Sex: MaleHis new position had not changed much of his daily routine. The guardian spent much of his time still at the borders, but he took the time to also silently check in with the rest of his pack mates and see all was well. @Mirren had left him with a responsibility, and Miccah had no trouble placing the burden upon his shoulders. Secret Woodlands was his world, his home, and the man was fiercely loyal in continuing to make it thrive in his king's absence. Remembering the discussion Mirren had with @Nina and himself, the second had risen to his temporary position with no fuss. It was his duty to do so, and the man never turned away from his duty. But he couldn't deny that within, he was troubled. After the discussion he had with his wife and over the future, it was clear to Miccah that it was time to speak with Nina. Mirren needed time to heal, and in his absence, it was a good time for Miccah to sort everything out within his mind. And Nina could aid with that. He couldn't bring all his troubles to his wife, not just yet at least. The newly crowned alpha couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when it had happened, but over time, he had grown to respect Nina and what she represented. No longer was he an entitled young man that had thought he had deserved this position. That he had thought he had deserved the honor to rule the Woodlands. The man had changed, grew and had become wiser over the years in the thickets. Still, Nina was the wisest and experienced of them all, and he needed her advice. So calmly, the alpha lifted his head and called for the queen of the thickets, seeking her presence. "speech" |
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When Mirren had approached Nina concerning another search for Kite, she had been quick to want to stop him. The golden queen thought she had made it clear that his daughter needed him. Once again, Nina was left with Lyanna and the grandmother would happily look after the girl. After all, Vaeta and Nios were still within the pack and they would surely help out if she asked it of them. Despite Miccah having risen to power again, Nina felt comfortable with the shift. There had certainly been a change in their relationship, for the better. And now, with his budding romance with Aideen, Nina found herself to be quite pleased by this. It would make the future of the Woodlands that much more attainable. She had grown to respect Miccah as a wolf. He was no fool and even though she put him through hell, he was one of her most loyal members.
When his call beckoned throughout the air Nina gave a small sigh of annoyance. Not due to Miccah’s summons but due to her aching joints. It took her awhile to get moving, needing to stretch her limbs so that she knew they would give her less of a problem when she started towards where Miccah had called for her. It was not often that the Guardian called for her presence so Nina was aware that it was not something that could be ignored. When she arrived, she nodded her head towards the other man, making haste to make herself comfortable. She pinned on single-eyed emerald gaze on him as soon as she arrived. Her voice was strong as she spoke to him, "Is there something you need, Miccah?" She was not harsh in her question but curious as to why he felt the need to speak with her.
Miccah was a patient man, and so he did not grow frustrated at Nina's delay in coming to him. After all, the wise matriarch was not getting any younger. He remembered Aideen's words concerning Nina's health, and the man had indeed noticed what caused them. Where once the woman moved with a smooth, swift pace, now the queen held a slower gait when moving through her lands. Still, he came to the realization that though her movements were slower, Nina still held a sense of grace in her walk. As she finally appeared through the thickets, the man nodded in greeting and his blue gaze was attentive as she moved closer to him and made herself comfortable. Though it was clear to him that his queen was in pain, her voice and gaze was still as strong as ever. No one could deny that. The king stayed silent for a time, gazing at her. He was not a slow-minded individual, but the man was not a man of many words. He liked to think his thoughts through and make his point across quickly if there was ever need of him to speak. For what was the use in flowery terms and not getting straight to the issue? It was a waste of time to the guardian. Finally, the man opened his maw and spoke in his rumbling baritone. "Aideen has spoken to me of your plans for her. You have granted her a high honor." His blue gaze warmed slightly, trusting Nina to see the joy that this brought him. Under Nina's teachings, Aideen would become a great leader. But that was not what troubled him. "Does Mirren know of these plans?" The wolf now sat as he looked down at the matriarch, waiting for her response to his words. "speech" |
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It did not bother the woman when Miccah took a moment to mull over his response. Over the years of his service, she had come to realize that Miccah did not utter a word unless it was absolutely necessary or if there was something of higher importance that was needed. When his first spoke, Nina’s ears flickered forward attentively, the skin around her eyes wrinkling as her lips were brought up into a smile. She maintained eye contact with the man, making it clear that she was listening. Of course, ever since Kite’s disappearance, Nina needed someone else to take over but with Aideen’s return, her questions had been answered. The trip that the Woodlands alpha had allowed the woman to go on had been a tested and she passed with flying colors.
Miccah’s question, however, caused Nina’s smile to disappear, her brows furrowing significantly. She had the intentions of speaking with Mirren on the matter but it had never come up because both of them had been considerably busy. She told Miccah as much, "I had all the intentions of informing him, but then Daniel got sick and I had to go on my trip, then by the time I got back Mirren went off looking for Kite again…There was simply no time." She certainly was disappointed that she would not be able to get the information to the Tainn. However, perhaps it would give him and his siblings a chance to reestablish Copper Rock Creek. After all, that was why they came back, to continue on with their family’s legacy. The golden brown dam would do nothing to stop such a thing from occurring.
