Post by Ahiga on Oct 21, 2012 23:15:14 GMT -5
Characters: Ahiga (male Ute wolf), Ikuna (male Ute Alpha), Miakoda (female Ute wolf), Tala (female Ute wolf)
Setting: Woodland Clearing
Scene:
Winter, winter! It's in full swing. With deep snow and cold and such, but it isn't always a blustering snowstorm. There are days like now, when the snow falls from a grey sky in playful flakes that flit here and there, sticking on fur, whiskers, and noses. It's cold, but the breeze is light. Prey animals are hard to find, burrowed down in their winter nests as they are, deer gone and those that can be found spindly. But there have been worse winters than this. Food is scarce, but not depleted. Scars are beginning to heal. Anger giving way to uneasy calm. Ahiga is awake and sits near the middle of the clearing, ears up and eyes watchful. Keeping watch. It's not the meaning of his name, but it's what he's been prone to doing lately. Eyes and ears wide open.
Prey is hard to find, but not impossible. Just hard; hard enough that Ikuna often finds himself hunting. There are two pups in their first winter, after all; not to mention one Skahla's young that's still not capable of hunting for himself. Plenty of mouths to feed, but so far, they've been managing it. Today, his patrol has included a small amount of success in the hunting department. He's trotting into the clearing, and he's got... a mouse. A scrawny little mouse. He is the mighty hunter. Aww yeah.
Tala is up and moving around a bit more, she has too in order to get her strength back after all, an at the moment she is slowly making her way through the thick snow from the den like area she has been using to sleep. The den itself is really just a hole dug out in the snow near the bushes. Her ears perk forward, nose twitching slightly while she slowly licks across her maw nervously. There is something on her mind the last few days, something she is worried about telling Ahiga and Ikuna, but she won't be able too keep it to herself much longer. Though the problem is how to bring up the problem... She isn't sure, an is clearly worried.
There are certain days when being useful just needs to be put aside. For Miakoda, this is one of those days. So what's she doing? Eating a stick. Or at least shredding it into little pieces with her teeth. The evidence of this lies in the scattered remnants of wood and bark all around her, stick body parts that she's discarded with each successful chomp of her jaws, making an arc of darkly speckled snow about her forequarters. She's in mid-chew when Ikuna returns with his... um, trophy hunt. She blinks at him, teeth still wrapped around her mangled branch.
Oh, the mighty hunter has returned! Ahiga's ears perk up upon spying first Ikuna's approach. And...he squints his eyes as he rises to his paws. What is that dangling from his jaw? "Is that...is that drool?" he asks. "A bit've leaf? Somethin' stuck in your teeth?" He takes a few pawsteps forward, still squinting at the object...an object that, upon closer inspection, is a mouse! "Oh." He pauses and grinds his teeth in attempt to keep from snickering. Ahemahem! Let's look somewhere else, shall we? Like over there, where Miakoda is ravaging a stick. Cue a blink. "Mia. So violent..." His head is given a somber little shake at the display of branch cruelty, trying harder now to keep that snicker from bubbling. Lo! There is Tala, up and about today. Seeing that does inspire a genuine grin from him, and, oblivious to any inner turmoil she may be experiencing, he directs his trot towards her. "Ikuna's brought back a feast fit for us all," he announces, slowing to head bump her very, very gently.
Ikuna has his dignity. So much dignity. He's practically dripping with dignity... not drool. Dignity. So dignified, he doesn't even dignify Ahiga's taunting with a response. He pads in, and sets the mouse down carefully. "I thought the pups could use it. For practice." See? It totally wasn't actual hunting. His actual hunting would bring back a deer... maybe. Let him pretend, at least for a moment.
Tala looks to Ahiga, a soft smile seen and she noses back at him. "Oh really? Well I'm glad seeing how I'm hungry." As if on cue her stomach even grumbles. A soft heh escapes her. "Told you." This said with a playful tone. Her gaze turns over to Ikuna and she looks at the mouse, seeming amused. "It is the BIGGEST mouse I have EVER seen! How did you take it down by yourself??"
Miakoda's eyes move to Ahiga as he looks in her direction and, noting his study of her current project, she haughtily hefts her nose into the air... while chomping mightily upon the thoroughly disfigured stick. Yes, she knows you admire her chewtoy and her craftsmanship in creating it. But you cannot have it! Nyah! With a sweep of her tail over the snow, the she-wolf sits herself up with a few shoves of her front paws... mostly so she can have a better look at the oh-so-impressive kill of Ikuna. She tries to keep a straight face, but Tala's comments do her in and she bursts into a fit of giggles, which are intermingled with a few hearty snorts thanks to the effort it takes to keep her precious stick in her mouth.
