Secret Intentions

[Kvatch]

| Tala, a female adolescent wolf |
| Grim, a male wolf |
| Kurux, a male wolfdog pup (look for his cameo) |
| Askuwheteau, a male wolf |


Behind the Waterfall
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Tala can be found in her normal spot that she tends to take when in the cave, at the entrance, head settled upon her forepaws while she eyes the opening. She takes in a soft breath, ears flicking forward and then lowers back upon her head. Her mind going over many things that have been going on recently. The dogs, no home, so forth an so on, her mind full of everything and she grumbles to herself.

There is a natural innate instinct seemingly built into many male species, that when it comes to females birthing, the proper and safest thing to do is RUN THE HELL AWAY! It is a impulse really, a knee jerk reaction that follows swiftly after a creeping sense of dread. A frightful thing, it is really. And it must be, for why has every female who Grim has had the misfortune of being present at the time of labor, starts growling at him to move out? Seems to affect other nearby females too, then all together, they get that demonic evil-from-the-depths of who-knows-where gleam in their eyes. Its all a mystery to Grim, and against his usual defiant nature, it will probably always be that one exception he'll never stand and argue. So when Wachiwa went into labor, out he went, uncertain when to return. He spent much of his time trying to find Brutal, when that failed, he just wandered around rather aimlessly, thinking, wondering, and hurting himself with the effort of it all until sleep took him. He's been missing since; well, up until right now. When after slipping past the wolves outside, Grim's masked figure of dark greys and ghostly pale silvers most abruptly appears around the curtain of water, his golden eyes catching enough light to glint green in the darkness. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. Right? Gulp.

Tala lifts her head to peer at Grim, ears flicking forward as a faint breath escapes her while she smirks and shifts slowly upwards onto her haunches while she watches the male. "Grim.. What do you want?" Is questioned with a unsure tone and tilt of her head. She hasn't left the cave for long, even less when Ikuna isn't around as he has been recently.

Oh bejeevus! Don't these wolves ever sleep? Grim is starting to think he much preferred Tala when she was busy hacking up a lunge and snoozing when she wasn't. Her questioning voice is enough to make the tall male practically jump out of his skin and in the darkness, a soft little yip even squeaks out of his muzzle. Sneaking wolf was trying to be sneaky. Well, so much for stealth. For a split second, Grim considers just shrugging off this whole covert idea of his and pestering Brutal about it later like a good younger sibling, but as a second glance around the cavern proves that there is no pestering brother or jealous boyfriend -and as a bonus the creepy old witch is sleeping- he decides to linger. At least until given proper incentive, such as demonic growls and soul eating glares. Though with the way he takes a step back from Tala, Grim suspect the she-wolf of still possessed. "Uh..." He blinks at her stupidly for a moment, ears folding back in hesitation, before he takes a tentative step and peers toward the sleeping shadows in the back, "I uh..." How does he say this without sounding like a complete retard? Okay, less of a retard? "I ain't never seen little pups and was wondering maybe..."

Tala watches Grim quietly a few moments, a faint snort soon escaping her. Her gaze unmoving from his for a few moments as she shifts on her paws and gives herself a good shake. "Oh really.. The great Grim has never seen little pups and is now suddenly interested in seeing some?" She questions with a curious tone and tilts of her head. No it would seem her brother and boyfriend is not here at the moment.

Kurux is presently sleeping. Not much to see here. Nope.

Is it just him, or is she mocking him? It's difficult for Grim to decide if he can tolerate the tone for which the she-wolf speaks to him, causing the big tall male to pull a face and crinkle his nose ever so slightly at her in return. What the hell, he'll tolerate her intolerant attitude for now! At least she's pretty to look at, even when she gets all snarly at him. Teehee. In fact, that just makes her look cute. The memory of him and her at the pond causes Grim to smirk a bit oddly in private amusement, but as his mind moves on to consider her question currently, that smirk becomes a bit more wry, "Hmm, I like that. The Great Grim." He puffs up his chest, holding a profound poise for a moment before snorting indignantly, "And uh..yeah." Duh.

