Dragons and knights and ghosts!

[Pavane]

Ikuna, Tala, and Ahiga, pups of Ute.
Wachiwa, Askuwheteau and Sabin, wolves of Ute.
Marrok, a rogue wolf and quite possibly a dragon.
---

Stay close to the den. Keep away from strangers. Be patient and wait. Even for an eager to please puppy like Ikuna, that's an awful lot of demands. The enthusiasm of doing it Just Right is starting to wear off, and as he peeks out from the den on this bright summer morning, he looks around with just a tiny bit of a sigh. He gives himself a shake, brownish pelt fluffing out, and tries to see if there's anything fun to be had among the too-familiar rocks and grass of the hillside.

The thoughts of the young wolf Ikuna are rather close to, if not nearly identical to, the thoughts of the young wolf, Ahiga. Though with a personality that's a little less keen to following directions to a T, he's done rather well to be obedient so far. But really...he's startingto go a little stir crazy. He's not sure how long he's been here, but he knows that he knows every blade of grass, every pebble, every speck of dirt, and every pawprint of the hilltop, and he's getting just a little sick of this place! He's already outside of the den, still having not done more than peek his head in to see what it looks like down there, and is wandering about aimlessly, looking yearningly off in the distance. He wants to go back to that forest he found the Big Stick in. And what's that tree oer there? Where's that path lead to? And.. Ikuna! Spying his friend emerging from the den, he redirects his trot towards him, tail wagging. "S'about time ya came out. I was waitin' for you."

Tala ears perk forward as she slowly makes her way out from the den, steele blue eye's flick one way and then another while her tail sways a few times. She catches sight of her dear brother not to far away and smiles, an actual smile something she hasn't done for a while for any that might know her. An then there is another and she catches sight of Ahiga as well! Great both of her friends are here now. She starts to slowly creep forward, careful of where she steps as she inches closer and closer before leaping forward to try and pounce upon Ahiga. "Hey!" She cries out with a half giggle escaping her.

Lucky for the impatient Ikuna, whom Wachiwa still finds to be her favorite male in the pack, Chewy is coming in from the moors and marshlands, muddy about the legs, chest, and face, and carrying a very soggy looking dead beaver in her jaws. Ever the patient wolf is she, but her mind has begun to share the pups' thoughts: STIR CRAZY. She's hating this thing where she has to stay in one place to keep the pups safe, and she's hoping without much real hope that she'll eventually be releived of the duty by someone much more fitted to this whole 'responsible adult' thing. As she reaches the close proximity of the den, she gives a muffled, slightly gutteral 'gruff', and then collapses in a tired heap of muddy fur and dead beaver, before she begins trying to tear into the large rodent. If the pups want some, they're going to have to start showing they can handle taking food from a kill themselves, she decides!

Ikuna starts wagging when he sees Ahiga. Of all the things that have happened with the scary monster that got his parents, and the suspicious wolf, and the mean fox, the one really, truly good thing is that his bigpuppy friend has come to stay with them! "'higa!" he replies, with a grin, and bounces forward. "'m ready!" For what? He doesn't know. But it'll be with Ahiga, so it'll be awesome. Hasta be! At Tala's pounce, he turns to look - and then an even huger grin spreads across his face. Tala's actually smiling! His sister that he loves laughing and playing with is back! The boy practically prances, his impatience forgotten in sheer joy of friendship. He catches a glimpse of Chewy, and barks back to her, too distracted to do more!

Ha ha! He knew Ikuna would be game! Game for what? Well Ahiga hasn't said yet, but it already seems promising that the younger wolf seems willing. He greets the boy with a playful nip to the muzzle just before.. *whoomph!* He's pounced from behind. "Ahh!" He goews sprawling, falling flat on his stomach beneath Tala. Tala? "Hey!" He tries to roll, grinning as he struggles to push her off of him. "Where've /you/ been? I haven't seen ya in like...a bajillion suns!" Due to the pounce and overall excitement of having both of his BFFs here at the same time, Wachiwa's arrival goes completely missed, and all of his attention stays on the other two youngsters. "Lemme up. I gotta tell you two somethin'." He lowers his voice, speaking in hushed tones now. "We gotta get /outta/ here."

Tala giggles more and shifts about before hopping off her friend and gives herself a good shake. Her ears perk and she leans over to give her brother a good shoulder bump and then settles down upon her haunches to peer at Ahiga curiously. "Wat you talking bout?" She questions, looking rather confused to say the least. Her attention then turns over to Wachiwa and her tail thumps upon the ground and she wruffs out glad to see the adult.. Though for the moment she waits to see if Ahiga will answer her before running over to Wachiwa and the food.

As the scent marks of pack alphas have faded, the land is easily mistaken for 'unowned' property; the sound of voices ahead of him are what attracts the attention of a large male wolf, head low, ears back, and nose snuffling at the ground. The smell of other wolves is curious, as there's been no dominant boundary marked as he approached.. but his cautious smirk and posture turns into a more dominent one as he spots the pups outside the den; and the only adult nearby seems to have become distracted by sleeping on her kill. Marrok chuckles to himself, and then utters a gruff noise at the younglings ahead of him. "Hello.." he greets cheerfully..

Ikuna leans in and nuzzles at his sister, his tail wagging happily, and then looks up for Ahiga's confidential message. His wagging hesitates. "But... Chewy says..." He's really bored, and he wants to explore more, but Chewy said they had to stay here. That it wasn't safe, other places - that there were more scary monsters, and mean foxes, and other bad things lurking around. Chewy is smart! But... Ahiga is smart, too! Not the same way Chewy is, but... the pup's hero-worship gaze goes from Ahiga, to Wachiwa, and back to Ahiga again. "We gotta be safe." That's what this is all about, right? All these restrictions? They're about keeping the puppies safe from bad people and scary monsters. He has to be safe, and - even more importantly - he has to keep his sister safe. He noses her again, then looks up at Ahiga with wide eyes. "From strang-" Just like that one approaching now! The pup turns to face the new arrival, uncertain whether to wag his tail or bristle up his fur. "H'lo," he replies, keeping his distance. Nobody ever said not to talk to the strangers, just to stay away and to find a bigwolf. And Wachiwa was right here a moment ago!

"I'm talkin' bout," begins Ahiga as he rolls over and picks himself up, shaking out his coat, "y'know...goin' somewhere. /Anywhere/. Aren't ya bored've this place yet?" He asks, the question directed to Tala, ears perking inquisitively. "It's the same thing over an' over an' over. I'm goin' crazy!" He flops down onto his haunches and crosses his eyes to demonstrade just how bonkers he's gotten from being so stagnate. After correcting his blurred vision, his eyes sweep over to Ikuna, and he nods in agreement. "We'll be safe, I promise. Since I'm the oldest, I'll make sure nothi-.." He pauses just after Ikuna, wide eyes shifting to the stranger. He stands up again, glancing to the two others questioningly, but as Ikuna speaks up, he does too. "Who're you?" he asks, a bit brashly, though he's careful not to take any steps forward, keeping himself near his friends.

