Post by Therdde on Jan 31, 2010 18:11:21 GMT -5
Characters:
Ciqala - Male Wolfdog Pup
Rowtag - Male Wolfdog Pup
Wanageeska - Adolescent Male Wolf
Abel - Adolescent Male Wolf
- Clover Lawn -
Ciqala has been growing, if a little more slowly than his siblings. The boy is clearly no longer a pup. He is losing his puppy fat, growing a little more lean, but as time goes by, it becomes clearer that he will be lucky to even be larger than his sister, once they are both fully grown. He is a little more willing to play in seclusion, no longer quite so adamant about remaining under the nearest adult. He even /seems/ happy as he hops after a tiny ladybug, never allowing himself to get too close. His tail wags, his mouth is open in a smile, and when the ladybug flies towards him, instead of away from him, he barks enthusiastically at it.
Since the juvenile was a bit afraid of the foggy path at the moment due to nearly having his hide scraped clean off by the likes of that bear, Rowtag decided to stick around closer to the site of the den. The lawn was safer, and could provide many bugs for him to kill off in his spare time, something that seemed to be a new hobby of his. Though the taste of the splattered bugs wasn't nice at all, it passed the time and was minimally entertaining. Oh, but what luck should he have to find his /favorite/ victim in the lawn, instead? Ciqala's bark had caught his attention, and the darker pup ran toward him with a fury, until he decided that he'd much rather sneak up and scare the daylights out of his brother. With his body hunkered down lower to the ground, Rowtag hushed his breath, practicing his hunting skills on the best victim there was.
The best victim? Perhaps. The best subject on which to actually test his skill in hunting? Not so much. Ciqala is so entranced by the ladybug that he pays no attention to what is going on behind him. His littermate could probably walk upright just behind him, and Ciqala wouldn't notice. After barking, Ciqala leaps forward again, raising his paw in the air to reach out to the bug. He succeeds in knocking it off its course, but not in absolutely knocking it out of the air.
Well then, maybe Rowtag was trying to be more like a feline in his attempt to attack his brother, for he was certainly taking on the stalking approach. Hunkered down, ears erect, pawsteps silent. Leaping forward, Rowtag moved to take Ciqala down in what wouldn't necessarily be just a play-fight; if Ciqala would even defend himself, or even he was even accurate in his tackling approach.
This is not the first time the boy has been unexpectedly "attacked". Though he never dares to do the same to his siblings, he has grown quite used to this sort of not-quite-friendly game by now. It still takes him by surprise, though, enough to cause him to respond with a yelp as, suddenly, there is much more weight on his legs than they are used to, and he responds, almost naturally, by rolling onto his back, his legs tucked under him to try to protect his stomach as he tries to spot his attacker. "Rowtag!" The smaller boy's tone carries more than a hint of uncertainty, as he is unsure whether today's game with be mostly-friendly or not.
The first expression that the pup takes on is one that consists of his nose wrinkling viciously and his eyes glaring deep into his brother's own. Play-fights between these two were so much more important to Rowtag for some reason, as if Ciqala's existence was a threat to his dominance over the litter or something. It'd always been this way, and it would probably only be this way, if a stop wasn't made by either the victim, or an outside source. "Fight back this time!" He growled, snarling down at the smaller male and snapping his jaws at his curled up paws.
If he fights back, Rowtag will get angry. If he doesn't, Rowtag will apparently get angry. This is a rather lose-lose situation for the subdued male, and he winces as Rowtag bites at one of his paws before reluctantly obeying Rowtag's order to fight back by nipping at an ear. It's still not much of a fight, as he doesn't aim to actually cause his brother much pain. Ciqala will play as happily as any pup, but when it's clear that the playing is not joyful, it is difficult for him to play any more than half-heartedly.
Of course, Ciqala didn't even fight back. Not really. Not the way that Rowtag had wanted. Snarling down at his brother, he grabbed at his lighter toned paws with his teeth, wanting to bite it right off! Unlike Ciqala, who was trying not to hurt Rowtag, Rowtag was trying to hurt Ciqala.
Unlike his earlier yelp of surprise, Ciqala now cries out in pain. If it was Rowtag's aim to hurt his brother, he succeeded well. The smaller boy at first attempts to free himself, but when they does nothing more than intensify the pain in his paw, he begs. "Please, Rowtag! I'm sorry!" It doesn't matter what Ciqala is sorry for. He genuinely means it. He deeply regrets that Rowtag is angry with him, and regretting that, he has no intention of making Rowtag angrier by hurting his brother back.
"No oo're not!" He growls with Ciqala's paw still clenched between his teeth. Really, he would like to tear the paw off just out of some ingrained spite he has for his younger sibling, but he wouldn't. Not because of pity, or 'brotherly love' or any nonsense like that, but because he didn't want to get in trouble. But perhaps if he could just threatened Ciqala out of tattling to their mother, he could continue their fight further, because he was having too much fun. Clenching down on he paw harder he finally lets go, and instead, bites at his brother's neck ruff.
Wanageeska had stayed in the Clover Lawn since his talk with Bodhi. That was a wolf he all ready liked, and he wasn't sure why. Something about his ability to understand, based off the vague details, appealed to him very much. He wasn't far from the two playing pups, or...well almost playing in this case...when he heard one of them cry out in pain, and given he'd been around Rowtag long enough he knew it wasn't Rowtag, but someone unfamiliar. Slowly he turned and began walking towards the sound. Instinct, though he had no pups of his own.
