Drooping Willows Virtue itself Turns Vice

After Enoki had asked him to join Willow Ridge, Cai had been nervous. Even after he had been accepted by the leading pair, he was worried that he had made the wrong decision. Guilt about leaving his brother plagued him and he couldn't shake off the feeling that his reasons for joining this new pack had gone beyond the scope of his love for his sister. Part of it had stemmed from his desire to be away from his brother and this aversion to family was something Cai was shocked to find tainting his thoughts. However, it worried the black pelted male even more that something else had also played a part in his decision. Something worse than an aversion to his family.

Determined to shake off these troubled thoughts, Cai decided it was best to prove himself to his new pack as soon as possible. At the moment, he was in search of one of the leading pair. Enoki, while showing him around, had told him to speak to Angier about taking on a role within the pack. Eagerly looking to put himself to work, Cai searched for Angier now, hoping to speak to him about becoming a Guardian. Of course, Cai could also be a Hunter if that is what the pack needed; that is what he had been in the Calarosa pack. He would explain this to Angier, but he sincerely hoped that he would be allowed to be a Guardian. Because of the eternal peace that seemed to cloak the valley where he had grown up, Cai did not have very many opportunities to test his fighting abilities; however, in what chances he was provided he proved himself to be a very skillful fighter and fully capable of defending his territory and pack. He hoped to do the same hear and had the feeling that those skills would be used much more frequently in these lands. Cai tried to ignore it, but a part of him was excited about that. Amber eyes narrowing in defiance of his own thoughts, Cai threw up his head in frustration and let out a loud howl, calling for his leader. He really just wanted to be put to work and hoped that @Angier could provide a solution to this problem.

(This post was last modified: Nov 05, 2014, 12:16 AM by Mordacai.)

With Taima seemingly scarce, Angier had begun to set aside some time in his agenda to give his grand-nephew some much needed attention. While his three sons - Deacon, in particular - were accommodating enough to include Gus, sometimes, the red-furred boy was found on his own, simply contemplating over everything in the world. Missing his mother and what he remembered of his father, perhaps, but Angier wasn't the type to pry. It was quiet moments like these that the Leader had come to appreciate in fatherhood; Asriel, Skoll, and Morganna had not been as attached to him as his brood were but, of course, he supposed being a little bit more active with the youngest Lyalls had its rewards. When a frustrated howl pierced the air, Angier prodded his nose to Gus' ear then to the lad's side to get him to run along and find his buddies. Willow Ridge's newest recruit had something to discuss with him.

A brisk walk and a bit of attentiveness brought him to where the Ashrelle man stood. By instinct alone, his head and tail came up and a curt growl addressed the static that lingered in the air all around the dark-coated brute. "Ah, Mordacai," he greeted, coming to standstill just a little over a few meters from him. A quick scope and sniff about the area told Angier that there had not been anyone else nearby in the past few hours. Why it seemed Mordacai was so on edge had the Lyall rather puzzled. "Whatcha need?"

There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the mud. Hunt Opportunity

Mordacai felt ashamed to have so poorly hidden his feelings of frustration. As an Ashrelle prince he had been taught to conceal many of his emotions so as to avoid seeming weak, impulsive, or undisciplined. It seemed that loosening his attachment to his home and family was also going to loosen his self-control. No, Cai's inner thoughts thundered, ringing with determination, I came here to give myself a fresh start and I will decide what kind of man I become in these lands.

