Secret Woodlands And I know, I know, I know, I know

Post prompt thread: Feel it in your bones! Set before the hunt thread!
Summary: Koda finds out about the closeness between Nina and Hollow.
This is not particularly private, but it would make sense if Hollow could join ^^

He'd been hiding in the comfort of his den for a day now, sulking from the sorrow he felt over a broken heart and a guilty conscious. Too many questions rolled over in his head, so much so that he would sleep to shut them out, only to hear them again when he opened his eyes, and the feeling of sadness would overcome him as if he'd been hit with a sack of bricks. It was hard, breaking up with someone, but it was even harder when that someone happened to be your soul mate, and the woman you pledged your heart to for life--he didn't know how he could recover from such a tragedy. In the mean time he hid from the others, not wanting to show his weakness and afraid of the anger that would ensue if anyone approached him the wrong way, he could't be seen this way, not when he still had so much to prove.

It was nearly nightfall before he finally gathered the energy to pull himself from the floor of his den and search for food, despite his diminishing appetite, he knew he needed to keep his energy up if he wanted to survive this winter. Nothing was worse than being a worthless, lonely omega. The night air felt good against his coat, it was no longer bitterly cold like the days before and it seemed that the snow had finally let up. This was a signal that things would get better for him, he couldn't help wondering to himself when that time would be.

When he felt his muscles jump in his shoulder he paused to a stop, allowing his nose to come to the ground with interest of who had passed through the area before him. Many scents peaked his interest, but one in particular caught him off guard. It was that of @hollow, strangely enough it held a hint of Nina's, and immediately his lip curled with disgust. He had thoughts of the two growing close, and he knew of their pack relationship since joining the woodlands, but he couldn't help wondering why he was finding their scents mixed together more often. Was there something there that he wasn't aware of before?

Interested, and slightly pissed, he lifted his head and sent a howl to the dark male dismissing the fact that it was nearly night and he was probably settling for rest. He couldn't sit back any longer and seem oblivious to the signs in front of him, he wanted answers and there was no better source than from the man who shared the most company with his ex-mate.

(This post was last modified: Feb 15, 2014, 04:45 AM by Koda.)

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.

Silence reigned over his land, the tension was slacked from his shoulders, Hollow had finally felt the first wind that didn't absolutely slice through him. The dark male moved towards the den with the full intention of speaking with Nina and getting some rest, things had been quiet again, even with Koda's return they had been quiet. Hollow was surprised the other male had not tried to unseat him from the throne. Yet Hollow still felt as though they day may come. Most knew of Nina's reversion back to her given last name. The midnight pelted alpha did feel for Koda on one side, it would hurt to loose a mate whom was standing before you. Yet on the other, Hollow felt no remorse, Koda had been a betrayer, and Hollow's heart couldn't trust betrayers anymore... not after Azariah... or Liam.

The two names that stuck out the most, one his wonderful golden fae, whom now in his mind had turned to a rusted blacked char. Liam, had seemed a friend... before he disappeared.. only to turn up dead. Not to even mention Sloane, leader of Whisper Caverns... so much betrayal. Hollow's heart had been deadened to second changes for betrayers. So when Koda's howl sounded for him, a slight growl left the black muzzle, even as his ears and body swiveled in the direction of the noise. Hollow moved towards the call pondering the rage that seemed to fill it. Knowing full well, that from the tone of the noise.... there could be a fight resulting in such a call.

Eventually The Alpha of Secret Woodlands found his lowest and when he did he could almost feel questions, and turmoil rolling off of Koda in waves. It was true the male was distressed, it was then that the guardian in Hollow kicked in and even with a cold emotionless face, and a high and proud stance, Hollow's voice was soft. "What is on your mind, old friend?" Deep down the male knew that this was the culmination of all the things that were never said between Koda and Nina... yet. Hollow was in the middle, and truthfully, he felt he belonged here, between Nina, and Koda... who Hollow now saw as a threat to her happiness. But he was still a pack mate, and therefore Hollow still cared for him, he just didn't want him near Nina's heart any longer.

He became so lost in his anger over the loss of his mate that he began to pace back and forth in his spot, so much so that a two inch layer rose up to his ankle littered with his large paw prints. He cursed the dark male he'd trusted to have his position, and wondered how he had become oblivious to the absence in Nina's heart for him. There were so many signs that he'd missed leading up to this news, and he could only assume that her leading partner was partially to blame. It was while he mulled over this information that his anger began to rise like a flame growing wild, it didn't help any that Hollow approach him as if their relationship had no become strained. He nearly scoffed at his words, calling him an old friend, but he would not mention this because he had bigger business to worry about.

"Hollow, have you heard that Nina no longer calls herself by Reinier?"

He couldn't be bothered by false attempts to be friendly with the residing alpha, it was of no surprise that their relationship had been severed the moment he'd asked to return and been blasted with accusations that he had no appreciation or care for those in Secret Woodlands. He cared most about his family, they were his everything, and he cared about those who took the pack as their own, it showed in his constant duty of finding and saving food he came across on his journey's. He could no longer listen to wolves who thought he did not care about his home, they did not pertain to Koda and they never would, not while he breathed, and not while he remained a devoted member of this pack.