Tala tilts her head while peering at Ahiga. "Why would we leave?.." There's a slight pause, and her ears lower. "I mean.. Ma and pa are still here.. sorta.." Sure there scents have faded, but she still feels rather close to her parents when here at the den. She glances towards the den and then back to Ahiga and Ikuna and she snuffles out softly to see what her brother has to say about all this. Though the new voice and scent catches her attention, like her sibling and friend and she glances towards the stranger eyeing him and her ears flick back. "Wat yu doing here?.. Yu not pack.." She knows pretty much everyone in the pack, and is rather sure HE shouldn't be here..

A chuckle comes from the male wolf, as he sits down, watching the pups with amusement. To Ahiga, he replies with a slight rasp, " You're a brave soul, aren't you.. That's to be commended in a boy your age," with a sly grin, before he chuckles, "My name is Marrok.. and I am the King of Wolves. I have come from far North, where Wolves began to survey my people.. And to pick a brave soul from among them to take back home to be my knight." Playfully he stands, and starts toward the pups. "So I say to you, gentlewolfs and Ladywolf, who of you is brave enough to face... a DRAGON?" He grins.

Bored? Yeah, Ikuna was bored. But... he's not supposed to. The pup hasn't quite found his rebellious side yet, though if he has to stare at these rocks much longer... He smiles to Tala. That, at least, he can answer. "The great spirits can take 'em /anywhere/." Great spirits are like that, at least according to the stories he's been hearing. Most of his attention, though, is being taken by the stranger. Ahiga and Tala's questions are good ones, and he nods along with them. This strange new wolf - Marrok - is anything but boring! A little scary, yes. But boring? Not at all. That introduction makes him think again of the stories he's been told. "From alpha an' beta?" he asks, a little incredulous. That was ages and ages and ages ago! Like... way back. His parents were probably just puppies then!

Ahiga narrows his eyes a little...but that's really just for show. He's seen the adults do the same to strange wolves that come across the pack, but they usually end up being nice to them in the end. Like Sabin. And so though his eyes are narrowed, his ears are wide open to the intriguing words being said by this wolf....the King of Wolves? Knights? Gentlewolf and Ladywolf? And...well yes, of course he's a brave young soul. The compliment does have him unnarrowing his eyes a bit and he stands just a smidge straighter than before. "What's...a dragon?" Sounds super incredibly dangerous! And of course, if that's the case, he's certainly up for the challenge.

Tala looks rather confused to say the least and eyes Ahiga slightly a few moments and then her brother. A faint snuffle escapes her and she soon looks back to the strange wolf. "Waz a.." Ahiga beats her do the question at the moment. "How yu become a King.. Is it like being a Alpha like me pa?"

"Mmmhmm, Alpha and Beta are my ancestors," Marrok replies, considering. What is this rubbish the pups are spouting? More of that crap his parents used to speak of when he was these pups' age? Perhaps. He chuckles though, in amusement at Ahiga. Ah, the eagerness. Still, these pups are still pups, and pups are usually harmless, and fun to toy with in some way. He steps closer.. then dips, forepaws before him, butt in the air, as he comes eye-level, and grins. "A dragon," he replies to Ahiga, "Is a large, snarling monster with many teeth and sharp claws. It lives in water, and snaps up the fishes and any other little animals that come by. Gnar gnar, snap snap!" he says, chomping at the air, before his butt flops, and he crawls at the pups: "Gnar, gnar, I'm an eeeeeevull Dragon, and you can't fight me!"

Well, of COURSE they're Marrok's ancestors! They're the ancestors of everywolf! Ikuna hesitates as the big wolf approaches. He doesn't seem very threatening - just being silly, kind of like a puppy. But he's supposed to tell the wolves of his pack about all the strangers... Ikuna glances over to where Wachiwa was, but... she's still asleep. And he can't very well go running off to find a grownup and leave his friends alone! So, he'll just have to stay here with them, to make sure things stay okay. "But... it'd bite us like fishes! Like big fluffy fishes!"

Ahiga's imagination is on overdrive now, conjuring up a picture of this water monster with thousands of teeth and evil red eyes. Only the bravest of wolves would be able to conquer such beast! He blinks once, looking momentarily confused as Marrok begins his act, though he slowly begins to grin. Oh yes, this wolf is definitely a nice one like Sabin. Sabin plays too! And won't Asku and Wachiwa be so proud that they found another good wolf and handled him all by themselves! This will definitely prove that they should be allowed more freedom."Oh yeeeah?" he counters, crouching down with ears slicked back against his skull. "/We/ aren't scard've no big headed dragon, are we?" His tail wiggles a little as he glances to his pals. "C'mon, let's get him!" Leading the rush with a Raaaar! of a battle cry, he bounds forward toward the wolf with all intentions of pouncing at him.

Tala blinks and peers at the strange wolf and shifts about on her paws and inches closer to her brother in the process. For a few moments she seems unsure before her tail wags about and she shifts up onto her paws and follows after Ahiga, but just a few steps behind, as if being wary still of the stranger, though she would like to play, as she's ben like the others rather bored..

As he's pounced for by Ahiga, Marrok gives a growl that's most assuredly playful, catching the wee pup about his head and giving a toss, snapping his teeth but never trying to bite. He also pounds his paws on the earth, "Hah hah hah," he mock-laughs, Bellowing, "I am the mighty Dragon, and you shall never vanquish me, for you are but pitiful little puppies who are not brave, hah hah hah!" Though when Ikuna and Tala show some aprehension, he stops his attempts to toss Ahiga from his head, and whispers, using one paw aside his mouth, "I'm pretending to be the Dragon so you can show me how brave you are," with a wink of his good yellow eye, before he resumes his playful wallowing on the ground.

Ikuna wants to play. Oh, how he wants to play! But... this isn't staying away from strangers! This is charging right toward them! What if Marrok is a bad kind of stranger? He looks over anxiously to where Wachiwa is dozing, then back at the wolf. Well... he doesn't /seem/ like the bad kind of stranger. And they're still right at the den! So... he barks, and bounces toward where Ahiga and Marrok are wrestling, aiming for the opposite side from where Ahiga is approaching. "Brave an' strong an' biiiiiiiig!"

A howl can be heard from the distance and shortly after Sabin appears lumbering towards the hillside. He has gotten to know some of his new packmates but not all of them yet and his ears perks to the voices. ears perked up he glances towards the pups and the other adult present. Squinting his eyes this obviously looks awkward unless this is a pack member he doesn't know. "Hello?"

It's amazing how quickly warnings can be forgotten once play has commenced, for there's not a whisper of Wachiwa or Askuwheteau's instruction to be heard in his mind. Marrok's growl is answered with a youthful one of his own as he clings to the wolf's head, trying not to be bucked off. Hey .. this is /fun!/ But suddenly the bucking stops and he peers at the "dragon" questioningly before eyeing his friends. "Hey, c'mon! He's ok, look at me!" he calls to them, trying to coax them to join in the play. And..woohoo, they're coming! "Get his tail!"

Tala pauses a few feet away and tilts her head to looks at Ahiga and the strange wolf. A faint wuffle escaping her and after another unsure thought crosses her mind she bounds forward with a few soft playful yips escaping her. Hearing Ahiga she quickly goes to try and pounce upon Marrok's tail and nip at it a few times!

