His tail wagged slowly as the inky youth approached, his pear-coloured gaze focused on his slender figure as the distance between them closed. Karpos had remained his one constant throughout all the changes in his life. Despite them not being blood-related the bond between the two was remarkably strong. He had been there for the boy since he was nothing but a mere ball of fluff, and had watched him grow into the young adult that stood before him. There, of course, had been a few (minor) challenges on the way – XIX had been certain that he was never going to see the chocolate-eyed boy again after he and Anastasia had left the Fen for a new home. After temporarily ‘misplacing’ – for a few months – his blue-eyed dove after they had decided to search for the Slayer siblings, fate had brought the ghost and his shadow together once more.

As Karpos grew in both size and strength, the resemblance between him and his late father soon became evident. XIX always knew that the boy would follow in his father’s pawsteps. As much as he worried that Karpos would leave him once more, he would not prevent him from doing what he desired most.

A frown creased the ghost’s maw as soon as his nephew began speaking of the newest member of Hearthwood. It was troubling that the newcomer had already attempted a rank challenge… he had not met the stranger yet, but he was already wary of him. Before responding XIX gave a slow shake of his head: “No, I haven’t even had the pleasure of meeting him yet.” The rank challenge had happened recently, so perhaps this Kjors was attempting to mend his injury on his own before seeking his medicinal expertise. “I know he’s particularly fond of Karina – she has been distracted from our lessons and keeps disappearing with him.” He knew that the River princess enjoyed her independence and didn’t always like sharing the medical den; he did not expect her to be glued to his side and be as devoted to the plants as he was. However, it seemed her interest was fading the more time she spent with Kjors, which worried him. Until XIX was sure that there was something serious to worry about, he would not express his feelings with Maksim. She was still young – perhaps healing was not for her after all…

Karpos’ life had consisted of a series of low points and the points where he was almost back to normal. He had hit another low, though had found it easier to control it and hide it. He fought to keep it to himself, not wanting to admit that Jynx had left too and it was probably his fault. He drew in a deep breath, forming a sign as he eyed his ivory uncle.

There was a numbing feeling in his paws when Lachesis informed him that Kjors had not gone to visit him to receive medical assistance. There was a slight ruffle in his fur, frustration evident in his eyes with a hint of concern. Lachesis informed him of a fact that he did not know beforehand. Karina. He was hanging around Karina and it only set him further on edge. He liked the now yearling, remembering the times when they used to hang out before he wrapped himself up in his job as a coping mechanism. He would finally speak, the chocolate boy holding hints of his worry in his tone. “Uncle, I don’t trust him at all. He’s brand new but he’s already trying to work his way through the ranks. I’m all for being ambitious but something about it just sets me on edge.”

There was a certain sting as he made his concerns known to his uncle. He was always so clear, knowing friend from foe was a must in his line of work. The issue? He couldn’t figure out if Kjors was a friend or a foe. Perhaps he was just eager to step up and take on more responsibility, trying to set a good example for Karina. However, a nagging feeling in his mind, a prejudice perhaps, told him that it wasn’t that way. “Perhaps I should ask Aunt @Naia what she thinks? I mean, they're both scouts so she might have an opinion. At least, I think he's a scout.” He asked his uncle for advice, biting his lip for a split second as Karpos tried to decide what to do, his chocolate eyes contemplating the situation. There was a hint of hesitation in his voice with an uncertainty as to what Kjors actually did in the pack.

As soon as Lachesis mentioned that Kjors had neglected to visit him he could sense that his nephew was irritated. It was clear that, aside from the rank challenge, the chocolate boy was not fond of this newcomer. While the healer did not like judging wolves before he actually got a chance to meet them, his intuition about them was usually spot-on. It came from the many months he had spent being a nervous, skittish wreck; he was extremely cautious of strangers – even now, after he overcome the worst of his anxiety. XIX was sometimes irritated by his own stand-offish behaviour, but he preferred to be as cautious as possible. He did not trust others easily, and it would take a long time for this newcomer to gain his trust.

It seemed as though Karpos had been listening in on his thoughts; just as they left XIX’s mind, the chocolate youth expressed his concerns.  He nodded in silent agreement as his lips tightened into a hard line. “I do not trust him either… I feel guilty for judging so quickly without having met him, but something does not feel right. Newcomers should not be so ‘ambitious’ about climbing the ranks so soon…” he responded quickly, his tail flicking in annoyance. “I also worry about how much time he and Karina have been spending together… It doesn’t seem right. She is too trusting; too innocent.” He did not want the one-eyed dragon corrupting his apprentice; she reminded him so much of Anastasia, and was just as naïve and trusting as his blue-eyed dove. Always wanting to see the best in others… as good of a quality as it was, it was also dangerous.

