Something told Mercy that Karpos wasn't ready to rough-house yet. Even with his pounce and teasing grin, the dark boy didn't seem moved. This disappointed the crowchild, but he felt ashamed only moments later. Here Karpos was, admitting that he couldn't sleep because somewhere out there in the world was a wolf that he cared very much about- but he didn't know where she was. And as for his father...Karpos left it fairly vague, but Mercy had already sensed that Karpos knew he'd never see his father ever again. So he couldn't empathize- even if Mercy ran head-first into his biological father, there was no way he'd recognize him. Even if he was the spitting image of him- which was actually the case. But the fact that Mercy had never known his father and had therefore never had the chance to get attached to him didn't make him miss him or have any drive to go out and find him. As far as he was concerned, his father probably wasn't a good wolf. He'd exiled his mother, and in doing so, had caused the death of what would've been two siblings. Only Mercy had survived...So he felt no need to try and find his father.So he didn't know what to say, but relaxed his posture and came back to a standing position out of his play bow. Karpos didn't seem to want to play, and was instead more preoccupied by the fact that he couldn't sleep because he missed his father. What should he say? At least he had a pack now? At least he had friends? At least he'd survive the winter? Mercy could sympathize, but he knew what his friend needed now was empathy, not sympathy. Curious about the relationship that Karpos had had, that Mercy had never felt, he tilted his head to the side and sent his gaze far away. "What d'you remember most about him?" He asked, tilting his head to the side. Maybe if he'd recall happy memories, it'd make him feel better. Or it could make him feel worse- but Mercy wasn't a public relations expert so he simply went on gut instinct and decided to ask anyway. He crooked an ear in Karpos' direction for a response, but his nose had alerted him to a potential meal in the area. Something left behind by some other predator- assuming that Karpos could smell it too, Mercy gave his companion a quick look and then moved forward into a trot, following his nose with the hope of finding something they could chow down on.
He let his shoulders broaden and he ducked his head down. A playful smile crossed his muzzle and he offered a playful growl. It was for Mercy to make the first move. He just wanted to try and forget all that had happened to him before he met Aponi. He tried to forget about the death of his father and about the family he had left behind. It would put him in a bad mood for ages if he did not. His past was strong but he was strong willed. He would forget it eventually as he started a new life in Hollowheart Keep to fit and stand out. He would be a guardian and he would personally protect Aponi. No matter what. He would stop what had happened in Pitch Pine Trail from entering his memory.
MERCY get your things, we're leaving when the morning birds are singing, we're sailing. Though he was more focused on finding whatever it was he smelled, one ear remained turned toward Karpos to listen to what he had to say. As far as Mercy was concerned, it sounded as though Karpos' father had been a good guy- and, apparently, someone of importance in the pack. Was Karpos the son of an alpha? His eyes slid over to the boy- and though they were rivals in size and strength, he imagined himself seeing something in Karpos that he did not see in himself- a sort of nobility that came from being born to a wolf of power. Unbeknowest to Mercy, he had too- and his father, too, had disappeared. But as it was, he saw himself as a bastard, an unwanted child, whereas Karpos, once, had been a prince. He sounds pretty cool," Mercy said, a small tone of envy in his voice. He shrugged one angular shoulder, not knowing exactly what to say next. "You should try to be like him, to grow up to be something like him. If he did it, I bet you could." Mercy said. Just when he caught sight of the moose carcass up ahead and was about to pick up a faster pace, he caught movement in the corner of his eye and turned to see that Karpos had finally accepted the play bow he'd given him earlier. He glanced again toward the moose carcass- but decided that it would be there regardless of whether or not they scuffled. So he turned his head back to Karpos, hoping he wouldn't drag his inner baggage into the fight and make it too serious, and spread his forelegs a bit further apart to give himself better balance as he lowered his head. He bared his teeth in a voiceless snarl and looked Karpos over- they were well matched, and Mercy knew better than to waste too much energy in a full out playfight brawl, so he engaged in the scuffle, simply for the fun of it, before they both moved on to eat their fill of the prey.<b style="font-family:georgia; color:#fefefe;">"" |
table by mimi |