Magnolia Glen wayward

For @Deneb. Up for some travel? ;)

He was antsy – not because he needed a distraction from his life, but because he knew the time had come to once more scout the lands beyond Magnolia Glen. Summer was fresh upon them, and in turn, it was the perfect opportunity to seize insight to the politics on the other side of the mountain. As loathe as he was to leave his mate and children behind, he also needed to trek the pass and see what events had transpired past them – to ensure nothing lurked on the opposite side of their home.

Deneb had been told upon his arrival that a task such as this would likely be coming, and after kissing his mate goodbye and ensuring @Borlla he would return as swiftly as he could, the ivory male paced the paths of Magnolia Glen, his fiery eyes glancing back to the direction of his family den every so often.

Tempted as he was to call out for another to join them, he knew he would much rather have the rest of the pack securing their borders and protecting his children – that was where his true priority was. Without further wait, the regal tilted his muzzle back, howling a beckoning song for @Deneb – notifying him to move quickly and find him by the borders. As his song ended, he withheld a sigh, his tail arcing up like a proud flag as he awaited the Second – this was the ivory wolf to prove the Cygni family were not all like Albireo. As tempted as he was to drag the other Cygni with them, he would leave that up to his brother for decision.

Phineas had indeed told Deneb, once upon a time, that he might call upon the pale Cygni to travel with him across the mountain range come spring. At the time, the hint had piqued Den's interest - ever the habitual schemer, a trip across the Lore represented quite a lot of valuable information to be gathered, not to mention a chance to prove himself and redeem the family name to the leader of this pack. However he might feel toward Phineas, Deneb did not want anyone to have the wrong idea about the Cygni bloodline. As spring arrived and the snows that locked the pass closed melted, though, it had begun to seem to him as if the trip would be greatly delayed, if not cancelled entirely. The alphas had more work between them with their three new offspring in addition to their usual duties. With each passing day the land grew warmer and more verdant, and soon summer was upon them. Deneb had been somewhat disappointed that Phineas had never called upon him for the trip, and yet he had also been occupied with other things....

For one, converting his layabout brother into a model citizen. It was a was a pipe dream, of course, but Deneb had been doing his best to make sure @Albireo was put to some use for the Glen, which was hard enough. He'd pressured Al into hunting with him, and once when he couldn't find his brother, he had resorted to rubbing a dead rabbit in the dirt where Al had slept before adding it to the cache, just so it might smell as if Al had had some involvement. His brother's lack of ambition was a double-edged sword - although he never seemed to do anything but laze about of his own volition, it also meant that he was just about the least likely wolf ever to double cross you for the sake of power or glory. Such things didn't seem to factor into Al's thinking. It was this trait, above all others, that had endeared Al to Deneb over the years, and even though he blamed his brother for his children's deaths, he knew deep down that it had been a fool's mistake, not a betrayal. Of course, that didn't make it hurt any less.

It was the memories of this loss, rising back to the surface whenever he spied Phineas and Borlla's new cubs, that had kept the pale Cygni haunting the borders more often than not of late. He returned to the central depths of the packlands only to fill caches, even scraping out a makeshift den for himself near the borders. Anything to avoid tearing that scar tissue open again. And so it happened that when Phineas called for him, Deneb was already close at hand, patrolling through the forest and leaving his mark occasionally as he went.

Curiosity overtook his other scattered thoughts as the ivory male altered course slightly, pacing toward the direction of the call. Why was Phineas calling for him? Might they at last be departing on the promised journey? Whatever it was, Deneb could only hope it was not something to do with Al. As he came withing sight of the Agyris, Deneb nodded curtly, halting at attention a few feet from the large alabaster male, looking the very picture of respect and professionalism. "You called, m'lord?"

Don't forget there's a price you can pay,

deneb cygni

because I am the game and I want to play...

(This post was last modified: Jul 07, 2014, 02:15 AM by Deneb.)

Deneb came – his pale figure emerging from the shadows as the moments passed by. Thus far, the Cygni had yet to impress Phineas – but at least he was a far cry from his brother’s idiotic nature. His fiery eyes studied the pack’s second with mild interest, noting the title and barely able to hold back a scoff at it – Phineas, he corrected, almost cringing inwardly at being called a ‘lord.’

Shifting his weight then, his muzzle gave a nod in the direction to the mountains. It was best to begin their travel sooner rather than later – if the upcoming winter in Relic Lore proved to be as treacherous as last year, no one would be going anywhere.. not after their losses form before. The trip could have even waited again until next spring.. he had no word to give out to the other packs, nor did he particularly care how they fared.

That said, knowledge was power, and Phineas refused to allow Magnolia Glen to fall in to trouble of any form because he refused to lift his head from beneath the sand. When he had first arrived, the expedition to this very side of the mountain had occurred to fight off diseased wolves – who was to say the sickness would never come back, upon either side of the valleys?

Are you up for our trip, or do you need to tie up loose ends first? The question was a low murmur, his eyes swept back to the male at that moment, blinking as he awaited an answer. His heart longed to be with his children, but he knew this would be the best time to do this.

“Phineas,” Deneb repeated after the white wolf, noting the correction with a nod. he hoped this wasn't going to become a lecture, especially one about his brother - he had been trying hard to ensure the Cygnis weren't dead weight in the pack. Perhaps Al was holding Den back a bit, even as he tried to drag him forward?

As he followed Phineas's gaze, though, Deneb suspected that he hadn't been called here for a negative performance report, after all. A short, dry chuckle emanated from him at the other male's mention of loose ends, and he dipped his head and tail low for a moment. If only you knew, eh? "Ah... yes, I'd be up for a trip. I could depart now, even." he replied with a slow, even tone, swinging his head back up to gaze out into the distance. Mount Dire. The name, the way it constantly brooded over everything - it intrigued him, and he wanted to climb it, to stand on top, and see what was on the other side. Finally. He was ready for a break from the scent of cubs, from his brother - a chance to see what Phineas was really like away from his pack and mate and cubs. What were the man's strengths and weaknesses? Outwardly, Deneb had tried to make it obvious he was striving to prove himself to the man. Inwardly, he was probing, seeing how the leader handled himself as well.

Don't forget there's a price you can pay,

deneb cygni

because I am the game and I want to play...

It was settled – Deneb gave an answer that pleased the regal, only because it meant they could leave then. Borlla already knew of this, and with a quick nod, the ivory male shifted his weight then, his long limbs sweeping through the air as his pace quickened, not glancing back to see if his companion had joined him.

He made no mention of Albireo – in truth, he was thankful the other Cygni was not coming with them, though he could only imagine what shenanigans the fool would be up to in their absence. Likely nothing. He rarely did anything at all, anyhow.

Only as the scent of the magnolia trees began to fade away did he cant his muzzle in the direction of the other creamy male, studying him quietly. How are you finding life in the Glen? It was not a simple question – he was hoping for an honest answer, and somehow, he assumed Deneb would certainly give him that. The pack was disconnected, in his own opinion – they lived like strangers among one another, and Phineas only felt the draw of companionship to his mate, children and Zia. Something would have to change, and his features seemed to darken at how to even bridge this new gap – especially when members such as Albireo fed off the others hard work. At least the Cygni brother in his current presence was more than willing to put forward the effort to maintain a seamless pack.

Somehow, though, something still seemed off.