Tala just watches Grim a few moments, ears splayed back and a faint snort escapes her. She is SO not amused it seems. "Well.. You can see from there. Your not coming all the way into the cave." This said with a firm tone and shake of her head while she stays seated there betwen Grim and where Wachiwa and the pups are sleeping.

Golden eyes widen at Tala's impudence, her words bringing Grim to snort in protest, "Bull-crap! Female, I can't see nothing from here! 'Sides.." he eyes her over, taking a step towards the adolescent she-wolf, "You ain't the boss of me and they ain't your pups to be bossy about, so shut your yapper." Snort nod. " Of course, if your looking to fill the role, I could help ya out, ya know? ...No? Okay." He doesn't give her a chance to interject, instead, Grim does what Grim does best and just keeps on talking. "But hey! I'm a fellow of compromise and because I don't need no she-wolf gnawing on my ears, if it even makes you remotely happy, I'll wait right here!" With little time for argument and with a great big flop accompanied with a breeze, Grim plops down upon the cave floor, moving in just far enough so as to not be a furry barricade at the mouth. "I'll wait for the creepy old witch to wake up and then /I'll/ ask /her/." There is a long pause in the darkness of the cave, with no sound save for the dull roar of water and ticking droplets from the ceiling, until "Sooo...care to cuddle while we wait?"

From behind the younger male wolf a deep resounding growl is heard, the no nonsense sort of sound that leaves no room for interpretation. It's not a growl that says "I don't like you" It's not a growl that says "Watch your mouth." It's a growl that can have only one meaning It's very plain, But just in case the young male doesn't grasp it words follow right after, and a shaggy grizzled head, uncommonly wide for a wolf pushes through into the cave and Asku rumbles in his chest, "Remain exactly where you are...if you so much as breath in a way I don't like I'll kill you where you lay." His eyes are hard and cold, glaring with a unwaivering promise of violence. "Who are you?" He asks after delivering the warning growl.

Tala just peers at Grim, her jaw tenses, ears lowering and her steel gaze narrows. Her shoulder has long since healed, and her sickness is all but passed save for a faint wheeze that very well may stick with her from now on. She shifts slowly on her paws, tail merely lashing while she shifts forward. A sly grin seen and her head cocks to the side while she eyes the male. "Oh really.. Well I'm rather sure you can speak with Wachiwa when she wakes up.." Her tone soft, almost sing-song like. At the question for the cuddling her eyes alight with something, though one isn't fully sure /what/ it COULD be. "Cuddle?..." Is questioned while she actually shifts closer to Grim, her shoulder half bumps against his a moment. Her head lowers and a faint whisper escapes her. "Never in you pittful life time.." An then she lunges for his ears with a snap of her jaws and a deep angered snarl escaping her. Oh yes.. Tala is one pissed off wolf at the moment! Though she hears her older brother's voice her gaze stays on dear Grim.

Whoa, is it always this easy? And here Brutal always made courting females sound and look complicated! The tall rangy male promptly gets that testosterone driven look of 'stupid' that all male's suffer from when female's actually show some interest, his pale muzzle creasing with a growing grin while his eyes widen in surprise of his good luck! But woe, what trickery! If the female isn't the most fiendish instrument of torture ever devised to bedevil the days of males, Grim wouldn't know what is! Never trust a she-wolf! This just goes to prove it! Delight abruptly turns into horrific pain and all his happy feel goods are swept away along with the warm press of her body teased against his, his muzzle already moving to nibble at her neck with a breathy "Mmm.". Too late does he detect that wicked hiss of deception, to slow does his lust-drunk brain comprehend her intimate whisper, because by the time Grim realizes it, the crazy b itch his chewing on his ears! A loud bout of yelping and cursing ensues, sounded with each chomp of Tala's teeth as Grim flails and scrambles away, tail and haunches tucked as he flees from the devil's cave! And if the long missing Askuwheteau was looking to make a impression on the rogue stranger, his sister beat him to it. Once again, tricky she-devils! Besides, it's a bit hard to hear anything with your ears getting mauled. Whats that? Huh? In fact, Grim doesn't even seem to place any notice in the newly arrived male wolf, instead choosing to just bolt past him, even shouldering if needed, in order to flee from the pain and humiliation of a fatal attraction.