An Ahiga on his head, an Ikuna at his paws, a Tala at his tail, O NOES WHATEVER SHALL HE DO. Marrok growls mightily (Yet goofily) as he's swarmed by pups, and snaps his jaws harmlessly, swatting a paw at Ahiga atop his head to give him something to fight against, thumping the other paw then at Ikuna with vigor meant to send him tumbling but not to hurt. Tala gets a yanking tail, and the MONSTER DRAGON half waddling around to show his jaws at her wide and open, bit not biting. "Oh no!" he moans, "not my tail, oh no, I'll just havbe to NIBBLE YOU!" he attempts to catch at Tala's own tail with just a nip of teeth to pull her close and start manhandling her with his schnoze in a manner meant to tickle and prod. Of course this all somes to a sudden, abrupt halt as a howl breaks the otherwise 'silent' air, and he looks up to see Sabin approaching. Oh bugger all.

Ikuna plays happily, knocked back by the thumping paw and then charging in again to mouth at it, batting his own at the bigger wolf's side, trotting after as Marrok turns to chase his sister. It's all fun and exciting in a way he's been missing lately, and he's having a great time - right up until he hears that howl from Sabin. Oops. Here comes a bigwolf... yeah, okay, Sabin's pretty new, but he's been accepted by the actual bigwolfs. So he belongs. Unlike Marrok, who's just wandered in here. And has three puppies who are supposed to be safe and tucked away in the den, all playing with him! Ikuna's ears and tail droop a little - he knows he shouldn't be doing this, but... well, either Marrok's a good wolf, and this is okay, or else he's a bad wolf, and in that case, Ikuna certainly isn't going to leave his friends undefended! Time to take the consequences. So he stands up visibly beside Marrok, and just offers a wag to the approaching Sabin.

Being accepted into this pack meant he would protect them from everyone and this he could tell was a stranger. Sabin offers Ikuna a warm smile and wink before his eyes goto Marrock with a much more stern gaze. Coming closer, "Ahiga.. Step away from him until I fugre out who he is." his tail sways a couple of times through the air but stays erect. Feeling tense, "Who are you?" he asks the unknown wolf.

Tala eees! and soon giggles while she wiggles about and nips out at Marrok's tail a few more times. Her tail is snagged and she is pulled backwards a few inches which makes her wruff out a few times. She wiggles and bounces on her paws before swiping out a few times at the adult. That is up until the sudden howl. She binks and peers around Marrok and catches sight of Sabin, some other wolf she doesn't know.. Though he at least knows her friend's name so that's a step up at least!

When paws attack! Ahiga now must battle with a large swatting paw that's wailing at him, a challenge that he happily meets head on. He nips at it, missing more often than not, and all but beams as he hears that the tail attack is underway. They'll soon have this monsterish dragon defeated! But in all his fun, he has completely missed the arrival of Sabin, but that changes when suddenly the "dragon" goes still. "Huh?" He blinks, still upon poor Marrok's neck and head as his eyes flit to Sabin. The more familiar wolf is greeted with a grin, but it's a grin that begins to falter when he's told to step away. Awww! "But...but he's ok!" he insists, feeling slightly defiant. Poor Marrok, don't you worry, Ahiga will couch for you! Since, you know, he has such a say in who stays and who doesn't. "See?" He pats a paw against the wolf's dark headfur. "He's a good'un."

The larger of the mess of playing pups (Let's face it, pups are fun to mess with.) slowly stands, doing so carefully so as to shake his little captors free without hurting them. Because now he's got a possible parent on his paws, and that's never a good thing. He curls his snout a little, one too-0large fang being given to Sabin in a half smile, as he says, simply, "Yeah, uh, like, I'm Marrok, and I wasn't doing nothin' to the kids except entertaining them. There was a she-wolf around here somewhere when I showed up but I guess she fell asleep or somethin'. Anyway, they were about to make a run for it. Figured hey, why not distract'em till their mum or dad got back." he smirks faintly.

See? Marrok is okay. Ikuna keeps his eyes on Sabin, nodding his agreement with Ahiga and the big adult both. Well, up until Marrok says they were going to run off. They weren't! ...probably. And even if they were, what's he got to go and tell a grownup for? No fair! Ikuna thought he was cool, but he's just another of those conspiring adults! "Nuh-uh!" he says. Not that his parents are coming back, ever, but... "An' Chewy was right there!" Asleep, yes. But there. She's close enough to a parent, these days, and certainly enough of a bigwolf to keep them safe.

"Have you Met Skahla or Shawnee?" Sabin asks keeping his eyes upon this wolf. "Until they welcome you here. It is best you don't go that close to the den and surely do not touch any of the pups." He gives all three of the pups a apologetic look but this has to be done.

Tala ears lower as she listens to the conversation between the adults. A faint glance is sent towards Marrok and she frowns. "We was not!" She suddenly snaps out, with her tail swaying she turns and starts to pad back towards the den. A frint grumbe escaping her, seems this new strange wolf is like the rest, just out to get the pups in trouble!

Askuwheteau begins to rouse at all the noise, he stretched and yawns and steps out of the den just as his baby sister is starting back towards it, "Hmmm, whats all the ruckus about out here?" He sighs as he rolls his shoulders cracking his back. He doesn't seem to notice the new wolf yet, hey, he just woke up, he can't be on watch all the time.

Ahiga tumbles down off of the wolf as he stands up, shaking of when he stands again. Awwww, man! All they were doing was having some fu-... "Woah, what?" Turquoise eyes blink owlishly as he peers up at Marrok. "We weren't gonna run anywhere. He's lyin'," he informs Sabin with a slight wrinkle of his nose. That no-good adult is trying to get them in trouble! He steps away from the wolf following after Tala. And it's just then Asku makes his appearance, and he glances to Ikuna then Tala, brows raised a little. "Nothin'.." he replies. "Uh, there's a new wolf."

"Weren't going to run away, huh? What about that 'Tlk' you were havin' about going somewhere, aaaaanywhere, because you were bored of this place?" Marrok says, with a sly smile in Ahiga's direction, "same thing, over and over, goin' crazy?" Marrok chuckles, and sits down, looking at Sabin with a smirk. "Kids get stir crazy. And if they get caught doin' something they shouldn't, they'll back out as fast as they can." He chuckles. Then yaaawwwwns at mention of Shawnee and Skahla, not really caring much outwardly.. but inwardly making note. Hm. So there are parents here. Alphas, rather.. but they don't mark their territory.. Don't watch their pups.. And don't hang around the den. One dark ear twitches, and he looks over to Asku boredly.

Ikuna supposes Marrok can't help it. Even the best wolves get stupid like that when they grow up. So he leans up to nosebump at Marrok's chest in a little nuzzle - despite the filthy, no true, totally false rumors that, well... might have come true if Marrok hadn't come by. Then he turns and trots after his sister and friend, wagging his tail to his big brother and giving a little wuff, then pausing, turning and looking back. He's curious what's going to happen now!

Sabin begins to growl lowly towards the unknown wolf, "You really think I'd listen to you over these pups?" the hair on his neck raises. Hearing the words from Asku, "We have a trouble maker it seems. Trying to get the pups into mischief." his eyes don't leave Marrok. "Get up and get out before I drag you away!" Temper? Yes.. This wolf has one.

