Riddle Heights shark in the water

Such cruel words fell from Erebos’ lips.

But her mother would never kill Wren’s mother – would she? The golden child took one step back, ears laying flat against her skull as the adults exchanged ugly barbs. All she had wanted was for Aponi to come home, but she had never expected this upon the once-queen’s arrival. Perhaps she’d simply been naïve, but then, when had she ever learned any better?

Phineas’ arrival was met with a sigh of relief, and with her tail hanging about her hocks, the Argyris youth slunk to her father’s side, seeking the protection and comfort he had offered her when her mother had disappeared from the mountainside. She did not like this ugly fighting, not one bit. “I don’t like this,” she whispered softly, watching tensions watch with wide eyes. But her father was no longer the alpha! He could not take Aponi back into the back, despite his welcome, and he could not tell Erebos to stop this frightful display. Whatever was going to happen would happen, and it drew a low whine from the young girl. She did not want to witness a fight, much less with her family involved.

“Please, stop,” she attempted, already sounding defeated. “There’s no…need…”

A wild dissertation appears!

Dangerous. The deference she strained herself to show mattered, but nothing could erase the crimes of her past, and the venom that seeped from her only continued to prove how ruinous it would be for Silent Moon Plateau if she were allowed to return and continue her debaucherous life here. When she upheld her lies, Erebos needed to hold back a bitter laugh. Personal business. As if anything could justify leaving a daughter so young behind. He recalled what Phineas had told him, that Aponi had left to chase after an old grudge; to find her father's killer. Selfishly pursuing a crime that had long since gone cold rather than being present for her daughter's formative months. He would have attested as much, if his brother had not entered the scene.

It was his scent that he noted first, and his chin lifted with a sneer as he felt a brittle sense of confidence that Phineas would uphold his side of it all and support him. Then the other Argyris' words fell softly unto the air, and Erebos could not hide the flash of incredulity that swept over his face. His muscles tensed further as his mind began to spin faster, scrambling for purchase. Had he not heard their words, noticed their tense and angry statures? Or did he not care? Phineas had never seemed to make the right choices when it came to woman, and Erebos' blood ran cold to think that once again, the paler brother might walk blindly, or perhaps even uncaringly with eyes wide open, into this female's waiting jaws.

"This ain't her home, Phineas, and she sure as hell ain't welcome," he snapped, words growling their way past his grinding fangs. At this moment, he regretted the conversations he did not have with Phineas, that which he had been too fearful of what he might discover to pursue. He wanted to trust that Phineas did not know what Aponi had done to Aesire, that he was naive enough to believe it had all been an accident. Yet the possibility that his predecessor was both aware of and unaffected by the knowledge had held Erebos back from approaching the topic at all after Wren had come to him to tell him of what he had witnessed. Now, he was left grasping at straws at the most inopportune moment of all.

"She murdered Aesire, Phineas. It wasn't an accident, Wren saw it. Then right after that, she leaves your daughter without a mother for months so she can play detective over something that has nothing to do with the pack or Kyna? Wake up, brother. She can't be trusted."

Perhaps many would find it inappropriate to air such grievances in front of Kyna, but even if she was just a child, she needed to know. Aponi was a danger to his niece, and the truth could not, should not, be hidden from her whole life. The sooner she was able to accept the reality of her mother, the better protected she would be against her. Anyways, Aponi did not deserve the affection doted unto her by the fawn girl.

 

The arrival of the pale former king did wonders to sooth Aponi's tensed muscles, especially when his posture remained neutral and perhaps even welcoming. She was struck once again by how handsome the brute was though it was quickly followed by bitterness that he had so easily handed away his crown. Could he not see that by doing this he was unable to ensure their daughter's safety, her future? It was a hypocritical thought as she herself had also handed away her crown though she had never had a slightest doubt she would come back to reclaim it. A thought that was clearly naive of the young wolf who was now being faced by a situation she had never imagined returning to. Still, Phineas' words finished smoothing her muscles and her ears relaxed slightly. The beginning  of a smile even played upon her maw until Kyna left her side to dig into her father.

The words that left her daughter's mouth only made her more infuriated with the new so called king. Is this what he wanted? To keep her daughter separated from her when it was causing obvious harm? Erebos' attention turned away from her and onto his brother but the fae's eye's never swayed from her daughter. Taking a tentative step forward towards the duo her head hung slightly lower and her stance was as apologetic as she could possibly display. With a low whine she murmured, "Kyna I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you or be away so long." She took another step forward, all but ignoring Erebos and whatever reaction this may cause him.

