Nightingale Palisade the last true mouthpiece

The child remained quiet still, this time proud of her mother for sharing their plight so honestly with a stranger. Certainly Kjors—and any new recruit—should understand what he is getting himself into when joining a pack, but it took a strong leader to admit to hosting a traitor in her ranks. Karina hadn’t known Rook Lyall apart from sight and smell, having never worked up the courage to approach the young man who always seemed so busy and so... secretive. Of course Karina had only grown to view Rook as “secretive” after learning of his betrayal, or else the curious child certainly would have followed the solitary yearling to see what he was up to.

Karina was confident Kjors would answer to Kisla’s liking, knowing him to be rather hermitlike apart from his occasional associations with the Badger woman. The princess smiled bashfully as Kjors winked at her.. or maybe it was just a blink..? It was hard to tell the difference when the winker/blinker only had one eye. He spoke of her packmates and loners he had run across, but most interesting was his mention of packwolves.. packwolves that belonged to neither the Ridge, nor the Caverns, and not even Grizzly Hollow. Had Kjors met wolves from the Downs then, their allies to the north? Kova, perhaps? Karina had been wondering what had become of the blackberry prince and his friend Firefly. On the other hand, maybe he had information about an entirely different pack, one whose existence would be news to the River Wolves.

   

    
 

She would have flinched outwardly at his description of them being known as the 'underdog,' yet the family she had come from had allowed no such reactions when facing another. It left a bitter taste in her mouth, and she truly made note to remedy the situation at a later time -- Cut Rock River might have been no more, but their new home was going to be within distance to their three rival packs.. and she would not back away from a fight when she was no longer pregnant.

Had he associated with these packs, she would have questioned his allegiance outright -- and felt she was right to do s. Given the uncertainty of their situation, should a situation arise when her fellow pack mates not choose them.. well, it would be a cold day in hell when they would be allowed back within their borders.

"Then you will be considered pack and family," she murmured, giving a small nod to both her daughter and the one-eyed male before her. "We seek to claim new lands -- so it is uncertain still where we will settle. I trust you will keep up with everyone." Pausing only then, the honeyed woman cast a glance to her daughter, who was so willing now to learn to fight. She pondered with a heavy heart if this decision had been spurned from their recent decision to move and the reasons as to why Karina's own foundations and home had crumbled. She had never wished her pups to ever be put in danger.

"Welcome, Kjors," she offered then, and giving one final nod in a silent request that Karina keep her new friend company, the Baranski regal began to make her way to her mate and tell him of their newest recruit.

(This post was last modified: May 25, 2015, 10:50 PM by Kisla.)

sparking up my heart

"Then it is done," Kjors exhaled, something settling in his chest as the alpha finally made her decision.  If he were honest with himself, he might have admit he held a degree of anxiety.  The minute doubt disappeared back into the murky depths in the corner of his mind, leaving only trifling ripples in its wake.  For a moment, he stood, and then he offered @Kisla a dip of his head, tail swishing behind him.  Let them eternize this moment – the dragon had swallowed down his pride for the sake of a pretty princess, and had successfully joined her kin and kith. There was much he wished to discuss with the alpha female.  While he had not associated with their known enemies, he knew well of other packs.  He'd met many alphas, male and female both.  Knowledge was the dragon's trade.  When the mother was more receptive to plots and plans, he imagined he might approach her – but there were more pressing matters.  The relocation of the pack den, and Kisla's burgeoning pregnancy would not wait.  Allowing the regent to leave in silence, he slowly turned his single eye to @Karina -- only then did he allow himself a wolfish smile, something akin to glee dancing across his expression. "Ah did it," he rumbled, finally getting to his feet.  "An' now we're kinsmen, gem.  We'll 'ave y' fightin' fit in no time – an' whatever else y' wish t' learn, aye?  Suppose it'll do me good, this travelin'.  Suppose we ought t' get a move on though, lest we get left behind.  Ah'll see y' soon, darlin'  Y'ought catch up with yer mum." Fade.

Burtn @DA & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

(This post was last modified: May 26, 2015, 12:35 AM by Kjors.)

The child’s heart soared as her mother pronounced Kjors part of the family, though to her Kjors had obtained that position long ago. Kisla’s emotion was difficult to decipher, and she seemed less pleased by the new addition than her daughter. Perhaps her mother was just worried.. she was always worried about something these days. Without much of a goodbye the River matron padded away, first giving Karina a noticeable nod—certainly an order to remain with Kjors and help him acclimate. The child loosed a girlish yip of pleasure as Kjors spoke, the first words out of his mouth being, I did it. “You were great!” she gushed, tail whipping back and forth, ”Don’t mind Mom, she’s been that way since we started traveling..” As much as she wanted Kjors and her parents to be friends, the princess knew it was a long shot. Kjors had never made it a secret that submission was distasteful to him, and he had a general dislike for mothers to boot. At least he was hers for the time being, and that was enough for now.

”Everything!” she piped up excitedly as Kjors spoke about “whatever she wished to learn”.  It was not that she was really excited about hunting and fighting of course, but she would exploit any excuse to spend time with her devoted protector. Karina’s tail stilled as her companion—now packmate—dismissed her quickly. The girl hesitated, unsure of what to do since her mother had indicated she was to stay with Kjors. She had figured she would begin immediately introducing him to packmates. “Oh.. okay!” she said finally, realizing that perhaps meeting the whole family all at once might be overwhelming for her solitary friend. There was also the fact that as the newcomer he would be expected to submit to all other packmates he met, an act that would irritate Kjors to say the least.  With a parting lick to Kjo’s muzzle for her goodbye, Karina turned to trot her separate way into the woods of the Palisade. She would seek him out again after giving him some time to adjust.