Ciqala cries out again as his brother bites down harder on his paw. If they were any older, if their jaws were any more developed, Rowtag may have actually succeeded in seriously injuring his littermate. Even as it is, Ciqala feels the sharp puppy teeth easily piercing his flesh, and as he cries out, he is almost convinced that Rowtag is actually going to do what he set out to do. When the larger pup releases his paw, Ciqala presses it to his underside, wincing against the pain and then growling as he again feels his brother's teeth tighten on skin that is at least more protected by fur than his paw was. Even with the growling, he sounds well and truly beaten as he cries, "I am! I'm sorry!" Being sorry, though, is not enough to keep him from trying to throw the heavier pup off of him, regardless of how much fur it will result in him losing.
An ear-splitting, throaty, bark resonates to the pups. It's distant, but it's forcefulness is deadly serious. Abel has been tracking Wanageeska, and just as he almost finally caught up with him, he hears Rowtag and Ciqala, and pained crying. From behind Wana, the adolescent sprints past him, trying to find the pups as quickly as possible. Abel isn't sure if they're just playing for sure or not, but he has an odd habit expecting the worst when it comes to Rowtag, at least recently he has. He nearly passes the two in the lawn, but slows and turns towards the siblings. It didn't take long for Abel to determine they were fighting, and Ciqala apologizing profusely with Rowtag biting him didn't help at all. Again, Abel cracks a bark, making sure they /both/ knew he was here. "Stop! Both of you!" He glances over quickly to Wanageeska; perhaps their meeting must wait, then back towards Rowtag and Ciqala. "What are you doing!?" The question is directed towards both pups, and he expects answers from both of them
The irritating yelps from Ciqala weren't helping either of them go unnoticed. It made the older pup a bit more angry, and with a violent shake of his head, he intended indeed to get a mouthful of fur from Ciqala's neck. But, the barks from the even /older/ brother surprise Rowtag, and he stops the onslaught of attacks to the poor, smaller pup beneath him. Spitting the fur out towards the beaten wolfdog, he at least continues to growl viciously, his ears pinned back and the whites of his eyes showing. Why he hates his brother so much has still yet to be determined, but it's clear how he feels through his actions. "Stop apologizing and acting like such a little girl all the time, you idiot.." He muttered, and rested his rear down on the lawn, looking away from everyone, knowing he was in trouble.
Wanageeska's approach slowed when he heard another unfamiliar voice addressing the issue. Still, however, he wanted to see what was happening and Rowtag's voice did not lend very well to the atmosphere. Apparently, the other male's words were not enough to stop Rowtag, and so Wana likewise intervened. "Rowtag!" he said, tersely. "I did not save your hide from a bear so you can beat up other younglings. Desist, now!" He didn't step any closer...not at all, and remained distant from the pups should the other male feel unconfortable about a potential stranger being so close.
Were it not for the arrival of Abel, there's no doubt that Ciqala's attempt to throw off his brother would have been unsuccessful. Even now, it does not come without some more pain, and what Rowtag finally moves away from him, he is quick to limp away. Not towards Abel, like he might have done in previous fights, or even towards Wanageeska, but rather away from all the three in the area. "Nuh-uh. N-not his fault." This might not save him from Rowtag's anger, but it might serve to keep that anger from becoming worse, and given that he barely feels like he can put weight on his paw /now/, he's not sure he could handle an angrier Rowtag. "S-sorry!" Besides, Ciqala must be doing /something/ wrong. He still can't figure out what it is, most of the time, but why else would he be getting punished like this?
Abel keeps an eye on the adult wolf, and he does appreciate him keeping a distance, but he still doesn't like him being as close as he is. Listening to their ramblings, he takes a deep breath in an attempt to keep calm, and through being calm, fair. "Ciqala. Come here, please." He instructs his brother, not wanting him to go anywhere. He will separate the two for now, but the older wolf needs to know what's going on for sure. This definitely isn't just playtime between siblings or friends, this seemed to be a malicious attack. "Rowtag..." The way he utters his name carries a distinct tone of disappointment and exhaustion. "*WHY* are you attacking your *SIBLING*." Abel does his best to keep his cool, but his posture and facial expressions belittle that attempt.
The angry expression that was previously reserved for Ciqala turns on both Abel and Wanageeska, wishing that he would've gone for Ciqala's mouth or throat to keep him quiet. Then, he would've given the smaller pup a real beat-down by now, instead of being questioned and whatnot by the two older wolves. Rolling his eyes, seeing the fight as nothing more than practice, though against someone who really didn't deserve it. A side turned growl was given to Ciqala, even as he defended the attacker, his amber eyes locked on his brother's. Seeing the way he cowered though, it did bring a grin to Rowtag's face. Even resulted in a little snicker. "You're such a coward.." He joked, and then his expression went serious again at Abel's question. "Because it's fun. I'm just /playing/ with him."
Wanageeska kept his distance and would, unless Abel asked him to come nearer, but Rowtag...he was in need of a talk or remark to make him think. "Fun?" he said. "You toy with your sibling as if an invalued object. Did you learn nothing from the fear the bear invoked upon you? Shaking all over, out of breath, scared--you know that is not enjoyable." How would the pup respond to that anyhow? Wan's white eyes remained on the troublemaker at all times.
Ciqala had no intention of wandering far off. Even so, as terrified as he already is about the repercussions of this day, he does not disobey Abel. He limps his way toward his older brother, though he still stops outside of easy touching distance, whimpering as he does. "P-please. It was a game." A /mean/ game, yes. One that made Ciqala bleed. But a game, nonetheless. He will recover. That might not be the case, next time, if Rowtag gets into trouble because of him today. Ciqala is not embarrassed at all by his brother calling him a coward. He knows he isn't brave.