Miccah nodded silently at Nina's words, taking in the information she was freely giving him. Time had just simply not been on the queen's side and the king understood that. Still, he worried. What would Mirren say to all this when he finally returned from his little excursion? Everything would be so much simpler if he knew how Mirren would react to this news - whether in an easy manner or not. But Miccah's life had never been smooth-sailing, and the fates probably wouldn't be changing that anytime soon. There was no doubt in his mind that he would be challenging Mirren come spring time, but now more worries seemed to fall onto his shoulders. Was he truly ready to lead again? Because he knew that as long as Aideen ruled the Woodlands, he would be the only one ruling at her side. The weight of leading was a heavy burden to carry, but the man felt almost excited at the possible challenge despite his worries over the current situation. Looking at Nina's familiar, regal form, the former guardian spoke in his rumbling baritone. "I will be challenging Mirren come breeding season." His blue gaze steadily watched the aging matriarch, wanting, no, needing to see her reaction to his words. "Do I have your blessing to do so?" That was probably the closest the man could come to saying that her opinion desperately mattered to him. It wasn't because of how Aideen felt about Nina, nor was it simple curiosity. Miccah had watched Nina over the years, witnessed the power she weaved, and the fierce love and loyalty she held for her pack and family. Could Aideen and him hold up the legacy she was leaving them with the honor it deserved? "speech" |
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Since his time in Secret Woodlands, Miccah had done more than earn her respect. During his time, Nina had made his life a living hell, made his job harder than it needed to be, and when he had risen to leadership, not given him an ounce of her respect of cooperation. It was time that he got paid in full and got what he was worth. The Guardian had grown as a man and had learned his place within the pack well. With Aideen by his side, by of them would, no doubt, thrive. There was no shock within her single eyed gaze when he spoke of his plans and it would not shock her if it was not necessary for him to do so.
His question towards her, however, brought out a shock that had not been brought out in her in quite some time. It was revealed in her eyes briefly before it disappeared, replaced with a look of contentment, something she had not felt in quite some time. She did not answer him directly but with words he deserved to hear a long time ago. "I am very proud of you, Miccah. You have done so much since you have come into this pack and you deserve that place next to Aideen…. Do what must be done." She dipped her head slightly in inclination towards him, a slight sign of respect, and the best she could manage towards anyone within her pack.
Miccah was an observant man, so therefore, did not miss much. He saw the brief flash of shock his words brought in Nina's emerald gaze. It might have shocked her, because in no way had their interactions ever been healthy in the past, but he had grown to respect her - highly. Not only that, but her words held merit now, her opinion mattered. She would not have known this until his question had been spoken aloud, for he had never told her of his change of heart, but now she did. Her words, though, had not been what the guardian had expected. The stoic man was one to keep his emotions close, but he could not help the twitch of his muzzle as it briefly formed into a smile. Nodding, realizing the weight of Nina's words and actions, the king said no further word on the subject and lapsed into silence. His worries had been cleared, at least the ones concerning his wife and their impending future. Mulling over his thoughts, the man opened his maw to speak to the tawny matriarch. "We have not spoken with our allies in quite some time. We should see how they are fairing before the snow denies us this." Willow Ridge was always and hopefully would always be a strong ally, but he also knew they had allies over the mountains. The question was who to send and where. The guardian briefly spoke his thoughts to the queen, and then waited for her input. Politics would always be an annoyance to the man, but their allies were also friends. Well, Nina's friends. It was maybe time to change that too. "speech" |
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Nina found that she quite liked this change in their friendship. Miccah was, after all, a respectable man and deserved his place along the crown. The Hervok woman held no doubt that Aideen would keep a firm paw on the lead position though, as the female lead had always been the strongest and most reliant throughout the years. So many had come and gone through the male leadership position and Nina found herself disappointed with the lack of consistency. Once, she had thought she could trust Koda as her equal but that had not turned out well and everything had turned to dust. His memory loss had taken a much harder toll than it should have and it had ruined them.
Perhaps something had happened to his soul to make him that way, and as she reflected on this, with a sad heart, she could only hope that she would be reunited in the next lifetime. The Koda that had come back to them had been a changed man with a different soul, possessed maybe – her thoughts were interrupted by Miccah. Her hazy gaze turned to meet his once again, her emerald eye sparkling as he spoke. She agreed with her fully and made it quite clear. "Yes, I think so as well. Without Whisper Caverns to visit, it will not take as long and we can just send out two of our own…" She quickly evaluated who they had within her head, before blinking and returning her attention back on the dark man, "Perhaps we should send Inali to Oak Tree Bend. I don’t think it would be wise to send her to Willow Ridge." And it would be the final test of her loyalty.
Miccah nodded at Nina's words, agreeing with her. Yes, Inali would be a good fit. He did not know all the intimate details, for she had not shared them, but he knew a majority of her previous life before joining the Woodlands. It would not be wise to send her to the Ridge, for some might still hold a grudge and Miccah did not want bloodshed. The Woodlands did not need war, especially with one of their strongest allies. "I agree," he simply stated in his rumbling baritone. Evaluating who else was in their ranks to send to the Ridge, Miccah quietly thought. Coming to a decision, he opened his maw to voice his thoughts. "Maybe Bane will want to stretch his legs?" The boy never seemed to be truly comfortable within the depths of the thickets, but Miccah could never know for sure. He was not close to the dark man like Nina was. But he pulled his weight and seemed to be content at her side. That was enough for Miccah. His bright blue gaze focused on Nina's form, waiting for her verdict. As male lead, he held power and say, but Nina was the one who truly held all the cards. "speech" |
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