Tala glances back towards Marrok and her younger sibling, ears perking and she just eyes the strange wolf with a faint huff escaping her. Her attention turns to her older brother and she bounces up to him, rubbing up against his legs while her tail wags about. "He was talking bout some dragoon.. Says it lives in the water. As she hears Sabin her ears perk forward and she sits down next to Asku and tilts her head looking rather confused it would seem. Whom is this wolf, she guesses his part of the pack with the way he is acting though.

Askuwheteau's eyes fall on first the pups, then on Sabin, then on the strange wolf. His expression kept carefully flat as he listens to all of them, Then he noses over the three little ones and huffs softly so that only they can hear, "It's been a while since I've told any of you a story hasn't it? Would you like one? I'll tell you how the Moon and Sun came to be, after I sort this out." Then he looks up again addressing both the other adult males with a voice that carries authority, "Marrok, I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt this one time. I am going to assume you missed our border markings, I'll assume also that you meant no harm in comming here, likewize I'll assume you were indeed trying to help the Ute by keeping our pups entertained. I'll assume all this because you haven't harmed them despite having ample opportunity.....but." Here Asku pauses adding emphasis to his next words, "But, I am only going to assume that this one time. You will return to the borders of our lands and you will not set one toe over that line again until our Alpha's have had a chance to meet with you. If I find your scent anywhere on our lands fresher then it is today I promise you there will be nowhere on this green earth you will be able to hide from me, and when I find you again our meeting will not be so polite or calm as this one is." Asku does not bristle or snarl as he says this but instead fixes the intruder with a cold hard look, he was all business right now. "Sabin, come here, I have words for your ears only."

... Gasp! Ahiga pauses in his walk and turns to stare at Marrok as he repeats his words, almost word for word. Whaaat? "I didn' say we were gonna /run away/" he retorts haughtily, ears folding back against his skull. Lesson learned: Do not trust strangers! Snorting a little, he bounds towards Ikuna and slows when near, lowering his head a little to speak in hushed tones to him. "He's a /snitch/, that's what he is." He quiets when Asku speaks to them, and he grins at the older wolf, nodding in agreement at his promise of a story. But he really listens up when the dominant male speaks up to The Snitch, and he fixes the dark wolf with a nearly smug look on his face.
Mmm. interesting. This one, this 'Sabin', seems to be trying to act like an Alpha when he is not. Marrok just arches a brow at him, since he's taking a very irrational turn to things. Askuwheteau's words though draw another arched brow, and a smirk. See, now, there's a sane fellow; after all, Marrok had ample chance to harm the pups, and instead was playing with them like an overgrown pup himself. He looks to Asku, and remarks, "To be very honest, I noticed no markings at all on my way here, which likely means if your borders are there, they have not been travelled by your Alpha pair in some time. When I saw the pups, I assumed it was because they had been busy with their children, and as they were not around, and as I said," And there Ahiga speaks up, and he smiiiiles at being called a Snitch, "I was worried these pups would take off. There are bad things in the woods you know, especially the 'Dragons' I was telling them about-- Alligators, that is, in the swamps. But! As you seem to understand, it was a simple mistake.. And I shall indeed return to the borders of these lands if you would be as kind to tell me where they lay?"

Awwr. Ikuna doesn't want to get in trouble, but... he doesn't want Marrok to get in trouble because of something the puppies did, either. He looks up to Asku at the promise of a story, and his tail wags a little, but then stops. It's not fair. And... he did kind of do something stupid. So did Marrok, and everyone, but he meant well, and he /was/ telling the truth just now, and so... There's a moment, while his mind races and he tries to figure out how to avoid this for everyone. He can't. But he still wants to be honest... mostly. He steps forward, and says in his loud, high puppy-voice "We was talkin'. But we weren't gonna do it, not really." He looks to Ahiga, protesting otherwise, and decides something else. "'m the one who said it. I said... I was so bored, I /wanted/ t'run away. 'm sorry." In reality, Ahiga was the one saying so, while Ikuna hesitated, but he'd rather get himself in trouble than his friend. He looks over at Sabin, and then up at Asku. Defending Marrok kind of seems like a lost cause. Which is too bad, really, because... the strange wolf was fun. One of the nice strangers, not the mean ones. Why'd he have to get in trouble?

Sabin is of course learning about the ways of the pack and once Asku steps up he calms down. Listening as the other male is ordered back to the borders. He glances to Asku and then nods releasing a light sigh feeling he must have just messed up somehow. Moving towards the wolf as asked he listens closely.
Tala gaze bounces from one and then another adult as he listens while sitting there next to her big brother. She peers up as Asku at the talk of a story. "I'd like a story! You tell good ones.. Asku." Is offered before glancing over to Ahiga and tilts her head looking a but confused, how did the strange adult know what Ahiga even said?.. That is so strange! She snuffles and looks to Ikuna and leans over to bump her nose against his neck once he is close enough. "But.. Ikuna would never run way.. We just talk.. Cause we all bored.." This offered with as she peers up to Asku hoping he isn't to made with the little pup group.

Askuwheteau looks down giving ear to the words of the puppies and he even offers them a gentle smile, "I know you wouldn't run away for real, because the three of you are such good pups. But we have to be careful of the things we say, sometimes saying what you feel is a good thing, but sometimes it's better not to say everything you think or feel. The story will show you why." Then he looks up as Sabin draws near and for a few moments he whispers in the other male's ear. Once that is concluded he returns his attention to Marrok, "Thank you for your concern for our pups, I will be giving the Alpha a full report and I will include your benevolant behavior in that report. Understand friend that the Ute are not a savage or a brutal pack, but we have had some difficulties of late that I will not bore you with. Suffice to say we are on edge and while we welcome strangers who come seeking a place among us, it would go hard for anyone who came seeking trouble. Sabin will escort you back to the borders."

Ahiga gently furrows his brows as he peers over at Ikuna. Why is he taking the blame for everything? Not that they actually.../did/ anything wrong, but still! The younger pup is given a questioning look that's followed by a slight frown afterward. This is making him feel...funny inside. Kinda bad. Kinda...guilty. He swipes his paw against the ground though remains quiet for a time, eyeing the grass at his paws. But it appears as if no one is in trouble, which makes him feel slightly better. But Asku's words do wonders in confusing him. Don't say everything you think or feel? He flops down on his bottom, exhaling a breath. "We were jus' thinkin'...maybe /now/ we don't have to stay right here all the time anymore. Cuz like...we're not babies."

A bob of his head, and the one-eyed wolf smiles amusedly, looking to Sabin similar to the cat who swallowed the Canary, "Ah, he will? Thank you very much, Sabin! You see, there is no need to become gruff over simple misunderstandings. And as you see, the pups admit they did consider it. You may wish to tell their parents to take them around the land occasionally so they may see the borders and also have an adventure or two." He turns, then, to smile to Ikuna, Ahiga, and Tala: "I do hope you enjoy your story, brave little lords and lady of the forest.." he chuckles, as he stands, and streeetches a moment, before shaking out his mottled pelt and then looking to Sabin. "Lay on, Macduff," he murmurs, cheerfully. "And do not worry, my young friends.. I am sure we will see each other again, hmm?" The rogue says with a wink to Ikuna most of all.