Abel watches Ciqala limp to him with judging eyes, but remains quiet hearing Wanageeska speak to Rowtag. He apparently knew him, and that concerns Abel to a point. Abel certainly wishes to speak to this wolf when it's all over and done with. "Ciqala... It stopped being a game when you're paw started to bleed. Look at you." He licks his lips, still somewhat uncertain how to handle this. Abel isn't stupid; he can tell that Ciqala is afraid of Rowtag at this point and just doesn't want him to be mad at her. That, by extension, makes the adolescent very mad. "You're bigger than he is, Rowtag! You're cutting him!" He doesn't mean to raise his voice, it just sort of slips as he walks around the injured pup to stand directly in front of Rowtag, looking down at him. "What do I gotta do?! I thought we were close, Rowtag! And here you are attacking my brother and disrespecting Ute! What are you trying to accomplish!? What are you mad at!?"
"'Cause he is." He says in response to Wanageeska's comment of how Rowtag treated him like an invalued object. Yeah, so? To Rowtag, Ciqala was just a form of competition. He didn't even consider him his brother, really. Otherwise, he left the remarks about the bear untapped. He didn't need to be embarrassed about that, too. Instead, his attention is on the much angrier Abel, who, though he's not afraid of, he knows who's the dominant one. His ears flick back at the raised tone of Abel's voice, but he can't help but growl in response. Rowtag never did respond well to yelling. "I don't care! I don't even like Ute! And he deserves it, if he can't protect himself!" Standing up, he pushes his muzzle forward a bit, trying to show Abel that he wasn't afraid, but that might've been a mistake.
Wanageeska's ears folded back at this. He had saved the ungrateful pup, not the one deserving of being saved. He silently looked to Abel, whom no doubt showed the signs he had saught in this pack. He was the first and only wolf insofar to even speak about the same precepts which Helaku had taught to the Miakoda. There was a wolf whom sounded like his very own very father, this other male. "Pup, if it were up to me I'd take you back to the bear," he said, "but even that is not the Ute way for one breaking its principles. Skelaghe is Ute, and you were born Ute in your blood as I was far from here. As he questioned you: what 'are' you trying to accomplish with such tomfoolery?"
See? He deserves it? Can't Abel see that now? Ciqala lets out a little whine, begging Abel, and the stranger, to see reason and not make this any worse. His paw will be fine. His fur will grow back. Still, the smaller boy does not try to place himself back in the conversation. He also resists the urge to curl up on the ground, if only just. He does back up a few steps at the obvious vehemence coming from the pup on the other side of Abel, though. At this rate, if Ciqala ever leaves the side of some adult of the pack in the future, it will be a death sentence for him.
That last little Ute bit coming from Rowtag is extremely frustrating. Pausing only to regain himself and listen to Wana, he shakes his head, frustrated, sad, and certainly irked. But Abel will not tolerate an ungrateful pup pressing forward on him. He leans down quickly and to the side, giving the back of Rowtag's neck a little bite, backed with his decreasing patience, it certainly will hurt and remind Rowtag of who's in charge here. He doesn't even let up immediately, but when he does, speaks directly into his half-brother's ear, loud and clear. "Don't you DARE belittle *my* lands and tribe." He isn't sure if Rowtag considers this plave home or not, so he doesn't say 'our lands' or 'your lands'. "Get going to the den." He withdraws his head and continues standing above the pup. "NOW." He barks, showing off his teeth and size. Ciqala and Rowtag have certainly never seen Abel like this before. Blatantly, it's a new feeling for him as well.
As he was about to answer Wanageeska, he was bitten by his older /half/-brother, and lets out a yipe instead. Lowering his head, he keeps his muzzle wrinkled and snarls up at Abel, clearly not knowing when to give up his defiance. If he had his way, Rowtag would be long gone, being raised by his father instead of by his mother, who, he still was unsure of his loyalty and even feelings for, and all the other wolves of the pack that he was growing to be either apathetic to, or dislike. He didn't /want/ to be here, but his age prevented him from leaving. "I can say whatever I WANT about your.. ugly lands and your stupid tribe!" He growled back, stamping a paw on the ground and baring his teeth right back. "I want to be with my DAD." Weeks of bottling it up, and now here came that old argument again.
Wanageeska shifted slightly uncomfortably when Rowtag mentioned wanting to be with his dad. At least he still had one, though being as that father was not present he guessed whomever it was may not be on good terms. Yes, he knew what Rowtag was--he'd seen and smelled enough wolfdogs to know. The real victim here was Ciqala, whom he wished to approach for the reasons of giving the poor pup someone that wasn't yelling or bickering. He sighed. Moving forward and closer would not be a good motion right now, given as the other wolf probably didn't know him at all. Yet, he didn't want to see Ciqala being so frightened by the tension. He didn't know Ciqala's disposition except for it being submissive, but he couldn't just sit there and ignore him. Instead, he took a chance and slowly walked up to the scared pup, and lay next to him, curling his tail around to offer a sort of comfort so he wouldn't have to see what was happening. "It is fine," he whispered softly. "Just curl up against me while they deal with each other."
If Skelaghe heard what what her son had said... No, Abel won't have any dissent from this ungrateful pup. Openly snarling at him, he makes it a point to be louder than Rowtag, a *lot* louder. Never before has Abel been so angry, and he let's it show. "No, Rowtag. You will not say what you want..." He can't even wait long enough to finish his thought. He will exert his dominance and strength over this ingrate. With a single step forward, Abel barks and pushes hard into Rowtag in an attempt to slam him onto his side. He opens his jaw and bites down on Rowtags shoulder. Some restraint is still shown in the bite, which is without question a sign of mercy... or pity. "Listen to me, Rowtag!" He snarls viciously, pressing with all of his weight against his sibling. "Get your act together and GROW UP. Your father isn't here *NOW* because he doesn't *love you*. He doesn't even want anything to do you with you." Any further struggling by the smaller wolf *will* result in more biting. "It's beyond me how Mom can be so patient with you! She is all you have right now, do you understand that?! You're not just being a stupid pup anymore, you're being a terrible ingrate and I won't stand by while you mock my Tribe and attack my /real/ brother!" His point is made clear, and with the threat of violence.