[Pavane]

---Askuwheteau - Tala - Ikuna---

Askuwheteau watches dispassionately as his little sister chews on the younger male, he simply steps aside when Grim tries to flee. Not even turning to watch him go. He slowly steps the rest of the way in, his intention had never been to make an impression, his words were blunt, and he had meant what he said. He had, had every intention of killing the young wolf on the spot. No extra chances, no posturing or posing, he would have killed him cold. But now that Tala had dealt with the interloper he stepped forward to nuzzle her softly and he rumbled in his chest, "Well done sis." and there was real approval in his voice. Then he turned to glance at the sleeping Wachiwa and her pups, one eyebrow lifting slowly, "Mmm, It seems I have missed much while I was out wandering."

Tala snorts as she watches Grim take off running, her jaws a bit bloody and a faint wheeze escapes her for a few moments. Her hackles soon lower, ears flicking and her steel gaze turns to Askuwheteau and she watches him a moment. "Asku..?" Is questioned with an unsure tone, she is rather sure that it is him but it has been sometime since they saw one another. A smile is seen and she shifts to bump her head against Asku in the process while grinning, her tail wiggling about some before she glances towards Wachiwa. She takes in a soft breath. "You.. Could say that.."

Askuwheteau dips his head in a nod when Tala questions his identity, "Yeah Tala, It's me." He smiles softly when her head bumps against him, he chuckles, "It seems like I always choose the worst times to go adventuring. Everytime I return I find my siblings beaten up or dying, my pack displaced, I missed Chewy's first litter of pups." He sighs, a hint of sadness in his eyes as he looks around the cave only to have his eyes drawn back to the pups laying beside his best friend. "I'll have to apologize to her for missing the big day, and not being there to meet her mate." He turns and smiles at Tala then, "And look at you! All grown up now. It seems like such a short time ago I was nuzzling two little balls of fluff and telling them stories. Now you are standing here looking me straight in the eye, I'll wager Ahiga and Ikuna are even taller then I am by now..."

Tala is quiet as she listens to her brother and slowly settles to her haunches, a faint cough escapes her while she glances over to Wachiwa. "Yes.. Well.. Asku.." There is a pause wondering how to bring things up, especially on what has happeend lately. Her head lowers, ears back and eyes close tight. "A pack of dogs has taken over home.. We had to leave.." How does she tell him that a dog abused Wachiwa?.. The one wolf in the world she considers her actual mother seeing how there parents died when Ikuna and she was still very young. "Yes Ikuna and Ahiga have gotten bigger."

Askuwheteau sits down as well, watching his little sister closely, her behavior tells him much. He looks back at Wachiwa and the pups again, "I see...." he remarks flatly, "And I wasn't there to protect her. Or to help my pack." He closes his eyes for a moment, "Is Wachiwa okay? Of course she's not okay. What I mean to ask is. Has she come to terms with what happened?" Surprisingly Asku does not rage, or slaver, or rant. He does not threaten or go on a tirade. Whats done is done, and Wachiwa paid the price for his wandering, no...his whole pack paid the price. There was a time in Asku's life when he was very full of anger, he has worked through that, there was another time when he was very full of guilt, he has worked through that as well. He is not foolish, he knows one more wolf being there wouldn't have made the differance. He may not have even been able to save Wachiwa from her abuse. He takes a deep breath and sighs, and when he opens his eyes it's as if a great deal of his spirit has been robbed from him, "I just can't understand why the spirits allow us to suffer so much. Have we not earned a little peace?"

