Fallen Tree Cove There's a snake in my boot

OOC! RE! Fallen Tree Cove, a rattlesnake has taken residence in your den. Gonna set this in Moons birthing den for added suspense @Tagg @Kajika @Vespertio @Namid @Lunette @Anaia Set mid morning sunny 60°F

The last three weeks had been an emotional rollercoaster for the new mother. Watching as her little boy grew and excelled each and everyday the dark woman couldn't be prouder. However she also could help feel immense pain as there should be three little ones growing within the small den instead of one. It was difficult for her to look at @Chan with nothing but love. She loved her son more than she had anything else in her life, but she couldn't help the sorrow that also accompanied that love. Every night she would have nightmares of the woman who attacked her taking her first and second born. Stealing them away from her before they had a chance to live. She always awoke with her cheeks wet from salty tears and a crushing feeling on her chest. The cove beta tried hide her nightmares though, not wanting to worry her family. This was her burden to carry, no one else's. She shouldn't have ever left the territory.

The darkness could keep her up at night, it could torture her, it could keep her from wanting to eat, but it couldn't keep from loving her son. The day was warm as winter finally gave up its hold on the world. Moon laid opposite of the dens enterance watching her tiny boy bounce about the den. Anytime the small boy would wander too close to the entrance she would pull him back. This time he protested as his escape efforts were foiled. She reached down and gave him a kiss despite his protests. She laid down so that he could eat. The russet pup happily latched on and ate himself to sleep. Once the boy was comfortable asleep the dark mother slipped out to get a drink from the lake.

Peace and quite was something that was scarce nowadays. With Chan growing so fast she hardly had a moment to herself. Sure her love was usually around but if the Eastfall boy was awake he'd always cry for her. So her only chance to slip away for a moment was when her baby was asleep. Making her way to the lakes edge Moonshadow took a deep breath. Taking in the mountain air allowing the scents of spring to wash over her and relax her. Her large form moved to the waters edge allowing it to lap at her toes. Her silver dusted tail waved contently behind her as she bent her head to drink. Once having her fill the ebony female moved back to sit on the rocky shore. Mercury orbs watched the serene scenery for a few moments before becoming misty. The darkness was creeping back in, plaguing her thoughts. Taking another deep breath she stood and turned away from the lake. As she got closer to the den something inside her went off telling her something wasn't right. Then she heard it - the unmistakable sound of a rattlesnake. Her hackles rose and a low growl formed in her chest as her maternal instincts took over. She searched frantically outside the den for the legless reptile coming up empty handed. Dread set in as she heard it again realizing that it came from within her den...where her only surviving baby slept.

(This post was last modified: May 24, 2017, 04:41 PM by Moonshadow. Edit Reason: Development change )

[ Edit: removed mentions of Neha still being around as apparently she left. ]

She had stayed away much since her return—she was most commonly found by the lake, or up at the old pack area of Poison Path. It gave her time and space, to think, to feel, and saved the pack from her sullen gazes. Mostly they were directed at Neha. Lunette wondered if anyone had missed the blackness in her eyes whenever they landed on her older sister—a look too deep to rightfully belong to a mere yearling, but her heart was bruised and her soul black. But, it was a moot point, since Neha had ran away. Screw her, honestly.

Frankly, she didn't want to deal with her family—she adored her mother, but any talk was bound to turn to Neha, or Lunette herself, and she didn't want that. She didn't want anyone to know what shadows were painted on the walls of her skull.

There was only Kajika. He meant everything to her. She bit down on her lower lip, threw a glance at the fading stars, and began to head into the heart of their territory. She was looking for him, but she wouldn't find him, not then—but she didn't know that yet, as she slunk like a silver shadow through the world she should've loved.

She still couldn't interact with anyone without averting her eyes and stuttering and mumbling, but every time, a flame lit in her heart and she found herself wishing she could set things on fire with her gaze.

She was trapped between old habits and fears, and the furious young creature unfurling in her soul. She wasn't just a bottle full of the things she had pent up; she was a bottle overflowing and still threatening to burst from the pressure. A soft growl reverberated in her throat as she hunted for his scent, but instead, she came upon an area she had mostly avoided—Moonshadow's birthing den. The black female was outside, hackles raised, growling into her own den. Perplexed, Lunette veered a little closer, then stopped dead when she heard the sound. A rattlesnake—here? She licked her lips and went to stand next to Moonshadow, but where the mother was frantic and snarling, Lunette was cool and poised. She guessed she ought to feel worried and agitated too, but she didn't—she couldn't. She should be distressed at her own lack of emotion, but she wasn't; she just observed in silence, wondering if she should do something, or why Moonshadow wasn't doing..more.

(This post was last modified: May 22, 2017, 03:12 PM by Lunette.)

Finally winter had released it's grip on them as the snow was melting and the sun was shining warming his dark pelt as he finished up his border patrol. Somehow his duties hadn't taken as long as they normally did which pleased the beta. He was eager to check on Moonshadow before going to find Lunette hoping they might take a walk or just go somewhere away from it all. Chan was still too young yet to be taking too far from the den bit when he was old enough Kajika was ready to teach him everything. He often wondered what kind of student his godson would be, if he would be like his mother. The dark man found himself impatient to find out but he would wait.