Snarling right up until Abel pushed him over, Rowtag's ears pin back and his muzzle remains wrinkled at the older wolf, but he has stopped growling. With the bite into his shoulder, the pup yips and yipes loudly, hoping that someone else could hear, even if he had no intention of sticking around for very long. If he got out of this. Which, with Abel's reputation for at least trying to be on his side, he didn't figure he'd be too badly injured. "Yes he DOES!" He yelled between yipes, and the sentence descended into a mix between a whine and a howl. But eventually, he gets the guts to squirm against the larger wolf, and finds his way free shortly thereafter. "I hate you and your *STUPID* pack!" He yelled before he booked it as fast as his three good legs and injured shoulder could carry him, which was still relatively fast. It hurt, but he knew he'd be hurt more if he didn't -go-. Which, he did. Where to, he didn't know, but he certainly didn't have any intentions of returning any time soon. What would he do? Maybe his father was still around.. but he doubted it. Maybe.. maybe other dogs? Wolves didn't seem to like him. Dogs on the other hand.. at least the /one/ that he met, did. Yeah, that sounded like a plan.
With his brothers still here, Ciqala has no intention in taking comfort from the stranger. It seems like the sort of thing he shouldn't do, the sort of thing Rowtag is angry with him for. At least, that was his line of thought, until Abel began yelling louder, and Rowtag yells back, at which point, with a wince, he edges himself closer to the stranger, still without putting any weight on his injured forepaw. He does not exactly curl up beside Wanageeska, as the stranger requested, but he is close enough to feel Wanageeska's fur beside his as he sits and, his own ears laid back, tries to avoid listening to what is being said in the area that he has been forbidden to leave.
The young pup is only able to leave because the furious Abel allowed him to. He gives no response to the last little chip at his heart before Rowtag runs away; he made his point crystal clear. Standing tall and dominant, he watches for several minutes until the problematic child was out of sight, though certainly not out of mind. After a sigh and a quick examination of his own self, he turns to Ciqala, keeping his head down. He isn't exactly proud of what he did, and knowing Ciqala, he will probably be frighted of him for life. However, as his eyes just barely catch a glimpse of this wolf he was looking for next to his brother, Abel can't help but growl again. "Who are you?" He trots up closer, making sure he didn't just injure Ciqala again behind his back. "How do you know Rowtag?"
Wanageeska's lightly moved his tail just a little for Abel to see Ciqala had not been harmed any more than he had been by Rowtag, the male's eyes falling on Abel in full at last. "I am Snow," he said his long ears perking at the sound of his growl. He did not blame Abel for acting the way he did with Rowtag. Quite, the young whippersnapper probably deserved it. "And I know Rowtag mainly through Skelaghe, though as you heard I did save him from a bear. He's fortunate--I was on my way out."
Ciqala shrinks back as Abel approaches them, growling. The pup is in pain, both physical and psychological, or else be might not move away from his brother like that. So much has happened in the time since he was just happily playing with a ladybug, and he is ill-equipped to deal with it all. If it were up to him, he'd find a corner of the den and not leave it for days, but that's hardly an option, right now, so he sticks to just trying to avoid the heavy conflict in the area.
"Oh..." Abel remembers, but cares more about Ciqala and his safety. He sits down and exhales. Trying to decide what to do next, he can't help but notice Ciqala. He's tired now, they both are. Neither of them particularly liked what just happened to themselves, but what has happened, happened. "Snow, is it..." He nods to him, settling down and trying to relax. "Ciqala and I are leaving. I'd like to introduce myself... Under better circumstances another day." Abel is certainly thankful for the wolf being there to provide at least some kind of comfort to the pup, though he doesn't say it. "Uh... Ciqala, do you think you can make it up to the den? Or not?" He lowers himself and even presses his head on his paws to show his outter calm. As far as the adolescent is concerned, his little brother is entirely innocent.
"That'll be fine," Wan said, looking down at the pup. "I am glad I could do at least something." He looked down to Ciqala. This pup was going to be in for a hard life if he didn't have confidence in himself more than he did now. He wanted to say something to Ciqala, but for now he didn't. Abel had asked him a question and he didn't want to press thoughts when the pup may try to answer.
If he has to make it, he'll make it. Abel doesn't seem to imply that Ciqala has a great deal of choice, but even if the boy did, he wants to be back in the den, anyway. Ciqala nods his head, standing and lowering his paw to the ground, though he doesn't actually put any weight on it. See? He's okay. They shouldn't have made a big deal out of this, because he's okay. Sore and upset, but he is not seriously injured. He doesn't bother trying to talk. Rather, he starts limping away from Wanageeska, his head low as he does.
"There you go, bud... We'll go slow." Abel has a lot of feelings twisting inside of him and he doesn't show it, but it's still pretty obvious. He only tries to comfort his brother and make him feel better. It's clear he's in more pain than he's showing, and it's an attribute of his character to rough it and climb the steep hill to the den with his wounds. Looking back at the adult wolf once more, he says nothing, but means a lot. He will certainly come back for this Snow fellow later. Again Abel points his noise back towards the hill and very slowly begins leading the way to the top.
Wanageeska sat where he was, watching the two. He'd wait here for Abel to return so he wouldn't have to worry about tracking him down. The young wolf closed his eyes and breathed. While it wasn't a large, life-saving deed he did--giving Ciqala a presence however brief that wasn't in on the action was the second thing he had done for someone in Ute, and somehow a second pup of Skelaghe's.