Ikuna nods to Asku. Stories always do seem to have lessons attached... but that's not so bad, because they're still fun. He smiles to Ahiga, with just a hint of the conspiratorial look back again, and nuzzles his sister gently. "Yeah. Maybe you an' Chewy can take us out huntin'..." he says hopefully to his big brother. That'd be an adventure, right? And if those two were escorting them, they'd be safe as if they were right here by the den! He looks back to Marrok being escorted off, and grins a little. "Yeah!" he says. He's certainly been convinced that the possibly-scary stranger is actually a good one. Now, to convince grownups that aren't so easily swayed by how excellent a dragon somebody makes.

Sabin nods his head to Asku, "As you say it shall be done." he looks over the pups a moment. Looking to Marrok, "Let us be going then." he tells him rather wanting to get this over with.

Tala licks across her maw as she leans her shoulder into Ikuna's side slightly. A soft snuffle escaping her while she lifts her head. "Ya.. That would be good.. Take us out and look around maybe sometime.. Soon..?" Well its just an idea, which she says while peering up with big puppy eyes at Asku! Her tail slowly swaying a few times before a curious glance is sent back towards Marrok. "Bye..!" She calls out after the leaving adult.

Askuwheteau leans down to give the pups a lick over their ears and as the other two adults prepare to set out he speaks again, "Marrok, good hunting to you, perhaps our paths will cross far sooner then any of us expect. And remember, if you mean harm to our pack there will be no place for you to hide. I believe you are a peaceful wolf, don't prove me wrong or you will see a side of me you won't enjoy." Asku's eyes are up as he says this and he is watching the other male with that same flat unreadable expression. But he has very definately taken note of the one-eyed intruder's blind spot. Asku lays down and noses each of the puppies and now he smiles, "Mmm, maybe. We'll have to talk with Chewy about that. But I'm sure she wouldn't mind. But we do still need you to stick close to the den Ahiga, you can go on adventures and exploring but the new rule is you can /only/ leave the den with one of the pack's adults. No other adult will do and you may not wander even with an adolescent, it has to be an adult you know and can trust. Understand? Marrok is right, there is dangerous stuff out there that can get even a grown wolf." He pulls the three little one closer to him, "And you don't know how sad it would make big brother to lose any of you...My heart would break."

Ok so the thought of being a knight was kinda cool, and though Marrok ended up being somewhat of a snitch, Ahiga is almost sorry to see him go. Almost. And so as for goodbyes, he offers a brief and short, "Bye," to the wolf guest before turning his attention to Asku and the other young wolves. Buuuut he's not too excited to hear what Asku has to say and he sighs exaggeratedly and turns his eyes away, slightly frowning. He protests just slightly as he's slid closer, though he doesn't move away. "But you're not my brother," he points out, just as an fyi. "An'...can't we jus' go down the hill a little? Like, to the bottom an' that's it? Not /far/ but just...not here?"

Ikuna looks up to Asku as he reiterates rules. Ahiga gets more freedom of course, because he's older, but apparently not enough. And he's kinda got a point. After all, Ahiga used to be independent and always by himself. He bumps his shoulder against the bigger pup's, and then his ears perk at the suggestion. "Yeah! Story somewhere else!" It's like an adventure. A very, very small adventure, but he'll take what he can get.

Tala peers from Asku to Ahiga and then back to the adult. "Why does he get to go further?.. Even if its with adult.." She frowns at the thought, a soft huff escaping her before she slips quiet hearing Asku and she shifts to lean up against against the older wolf. "Ok.. I won't go no where.." She doesn't want to make her big brother sad after all. A ear perks as she hears Ikuna. "Ya.. What if we go to the hill for story?" This questioned as she peers up at Asku with pleading puppy eyes! Look how cute!

[Pavane]

Around that time, of course, the missing babysitter rouses from where she'd simply fallen asleep with her muddy snout across her muddy paws and the soggy wet beaver between them, and gives a great big yawn, ears slightly back and eyes very droopy. Well, she /has/ been doing a lot of hunting lately, there's hardly a place around the den left anymore that doesn't have something meaty burried there for leaner times. Chewy blinks once or twice, then mms groggily.

Askuwheteau looks down at the three adorible little pups and then he slowly leans down, his eyes getting wider and he speaks in a dramaticly hushed voice, "Well...how about instead of me telling you the story of how the sun and the moon came into the sky. I tell you a scary story? And whats even scarier? It's completely true and the reason I know it's true is because it happened to me. I'll even take you three down to the river to see the cave it happened in. How does that sound for an adventure?" He was fairly sure that this would thrill the pups, hopefully it just didn't cause them nightmares.

Ahiga is giving up on the idea that they'll be going anywhere else tonight, though hearing his friends also suggest the idea of going ... anywhere else does have him smirking a little, even if it is just briefly. But despite his increasingly sour mood, a somewhat curious look is given to Asku as he suggests a scary story. Well .. perhaps that will salvage the day. "Yeah well...maybe a scary story'll be better."

Real scary stuff? That's exciting, but also kind of... scary. There's funny dragons, and then there's monsters like the one that killed his parents. He still nods, though. "Yeah. Real stories. 'bout real 'ventures." He glances to his sister, and to Ahiga. "'Specially if we go to the cave," he adds, partly for the sake of his friend. This story isn't enough to get Asku out of that part of the deal!

Tala maw twitches and she glances to her brother and then Ahiga. "Ya.. We can do that.." There's a pause at the thought. "Its.. not.. that scarey is it?" She questions while peering up a Asku. "But.. I'd like to see the cave.. is it like the den?" She's curious to say the least!

Ears twitch as Chewy realizes what Asku is talking about; then they lay back, and the mud princess decides it's time to step in with a sigh. She picks up her beaver by the tail, and starts trotting towards Asku and the pups.. and once she's close enough she tries to swing the dead wood-eating rodent for Asku's head in a light, playful manner that might also be akin to hitting someone in the head with a wet pillow. The noise it makes is unique! And wet. "Askuuu," she says, giving him a look. "Do you really think you should take the pups to a place where the dead are resting? It would be like, rude to the poor dead wolf there, and I already have to keep them and Hinto's pups from having nightmares, I don't need one /big/ puppy having nightmares again, too."

Askuwheteau blinks and as he is smacked in the head with the dead beaver, he closes one eye and chuckles good naturedly, "Maybe I am getting carried away. It could still be dangerous if Mlawatu is disturbed from her rest, she may try to take her revenge on me again." He replies, and while he is speaking too Wachiwa his eyes are on the pups, wanting to see what their reactions are to the name Mlawatu and the notion that whoever it was, was at one time after him. "I barely escaped alive last time...and truth be told if it hadn't been for Hinto pulling me from the cave she /would/ have killed me." He leaned over and nuzzled Chewy, "Maybe We should tell them the story of The Moon and Sun, Alpha and Beta's final adventure? Will you help me to tell it Chewy?"

Oooh...well now this is getting interesting! Going to the scary cave for a scary story....that's what Ahiga wants to do! His ears perk a bit, and then perk a bit more as even Tala has seems game to see this cave. And apparently it's a cave with a dead wolf in it? Blinking widely, he gives an incredulous look to the newly awakened Wachiwa. "Dead? /Really?/" Wow! He seriously wants to see this cave now, and his tail begins to wage as hopeful eyes look to Asku. But...whaaaat? No haunted cave? His ears fall a bit and he flops onto his stomach. "It's not scary, is it? Who's Mlawatu? How'd she die? How come she was after you, Asku? She's a ... a ghost?"