He couldn't help the wrinkle that formed at his eyebrow, a sign that he was upset and had momentarily lost control of his emotions. He couldn't understand how things had gone so wrong when he was trying so hard to make things right. And what then of Nina, why had she allowed him to think that they would get their relationship back in order? He could only recall her riddle from his acceptance meeting but he pushed that aside to mean that she was simply angry at him, and he understood. He had no accepted those words to be true, there was no way that during all that they had been through together that she would throw it all away when he had every intention of proving to her that he was here to stay. What the hell had happened from the moment of his acceptance until now? Why was he just now getting this memo? And why did Hollow believe that he deserved the company of his mate?

(This post was last modified: Feb 21, 2014, 03:03 PM by Koda.)

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.

Hollows lips parted as he watched Koda, knowing full well what was to come, he waited, knowing the anger that would boil within him when accusations were flung. First he remained calm, following Koda's motion. Keeping calm even in the face of Koda's rage. It was all very controlled and calm. But Hollow knew, it was over Nina, he must have heard, and the very first words from the other male's muzzle confirmed it. Hollow contained himself, to his ears he thought Koda was being a little too informal for the lowest. His lips involuntarily rose a fraction revealing the very tips of his sharp canines. He breathed slow and kept his posture solid, Koda would not yet shake him.

"Yes Koda I know. I did not make that decision for her, I gave Nina an honest opinion and she made her own choice. I assure you that I did not influence her decision. If I did it was an unintended effect." His voice was sharp now, and crisp, every word pronounced and clipped. His anger was slowly rising at Koda for disturbing him just for this when he could have simply asked Nina. Hollow took a breath, lowered his lips and pressed them into a tight line, before asking one more thing. "Now why did you request ME to tell you this instead of Nina herself?" The dark leader took one step forward and locked his gaze on Koda, waiting for the challenge. Hoping he would not have to fight the male, but ready if he needed to do so.

Whew, this post stinks! Sorry! :/

His patience was growing thin as green flecked eyes stared intently at the dark male, searching his features in attempt to read the male's emotions without pulling it out of him. He was afraid of upsetting Hollow, but it was hard to consider the other male's feelings when his own were all over the place, he couldn't accept this male as his friend if he had intentions on mating his ex, Nina was off limits to Hollow. Now and forever. "For some reason I had a hard time believing that you had no hand in her decision. I know how much you didn't want me back Hollow, despite all the ways I have proved to you how loyal I am to this pack." he had shown for a few months now that he was a loyal member to the pack and would remain so until his dying days.

When the black male drew in breath and asked why he had requested him to the area and not Nina he felt the rage bubble at the base of his throat. He wanted to growl, snarl, scratch, bite, and harm the male in front of him but he remained on his spot and inhaled a deep breath to calm his emotions. He had never felt so many ways at once, this was something new for him, but feeling hurt was not new and he could eventually accept that Nina was no longer his woman, but he could never accept the fact that the male in front of him had tried to take her from him. "I called you, Hollow, because your scent seems to blend so much more with Nina's, as if you two are inseparable. What do you want with her? he wondered, his head cocking to the side. He would fight this male if it came down to it, but he would hope it would not reach to that point, he did not like fighting and could not imagine doing so with a male that had once been his friend, but for Nina's heart he would defend his right to her love.

Water is beginning to freeze and some fish are trapped. Hunt Opportunity

Once again his lips rose revealing the tips of his canines as accusations were flung at him. Accusations from the leader who left, from the male who abandoned his family for months at a time in the harshest of winters to come back and expect welcome with warm wags and a return of his throne. No, that was not the way this worked, Koda was betrayer now accusing Hollow of being the one who betrayed the pack. A very soft growl started to form in his throat as Koda finally accused him of what he had been waiting to be accused of. Now his lips rose further and his nostrils flared the growl grew and Hollow's eyes stretched wide until the whites could be seen he stalked up to Koda barely checking his rage.

"You accuse me of stealing your mate away when it was you who pushed her away, and then accuse me of making a decision for her? You should know her better than that Koda Reinier. You should know well that she would never decide anything based on anyone's instincts but her own. As for me I wanted you back until it became clear you weren't coming home, I did what I had to do. You have brought all of this upon yourself and now you must pay the price for the mess that you have made!" Hollow was nearly snarling the words now at the thought Koda breaking this pack again, he could never leave the woodlands now. Not with the thought of Koda taking his place and tearing the pack down by having another bout with his so called amnesia.

"I do not want anything with Nina, besides her happiness and this packs well being. Do not accuse me of being unfair to you either I see it in your face I do not hate you Koda but you wish for too much too quickly and have shattered my trust for good." Heavy breaths came from deep within his chest as he fought back the urge to make him submit to him, Koda was once Hollow's friend and now he could never trust him again, not a wolf that so accused him of these treacherous things. While even if Hollow had developed feelings for @Nina he HAD fully intended to relinquish the pack to Koda, but no more.