Ciqala - Male Wolfdog Pup
Rowtag - Male Wolfdog Pup
Wanageeska - Adolescent Male Wolf
Abel - Adolescent Male Wolf
- Clover Lawn -
Ciqala has been growing, if a little more slowly than his siblings. The boy is clearly no longer a pup. He is losing his puppy fat, growing a little more lean, but as time goes by, it becomes clearer that he will be lucky to even be larger than his sister, once they are both fully grown. He is a little more willing to play in seclusion, no longer quite so adamant about remaining under the nearest adult. He even /seems/ happy as he hops after a tiny ladybug, never allowing himself to get too close. His tail wags, his mouth is open in a smile, and when the ladybug flies towards him, instead of away from him, he barks enthusiastically at it.
Since the juvenile was a bit afraid of the foggy path at the moment due to nearly having his hide scraped clean off by the likes of that bear, Rowtag decided to stick around closer to the site of the den. The lawn was safer, and could provide many bugs for him to kill off in his spare time, something that seemed to be a new hobby of his. Though the taste of the splattered bugs wasn't nice at all, it passed the time and was minimally entertaining. Oh, but what luck should he have to find his /favorite/ victim in the lawn, instead? Ciqala's bark had caught his attention, and the darker pup ran toward him with a fury, until he decided that he'd much rather sneak up and scare the daylights out of his brother. With his body hunkered down lower to the ground, Rowtag hushed his breath, practicing his hunting skills on the best victim there was.
The best victim? Perhaps. The best subject on which to actually test his skill in hunting? Not so much. Ciqala is so entranced by the ladybug that he pays no attention to what is going on behind him. His littermate could probably walk upright just behind him, and Ciqala wouldn't notice. After barking, Ciqala leaps forward again, raising his paw in the air to reach out to the bug. He succeeds in knocking it off its course, but not in absolutely knocking it out of the air.
Well then, maybe Rowtag was trying to be more like a feline in his attempt to attack his brother, for he was certainly taking on the stalking approach. Hunkered down, ears erect, pawsteps silent. Leaping forward, Rowtag moved to take Ciqala down in what wouldn't necessarily be just a play-fight; if Ciqala would even defend himself, or even he was even accurate in his tackling approach.
This is not the first time the boy has been unexpectedly "attacked". Though he never dares to do the same to his siblings, he has grown quite used to this sort of not-quite-friendly game by now. It still takes him by surprise, though, enough to cause him to respond with a yelp as, suddenly, there is much more weight on his legs than they are used to, and he responds, almost naturally, by rolling onto his back, his legs tucked under him to try to protect his stomach as he tries to spot his attacker. "Rowtag!" The smaller boy's tone carries more than a hint of uncertainty, as he is unsure whether today's game with be mostly-friendly or not.
The first expression that the pup takes on is one that consists of his nose wrinkling viciously and his eyes glaring deep into his brother's own. Play-fights between these two were so much more important to Rowtag for some reason, as if Ciqala's existence was a threat to his dominance over the litter or something. It'd always been this way, and it would probably only be this way, if a stop wasn't made by either the victim, or an outside source. "Fight back this time!" He growled, snarling down at the smaller male and snapping his jaws at his curled up paws.
If he fights back, Rowtag will get angry. If he doesn't, Rowtag will apparently get angry. This is a rather lose-lose situation for the subdued male, and he winces as Rowtag bites at one of his paws before reluctantly obeying Rowtag's order to fight back by nipping at an ear. It's still not much of a fight, as he doesn't aim to actually cause his brother much pain. Ciqala will play as happily as any pup, but when it's clear that the playing is not joyful, it is difficult for him to play any more than half-heartedly.
Of course, Ciqala didn't even fight back. Not really. Not the way that Rowtag had wanted. Snarling down at his brother, he grabbed at his lighter toned paws with his teeth, wanting to bite it right off! Unlike Ciqala, who was trying not to hurt Rowtag, Rowtag was trying to hurt Ciqala.
Unlike his earlier yelp of surprise, Ciqala now cries out in pain. If it was Rowtag's aim to hurt his brother, he succeeded well. The smaller boy at first attempts to free himself, but when they does nothing more than intensify the pain in his paw, he begs. "Please, Rowtag! I'm sorry!" It doesn't matter what Ciqala is sorry for. He genuinely means it. He deeply regrets that Rowtag is angry with him, and regretting that, he has no intention of making Rowtag angrier by hurting his brother back.
"No oo're not!" He growls with Ciqala's paw still clenched between his teeth. Really, he would like to tear the paw off just out of some ingrained spite he has for his younger sibling, but he wouldn't. Not because of pity, or 'brotherly love' or any nonsense like that, but because he didn't want to get in trouble. But perhaps if he could just threatened Ciqala out of tattling to their mother, he could continue their fight further, because he was having too much fun. Clenching down on he paw harder he finally lets go, and instead, bites at his brother's neck ruff.
Wanageeska had stayed in the Clover Lawn since his talk with Bodhi. That was a wolf he all ready liked, and he wasn't sure why. Something about his ability to understand, based off the vague details, appealed to him very much. He wasn't far from the two playing pups, or...well almost playing in this case...when he heard one of them cry out in pain, and given he'd been around Rowtag long enough he knew it wasn't Rowtag, but someone unfamiliar. Slowly he turned and began walking towards the sound. Instinct, though he had no pups of his own.