Weaving his way through the trees in the direction of Moonshadow's​ den his tail swished happily behind him at the prospect of seeing his godson and his mother. On the outside she seemed to be doing okay after the birth of her stillborns. Kajika knew that wasn't entirely true, every time he looked into her silver eyes he could see the sadness there. He had been meaning to have a serious conversation about it with her but it never seemed a good time. It was getting to the point he was just going to have to do it right time or not.

As he came upon his friends den he was surprised to find Lunette outside of it with Moonshadow. They were both looking into the den but what put Kajika on alert was Moonshadow. Her hackles were raised and it wasn't directed at Lunette but the den which meant that something was going on inside. It had to be as there wasn't any other explanation. He quickened his pace to make it there more quickly so that he could help in whatever what he could.

When he reached them he brushed his side against Lunette's as he moved to take in the scents from the den. It didn't take but a moment got him to figure out what had Moonshadow so upset. As he took another step to peer inside that was when he heard the distinctive rattle of the snake. He turned to Moonshadow then, “Please tell me Chan isn't inside with it.” He knew the pup was in there, how could he not be with his ebony friend so upset. His gaze then landed on Lunette as he was torn between telling her to stay back and letting her help. “We have to do something and fast," he said to the two women before turning his full attention to Lunette, "Please be careful,” he told her with a pleading note in his tone.

He didn't want anything to happen to the young Vuesain after he just got her back but he didn't want to keep her from important life experiences either. “We need a plan,” he said gaze shifting between the two females.

(This post was last modified: May 21, 2017, 01:56 PM by Kajika.)

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OOC! Out of character comments here

Fear and anger coursed wildly through the new mothers body blocking out anything else. She had to protect her little boy at all costs so with that instinct the dark woman went to move until another sound reached her ears. The approach of another. She desperately wished it was @Tagg but instead of seeing his familiar red fur, the silver pelt of @Lunette appeared. The woman harbored no ill feelings towards the girl so her presence had no negative affect on the woman. Mercury eyes darted back towards her den as another rattle rang out in warning. Another growl formed in her chest as her tail lashed behind her.

Please tell me Chan isn't inside with it. A whine fell easily from her inky maw as she turned to her best friend. There was no need to give anymore confirmation than that for the dark man already knew the answer. As @Kajika turned towards the lake princess Moonshadow turned back towards the den taking a step towards it. Leaning her head down she did her best to see exactly where the snake was. A single silver dusted ear flicked back to catch her teachers words - We need a plan. She already had one. Not a wise one maybe but a plan nonetheless. Knowing he would try to stop her Moon kept her plan to herself. Once she thought she could see where the snake was she darted her head in to try to grab it. She miscalculated where the snake was as it striked at her opposite of where she was expecting. Quickly back pedaling Moon was able to avoid its deadly bite. Once outside the den again her ears pinned back in frustration and a snarl tore through the air as narrowed silver eyes glared into the den. She wasn't going to let anything harm her baby...she couldn't lose him too.

OOC! Sorry guys, I suck.

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Word Count: 215

It had been a peaceful day. Tagg had taken to sleeping outside Moon and Chan’s den, so he could be on hand to help them.  After checking on his mate and son, the veteran had decided to head out for a brief hunt and try to find something fresh for his resting family members to eat. Today he was unsuccessful, so he decided to swing by the den and check on them yet again before collecting something from one of the caches.

Before he arrived, he could smell the other two members of his pack.  He could also smell their panic.  His hackles lifted. “What’s going on?” He asked as he joined them.  Then he heard it – the distinct rattling of a viper. The new father’s automatic instinct was to bolt inside and collect his son before he could be hurt, but it would do no good if he got bit himself.  He pressed his side against Moon’s, needing her presence just as much as he was sure she needed his. “What do we do?” He asked weakly.

Why was this happening? Why was the new couple the target of so much ill fortune? If any shred of Tagg’s old faith in Lupus remained, it would be gone if he lost another wolf this day.

"Speech"  Thought

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I suck more. Sorry.

Moonshadow didn't acknowledge her, and that was fine with Lunette—it gave her time to think, and time to not have to explain why she was just looking mildly curious and not distressed. Truth to be told, she was vaguely uncomfortable with the lack of care she seemed to exhibit, which she figured was better than the bitter ha ha they DESERVE IT!! her brain sometimes employed when it felt too slighted. But, if she had to pick between being a constructive, heartless bitch or a frantic, panic-struck, largely useless mother, she'd pick the bitch. The gears in her mind turned rapidly, visible in the twitching of her brows and the fast movements of her eyes. She mapped the den's entrance. She mapped the snake. She didn't know what it looked like inside, and that was a problem.

Kajika's scent overrode the one of the panicked mother. Lunette, so focused on thinking, greeted him only with a flick of an ear and the bend of her head towards him, until his side brushed against hers. Both ears flicked forward and without thinking about it, she leaned against him subtly. It had broken her train of thoughts, and she had a hard time picking them up again. She'd gone through so many scenarios already, none of them good enough but the building tension in Moonshadow's shoulders and back told her she was running out of time.