"Uh huh.." replies Ahiga over his shoulder to Ikuna, fixing him with a 'you wish I'd believe that' sort of look. Tala's comments gets him grinning though, and he turns to face Ikuna with a haughty look on his face. "I don't think he did," he replies, shaking his head. "A kill like /that?/ Nah. That'd take at least three wolves. Bet...bet he tripped over it. Was already half dead or somethin'. Lucky find." An ear twists at Miakoda's snorted giggling, and he can't help but to laugh as he uses a paw to swipe snow her way.
Ikuna gets no respect. None. Instead, he gets sass. He hmphs to the teasing, though there is most assuredly a smile there. It's nice to be horribly teased agai- wait what is he even thinking? What is this guff they give him? Do they not have respect for the hallowed role of alpha? He leaves the mouse where it is - or did he accidentally inhale? - and pads away. His tone is even. "I expect you all to share nice, now. There's plenty for everyone." Only at the end does he quirk up his muzzle in a smile.
Tala chuckles softly and is slowly setting onto her haunches, her head lowered slightly to not put much strain on her still healing shoulder. "So who wants the tail, and who wants the ears?" This questioned while she grins, it is amusing thing to talk about it seems.
Miakoda continues her abnormal chortling until Ahiga decides to shove that pawful of snow in her direction. It falls across her in a sheet of white and the she-wolf lets out a yell of surprise... which, woe to her, results in the accidental expulsion of her stick from her mouth. Oh no! With the snow sticking to her coat and turning her abnormally white, Mia bounds up to her paws and begins a search for where it got to, a slightly tricky thing considering the depth of the snow. "He made me lose my stick!" she yells out in an overly whining voice to Ikuna, shooting Ahiga a melodramatically accusing look. Well if Ikuna wants to be Alpha, then he gets to be Alpha... which means dealing with the squabbles amongst the pups! Even if some of the pups are full grown.
Woohoo! The dividing of the spoils! It's Ahiga's favorite part of every meal! "You know I love the hindquarters," he says, tail wiggling. He keeps himself near Tala, offering support when she needs it. A crutch, if she wants him to be. Miakoda's whining perks his ears though, and he looks wide-eyed at her. Wide-eyed and innocent. "What? Who me? It wasn't me!" he retorts, picking up on her dramatic act. "I didn' do it, I swear! She's always /blamin'/ me for stuff. Geeze. You ain't got no proof." Like...other than the snow swiped smear on the snow where his paw just swiped. Other than that, no proof at all! "It was /Tala/ who did it anyway, not me." Hrmph. Always being blamed for Tala's dirty deeds.
That's right. There's plenty of mouse for everyone. Ikuna will just... ... ...ohh boy. He drags up his tired old ancient alpha bones, and gives them a look. First one for Ahiga. Then one for Miakoda. Then one for Tala, just for good measure. "Now, children," he says, in the grave and honestly somewhat gravelly voice he has dredged out from his childhood. Is he being properly stern? Will this work on the puppies? "Why don't we all work together and find Miakoda's stick?"
Tala does indeed lean against Ahiga, her head settles low to press against his neck, her eyes closing whiel she takes in a soft breath and she soon smiles. "The stick?..." Oh dear why is that being brought up? "Does it have to be the same one?" Cause she has NO clue where the first stick is thank you!!
Miakoda's ears fold back as she glowers over toward Ahiga, but the wagging of her tail doesn't do much to make the threatening look very convincing. "Don't you try to shove your guilt off onto Tala! She didn't do anything! She just... just stood there and held you up!" Yeah, or whatever! She tips a quick wink to the other she-wolf before her facade continues as she turns to Ikuna, who she hefts a brow out in a dubious... and still thoroughly impish... expression. "But if Ahiga finds it, he's gonna keep it!" she protests.
Work together and find..."Uuuuugh, but whhhhyyy?" whines Ahiga, looking absolutely appalled by the idea of helping. "I didn't lose it. /She/ lost it. /She/ should go lookin' for it cuz /she's/ the clumsy one that can't hold onto sticks!" So there! Snicker snicker. No wait...no laughing! Ahiga struggles to keep a proper 'whiny pup' face, which makes it look like he has some twitchy disease in his facial muscles. "And you liar. If I found it, I wouldn't keep it. I'd throw it in a ditch so you could never ever get it again." Nyeah nyeah! "..And Tala /was/ the one that kicked snow. I saw 'er."
"Children," goes Ikuna, and then it doesn't work because they aren't listening, so he repeats himself. "Children!" Repeat the glare, because that is totally a glare he's got and not a grin. "If you can't play nicely, then I'm not taking you hunting." See how serious he is? So serious. "Or patrols, either. We'll all just have to sit and stare at the trees. Different trees, if I can't trust you to stare at the same one without fighting. Do you really want that?"