Tala glances back to Wachiwa watching her a few moments as she sleeps. "You've has to ask her that." Is said after a moment while she shakes her head a moment not sure what to say on the matter. One more wolf most likely would not have done much with the huge pack of dogs that they had to face. She shifts and moves closer to Asku, leaning against him and lets her head settle into his fur, her eyes close. "I don't know.. Wachiwa is the one that talks to the spirts anymore. She went to try and find answers for Hadir and the pack.. An that's when stuff happened I suppose." Her jaw tenses and she soon just slides down so she is laying there, her settling upon her paws while she goes back to her guarding it seems. "We're trying to get to Cerulean now."

Askuwheteau lets his sister lean on him, offering what support he can. Trying to seem strong for her. He leans down and noses at the top of her head as she lays down beside him, "To unite the packs? Or just to ask for help? Or perhaps sanctuary?" He licks her ears once then sits up erect again, just looking down at her now, "I will have to talk with Chewy, what has our big brother been doing? Is he leading the pack or has he retreated into his own thoughts?" Asku shakes his head slowly, "I've never wished mom and dad were still around so much as I do right now. I think we are all feeling lost and unsure of what to do. I wonder if this isn't the end of the Ute pack...I hope it's not, but we seem to be so few now." He realizes he is becomming depressive rather then just contemplative and changes subjects, "And what about you Tala? You don't sound so good. What have you been doing while I've been off strolling about the forest?"

"To ask for help.. A place to regroup to try and figure out how to get our home back." Tala offers with a soft tone. A slight nod is seen as Asku talks about speaking with Wachiwa. There is a pause at the talk of Skahla and her ears lower a moment. "We.. Don't know where Skahla is.. He came and brought Althea and Hidar, we think he is looking for Shawnee but.. We don't know." She glances to Asku a moment. "No.. its not the end of the Ute.. We won't allow it to happen." Her head shakes at the idea. "Ahiga, Ikuna an I arn't gona let the pack just disappear into nothing." She frowns and glances to the ground a moment. "I'm alright, alot better then I was after the fight."

Askuwheteau actually grimaces at this news, "Well I am glad to hear that the younger wolves feel so fearcely about the pack, Although I don't like the sound of Ska going off by himself, even to look for Shawnee. I love her as much as any member of the pack...but to have both our Alphas gone like this. I don't like to think what might happen if Ska got lost. Or worse ambushed by those dogs. With him gone Hinto is our best bet for any sort of leadership." His ears perk at this last comment from his little sister and he leans down to nuzzle her again, "Were you hurt badly? I am so sorry Tala. I should have been there, I could have at least done a little to help even if things wouldn't have been much different in the end. Maybe the pack wouldn't have been quite this decimated. All we can do now is keep moving forward and hope for some boon or windwall that will help us find our lost members, or if nothing else show us where Ute is meant to go from here."

Tala shakes her head slightly. "Hinto didn't come with us.. We don't know where he is." She offers softly. So what you have here is a group of three young adults, with one hurt new mother, and four puppies! Sure that makes a great group of wolves right? "No.. I wasn't, just a bite to my shoulder. I.. I fell into the creek through the ice when it was still winter. Had a sickness for some type an I've just started to inprove." She glances to him. "I don't know if you would have been able to help much Askuwheteau.. There was so many dogs, they just kept comeing.."

Askuwheteau looks down at his paws for a moment, brow furrowed and ears back, "Well you are probably right Tala. This is bad, you and the others have the right idea, but I'm not certain Cerulian will be very thrilled with us arriving on their borders. Still we've never been enemies, and if nothing else they should be grateful for being forewarned about the dogs. It doesn't mean that if the dogs take a notion to follow us that Cerulian will fare any better then we did. But at least they won't be blindsided. Our situation couldn't get much worse, it could...but not by much. You and Ikuna and Ahiga show a lot of potential and good judgement in doing what you've done so far, But with the puppies and Wachiwa hurt...Skahla and Hinto gone missing. five wolves...five wolves and four puppies, not much left of the pack. But we'll hold on to what we've got and maybe Ska will come back. It's possible Hinto has gone to ground or is trying to find us. Still we can't wait on them. We have to act in the best interest of preserving
We have to act in the best interest of preserving the pack. And once we have settled on what we are going to do, rebuilding it. We are going to have to try to find new blood for the Ute. From where I don't know."