He could see Hollow's anger rising, as did his own, and he found himself lost in his own thoughts of how this meeting could go. There were always two possibilities, he could tussle with this male or he could get more information from him until he was satisfied with the answers he provided; he couldn't figure out which one was more energy draining. The pack was weak from hunger, emotions were strained, and so were friendships as those too weak to weather out the storm left in search of a more comfortable life, but Koda could not totally blame them. Animals were creatures of habit and often sought for what made them happy, and if Secret Woods could not fulfill that gap then it made sense for them to leave; returning back was another obstacle in its own.

Glancing at Hollow he could see that the younger male was bothered down by pack issues, there was always the constant concern over feeding their members and keeping them safe, but for a moment Koda felt he deserved to be selfish and dabble in his own worries. He was flesh and bone too, and he felt pain, why then did others feel him undeserving to worry so much about the future of his family, and his pups? How would they feel knowing that their father was back but their mother no longer wanted him? "You of all wolves know that I did not purposely leave my family behind. I have apologized a millions times over for leaving them, and promised to never do so again for as long as I live." he paused a second, allowing air to fill his lungs before he continued, building on the dark male's comment of "paying the price for the mess he made" "I am paying the price by remaining the lowest, I am also paying the price by losing my family. So don't make it seem that I have not suffered enough." he added, taking note of the male's exposed teeth. Love made him do foolish things and he remained blind of the insubordination that he was displaying, he could not see past his own feelings in an effort to save his behind.

When the words left his mouth his rage began to diminish, he realized that maybe he had been too harsh on the male assuming that he had taken his mate from him. In the end he knew despite that how hard it was to admit, he was the root cause for the end of his relationship but it was always easier to find someone to place blame on. Unfortunately, Hollow had fallen his victim. With silence between them he sized up the male, noting how much healthier he looked then himself; it was probably because of his need to make sure so many others were taken care of then his own needs. He would need to bulk himself up by spring if he wanted to get his position back in the pack, then he would be ready to rule as king once more. " If you have no intentions with Nina as you claim, then I hope to hear no news soon of a mate ship..." or worse, children. He could not consider the possibility of his mate giving her love to someone else, it was impossible, right?

(This post was last modified: Mar 03, 2014, 03:30 AM by Koda.)

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.

Hollow's rage was beginning to boil as Koda's jaws opened again. He was still being blamed for Koda's mistake and the leader did NOT appreciate it. He tried hard to steady his breathing until he had relaxed. When the very last comment Koda made inflamed him once more. Why did he have to accuse so much. But Hollow knew that the only reason he was getting so angry was because he had begun to develop an attraction to the she wolf. He wanted Nina just the same as Koda but he would not force it to be so. It was inevitable up to Nina to decide. So he sighed and prepared for the inevitable fight that would likely take place after his words left his muzzle and dropped like stones to the ground.

"Koda listen, in the end this is Nina's decision. I will step down if she so wishes. But if she wishes otherwise Koda I will not say no. I give you this fair warning now for I do not want there to be i'll will between us. This situation is not easy for any of us. I'll be the first to tell you I'm sorry if things don't go your way but you have to understand that the pack comes first." Hollow tried to be as gentle as he could with breaking he news, if Nina asked him, he would take her, however the dark male did not tell him that he would be very happy to do so. If nothing else he could make it easier on Koda, if she chose Hollow he would not rub in nor act like he wanted it just as badly as Koda.

The thickness of the tension could be cut with a knife as Koda stared down the darker, much younger male, with accusing green speckled eyes. He couldn't understand the relationship that had developed between them since his return and had grown to accept the changes that would surely come from this news; there was no amount of assuring that Hollow could do to quell the accusations that were boiling within him. He wanted this pain to end, how much suffering did he have to endure before he could take no more? He wanted nothing more then for his life to return to the way it once was before his departure, but no amount if wishing had changed his life thus far.

Looking at Hollow in silence he felt his shoulders slump in quiet defeat for he knew what the future held. Despite his wishes, he had lost the love of Nina forever and it sickened him to witness so much slipping from his grasp that he wanted nothing more than to leave this situation where it lie, but bitterness and jealousy had taken over and it made him green with envy. "I trust Nina to make the right decision for the pack then," he would not take pity, he did not deserve it, but he also did not deserve to be treated as though he were a stranger. He had done so much for the pack, had this all been forgotten so quickly? "I ask you as an old friend to respect my wishes as well then Hollow. I cannot see good in our relationship if you two seek mateship..." and he fell silent, his ears falling to his ears. He did not wish for ill feelings either, but he was an emotional creature and could see little good coming from the surprise news of their engagement. He would not give the male his congratulations, and the male could not ask him enough to be happy for them when his' would be sacrificed in return.

(This post was last modified: Mar 04, 2014, 01:19 AM by Koda.)

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.