as he marked the final tree, spraying it potently with a stream of urine. Swinging his hefty body around, he struck out at the nearest tree, scraping trails of bark from its surface with his forepaws' nails.

Yes, they would fear him. This nameless spectre that had maimed this little part of the wood. And then they would forget him as his scent disappeared with the next rain. He stood within his marked land, head held aloft, copper eyes clouded with power, mind adrift. So far from his body that when Karpos revealed himself, Chulyin let his eyes descend and a deep seated snarl bled from slightly parted jaws. Who was this intruder upon his lands? Who--He blinked, the snarl carried on though his expression had become blank and slightly confused. Karpos. He shook his head and retreated a step, cutting off the feral sound instantly, leaving nothing behind but a heavy silence.

"Karpos, I--" He looked upon the boy in slight fear that he'd been caught in whatever act he'd been committing. Why was he so far away from the Keep? For a moment, Chulyin's mind raced. "Why are you so far from home?" He sputtered out, his breath heavy.

The words Karpos led with worried the man. His ears tipped back and yet he did not approach Karpos further. What did he mean by that? The next set of words lingered on for a moment, and Chulyin's eyes narrowed almost in the fashion that an angry and suspicious father might look upon his ill-mannered son. "What did you do, Karpos?" In their previous talks Chulyin had at least tried to offer the lad some sort of support, even if their planes of thought were totally different. But something told Chulyin that there was nothing he could do this time. No words would fix what Karpos's voice laid out.

Then the words came tumbling out without mercy or hesitation. They painted a vivid picture in Chulyin's mind and his expression began to contort into some pained and frustrated. He felt sympathy for Karpos and yet..."You're a child." Chulyin snarled and snorted heavily through his nostrils. The words were not visceral, but they were harsh and scolding. "If you had half a mind, you would have left her be, Karpos, and instead you drove your superior, the single wolf you were meant to protect, from her kingdom." Tossing his head back, Chulyin turned away from the child, muscles tensed as he mulled over his thoughts.

"I suppose you're going to the River then?" The Knight asked, suddenly quiet. He didn't look back at Karpos. It seemed logical. If Chulyin wasn't mistaken, Karpos had once told him he had family there. His toes curled into the damp soil and he wondered what he truly ought to be doing right now. The scent that he had laid out all round them was heavy, all he could smell. Though Chulyin felt as though his soul hung in limbo, his physical form was grounded, tense...

"Of course she's your damn superior, boy." True, they were both children within the bounds of Hollowheart Keep, but she was a daughter of Naira and Karpos, well...He wasn't. And until the day that either of them joined the adult ranks and Karpos proved he was better than she, Aponi would be above him. It took all Chulyin had not to shake his head. "Aponi is the leader's child and if she wants to hide behind that, she sure as hell can. But someone had to be the mature one, Karpos. You didn't pick that road." His jaws clicked shut as he finished, ears twisting back in obvious displeasure.

Deep down, Chulyin was thankful that, at least, he had a plan. Hopefully the River wolves would take him in. It was clear that his niece's words had hurt the younger boy, but Chulyin could have only hoped that Karpos might have taken the high road...Aponi was a piece of work and it was known. Chulyin closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling slowly as he tried to hold himself together. "And if for a second you believe that no one cares for you, Karpos, you're dumber than I thought." With a light shake of his head, Chulyin began to tread west, and gave his head a slight toss. "I'll take you to the borders. No point in putting up a fuss." A deep set scowl had laid waste to his generally handsome features as he waited for Karpos to follow. Regardless of the fact the boy had family in the pack, Chulyin would be damned if he let him make the journey alone. The Guardian was furious, of course he was, but until Karpos crossed the borders into Cut Rock River, he was still a Keep wolf and Chulyin would keep him safe.

Chulyin only listened as Karpos went on. It dawned on him that his words meant nothing to the dark child, who always seemed eager to be contrary. It was in his nature and Chulyin was done fighting. Once Karpos was beyond those borders, Chulyin would wash his hands of the Slayer child. He would not play a hand in his downfall. A single ear twitched at the apology that was whispered, but it was too late. He would be a bona fide adult soon and eventually apologies would mean nothing. Hopefully the River wolves would teach him something, beat some sense into him. Chulyin let his gait lengthen as Karpos followed, and continued to say nothing. He could imagine the fallout back in Ghastly Woods, and while not eager to face it, that was where his place was. Though not eager to admit his mistakes, Chulyin would face his sister and admit what had taken place. If only to just put it behind him, and hope that life might drag on, pulling him lazily behind it.

Though the Knight pushed on through Karpos's question, he came to an abrupt halt as it concluded and turned on the boy, teeth bared, eyes wild. "Is that what you want, boy?" The man snarled, no longer scolding, but absolutely furious. "I would happily oblige if that is what you so desperately want." His tail was lifted high and bristled at his back. His chest heaved with the effort of fury and saliva began to pool beneath his tongue, threatening to waterfall over his teeth. "Unless you want your pelt beneath our paws, I recommend you shut. up." Whipping around again, he plowed forward, heaving down the spittle. His hackles rose along his spine as he tried to temper his fury, his rage towards this boy who seemed to want nothing more than to be dead. It hurt. It fucking stung the older man to his core that this wolf that he had trusted, had considered family to such a great extent would be reduced to this...This privileged child, no better than the girl he now cursed. His mind screamed to do as the boy seemed to wish, but Chulyin kept his path ahead.