Ciqala cries out again as his brother bites down harder on his paw. If they were any older, if their jaws were any more developed, Rowtag may have actually succeeded in seriously injuring his littermate. Even as it is, Ciqala feels the sharp puppy teeth easily piercing his flesh, and as he cries out, he is almost convinced that Rowtag is actually going to do what he set out to do. When the larger pup releases his paw, Ciqala presses it to his underside, wincing against the pain and then growling as he again feels his brother's teeth tighten on skin that is at least more protected by fur than his paw was. Even with the growling, he sounds well and truly beaten as he cries, "I am! I'm sorry!" Being sorry, though, is not enough to keep him from trying to throw the heavier pup off of him, regardless of how much fur it will result in him losing.
An ear-splitting, throaty, bark resonates to the pups. It's distant, but it's forcefulness is deadly serious. Abel has been tracking Wanageeska, and just as he almost finally caught up with him, he hears Rowtag and Ciqala, and pained crying. From behind Wana, the adolescent sprints past him, trying to find the pups as quickly as possible. Abel isn't sure if they're just playing for sure or not, but he has an odd habit expecting the worst when it comes to Rowtag, at least recently he has. He nearly passes the two in the lawn, but slows and turns towards the siblings. It didn't take long for Abel to determine they were fighting, and Ciqala apologizing profusely with Rowtag biting him didn't help at all. Again, Abel cracks a bark, making sure they /both/ knew he was here. "Stop! Both of you!" He glances over quickly to Wanageeska; perhaps their meeting must wait, then back towards Rowtag and Ciqala. "What are you doing!?" The question is directed towards both pups, and he expects answers from both of them
The irritating yelps from Ciqala weren't helping either of them go unnoticed. It made the older pup a bit more angry, and with a violent shake of his head, he intended indeed to get a mouthful of fur from Ciqala's neck. But, the barks from the even /older/ brother surprise Rowtag, and he stops the onslaught of attacks to the poor, smaller pup beneath him. Spitting the fur out towards the beaten wolfdog, he at least continues to growl viciously, his ears pinned back and the whites of his eyes showing. Why he hates his brother so much has still yet to be determined, but it's clear how he feels through his actions. "Stop apologizing and acting like such a little girl all the time, you idiot.." He muttered, and rested his rear down on the lawn, looking away from everyone, knowing he was in trouble.
Wanageeska's approach slowed when he heard another unfamiliar voice addressing the issue. Still, however, he wanted to see what was happening and Rowtag's voice did not lend very well to the atmosphere. Apparently, the other male's words were not enough to stop Rowtag, and so Wana likewise intervened. "Rowtag!" he said, tersely. "I did not save your hide from a bear so you can beat up other younglings. Desist, now!" He didn't step any closer...not at all, and remained distant from the pups should the other male feel unconfortable about a potential stranger being so close.
Were it not for the arrival of Abel, there's no doubt that Ciqala's attempt to throw off his brother would have been unsuccessful. Even now, it does not come without some more pain, and what Rowtag finally moves away from him, he is quick to limp away. Not towards Abel, like he might have done in previous fights, or even towards Wanageeska, but rather away from all the three in the area. "Nuh-uh. N-not his fault." This might not save him from Rowtag's anger, but it might serve to keep that anger from becoming worse, and given that he barely feels like he can put weight on his paw /now/, he's not sure he could handle an angrier Rowtag. "S-sorry!" Besides, Ciqala must be doing /something/ wrong. He still can't figure out what it is, most of the time, but why else would he be getting punished like this?
Abel keeps an eye on the adult wolf, and he does appreciate him keeping a distance, but he still doesn't like him being as close as he is. Listening to their ramblings, he takes a deep breath in an attempt to keep calm, and through being calm, fair. "Ciqala. Come here, please." He instructs his brother, not wanting him to go anywhere. He will separate the two for now, but the older wolf needs to know what's going on for sure. This definitely isn't just playtime between siblings or friends, this seemed to be a malicious attack. "Rowtag..." The way he utters his name carries a distinct tone of disappointment and exhaustion. "*WHY* are you attacking your *SIBLING*." Abel does his best to keep his cool, but his posture and facial expressions belittle that attempt.
The angry expression that was previously reserved for Ciqala turns on both Abel and Wanageeska, wishing that he would've gone for Ciqala's mouth or throat to keep him quiet. Then, he would've given the smaller pup a real beat-down by now, instead of being questioned and whatnot by the two older wolves. Rolling his eyes, seeing the fight as nothing more than practice, though against someone who really didn't deserve it. A side turned growl was given to Ciqala, even as he defended the attacker, his amber eyes locked on his brother's. Seeing the way he cowered though, it did bring a grin to Rowtag's face. Even resulted in a little snicker. "You're such a coward.." He joked, and then his expression went serious again at Abel's question. "Because it's fun. I'm just /playing/ with him."
Wanageeska kept his distance and would, unless Abel asked him to come nearer, but Rowtag...he was in need of a talk or remark to make him think. "Fun?" he said. "You toy with your sibling as if an invalued object. Did you learn nothing from the fear the bear invoked upon you? Shaking all over, out of breath, scared--you know that is not enjoyable." How would the pup respond to that anyhow? Wan's white eyes remained on the troublemaker at all times.
Ciqala had no intention of wandering far off. Even so, as terrified as he already is about the repercussions of this day, he does not disobey Abel. He limps his way toward his older brother, though he still stops outside of easy touching distance, whimpering as he does. "P-please. It was a game." A /mean/ game, yes. One that made Ciqala bleed. But a game, nonetheless. He will recover. That might not be the case, next time, if Rowtag gets into trouble because of him today. Ciqala is not embarrassed at all by his brother calling him a coward. He knows he isn't brave.