Aw, come on! Ikuna wasn't certain if he wanted the scary, but no just dangling a scary bigwolf story and then taking it away! "But Asku said!" he insists to Chewy. It was a promise! Sort of. "W'can be careful, but..." but he wants to see! Stories are one thing, but real stories... that's even better. And his big brother can be a hero! "W'could howl for her!" That's what you do for dead wolves.

Tala blinks while peering at Asku. "Who's that.. Why would she try to get you?" She looks worried and confused at the same time. "Did you do something bad?.." Not that she would think her brother could do anything wrong mind you! She licks across her maw.

"I would love to tell you about the moon and Sun," Muses Chewy, at the pups, with a smile, "But if Asku promised, then he should tell you the story. But I don't think disrupting the spirit's sleep a second time would be a good idea, especially with pups in tow, when she might EAT YOU ALL UP!" Chewy lunges for the nearest pup with her paws, trying to pounce and pin, leaning in to nuzzle and nibble at fur lightly, gumming at paws if she can catch them. "numnumnumnumnum!"

Askuwheteau laughs as the three pups look so disappointed, then he can't help but chuckle as Chewy lunges for the nearest and begins doing her imitation of eating the pup. "Welllll, I suppose I can tell you the story, and If Chewy wants to come with us we can go down to see the cave..." And here he holds a paw up pointedly waving it at the three little pups, "But! No going inside...especially not the boys. You see thats why the ghost was after me, I didn't do anything bad, but Mlawatu was murdered by a male wolf in that cave a long loooooong time ago. And it was such a horrible murder too. She died hating and cursing all males, And until last summer when Hinto and I and a small fox who is a friend of mine laid her to rest properly in that cave, any female could go in and she would be fine...but if a male went in..." He paused dramaticly before continuing, "...he would never come out alive."

Ahiga quickly scrambles out of the line of fire of the pouncing Wachiwa, and he snickers at the poor pup that is grabbed and gobbled up by her! But seriously, this dead wolf's cave is sounding more and more like the coolest place to go to. So much so that all of his woes of not being able to explore with his best buds without an adult hovering nearby are almost being forgotten! He sits up, eyes on Asku as he feeds more information about this mysterious place. Murdered? Ooo, a cursed cave! "../Reeally?/" he says, wide eyed and awed. He grins over at the other pups, brows raising. "That's so cool!"

Ikuna is pounced at, and he giggles and rolls onto his back and paws up at Chewy's muzzle as she attacks. Viciously! "Wowwwww..." he says forgetting to bat at Chewy as Asku's story begins. "Boys," he says, with a snort, at the news of murdering. Yet another case of males being mean and stupid! "But she got mad at alla them?" He shakes his head. That's not fair at all... and rather scary! What if somebody /he/ knew decided he was bad because of what he was?

Tala glances from Asku then over to Chewy and then back and forth a few times as she tries to take in the whole story. "Why did the male wolf kill her.. Was she bad?" She questions with a curious tone as she peers at Asku. As Chewy pounces on Ikuna she eees out and scrambles backwards a few feet as she was right next to her brother and wasn't expecting that to happen!

Letting Ikuna slightly up from her torturous evil numming of his paws, she licks at his face, and chuckles, laying down. "You see, Ikuna, sometimes we girls do stupid things too. Like hating everyone when we're hurt, or trying to dig snakes out of their dens if someone we like gets hurt." Che smiles at him, and then at Ahiga and Tala, too-- but frowns at Ahiga. "Ahiga, being murdered is not cool. Murder is a bad thing, and the wolf who murders another is forever cursed by the Great Spirits. We must only ever kill another wolf if it is in self defense, or because they carry the Angry Sickness in them." She frowns then, looking to Asku for help.

Askuwheteau notices Wachiwa's look and he nods in agreement, "Yes, Boys and girls can both be stupid. We are stupid in different ways a lot of times but just like anyone can be bad or do bad things anyone can be stupid from time to time. And Murder is never a good thing, Chewy is right, even when we hunt we pray for the animal we kill, to thank it for it's sacrifice so that we may eat. But maybe it would be best if I told my story from the beginning, that would answer all your questions. But no Tala, Mlawatu was not bad, she was a very good wolfess in fact. I'll start from the beginning..." Asku closed his eyes and took a deep breath before beginning, "In the time of our great great great great grandparents so the legend goes there was a pack who lived on these lands long before the Ute came here. Noone alive today remembers the name of this pack, but in that pack there was a certain she-wolf named Mlawatu, and she was beautiful and kind, and a great huntress and a strong fighter. There was also a wolf, and his name was Pondo, and Oh how those two loved one another. In time their love grew stronger, and one day Pondo asked Mlawatu if she would be his mate and have puppies with him. She was so happy! She said yes on the spot and a few days later in front of the whole pack they swore to be together always. Mlawatu swore to love Pondo until the end of time, and Pondo swore he would trat Mlawatu like a goddess, and he would always protect her. The whole pack was happy...well almost the whole pack. Two wolves were very unhappy, another she-wolf and another wolf in the pack. They were both jealous. The wolf wanted Mlawatu for his own, as did the she-wolf desire that Pondo love her and not Mlawatu..."

Ahiga is polite enough to turn an ear towards Wachiwa at her reprimand, but he's far too in to the prospect of the story to be properly put out by it. Yeah yeah, stupid boys and girls, hunting, murder, whatever...get on to the good stuff! But he's saved from rudely voicing this as Asku indeed begins the story, and he sits like a good little pupil, all ears. But..what? His eager look soon turns skeptical, as this story sure doesn't /seem/ like a murderous type of mystery that ends with a cursed cave! Love and having puppies? Ugh, he has no interest in that, and he makes a slight face, wrinkling his muzzle and sticking out his tongue a bit. Yuck. And it gets /worse!/ "They said that in front've /everybody?/" He shudders. He could never be so sappy, especially in front of the entire pack! But what's this? A jealous pair in the pack?

Ikuna nods to Chewy, and licks back at her muzzle. "Yeah... ev'rybody's stupid," he agrees. But at least it's only sometimes! He'll just have to keep trying to do it as little as possible. "But... S'ahla goes growlin' at ev'rybody. What if they think they gotta kill him 'cause of defense?" he asks, brow wrinkling up in perplexity before the story starts to draw him along. Yeah, it's full of romance, but he's started to figure out: When the stories start with romance, they end with fighting. And when they start with fighting, they end up with romance!

Tala peers at Asku wide eyed at the story that is told about the wolves, and the one that is dead and cursed in the cave. She settles down, stretching out and peers from one and then another as her tail slowly sways. A yawn escapes her though and soon enough she is dozing off, still listing to the story and most likely dreaming about it as well!

Chewy takes to grooming Ikuna lazily, since he's sticking close to her, and listening as well. She chuckles softly at Ahiga, thoughtful. She'd tell him that he'd understand when he's older, but.. even SHE doesn't understand anything at this age. "Well, Ahiga, sometimes when two wolves love each other very much, they want everyone to know because it makes them happy. Kind of like how proud you were when you caught that huge evil tree of yours and brought it for us to see." She grins.