If she was going to get what she wanted now was the time to strike, when emotions were high and judgements were low. Dropping her gaze to her daughter's blonde paws she spoke softly once more, "All I want is to be a family again, you and me and your father. Maybe this time we could make it work and be a real family, one that you deserve. I don't want to lose you, I don't want to spend another day apart from you." The blue eyes lifted and there was a deep sadness there, and in this moment even Aponi could not tell if it was all acting or not.

He had missed the conversation, but it was impossible to miss the tension that clung to the air. Kyna slunk over to him, mumbling about how she did not like something, and his reaction was instant. His gaze locked upward to Aponi, his initial thoughts believing she had said something o their daughter – his lip began to curl, but it was when his daughter’s voice beckoned for them to stop, he stilled.

It became very obvious what was happening – Erebos’ snapping words stirred his lip to curl fully, the the ivory wolf lifted his muzzle upward, his gaze falling squarely upon the wolf he had deemed worthy of taking his place. The pain in his chest seared – the ripples of discomfort shooting down his forelimbs, but he ignored it for now. A sardonic snort emitted from him the moment Erebos spoke of Aponi actually murdering Aesire – a wolf who Erebos himself has despised prior to her death.

“Wren was three months when the incident happened, Erebos,” he spoke, his tone cold now. “He thinks he seen Aponi push her when the truth is she slipped when they were too close to the edge and fell – don’t let the soaring imagination of a little boy make a fool of you now,” he scoffed, giving his muzzle a gentle shake.

Pausing for only a moment, he snorted once more. “Judgement on another for the same mistakes you have made does not become you, brother,” he finally sneered. He had approved Aponi’s leave – she had not vanished in to thin air, and had always intended to return. Now she had. Erebos had not even given Phineas and Borlla the decency of saying goodbye – he had simply vanished.. and later appeared at the Plateau borders, mournful for the decision he had made.

His jaw opened his temper flaring at the absurdity of the entire situation when another pain scoured him. The tightness had become too much and he inhaled deeply, taking a step away from Kyna and the others as he attempted to maintain himself. “Erebos,” he began again, squeezing his eyes shut and then opening them once more, determined. “Are you really going to deny the mother of my –“ But his words stopped, and a shudder passed through the large wolf. The pain was too much – his air way felt constricted. Bowing his forelimbs lower, Phineas gasped.

The air seemed to leave him, and shaking fully now, the man's eyes flashed to the wolves before him, a quiet demand of his worry for Kyna that Aponi shield her eyes. He could not get the words out, though, and the large wolf's body gave one more quiver before he collapsed fully. Alarmed, Phineas made to speak, but no words would come -- simply a whistle as the last of his air escaped him.

It was with his youngest looking upon him that Phineas Argyris drew his last breath, and with one last shuddering attempt, the wolf stilled, the life draining from his eyes. Phineas Argyris was gone from this world.

(This post was last modified: Jan 21, 2016, 02:21 PM by Phineas.)

Takis' exit post from RL

It was hard to miss the commotion upon the borders -- especially for the aspiring guardian as the younger wolf traipsed along the borders length. Aponi's scent had tickled at his senses, and the youth was quick to move faster, hoping to intercept the she-wolf before she determined she could simply stalk across pack borders she had left.

His pace slowed as he came upon the group -- apparently, his uncle felt the same, though the silver man and his father were in a heated argument. Kyna quaked behind the adults, and a light frown began to crease upon the young Argyris' features. He would have made to comfort her, or break up the tension, when he noticed the shudder that coursed along his father's large form.

Annoyance shifted t alarm, and Takis took a step forward, though froze as the man who raised him fell to the ground. Even form his distance, he could hear the wheeze of air that escaped Phineas, and then the silence afterward. He wanted to rush forward -- to help his father, but he knew not how. Phineas' lifeless eyes stared out to the world now, and unable to bear the sight, the young wolf turned, his large form darting away from the gathering and to the heart of the territory, where he sought out @Hypatia .

His words were rushed as he told her of what he had saw -- the verbal fight between brothers', Aponi's dastardly presence.. and he was not quiet as he fully placed their father's stress upon the other two adults.

Takis would aim to soothe his sister -- or, perhaps take comfort from her presence as the aftermath unfolded. But no more than the first light of day would pass on the next morrow would the young wolf bid Hypatia goodbye, and set out to trail after what he hoped was the direction @Celandine had gone when she had left. He could not remain in Relic Lore for now.

(This post was last modified: Jan 31, 2016, 06:51 PM by Takis.)