Tala is quiet for a moment as she hears Ikuna say 'children'. Her tail curls to her side and a soft tibbit soon escapes her, while her gaze drifts over the three. A wink is sent back to Mia. "Oh he totally did something with the stick.. Totally!..." At the bit on not hunting, her stomach grumbles out again. "I think we better think on tis bit a bit longer then..."
"You know, it's a good thing you've got Tala over there protecting you... cause if she wasn't, I'd be thumping you into the dirt right now. Yeah that's right, not the snow but the /dirt/ under it!" And to complete the entire ridiculous image, Miakoda actually sticks her tongue out and delivers a loud raspberry at Ahiga. But Ikuna's doomsday words about being restricted from the hunt do quiet her, or at least quiet her melodramatic outburst; and then Tala's stomach decides to speak its own mind too. "Oh /fine/," she mumbles at the Alpha. "But this day will go down in history as The Day Mia Lost Her Stick Thanks To Ahiga's Shenanigans."
Gasp! No! Anything but no hunting and staring at trees! Trees are soooooo boring. Miakoda gets another glare, both at her taunt of thumping him into the dirt /and/ at that raspberry. Double gasp! He lifts a paw to point at her, gawking at Ikuna. "Did you see what she did??" And see what he didn't do! He didn't do anything! He was just standing there, being the angel wolf that he always, ALWAYS is.. *cough* He hrmphs, putting his paw back down on the snow, then plopping his rear down soon after. "More like The Day Miakoda's Teeth Were So Dull She Couldn't Even Hold Onto A Stick.." he 'mumbles beneath his breath', smirking to all three of them afterwards. "Geeze Ikuna. You're a total drag. Your pups are never gonna do anything ever." Yeah. His pups.
"I saw," says Ikuna. "And you should both think about what you've done. I /will/ turn this pack around." He will! Don't make him! Cause he will! "This better be The Day Three Puppies Learned About the Magic of Friendship." Sothere. He gives another look around, then snorts because he can't hold in the laugh entirely any longer. He flicks an ear to Ahiga, and shakes his head. In the tones of one speaking of the patently impossible, he says, "Aww, like that's ever going to happen. How would I have pups?"
Tala swallows slightly, great now they are talking about /pups/ what is it.. They know what is on her mind or something? She thinks of deer then, deerdeerdeerdeer... maybe they will pick that up instead? "Oh I'm sure we can find her a new stick, a better stick, one with power, and other things that lovely powerful sticks have?"
"A stick with the power to avenge its lost brethren?" Miakoda says to the other female and then laughs. She prances a small circle in the snow and lets out a muffled woof, finally shaking the snow out of her fur although a fair portion of it has melted by now. As the subject at hand turns to pups, she laughs to Ikuna's question and says to him. "You don't need us to draw you a picture of how you'd manage such a thing, do you, oh mighty Alpha?" She's quite plainly just teasing him, but one has to wonder just what was in that stick that she'd been chewing on to put her in such an oddly goofball mood.
Ahiga shoots a feeble, probable, nay, likely apologetic grin to Ikuna in response to his question. How would he have pups? Er, well... Oh hey! Miakoda to save the day! He snickers at her answer and glances to Ikuna again with a near imperceptible shrug. But, hey now. There's an idea somewhere here. Golden eyes glance from Mia. To Ikuna. Back to Mia Then to Tala. There's an idea forming in his mind (yes, be afraid!) and they will need to discuss things, dear mate of his. But not right now in present company. Ahem! "Speakin' of pups," he says, not quite changing the subject but almost. "I talked to the female one. I'm goin' to help teach her to hunt. I told her this already. So... in case she brings it up to anybody, no she isn't losin' her mind or makin' it up." The Female One. Not calling her by name, but hey, at least he's talking about the wolfdogs and not blatantly pretending they don't exist? Baby steps.
"Uhm," goes Ikuna, looking at Miakoda with an expression like someone just took that stick (or one of its lost, invisible brethren) and whacked him over the head with it. Did he really get to be Alpha without knowing where puppies come from? Is that how low standards have sunk for this pack? Well, no, not quite, but it certainly could look that way for a moment as he shuffles one paw against the snow. Well, better come out with it. "I don't like girls that way." After a moment, he adds, "I like guys." Just in case that wasn't clear enough. Now that he's done with explaining, on to Ahiga's new and improved version of the subject instead of the original recipe. He turns, tilting his head. "Nonkene?" he says, then nods. "Oh. Good. Thank you." He nods, smiling. "I've been trying to show her things, but..." he sighs. "I don't have as much time as I'd like."
