Dead Empress Backwater burning up but i'm restless

Backdated to 3/2 so as to take place the same day as this thread. AW for any DEB wolves with special mention to @Sharlee, @Italia, @Viorel, @Vanadis, @Clover, @Archer and @Vayko for relevance. Eros is returning home about five hours late to face his punishment.

Somewhere between the altercation with his aunts and the actual interior of his home Eros had decided that no, he wasn't going to be sent home. He hadn't done anything wrong, all he'd done was spoken the truth when Sharlee was trying to bury it under gossip. She hadn't even told him now isn't the time or we'll talk about it privately like his moms would have, she'd just snapped at him and sent him home. What had he been expected to do then, just bite his tongue and let her say whatever she wanted about wolves he loved? Pretend he didn't have any feelings or thoughts of his own? Go running to Daddy and ask him to take care of it? They all knew how that could turn out...

He had growled to himself and bristled his hackles, an unfamiliar anger coursing through him. It urged him to run, away from the borders and out into the wilderness.

It took him hours to calm himself and force his paws to carry him back to the Backwater. He'd hoped to have found @Seri in that time, but had been left alone with his thoughts instead, for better or worse. He breached the borders with his head low and tail stiff, ready for an adult to find him and start in on all the ways he'd messed up at any moment.

(This post was last modified: Mar 20, 2022, 10:16 PM by Eros.)

The Valle woman had waited until nightfall to return hoping she could get to her den without being noticed. She slunk across the border head and tail low. Much of her journey home had been traveled in such a manner. She wasn't ready to go back to pretending just yet. She was alert for any movement that might announce someone was coming. She tried to move as quietly as she could.

Sharlee had grown past angry by the time she caught the scent of her nephew. After meeting with Viorel and Italia she'd gone to find Eros and sort things out. When she found he hadn't come home her fury had grown exponentially. He had directly disobeyed her after acting as though her rank in the pack didn't matter. On top of that speaking out of turn.

It was probably lucky that she'd had some time to cool off after that discovery but she'd been waiting. So when she caught his scent she followed after him and saw him ahead of her. "Eros," she barked into the air in his direction.

Viorel had only heard secondhand what had occurred with Sharlee and Eros, and he had only heard it from his advisor. Eros himself had seemingly disappeared, which was infuriating, and concerning. He was not sure exactly what happened, why Eros would speak out of turn in defense of a family member that he had thought he had done a good job of explaining why they weren’t around anymore. He also had no idea why he had then taken off, or why Sharlee had reacted so strongly, she was normally so level headed.

When he heard his advisor bark the salt and pepper head raised from where it had rested upon his paws. He had been keeping a close eye on Vanadis and resting by her side in between bouts of well….you know. They were doing their part to ensure the pack would have new life this spring, not that it was a big hardship for him.

Nudging his mate behind her ear the leader got to his paws and approached the pair quietly. He did not say a word, this was between the two of them, but he was their to observe and prevent the situation in case it got out of paw. On either end.

O O C |

speech, thoughts

Italia didn't necessarily know that to make of the situation. Two of her sisters, at least in Sharlee's eyes, had undermined the pack and either left or been kicked out. What the hell had even happened? They used to all be thick as thieves, from what she could remember. Something must not be right ... What if Eros had a point?

While she knew that the yearling had been incorrect in how he had spoken to Lee, she couldn't help but think that there had to be something more to their decision-making than outright betrayal. Once the altercation was over, however, her plan of immediately greeting the whole family and a happy reunion wasn't feasible. Her mood was dampened, but, she still had hope that things could turn out differently.

She had told Lee that she would follow her scent, that she needed a drink to clear her thoughts. Sharlee had left, heading towards their territory while Italia hung behind. She wasn't thirsty, but, she didn't want to intrude. Lia didn't want to assume her standing with the pack was anything like it was over a year ago. Once she had given the woman some time to have peace by herself, she set out after her, following the trail as she had said she would.

Her dark figure made its way to the edge of the clearing eventually. She set a pace and took her time. By moonrise, she finally arrived, coming to the brink of the clearing. She could see Sharlee and Eros again, not to mention a few other faces she recognized. She gulped, unsure if it was a good time for her to make her presence known. The air was tense, the posture of the others making it easily seen. Her eyes watched intently, though, she didn't hide. Italia's body could be seen in full few once she stepped out from the cover of the trees. Her tail hung, waving lightly. She waited.

(This post was last modified: Mar 22, 2022, 02:30 PM by Italia.)

Archer Valle

To say Archer was worried would be an understatement. He hadn't caught everything that had happened but he'd heard enough. Why would Eros lose it like that? Archer himself had uncharacteristically lost his temper when they'd received the news and Eros had always been the more emotional of the two, but for him to disappear? Disobedience was not new to his rap sheet, but this was something entirely other.