The adults were fighting, and it would not stop. Not for the first time, Kyna found herself wishing she could curl up and simply sink into the earth, away from here and all the tension. It was as violent as an actual confrontation, and oh, how she wanted to be somewhere safe, like her little cave carved out for a tree. The girl was entirely too big for it now, but she’d @Greer there just the other day, and how happy she had been! How she yearned for her friend now, for anything that wasn’t this.

Within moments, she would come to regret that thought.

Phineas was doing his best to keep the peace, and then-- And then—

Time seemed to slow, and the child’s mouth opened in horror as she watched her father slowly crumpled before her very eyes. What happened in seconds seemed to stretch on for years, and no one did anything about it as he fell, large body hitting the ground with a resounding thud that could be heard around the world. Even without touching him, she knew. She knew, as if she were able to feel the sudden absence where Phineas’ spirit had been only a breath before.

“Dad!” she screamed, orange eyes wide as she brushed past her mother, racing towards the white form. “Dad--”

And in another breath, the young girl departed, hot tears streaming down her cheeks as she wheeled around and bolted from Silent Moon’s borders – if Aponi still wanted her, she would follow, but Kyna could not be here, not for another second.

Exit.

A wild dissertation appears!

Just @Erebos left to post and then this thread can be archived

Everything changed in just a seconds time. One moment she had been creeping towards her daughter with apologies upon her maw and then the next Phineas had been speaking with fire in his tone. The silver ears flicked upwards to absorb his words though her eyes still laid solely on her daughter and maybe this was why she missed the first signs of pain upon the pale brute's face. As it was it was only the gasp that broke her concentration and with it the blue eyes tore away just in time to see the man begin to crumple. Instinct took over though she knew nothing of healing or anything of the sort and her crouch was abandoned as she pounced the last distance forward as if her nearness could save him.

The jump landed her at an awkward position beside @Kyna though it was not close enough to block the view of the fiery eyes turning to them. There was a plea written deep within them, one that Aponi could not decipher and it was as if time stood still in that moment as they locked gazes. It was there staring distantly as if through them that Phineas died, his eyes staring lifelessly at his youngest daughter and her mother.  The silver fae could not move or break the eternal staring contest, was this what Aesire had looked like in her last moment? Had her father's eyes glazed over this way to stare at nothing for the rest of time?

It was with the thought of her father that Aponi's cranium whipped sideways to look at her daughter. The blonde form streaked past her, her voice breaking with a tidal wave of emotion and then she was gone. Without even a thought to Erebos and what would need to be done with the body of what had once been Phineas Argyris Aponi raced after her daughter silently. Whenever Kyna had stopped running that was when she would speak but until then the woman could not lose sight of her any longer. Silent Moon Plateau had just been changed forever but Aponi would not forget what she came home for.

APONI EXIT

hnng rip phineas :c

Despite the attempt to sway him back to reason, Erebos could see plainly from the shifting of Phineas' features that his brother would not follow his lead. The man's scowl deepened as his mind raced to determine whether or not the other Argyris could truly be so blind, or if he knew the truth and at this moment was putting this poisonous woman first above all else. When his paler brother's chin lifted, so did Erebos', orange eyes burning with aggression.

Each word that then tumbled from Phineas' maw pushed him closer and closer to an edge, inciting the rage within him to build. That Phineas had dumped all of his own responsibilities upon his brother without a word prior in front of the entire pack had, at the time, been seen as an errant leap of faith. Now it was all just one giant insult. When he did not agree, to defend a snake that would only endanger them all, Phineas was now attempting to pull the rug out from under him completely, assuming that he could still stand at charge whenever he pleased. Insulting and degrading him openly in the face of everything Erebos had done for him. It was the final straw.

Or at least, it would have been, if the form king's own heart had not beaten Erebos to it. The boiling anger upon his features was swiftly replaced with shock as Phineas suddenly fell to the ground. It took only seconds for him to fully realize what had occurred, that Phineas was now dead, and while it abated his aggressive stature, the anger within him would not be so easily calmed.

Phineas Argyris, the ultimate inconsiderate bastard.

His mind began to spin as the two women scrambled, Kyna quick to take flight with Aponi on her heels. Erebos failed even to notice Takis' distant approach. His orange eyes continued instead to be locked upon the fallen form of his brother, who had been a constant source of bitterness throughout his life. Now, with this last argument, the amends would never be fully reach. Erebos wouldn't even have the acidic joy of saying he had been the one to give Phineas what he deserved. What was he going to do now, dammit?

/Fade