It had stung him but he had to push forward from it. He wasn't weak and he was going to prove it. He was going to be a constantly loyal second-in-command to Mapplethorpe once he was old enough to tackle the rank and then when the time inevitably came he would rise as an alpha of Hollowheart Keep, a successor to the greatest man that ever lived {in his own opinion}. He drew a deep breathe in as he thought to himself, now calmed down but still pissed off at what Aponi had said. "All we are is flesh and bone. Who your parents were won't matter on the judgement day. No, what you did with your life is what will mattered and Aponi will be rotting in all Seven hells." He hissed to himself as he tried to account for what he had done and said to her just a few days prior. He didn't care for her anymore. Why he had even cared for her in the first place was oblivious to him. He had pushed past the borders of the pack because he was going to visit his Auntie @Capella and his Uncle @Lachesis down at Cut Rock River. Perhaps they could help him understand what to do.

Perhaps he might even seek out his sister, find someone who cared about him. His fear only made him bolder as he wondered who it was that actually cared about him. Did Lachesis truly care? Did Capella truly care for him? Was Aponi just spreading her shit or was she right about something for once? The boy did not regret anything he had said to Aponi, not after even calming down quite bit after raging out on her and forcing her to respect him, attempting to at least. Tace. Tace. Tace." He reminded himself as he felt his fur bristle along his spine once more. He was getting himself riled up, he needed to stop before he did something he regretted. He sat down and stared intensively out into the distance. He was guarding, watching and waiting for another chance to prove how strong he really was. He would be Aponi's superior and she would learn respect by the time he became what he desired to be, a leader. Karpos was plotting off in the distance, becoming leader being an important thing for him. He needed to prove himself and he saw it as the only way. As soon as he reached his goal, Aponi's ass was out on the borders and off the territory.

She had crossed a line that she shouldn't have crossed.

She had brought his family into it.

Pain had reached his eyes and he tensed when he heard the voice. It was him. The wolf that Aponi had become so infatuated with that it was almost nauseous... nope, it had past that point already. He turned to Mercy with anger in his eyes as he pushed himself up from the sitting position and started to walk away. He really didn't want to get in a fight or argue with Mercy like he had with Aponi. Especially since Sir Mapplethorpe was probably going to want his head for what he had done. Karpos had screwed up when he tried to demand respect from an injured yet snobby wolf and while Karpos thought it was the right thing to do, he doubted Aponi's father would view it the same way. He had no idea how Mercy felt towards Aponi but he did know one thing, Mercy was competition to him, just another piece of game to chew up and spit out... later. He always had to remind himself... later.

It hurt, he hated to admit it despite all his pent up anger and rage, he had loved her. Had. He wanted nothing more than for her to die now. Who knew, maybe her wounds would become infected and no wolf could be able to save her. Such evil thoughts for a wolf like Karp but he had honestly started to regret running after Mercy's call. He was still fighting back the urge to cry as he wondered what Mercy had that Karpos hadn't had. What did that little crowchild have that could top Karpos? Karp could protect her, he could and would have fought for her but instead she pushed him away for a wolf he had thought to be his friend. Maybe she was right when she said that he was the problem. Maybe Karpos just had a habit of driving other wolves away with his obsession. Maybe if he just disappeared, not running away but died, than everyone would have normal and good lives.

Karp just had to block Mercy out and then maybe he would go away. Maybe Mercy would get the hint to stay away from him and go join up to hang out with his over controlling girlfriend. The pain in his eyes, anger, pain, suffering. It all tied into the fact that he just wanted to die. He had only been like this one other time, which his father died and he had been easier to talk out of back then. His family had surrounded him and made him feel love. It was a shame that the former prince of Pitch Pine Trail didn't have family but enemies in their stead. His family was gone, at least 2 days away from where he stood and there was no way he'd get down there without having some stupid idea that he acted upon. No, so he would have to stay in the pack of enemies who liked to dig deep into the scars that Karpos held.

Mercy's question irritated him as Karpos was confident that Aponi had told him about what was said between them. Wasn't that what love birds did? They constantly talked and were practically attached by the hip. Karp hadn't even slept in the pack den since the fight. He slept on the borders where he could rise, do his job and then sleep without having to get stopped by a bratty princess who just wanted to bully him and gain the attention of others. The words stung, he still remembered all of them. She had brought his family into their fight and that was when Karpos had snapped. He continued to ignore Mercy and he picked up pace to get away from him before something bad happened to one of them.

Karp thought he was frustrated before when Mercy was walking beside him questioning him but his fur started to bristle when Mercy stood in front of him. Karpos stopped in his tracks and hissed at the boy all his frustrations with only five words. "Why don't you ask your girlfriend." The words were spat at the other pup who had been pestering him since discovering the chocolate colored boy thinking off the territory just minutes ago. His pain was always hidden in his eyes and he wouldn't give Mercy or Aponi the satisfaction of knowing how he truly felt about it all. He felt he was better pitching himself off the side of the mountain than ever talking to them again, and poor Mercy hadn't done anything wrong, a fact Karp didn't know.

Karp turned around and walked the other way, unable to control the bristling fur along his spine. He closed his eyes and took a deep breathe but it only seemed to make him more angry. Sadness flaked him as he turned to Mercy, sorrow in his eyes. "Mercy... she left. Aponi left because of me." What had he done? His anger more directed at himself rather than the poor boy who had gotten in the way of his emotions. He collapsed to the ground and while he was mad at Aponi he was sad that she had just left. Karpos had caused this. "We fought and argued... she told me my family had abandoned me because of me. She told me that she regretted me being born and me meeting her. She said I was here because of pity and I snapped. Now she's gone." He sobbed out in front of the boy.

Mercy's anger had only further irritated Karpos and the pain hadn't gotten any better. He should have gone with Capella to Cut Rock River. He shouldn't have followed the mountain stranger he barely knew and now he was just ruining lives. "I told her what I felt. I told her I loved her and she blew up on me. I can quote her exact words. "You feel too much Karpos. All you ever do is think and talk and feel. You thought we had something? We could never have anything you pathetic fool. I need someone who is strong enough to protect me, help me, be my equal, you will never be anything but a snivelling pathetic excuse for a wolf.""

He was still angry. "So I responded and I said something completely stupid which pissed her off. Then I told a lie because I couldn't stand it anymore and she left. I said something I never meant and she left before I could take it back. I told her she was only here because she was the daughter of the alphas. Now I have to go explain my actions to Sir Mapplthorpe so you all can bring her back and she'll never have to see me again." He snarled at the man before charging off towards where he knew Naira's den was. If Thorpe wasn't out patrolling. He was done and he was gone to report what he had done so he could be properly punished. This was what it took.

-EXIT-