“That’s a good idea. I’m going to have to meet this guy myself… but talk to Naia, see what she thinks. I also want to talk to Karina and figure out what they’ve been doing together,” he added with obvious discomfort in his voice. “I’m glad we’re on the same page though. I wonder if Maksim has noticed anything?” The question was almost rhetorical; he knew that their king was busy most days with his children. XIX dreaded the idea of bothering their leader with their concerns about Kjors… it could just be them, after all. However, if it wasn’t, the River King needed to know. 

Karpos shrugged off the comment, still unsure as to whether or not he was being paranoid. He had a history of thinking like he was now in the past and then turning out to screw his entire life up in the process which left him unsure. He liked it at the River and wasn’t sure if he was willing to give him up for the chance he might be right. “I dunno Uncle. How soon is too soon? I feel like it’s just my unreliable instincts acting up again because, I mean, he’s been here two months.” Karpos had only thought about challenging recently, though he would never admit it Lachesis voiced his concerns about how much time he was spending with Karina and about her innocence, and Karpos just frowned.

She did trust fast, he had learned that when he was just a yearling and she was just a sprout, but he thought it might wear off with time. It just proved that he should talk to her again; he was sure to get into trouble or a scuffle or a fight soon enough anywho. He encouraged Karpos to talk to his aunt Naia, which was exactly what he would do after the meeting between them. “I mean, it might just be me, uncle. I’ve only just started considering challenging granted I’ve just become of age by a few months ago.” He realized his words and that his uncle was the next highest so he added fast in case there were any doubts. “I won’t though because I could never challenge you or Maksim. I respect you both too much.” He didn’t want to dismiss his opinions, but he was still unsure themselves.

Lachesis asked if Maksim had noticed anything and Karp just shrugged. “I talked to him about earning my Guardian title and he seemed preoccupied. When I asked him about it, he told me he was bothered about him and that he didn't think he could trust him, and all that on top of Aleksei disappearing. In fact, we talked about it and he wanted me to talk to you and aunt Naia about it before reporting back to him about how you guys felt about him too. He was going to talk to Karina himself and get to the bottom of some of it too.”

Even though a young adult stood before him, XIX sometimes had a difficult time grasping that his little nephew was all grown up. The words that spun from his maw no longer reminded the healer of the ball of fluff he had met when first joining Pitch Pine Trail. The Slayer heir and his sister had been the reason why XIX and his blue-eyed dove had been accepted into the pack; if it had not been for Ana, Shade’s children would have died due to their birth mother’s neglect. The slender healer was tremendously proud of who the Slayer child had grown into, even though it was a struggle to accept the growth.

His frown only deepened as Karpos spoke: “Your instincts are not unreliable, Karp. I’ve had the same feeling since the ‘dragon’ has arrived.” The beast needed to be vanquished; it was leaving an uncomfortable haze in Hearthwood, one that needed to cleared as swiftly as possible.

The next set of words from his nephew did not come as a surprise -- a soft smirk temporarily replaced his grimace as Karpos went to defend his words, stating that he would never challenge Lachesis or Maksim. As reassuring as it was, XIX had never felt threatened in the first place. He knew that eventually the boy would be interested in leading his own pack, just as his father had, but Hearthwood was not for him. “You were always meant to be a leader, Karpos, like your father. But you were meant to start a pack from the ground up -- your pack – not claim another as your own. However, if you were to challenge me, just prepare for an ass-whooping,” he joked lightly before diving headfirst back into talk about Kjors.

So Maksim knew… and it seemed as though the leader was also concerned about the dragon who had made a home among them. XIX exhaled hard through his nose, brows narrowed in irritation as he glanced over at the still water. “I can’t judge too harshly as I haven’t come across him yet, but I know something does not feel right. I’m especially uncomfortable with him spending so much time with Karina – as well as the other Baranski children. It doesn’t seem right… almost as if he is trying to use them as leverage… Find Karina, speak with her. She might share more with you because of your age.” XIX hoped that his nephew might get some information out of the sparrow princess. The ghost hardly ever saw his pupil anymore, as she seemed to busy her time with the dragon. It was not right, and he was sure Maksim would not approve either.

“I feel as though I need to meet with Kjors myself to get a full assessment on his character; however, if you see Maksim before I do let him know I do not trust this self-called dragon either – I’m sure your aunt Naia feels the same as well.” XIX did not like judging others before he had gotten a chance to know them, but he got a similar feeling from Kjors as he had from Reaper. Something just was not right.