"Ahiga, Ikuna an I know Anoki and Niyt very well." Tala offers while a soft sigh escapes her. "They may not like it but I don't think they will send us away." She murmurs out softly. "Well.. Hopfully they will find us but so far no sight of him." Her eyes close. "Asku.. Ahiga an I are sorta a item.." Well she figures it would be good to tell one of her older brothers this. Not like she didn't /try/ to tell Ska but that never seemed to work.

Askuwheteau glances up, looking a little surprised but not upset, "Sorta an item? Or an item? There isn't any reason to mince words with me Tala. You know I have always thought Ahiga was a good wolf. If you and he care about one another as more then friends thats fine. I'm glad to hear that you've found someone special to you Tala." Even while Asku comments on his little sister's relationship his mind is turning over different possibilities for the Ute. He hated to admit it...really hated to admit it, but it may come down to the pack having to find new lands and start over. It wasn't as if that had never happened before after all. He didn't give voice to these thoughts just yet however.

Tala smiles a moment. "Alright.. So we are an item." She offers after a moment while taking in a soft breath. "We just need to all stick together now an try to figure out a way to make it work out." This said with a soft moment escaping her.
A quick hunt turned into a longer one as hare and squirrel alike proved faster or cleverer than Ikuna. At long last he's returned to this temporary den of Ute's, bearing his prize - a mouse. That's right, Ikuna the mighty hunter has caught a mouse. Some days go better than others. It may not be much, but... it's been a little while since he last poked his head inside the cave, so the mouse provides an excuse for him as he ducks past the waterfall and inside. He pauses near the entrance, letting his eyes adjust to the gloom until the vague shapes resolve into actual wolves.

Askuwheteau actually smirks at his baby sister then, "Well congrats then. Ute will get through this, I promise Tala, even if we five are all that is left I won't let it die." It was then that Ikuna walked in and Asku turned to look at his younger brother. A small smile of pride crossing his muzzle and he stood, "Iku, It's been awhile." He looked the other wolf up and down and shook his head, "I still can't get over it...you three all grown up. Gues the days of telling you all stories are well and truely over."

Tala smiles a bit to Asku, her tailswaying a few times and she takes in a soft breath before nodding. Her gaze turns over to Ikuna. "Look what found us." She offers, tone soft yet a bit happy sounding at least.

For a moment, Ikuna figures he must be seeing shadows. Askuwheteau, here? How'd his brother find them, after all the... everything. Still, the figure remains after his eyes are fully adjusted. Askuwheteau, here. Ikuna stands still for a long moment, letting that thought drift through his head. He sets down the mouse. "Yes. It has been," he replies softly, then slowly pads closer to his sister and brother. "A lot has happened." A glance to Tala... but then, she's probably already told Asku their story. There are, after all, some stories still to be told. His eyes go back to his brother.

Askuwheteau grows suddenly very serious, he looks at both his younger siblings for a moment then when he speaks again it's a flat tone, empty. "Listen you two, I'm going to work hard to fix all this. But I'm not going to lie, things are going to get worse, much worse before they get better. I've already begun working on some plans, I have three so far, that may get us back our home. It may take all three of those plans and several more before we'll have our den back. But I want you to know, that no matter how bad it gets I'll make sure you all won't be drawn into the things I am going to do."

Tala watches Ikuna a few moments, oh yes she did tell Asku a few things that have been going on, but not /everything/. She looks to Asku a moment and just blinks. "Asku.. We're all in this together. Its our pack, our home. An if you think we're going to stand back and not help your very very wrong in that thought."