As if she could fix anything. Save anything. She was a kid among adults; who did she think she was, thinking she could contribute with anything..?

"I will," she answered distractedly, her voice so different from its usual meek, mellow self; it was deeper, sharper, simply because she was so focused on what was going on that she was sort of.. forgetting to be afraid and self-deprecating. Moonshadow barreled into the den. Lunette winced and heard the snap of her teeth, and once the black female started to backpedal, Lunette gave her a friendly tackle to get her back out of the den faster. She heard the hiss of the angry snake inside, and Tagg showed up, looking absolutely useless and panicked and.. could she blame them, really? A rattlesnake was trying to eat their son.

Nope, she couldn't blame them, but the scent of panic was overpowering. She gave them an unreadable look before trotting around the corner of the den. Fallen Tree Cove was full of .. fallen trees. Limbs and branches. She picked a sturdy, if a bit unwieldy, one, and came back into sight. Still without saying anything she grabbed the four feet long branch by one end, and approached the den sort of sideways. She'd get a crick in her neck trying to walk straight.

With a growl of effort, Lunette smacked the end of the branch into the den, hoping she'd not hit Chan in the process, but if the options were death by snake or mauling by stick, she'd pick the stick. At least that way he stood a chance.

An angry hiss and a blur of motion followed the branch as she pulled it out a little; the upset snake was striking the branch, which, she could hope, would either make it careless enough to come close enough to be grabbed, or somehow deplete its venom. If it was even wasting venom on a branch. But it was sure pissed now, and more focused on the offending stick than the cub, so Lunette prepared to jab it again.

Kajika was worried about his godson with the snake being in the den with him, so many things could go wrong. What if Chan moved the wrong way and upset the snake and ended up getting bit. Kajika had to shake that from his mind as he stood next to Lunette, he found some comfort as she leaned against him. He was at least able to stop thinking about all the bad things that could happened to that he could focus on a plan for them to use to approach the situation.

Moonshadow didn't seem to want to wait for them to come up with a plan. While the dark man knew time was if the essence he also knew they couldn't just rush in and grab the snake. They couldn't see it, how it was positioned, or where it was in relation to Chan. What if one of them was bitten or Chan was because of something they had done. Kajika didn't think he would be able to live with himself if something happened that caused one of them to lose their life.

It was clear Moonshadow wasn't thinking clearly as she charged into the den but almost immediately backed right out. He wanted to chastise her for her actions but he understood she was panicking for her remaining child and didn't need it. Soon after Tagg showed up and wanting to know what was going on and what they should do. Kajika's attention turned to Lunette who had promised she would be careful.

She'd gotten a stick and was poking it into the den at the snake, “That's good thinking Lunette,” he praised as he saw the snake following the stick out of the den. When she had managed to get the snake out far enough as it struck at the branch Kajika moved in cautiously. Then when the opportunity came for him to grab the snake without getting bit he moved in snapping his jaws around the snake close to it's head.

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There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health

OOC! I apologize for her meanness @Tagg. She will be saying thanks to @Lunette and @Kajika in the next round

Her mind filled with rage and frustration that clouded her judgment. Rushing in the new mother thought she knew where the demon reptile was. She was very wrong for the snake hissed opposite from where she expected. The dark mother quickly back petaled. Her paws didnt have enough tractions to get her out on her own so she was grateful to feel someone help. When she exited from the mouth of the den she was surprised to see from the corner of her eye that it was in fact Lunette had been the one to help her. She would thank the yearling later for her anger took back over. Her eyes narrowed and a snarl tore from her throat. Her silver tailed lashed furiously behind her.

Since her attention had been so focused on the snake she didnt realize the approach of her beloved. His touch almost sent her snapping at him until she registered his voice. Her aggression returned to the den as she leaned back into him. She knew she needed to be there for him - this was his child too. Silver eyes bore into the darkness of the den desperate to hold her child. It wasn't until she saw the lake princess go to move did the betas gaze look away from the hole. Her anger subsided momentarily as it was replaced with curiosity. Where was sh- then it was clear as the pale girl came back with a stick. Moon moved out of the way as to allow Lunette room. Mercury orbs watched impatiently as the snake was lured out. A growl was let out as the reptile appeared at the mouth of the den. The new mother glared at it waiting for it to get a bit further out. She readied herself to grab it but was beat to the punch by her teacher. It took a moment for the image of the dead snake dangling in Kajikas jaws to register. It was over.

Without a second thought the dark woman darted into the den. She desperately looked over her child who was clearly scared by the whole ordeal. She frantically sniffed him all over to make sure that the devil creature hadn't hurt her baby. The sound of someone her love approaching warranted a warning growl from the ebony she-wolf. She wasn't thinking rationally therefore she wasn't going to act rationally. She wrapped herself around the terrified boy protectively as she readied herself to protect him with her life.

OOC: I am just really behind apparently.  I didn't realize you all had posted again >.< Sorry all.  I'll get a new post figured out and fix it.

(This post was last modified: Jun 28, 2017, 09:17 PM by Tagg. Edit Reason: Ugh I suck )

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