Abel watches Ciqala limp to him with judging eyes, but remains quiet hearing Wanageeska speak to Rowtag. He apparently knew him, and that concerns Abel to a point. Abel certainly wishes to speak to this wolf when it's all over and done with. "Ciqala... It stopped being a game when you're paw started to bleed. Look at you." He licks his lips, still somewhat uncertain how to handle this. Abel isn't stupid; he can tell that Ciqala is afraid of Rowtag at this point and just doesn't want him to be mad at her. That, by extension, makes the adolescent very mad. "You're bigger than he is, Rowtag! You're cutting him!" He doesn't mean to raise his voice, it just sort of slips as he walks around the injured pup to stand directly in front of Rowtag, looking down at him. "What do I gotta do?! I thought we were close, Rowtag! And here you are attacking my brother and disrespecting Ute! What are you trying to accomplish!? What are you mad at!?"
"'Cause he is." He says in response to Wanageeska's comment of how Rowtag treated him like an invalued object. Yeah, so? To Rowtag, Ciqala was just a form of competition. He didn't even consider him his brother, really. Otherwise, he left the remarks about the bear untapped. He didn't need to be embarrassed about that, too. Instead, his attention is on the much angrier Abel, who, though he's not afraid of, he knows who's the dominant one. His ears flick back at the raised tone of Abel's voice, but he can't help but growl in response. Rowtag never did respond well to yelling. "I don't care! I don't even like Ute! And he deserves it, if he can't protect himself!" Standing up, he pushes his muzzle forward a bit, trying to show Abel that he wasn't afraid, but that might've been a mistake.
Wanageeska's ears folded back at this. He had saved the ungrateful pup, not the one deserving of being saved. He silently looked to Abel, whom no doubt showed the signs he had saught in this pack. He was the first and only wolf insofar to even speak about the same precepts which Helaku had taught to the Miakoda. There was a wolf whom sounded like his very own very father, this other male. "Pup, if it were up to me I'd take you back to the bear," he said, "but even that is not the Ute way for one breaking its principles. Skelaghe is Ute, and you were born Ute in your blood as I was far from here. As he questioned you: what 'are' you trying to accomplish with such tomfoolery?"
See? He deserves it? Can't Abel see that now? Ciqala lets out a little whine, begging Abel, and the stranger, to see reason and not make this any worse. His paw will be fine. His fur will grow back. Still, the smaller boy does not try to place himself back in the conversation. He also resists the urge to curl up on the ground, if only just. He does back up a few steps at the obvious vehemence coming from the pup on the other side of Abel, though. At this rate, if Ciqala ever leaves the side of some adult of the pack in the future, it will be a death sentence for him.
That last little Ute bit coming from Rowtag is extremely frustrating. Pausing only to regain himself and listen to Wana, he shakes his head, frustrated, sad, and certainly irked. But Abel will not tolerate an ungrateful pup pressing forward on him. He leans down quickly and to the side, giving the back of Rowtag's neck a little bite, backed with his decreasing patience, it certainly will hurt and remind Rowtag of who's in charge here. He doesn't even let up immediately, but when he does, speaks directly into his half-brother's ear, loud and clear. "Don't you DARE belittle *my* lands and tribe." He isn't sure if Rowtag considers this plave home or not, so he doesn't say 'our lands' or 'your lands'. "Get going to the den." He withdraws his head and continues standing above the pup. "NOW." He barks, showing off his teeth and size. Ciqala and Rowtag have certainly never seen Abel like this before. Blatantly, it's a new feeling for him as well.
As he was about to answer Wanageeska, he was bitten by his older /half/-brother, and lets out a yipe instead. Lowering his head, he keeps his muzzle wrinkled and snarls up at Abel, clearly not knowing when to give up his defiance. If he had his way, Rowtag would be long gone, being raised by his father instead of by his mother, who, he still was unsure of his loyalty and even feelings for, and all the other wolves of the pack that he was growing to be either apathetic to, or dislike. He didn't /want/ to be here, but his age prevented him from leaving. "I can say whatever I WANT about your.. ugly lands and your stupid tribe!" He growled back, stamping a paw on the ground and baring his teeth right back. "I want to be with my DAD." Weeks of bottling it up, and now here came that old argument again.
Wanageeska shifted slightly uncomfortably when Rowtag mentioned wanting to be with his dad. At least he still had one, though being as that father was not present he guessed whomever it was may not be on good terms. Yes, he knew what Rowtag was--he'd seen and smelled enough wolfdogs to know. The real victim here was Ciqala, whom he wished to approach for the reasons of giving the poor pup someone that wasn't yelling or bickering. He sighed. Moving forward and closer would not be a good motion right now, given as the other wolf probably didn't know him at all. Yet, he didn't want to see Ciqala being so frightened by the tension. He didn't know Ciqala's disposition except for it being submissive, but he couldn't just sit there and ignore him. Instead, he took a chance and slowly walked up to the scared pup, and lay next to him, curling his tail around to offer a sort of comfort so he wouldn't have to see what was happening. "It is fine," he whispered softly. "Just curl up against me while they deal with each other."
If Skelaghe heard what what her son had said... No, Abel won't have any dissent from this ungrateful pup. Openly snarling at him, he makes it a point to be louder than Rowtag, a *lot* louder. Never before has Abel been so angry, and he let's it show. "No, Rowtag. You will not say what you want..." He can't even wait long enough to finish his thought. He will exert his dominance and strength over this ingrate. With a single step forward, Abel barks and pushes hard into Rowtag in an attempt to slam him onto his side. He opens his jaw and bites down on Rowtags shoulder. Some restraint is still shown in the bite, which is without question a sign of mercy... or pity. "Listen to me, Rowtag!" He snarls viciously, pressing with all of his weight against his sibling. "Get your act together and GROW UP. Your father isn't here *NOW* because he doesn't *love you*. He doesn't even want anything to do you with you." Any further struggling by the smaller wolf *will* result in more biting. "It's beyond me how Mom can be so patient with you! She is all you have right now, do you understand that?! You're not just being a stupid pup anymore, you're being a terrible ingrate and I won't stand by while you mock my Tribe and attack my /real/ brother!" His point is made clear, and with the threat of violence.