Askuwheteau smiles as Chewy explains things a bit to Ahiga, he can't help but laugh remembering when he felt the same way, but he continues his story. "...and so, late that night the jealous wolf and she-wolf met away from the pack, and they hatched an evil plan. Each would catch Pondo and Mlawatu the next night and while remaining hidden whisper that they wanted to meet them in a cave down by the river. They would remain hidden in darkness so both the mated wolves would think it was their true love whispering to them. And the very next night they did this, and it fooled both Mlawatu and Pondo, because the wicked pair made their voices sound as much like their rival's voices as they could. So while the rest of the pack slept Mlawatu and Pondo slipped out, thinking they were going to be alone, when in reality they were walking into two traps. The Cave Mlawatu went too was very close to this den, down by the river, it was a sand and stone cave, and usually dry in the summer and fall. The cave Pondo was tricked into going too was further downriver, it was an earthen walled cave and deep. But the two caves were far enough apart that Mlawatu and Pondo would not be able to hear each other cry out, nor would the other wolves of their pack."

Ahiga's attention sways to Chewy again as she speaks to him, and...doubt is written all over his face. His world consists of only one other female his age, and he could never ever in a gazillion years imagine himself saying that to her or anyone! He'd more likely confess his love to a stick. "..I'll let somebody else say that stuff, not me. No way." And with that declared and the story continuing, he gets quiet again. Ah-ha! This is more like it. Eeeevil plans, mwuaha! And...yeesh, that definitely was a dastardly deed, and Ahiga's eyes grow wide as he learns of the deception made by the two jealous wolves. He swallows a little, stealing a glance over to Ikuna as he gets groomed.

Ikuna wiggles a little at Chewy's lickings, but he doesn't protest. It /is/ kind of cuddly and nice, even if it's also a bath. He has even less idea about girls than Ahiga - the only girl his age he knows is his sister! There's big Chewy who talks about stealing him someday, of course, but that's totally different in a way he probably couldn't define, even if pressed. "Like best friends forever. Only more." Never mind the icky romance bits. It's like... if he was planning to meet Ahiga, to play. Only with a boy and a girl. His eyes get wide too at the mean plan. "Bad words... like the badfox..." he says, shaking his head gravely.

Askuwheteau nods at his little brother, "Mmm-hmm, just like the bad fox, only even worse because..." Asku stands now and begins to circle the two young male pups as he continues his story slinking around so as to make the story more real too them, "...When Mlawatu entered the cave she felt alone, but then...what was that? Was there some movement back in the back of the cave? Something darker then the shadows shifted and slipped further back into the cave. Mlawatu thought it was her male playing a little joke, she giggled and went further in calling his name, "Pondo? Pondo? Where is my mate? Wheres my mate?" It was then that she felt the chest of a big male wolf press against her back, and she turned to nuzzle him and snuggle into his chest fur. Then she caught his scent..." Asku's voice drops lower into a more ominous register, "...It was definately /not/ Pondo. She looked up and found her eyes looking into the cruel eyes of her evil packmate..." Asku pauses letting all this sink in, and to see if the cliffhanger way he was telling the story was thrilling the little males.

Ahiga is hanging onto Askuwheteau's every word. It almost feels as if he's there, watching this ominous scene play out. The silly female looking for her mate in the dark cave. Being fooled into thinking that the other wolf was Pondo. And then finally realizing that he's not the wolf she thought he was. Ahiga can almost feel the dread creeping into her veins like it must have felt to Mlawatu at that moment. He's turning his head slowly round and round to keep his eyes on Asku as he circles, and when he pauses, he freezes too. The youngster isn't aware that he's now holding his breath, waiting for the next words, his mind whirling. What happened next? Did she try to run? Did they fight? Did the male wolf attack her right then and there? He can hardly bear to wait! "....W-what happened?" he asks, fur bristling a little in anticipation.

Ikuna is too swept up in the story to even ask! He keeps looking back at Asku, turning around and leaning in against Ahiga with a little shudder. Such a scary story... and it's real, too! This isn't just a myth-story, this is something that actually happened. Poor Mlawatu!

Askuwheteau lets the question hang for a split second before answering, "Mlawatu was terrified, but she was infuriated also. "What are you doing here?!" She demanded, "Where is Pondo?!" But she couldn't keep the fear out of her voice and the evil male growled, "Pondo isn't here....he's abandoned you. Be mine Mlawatu, I want you. Don't make me hurt you..." Mlawatu's terror rose even more, Pondo? abandoned her? To this male? She thought her mate loved her! How could he betray her this way? And had he been planning this from the beginning? She felt betrayed, angry, and scared all at once. "Never!" she cried and she started snapping at the male. Now Mlawatu was a brave and strong she-wolf, but she was not big enough to protect herself from her attacker. They fought, and it was a long, horrible fight. The wicked wolf bit out her eye, tore her pretty face with his fangs until ragged strips of skin hung off her and blood was everywhere. He tore her shoulder open to the bone, and finally when she was in so much agony that it hurt even to breath he ripped her throat out. But that was not the only evil that went on that night, at the exact same time Pondo was down river, and he had problems of his own..."

Ahiga is only vaguely aware of Ikuna next to him, and he's even less aware that he's leaning on Ikuna as much as Ikuna's leaning on him! He hasn't heard many stories, and this is one of the first he's heard from Asku. But in his opinion this is the best. story. evah! He sure wasn't joking when he claimed it was going to be a scary one, for even the rough and tumble Ahiga finds himself squinting his eyes closed a bit at the thought of Mlawatu's face being ripped to shreds. Gross...horrible!...awesome. He pries his eyes open, forcing himself to keep watch on Asku and finally wincing as the female is doomed to a horrible end with a ripped throat. He swallows, just to make sure his own throat is still intact, and his mouth hangs open afterward, stunned into silence!

Ikuna shudders, and presses himself close against Ahiga. "Badwolf," he says about the one in the story, shaking his head. Scary stories are for cuddling close during, but his attention is also far too much on the story to notice! "Did... did th' other badwolf kill Pondo? Or... or seduce him?" For a pair of small boys, those are about equally scary prospects!

Askuwheteau nods at his little brother's question, Asku enjoyed telling stories and he could see Ahiga was enjoying this one, "Oh the bad she-wolf tried, just like the evil male she hid in the darkness of the cave, and when Pondo entered she was waiting, she was a pretty she-wolf in her way, and she was built very like Mlawatu, so Pondo almost didn't notice the differance when a nice smelling, soft she-wolf slipped up close to him and buried her face in his chest. He smiled down at her, then he noticed something. A scar on her left ear that Mlawatu didn't have, it was then that he sniffed into her fur and discovered the truth. He snarled and swatted her away from him with a paw. "What have you done to Mlawatu!? Where is she?! If you've hurt her I'll..." But Pondo trailed off as the wicked female started to get up, a husky laugh in her throat, "Ohh...I wouldn't worry about her if I were you...right now she is porbably enjoying the warmth of another male, possably planning on having his puppies. Oh but don't be sad handsome boy...I'm still willing to be mother to your pups." Pondo found himself repulsed by the words of this nasty female, and he didn't believe them at all, "Mlawatu is a good female! She would never have another male's pups without first talking with me about it! If she'd even consider it for a moment!" Oh did his faith in his mate ever make that evil she-wolf mad, and she had brought her two brothers with her. While she may not have been a match for Pondo by herself, she plus two other males were...and the things they did to Pondo..." Asku pauses again with a shake of his head and a mock look of nearly being sick to his stomach.