He wasn't far away when he heard his aunt's bark, although he wasn't with his parents. He'd been giving them their space lately, with Ma smelling weird and acting all funny. He wanted no part in that, thank you.

At the sound of his brother's name accompanied with his scent, Archer jumped to his feet and rushed to Eros's side. "Eros!" he shouted, but his tone was much different. He was in big enough trouble from the adults as it was; he didn't need Archer yelling at him too. Not right now, anyway; he'd give him an earful about worrying them all like that later. For now, he checked his brother over to make sure he wasn't hurt, then bumped his head against his shoulder before standing beside him. Whatever fury rained upon Eros, Archer would be by his side.

Archer is very haggard and thin; it is obvious he is not doing well.

He was indeed met swiftly, his aunt's voice of course the first to harshly greet him. His fangs set as his shoulders flinched upward, as though they could ever jump high enough to cover his ears. The youth remained this way, hunched and bitterly poised, a scowl on his muzzle already. What a way to be welcomed home, he thought to himself sourly as he peered over his shoulder at Sharlee.

Dad appeared then, reeking of that gross way his mom now smelled and unnervingly quiet. He wasn't the only audience member to Eros' little disciplinary hearing, however. The new 'Great Aunt' Italia made a showing and then Archer was right there calling his name too, though in a much different manner. Eros didn't like any of it and was wishing he'd stayed away longer.

His eyes pinched shut tight and his ears clamped back against his nape as though they could all be blocked out, a single word demanding that they all just get it over with already.

"What?"

It seemed the situation between her and Eros had attracted something of an audience. That wasn't what Sharlee wanted. She hadn't ever wanted to embarass the boy but it seemed at this point that was unavoidable. Viorel was the first to appear but he seemed to be staying back. Did she have to tread carefully because Eros was his son? Sharlee eyed him for a moment until Italia made her presence known but before she had a chance to decide how to feel about that Archer had come on to the scene. At first she thought this might complicate things but maybe not. Maybe this could be a lesson for the both of them.

A low growl escaped her lips at the one word uttered, "You watch your tone," she spat out, "You've disobeyed me and disrespected me twice now and you have no right." Her gaze had hardened as she glared at him. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

It seemed that Viorel was not the only wolf who had been alerted to the sound of Eros returning home. His ears flicked backwards in displeasure when he noticed that Aunt Italia and Archer had also appeared to witness what was sure to be tongue lashing. When his son spoke up the father interjected, ”Archer, come here.” The tone was clear, this was not a question or a request, he would be expected to do as he was told. When the dark child reached him he murmured in his ear, ”This is between Eros and Aunt Sharlee, it is best we keep to ourselves unless this goes too far.”

His heart faltered when he saw Eros’ expression and the way that Sharlee barked back at him to watch his tone. The father part of him wanted to step in and tell his advisor not to speak to his children that way, but he couldn’t. They were too old now to have daddy swooping in to solve all their problems, and needed to start acting like adults and facing their own consequences. His own jaw set into a hard line as he stared at the tawny woman, trying to send a silent message not to take things too far.

Sure, Eros needed to be reprimanded, but he was still a child. For now. Golden eyes flit back towards his son, he just wanted this to go as smoothly as possible. Everyone take their lashings and then move on.

(This post was last modified: Apr 26, 2022, 08:35 PM by Viorel.)

Archer Valle

Eros himself didn't seem to pleased with Archer's arrival, which surprised the younger boy. Eros was always happy to see him. Still, he was going to stand beside his littermate and take the punishment with him, even though he hadn't been there for the trouble. That is, until his Da called him over. His tone was firm and expectation clear. For a moment Archer considered disobeying him and staying where he was, beside his brother where he should be, but the look in Da's eye and the way Sharlee snapped back at Eros was enough for the younger boy to reluctantly skulk away. He glanced back at Eros, hoping his brother could see in his eyes that he was here for him no matter where his paws were.

Dark ears flicked in response to Da's murmured words, but Archer said nothing, merely watched Eros intently as he sat there, ready to leap to his defense should their aunt be too unfair.

Archer is very haggard and thin; it is obvious he is not doing well.

His Aunt was quick to retort, clearly at a loss for patience when it came to this disagreement. Eros felt quite the same, and just as wronged. All he heard was her telling him he needed to shut up and look the other way when he didn't agree with something, and the young teen-to-be refused to live that way. Even for family.

Dad called Archer away, and Eros opened his eyes to watch him go. Tears lined his lashes, but when he looked upon Sharlee his gaze was firm and determined.

"You were being disrespectful!" he insisted, standing his ground.

"What am I supposed to do when you're wrong?!"