Those serious words from Asku bring a slight frown to Ikuna's face. At his sister's words, he nods slightly, but he's quiet for a few moments himself. "I don't think I like secret plans anymore," he says. "That's like what Brutal does. Secret plans, things kept hidden, acting... for someone else's good without asking them if they want it first." He frowns. "Ute... it doesn't matter where we live, as long as we still act like Ute."

Askuwheteau turns his face away from his sister and brother for a moment, but the look on his face is thoughtful, finally he accepts their wishes, "Alright then, maybe I've been too long away. Not just because I haven't been there for my pack and my family, but perhaps it's changed me too. And not for the better. We'll think of something together then, something everyone can have a part in. The very first question that we must answer is the most important, Do we try to take back our home? Or do we find a new place and begin to rebuild Ute there? Ikuna is right, we take Ute with us so long as we continue to be true to the spirit of our pack. I say we find a new place to call home, Tala, you've described to me the dog pack, their force sounds overwhelming. Even at full strength I am not sure Ute could stand against them. And as we are now if we tried anything directly against them...well...we might as well be throwing ourselves off a cliff for all the good it would do."

Tala nods slightly and glances over to Wachiwa a moment. "Well.. it is a possibility that we think of going some place new." This said with a soft sigh soon escaping her at the thought. Her head lowering and her eyes half closing. "As you said we take Ute with us.. An I don't want to lose anyone else too these dogs."

Ikuna regards Askuwheteau as he talks of being changed, and nods softly. "You're back now, though," he says, and gives his brother a smile. That smile fades as the conversation goes on, for there is little pleasantness to be had in thinking of it. "Maybe," he says. "I'm not sure what choice we have... at least for now. We can't go far, not until Wachiwa's pups can travel on their own, but... I don't exactly think Miakoda's going to turn the tide." A slight smile for that. One adolescent wolf won't do much to aid their cause, and as for Grim and Brutal... well, they helped Ute once, but Ikuna's not willing to rely on them doing so again. Askuwheteau is a stronger resource, but even so. One more wolf, against an unknown number of dogs.

Tala glances to Asku as he seems to fall asleep and nods to as she hears Ikuna. "We're just have to figure things out.." This said with a soft tone at the thought and glances back towards the caves entrance. "I hope Ska is back by then.. We could sure us him." You know with him being alpha an all.

Wherever Asku's been, it's clearly been a long road and left the wolf tired. Ikuna turns back and picks up the mouse he brought in before, taking it to the back of the cave and Wachiwa, then returns to his sister. At the mention of Skahla, Ikuna glances briefly toward Asku. What will the alpha think of his brother's return? A good question, that. Ikuna sighs. "I don't know where's safe, anymore..."

Tala frowns a moment and closes her eyes. "I don't know where safe is anymore either." This said with a soft tone at the thought. "I hope Skahla is alright.." For someone that feels she is hated by that brother she sure does seem worried about him.

Again Ikuna glances to Asku. Have they regained one of their elder brothers only having lost the other? Perhaps. For now, he only says, "I hope so too," to his sister, and sighs. "I suppose we'll just have to keep on trying." He slowly lowers himself to the ground, sprawling out and resting his head on his paws.

Tala shifts on her paws and turns moving on over to where Ikuna is and settles herself down next to him. She gives her sibling a nuzzle and lets her head rest against his shoulders. "I'm.. Not gona give up on us, or the pack." This said with a soft tone. "If we have to find a new place to live.. Then so be it.."

Ikuna half-closes his eyes, and nods a little to Tala before simply relaxing at her touch. "We'll talk to Cerulean. Maybe they'll have some ideas for us." That's Ahiga's mission: seek out the other pack and finally establish communication. "We'll do something... together." As they always have.

Tala lets her eyes close once more as she cuddles up against Ikuna like they have done countless times in the past. "Ya.. gotta find Anoki and Niyt.." She murmurs out softly as she starts to doze off.