Snarling right up until Abel pushed him over, Rowtag's ears pin back and his muzzle remains wrinkled at the older wolf, but he has stopped growling. With the bite into his shoulder, the pup yips and yipes loudly, hoping that someone else could hear, even if he had no intention of sticking around for very long. If he got out of this. Which, with Abel's reputation for at least trying to be on his side, he didn't figure he'd be too badly injured. "Yes he DOES!" He yelled between yipes, and the sentence descended into a mix between a whine and a howl. But eventually, he gets the guts to squirm against the larger wolf, and finds his way free shortly thereafter. "I hate you and your *STUPID* pack!" He yelled before he booked it as fast as his three good legs and injured shoulder could carry him, which was still relatively fast. It hurt, but he knew he'd be hurt more if he didn't -go-. Which, he did. Where to, he didn't know, but he certainly didn't have any intentions of returning any time soon. What would he do? Maybe his father was still around.. but he doubted it. Maybe.. maybe other dogs? Wolves didn't seem to like him. Dogs on the other hand.. at least the /one/ that he met, did. Yeah, that sounded like a plan.
With his brothers still here, Ciqala has no intention in taking comfort from the stranger. It seems like the sort of thing he shouldn't do, the sort of thing Rowtag is angry with him for. At least, that was his line of thought, until Abel began yelling louder, and Rowtag yells back, at which point, with a wince, he edges himself closer to the stranger, still without putting any weight on his injured forepaw. He does not exactly curl up beside Wanageeska, as the stranger requested, but he is close enough to feel Wanageeska's fur beside his as he sits and, his own ears laid back, tries to avoid listening to what is being said in the area that he has been forbidden to leave.
The young pup is only able to leave because the furious Abel allowed him to. He gives no response to the last little chip at his heart before Rowtag runs away; he made his point crystal clear. Standing tall and dominant, he watches for several minutes until the problematic child was out of sight, though certainly not out of mind. After a sigh and a quick examination of his own self, he turns to Ciqala, keeping his head down. He isn't exactly proud of what he did, and knowing Ciqala, he will probably be frighted of him for life. However, as his eyes just barely catch a glimpse of this wolf he was looking for next to his brother, Abel can't help but growl again. "Who are you?" He trots up closer, making sure he didn't just injure Ciqala again behind his back. "How do you know Rowtag?"
Wanageeska's lightly moved his tail just a little for Abel to see Ciqala had not been harmed any more than he had been by Rowtag, the male's eyes falling on Abel in full at last. "I am Snow," he said his long ears perking at the sound of his growl. He did not blame Abel for acting the way he did with Rowtag. Quite, the young whippersnapper probably deserved it. "And I know Rowtag mainly through Skelaghe, though as you heard I did save him from a bear. He's fortunate--I was on my way out."
Ciqala shrinks back as Abel approaches them, growling. The pup is in pain, both physical and psychological, or else be might not move away from his brother like that. So much has happened in the time since he was just happily playing with a ladybug, and he is ill-equipped to deal with it all. If it were up to him, he'd find a corner of the den and not leave it for days, but that's hardly an option, right now, so he sticks to just trying to avoid the heavy conflict in the area.
"Oh..." Abel remembers, but cares more about Ciqala and his safety. He sits down and exhales. Trying to decide what to do next, he can't help but notice Ciqala. He's tired now, they both are. Neither of them particularly liked what just happened to themselves, but what has happened, happened. "Snow, is it..." He nods to him, settling down and trying to relax. "Ciqala and I are leaving. I'd like to introduce myself... Under better circumstances another day." Abel is certainly thankful for the wolf being there to provide at least some kind of comfort to the pup, though he doesn't say it. "Uh... Ciqala, do you think you can make it up to the den? Or not?" He lowers himself and even presses his head on his paws to show his outter calm. As far as the adolescent is concerned, his little brother is entirely innocent.
"That'll be fine," Wan said, looking down at the pup. "I am glad I could do at least something." He looked down to Ciqala. This pup was going to be in for a hard life if he didn't have confidence in himself more than he did now. He wanted to say something to Ciqala, but for now he didn't. Abel had asked him a question and he didn't want to press thoughts when the pup may try to answer.
If he has to make it, he'll make it. Abel doesn't seem to imply that Ciqala has a great deal of choice, but even if the boy did, he wants to be back in the den, anyway. Ciqala nods his head, standing and lowering his paw to the ground, though he doesn't actually put any weight on it. See? He's okay. They shouldn't have made a big deal out of this, because he's okay. Sore and upset, but he is not seriously injured. He doesn't bother trying to talk. Rather, he starts limping away from Wanageeska, his head low as he does.
"There you go, bud... We'll go slow." Abel has a lot of feelings twisting inside of him and he doesn't show it, but it's still pretty obvious. He only tries to comfort his brother and make him feel better. It's clear he's in more pain than he's showing, and it's an attribute of his character to rough it and climb the steep hill to the den with his wounds. Looking back at the adult wolf once more, he says nothing, but means a lot. He will certainly come back for this Snow fellow later. Again Abel points his noise back towards the hill and very slowly begins leading the way to the top.
Wanageeska sat where he was, watching the two. He'd wait here for Abel to return so he wouldn't have to worry about tracking him down. The young wolf closed his eyes and breathed. While it wasn't a large, life-saving deed he did--giving Ciqala a presence however brief that wasn't in on the action was the second thing he had done for someone in Ute, and somehow a second pup of Skelaghe's.