As the large form of Angier approached, accompanied by a curt growl, Cai knew that his emotions were rolling off of him in waves. With a deep breathe, Cai willed himself to relax and let go of all of his emotions, determined to be in control of himself. For now, it worked. After a quick scan of the area, the Willow Ridge alpha seemed satisfied that no immediate danger was present and he politely asked Cai what he needed. Cai dipped his head in a respectful greeting to his new leader and offered a quick, but sincere apology. "Sorry Angier, I've been a little..." Cai searched for the right word to describe his inner turmoil. "...restless lately and it has me on edge." With another deep breathe, Cai continued "I was actually hoping you could help me with that." Contemplating his words, Cai looked at the ground uneasily for a moment. He had only ever belonged to his birth pack and wasn't very familiar with the formalities of other packs. He didn't know if Angier might take his request to be given an official role so soon after joining the pack as presumptuous. Hoping to avoid any unintended offenses, he wanted to make sure he worded his request very carefully. "I know I have not been here long, but I would like to begin contributing to Willow Ridge as soon as possible. So I was hoping to talk to you about officially taking on a role within the pack." Cai's deep voice was firm and confident, though a slight undercurrent of unease could be heard by an observant listener.

Angier might have growled at first but it had not been out of his own frustration or his lack of patience. After nearly 14 months of leading beside Elettra Archer had brought out his true nature, his being a gruff and strict but not without emotion or carelessness. Mordacai bowed his head and the Lyall's shoulders relaxed. An apology hastily came; it made the corners of Angier's straight-lined mouth twitch. Mordacai was asking him to help him quell his restlessness? Huh. A scowl darkened the Leader's face as though the emergence of his winter pelage could have been made much more prominent with such a calculating thought.

In the silence that followed soon after his admission, the Lyall kept quiet, allowing the man to collect himself and sort out his words. The Ashrelle's confidence emerged in the form of a request, not unlike the one he had presented to Elettra all those long months ago when he had sought the Queen's acceptance as her equal and consort.

"All right...?" he rumbled, a quirked brow conveying his piqued interest in the swarthy male. "An' how would ya like to do that?" He shifted his front weight from one paw to the other and his bottle brush of a tail idly swayed from side to side in nonchalance. His pale eyes raked over Mordacai's whole being in a few blinks. "Av'rage build... Good height... Good weight and length..." he commented. "But ya look too lean to be a Guardian; what d'ya have in mind?" His observation might not have said much or even encouraged the other male at all, but what Angier was wanting to hear was what exactly the subordinate had wanted of him, to have the chance to be entertained for once.

Cai was stung that Angier had judged him to be too lean to be a Guardian. The Alpha seemed utterly nonchalant about judging the Ashrelle and that judgement stemmed from physical appearance alone! Cai outwardly appeared unaffected and indifferent, but on the inside he felt mortified and frustrated. Yet again he was being written off by his superior! That was exactly what he had come here to avoid! Being a Guardian was the role he wanted and he had to at least try to obtain it. All Mordacai could think of was how this situation would play out if this was Arion he was talking to because Arion would have said the same thing about Cai's stature. If this was Arion then Cai would have allowed that comment alone to discourage him from pressing on. He would have settled for his Plan B and asked to be a Hunter. But this was not Arion and they were not in Calarosa. Cai had vowed that things would be different here, that he would be different. He had to stand up for what he wanted. But, Cai thought to himself, you also have to serve your pack in whatever way they need you to. They let you join their ranks and for that you should be grateful.

Finding the words to balance both of these aspirations, Cai tactfully disagreed with his Alpha. "In all due respect, Sir, I wouldn't let my size stop me from defending your territory. After all, size isn't the only thing that matters in a good fight." Cai kept his posture straight and dignified, but curled his tail down low. He wanted Angier to see that he was confident and brave, but also that he was in no way challenging the Alpha himself, only Angier's write-off of him as a fighter.

Always driven to please his superiors, Cai couldn't help himself. In the end he had to add, "That being said, I respect your decisions and can serve as a Hunter should my skills as a Guardian be unnecessary." Cai lowered his eyes respectfully, but he hoped Angier had picked up on his carefully chosen words. Mordacai could accept being a Hunter if Guardians were not needed, but he would have much more trouble swallowing Angier's judgement if the large male deemed Cai unworthy of the Guardian role based solely on his size.