"...Woah..." Ahiga finally says, exhaling a breath with wide eyes. What horrible things could those males have done to poor Pondo?! From Asku's reaction, Ahiga doesn't even want to know. He cringes, ears falling back. Wide eyes are turned to Ikuna, mouth still hanving open a bit. "Yeah... /really/ bad wolves. No wonder that cave's haunted... I bet Pondo's cave, wherever it is, is haunted too." He blinks, looking back to the older wolf. "What happened to the wolves? The bad ones that killed'm? Did they go back to the pack?"

Ikuna shakes his head, listening to the story, and then lets out a shudder as he meets Ahiga's gaze. He nods. Pondo's cave must be haunted... and yeah! What happened to the badwolves? "Did th' pack even know?" How would they, after all? All the bad stuff was stealthy and secret and in the dark of night and caves.

Askuwheteau smiles at the question from the young wolves, "Oh thats the best part of the story so far...those bad wolves, they got theirs in the end. The evil she-wolf and her two brothers stood over Pondo's broken body, gloating, making fun of him, but you remember I told you Pondo's cave was made of earth? Well as they had been torturing poor Pondo he had noticed that the cave was held stable by the roots of a large weeping willow tree up above. Using the last of his strength Pondo lurched out and grabbed the root that held most of the earth in the cave shape and he gave a mighty pull. Even as the cave collapsed on all of them Pondo's last outcry was that he trusted Mlawatu and even in death he would love her always. And so while Pondo died, he did not let those who murdered him get away with it, he took them all with him." Asku nodded Sagely, "The evil male however...had something different in store for him. Mlawatu though now dead was not about to let him get away with it. She had died crying for Pondo, cursing all males, she hated them, she hated the male who was killing her, she hated her mate who had sworn to protect her but when she needed him most was not there for her, she hated all males of all types, everywhere. The evil male thought they were just the angry words of a she-wolf in pain, but he had no idea just how wrong he was..."

Heh.. this Pondo guy was smart. Ahiga's head slightly lifts as its revealed how he outsmarted the bad guys, even as he was dying, and Ahia grins a little, feeling oddly proud although this wolf is of no relation to him. But some of his pride begins to slip as the story once again turns to Mlawatu and her curse. "Hey...wasn't Pondo's fault he wasn' there to save her. S'not fair for her to hate all males jus' because've that.." Well it doesn't seem fair to his young mind. After all, he's a male! But that's not important. There's still one bad guy left in this story. "He died too, didn' he?"

Ikuna nods. Pondo got his revenge! But... it's still not enough. It doesn't make things better, it just... makes things bad for the badwolves, too. That's not the same as being good. Two wrongs, to a puppy pondering on it, don't make a right. But... what else could have been done? Nobody was there to rescue Pondo and Mlawatu from the badwolves, so at least... at least they didn't get away with it. "Is... is that the scary ghost?" he asks at the end. That part is coming, after all... and it seems to fit...

Askuwheteau nods too both the little males, "Yes, the ghost of Mlawatu got the bad wolf. And no it's not fair to hate all males because one male did a bad thing, and it wasn't Pondo's fault no. But you see Mlawatu didn't know that, her heart was broken, she was hurting not just in body but also feeling awful. and sometimes when someone's heart is hurting they get angry, either to cover up that hurt or because it's not fair that they are being hurt. And because all that hurt and anger and hate and sadness was filling up Mlawatu as she died those bad feelings stayed in that cave, and they grew. And Mlawatu's ghost stayed in that cave, and it fed on those bad feelings and grew more powerful over time. But the bad wolf didn't know that, he shook his head as he looked down at the body of the she-wolf he had just killed, and then he heard it, over his shoulder...a whisper, Mlawatu's voice, saying the same thing she had said when she entered the cave at the first..."Where is my mate? Where's my mate?" The evil male turned and there! ...was nothing. Just the darkness of the cave and the blank stone wall...but that was not the end of it."

Hmm..bad feelings are strong feelings, Ahiga decides. Strong enough to linger and cause a place to be cursed and haunted. Hate and anger and sadness. The youngster's expression grows thoughtful. How awful it would be to linger in one place forever and ever and feel nothing but the bad feelings, not being able to join the spirits in the sky! He feels a twinge of sadness for the female, but he shakes it away, refocusong on the present. Ahhh, revenge of the ghost! He sits up a little, ears perking again. "Did she like...haunt him?"

"I bet she jus' killed him. Like... made him feel everythin' he did to her, until it made him dead!" says Ikuna, and nods. That'd be all poetic... still not as good as having things turn out right, but if there's going to be death and horrible fates, at least the badwolves can suffer just like their victims did!

Askuwheteau chuckles softly, "Oh she did more then that... after he found himself looking at nothing he started to turn back to look at her body, but as he turned he found himself face to face with the ghost! She was this close to him..." Asku gently takes one paw and holds it under the chins of both the smaller males and places his face just inchs from their's his brow and muzzle wrinkled in a theatrical snarl as he continued, "...and she looked mad, her one remaing eye blazed with the hate she had for him, her half-lip wrinkled back to show him her fangs, her face still a gory mess. And then she took a step towards him, then another, then another, and each time she took a step he could see the bones move in her shoulder where he had torn it open. She looked frightful..." Now Asku leans back and adopts a more regular expression, sitting down, "I won't tell you everything she did to him that night, but I will say that it took hours, she paid him back and more. He went insane from fright and suffering long before he actually died." Asku lays down and crosses his paws casually, "Now you may be wondering how I know this story? Mlawatu, Pondo, and all the bad wolves are dead right? How could I know what happened in those two caves?" He smiles waiting for the pups to start to wonder that.

Swallow! Ahiga's eyes are wide and hardly...hardly blink as Asku's face is brought right up to theirs, and he barely dares to breathe until the wolf has moved back. Exhale. "That's revenge, huh?" replies Ahiga, tail thumping once. "Like, when ya get back at someone for doin' somethin' bad to ya." This was one awesome story, and Ahiga totally got the purpose behind it: If you are in a certain death situation...take everyone out with you! That or come back as a ghost and take your revenge. He shudders a little, silently hoping that he never, ever ever ever, meets up with this vengeful ghost! But now they're met with a question. How did Asku know? "...Uh...your ma told you?" he guesses.

Ikuna shivers, as Mlawatu gets her revenge. He's a lot less bloodthirsty than his friend... it's more just sort of sad, for him. Maybe the female wolf was right, but... it's still a bad thing that happened. He leans down and nuzzles his sleeping sister, hoping she's not having scary nightmares from half-hearing these things, and then looks up again at Asku's question. He thinks for a few long moments, and then he says quietly, "She... she was still there?" Trapped, in her revenge. A ghost, just like Asku's said all along, caught up in anger and fear and hate forever and ever - or at least until someone could be brave enough to help her. But she must have been scarier than even the scariest stranger!