Tala ears lower a touch as she hears Ahiga speak of Nonkene, which makes her smile a moment. "I'm glad for that..." This said with a soft tone before she is slowly settling to the ground, forepaws stretching out in front of her and her tail sways a few times. Oh how she wishes he subject of puppies could be changed! "So.. mouse. I bet Nonkene would like it."
Miakoda neatly steps in after Tala's lead and fastens quite quickly onto the subject of the growing wolf hybrids. Or, as they are more commonly known in her mind, the dog hybrids. "What about her brother? Hasn't anyone seen him around?" Her memories drift back to the time when she first found the pack again after the second dog attack, and how excitedly the pup spoke of the battle and the bloodshed. It still makes her cringe, although she does so inwardly now while hoping he's either grown out of that mindset or is on his way to doing so.
Screech! Hold up. Hold the phone. Pump the brakes. Back it up. Pause, rewind. Did Ahiga just hear what he /thought/ he heard? He turns an incredulous look to Ikuna. "It's that easy now? To say it? You couldn't've waited til /now/ to tell me then, instead of back then when it it took a whole season for you to spit it out?" Perhaps it wasn't an entire season worth of heartache and confusion, but it sure was a long time! And now, it's spat out like nothing. Geeze! He quirks a brow at him and smirks, more amused than anything else. A frosted breath is exhaled. "Well, yes. That's the long 'n short've it," said to Miakoda, though his ears perk at the mentioning of Kurux before he can go any further on the subject of Ikuna and pups. Or lack thereof. "That one I don't like as much," he says, nose wrinkling a bit. "But I haven't seen him. I've smelled 'm though. He's around, and he'll stick around if he doesn't want to starve."
Well, duh! Because Miakoda's safe, what with being a girl and not the subject of Ikuna's adolescent hawts. ... er, that is, because he's more mature now, yeah, that's toooootally it. Also, because now he actually knows what he's talking about. That's Ikuna, with no further contortions at all possible in his sexuality. It is /certain/. He's an entire almost three years old. Life has no more surprises in store for him. All this is said to Ahiga with an amused snort and a shake of his head. Ahh, but... Kurux. Ikuna frowns. "Kurux is... having a difficult time." He frowns, and glances to Ahiga briefly before shaking his head. Really, Ikuna, tell us again how you don't have puppies. Maybe it'll be more believable this time.
Miakoda is doing her best to steer well clear of the entire subject of Ikuna and his potential for puppy-making. Because in all truth, it's a bit much for her to absorb at the moment. She is still something of an outsider to this pack, not having grown up with them and not knowing all their personal histories; much of the time she can only stumble along and try to figure out what's going on based on what she's hearing. Like right now. And it's all quite confusing, but maybe someone will clarify it for her at some point. Until then, she won't shove her nose in where it might not be welcomed. With her eyes flitting back and forth between Ahiga and Ikuna as they exchange words and she abruptly finds herself not knowing what subject is even being talked about anymore. Ikuna? Pups? Kurux? Piddly mouse dinners? Her lost stick? Huh?
Poor Miakoda. So much to learn about. So many surprises! Well, at least she will never be bored, yes? "Kurux needs a good cuff to the head," interjects Ahiga, giving his two cents on the male half breed pup, glancing Ikuna's way. If he needs a volunteer to do some head knocking, look no further than here, dear leader. He rolls his shoulder a bit and gives Tala a gentle nosing be for rises, making sure she's steady before she steps away. His fuzzy tail flicks from one side to the other as he approaches the other female, ducking his head a little to bump it against her shoulder. "I think I growled at you before once. An' probably said some stuff that wasn't too nice. .. Sorry."
Time to stand himself up straight. "He may," Ikuna says back to Ahiga, "-but not from you." As eager a volunteer as Ahiga may be for the task. "He's still a pup, and if he's a brat sometimes... so were we." He gives Ahiga a look with a slight head tilt and a splay of one ear. "We're the adults now." He smirks, just a little - and then the smirk turns into an honest and actually somewhat surprised smile as Ahiga goes and makes an unsolicited apology.
So it's Kurux they're discussing; alright. And Miakoda certainly can't disagree with Ahiga's assessment of him. If the juvenile has retained the same attitude he had when he was younger, there's definitely something off-kilter in his head, and she can't help but wonder if it's not some of the genetic makeup from his father showing itself. Only time will tell, she supposes. But she doesn't have much time to mull over the matter however, as Ahiga is up and moving in her direction; she watches him with open curiosity on her face which soon becomes open surprise as she hears his apology. It was certainly not what she expected but she replies without hesitation, "It's okay." Her forgiveness is offered with ease and she nudges the top of her head to the side of Ahiga's neck in a gesture of assurance.
Come to think of it...Ahiga might have growled at her more than once. Yes, this apology has been long overdue, for truly, he's always liked Miakoda. The timing of everything was just...very off. But now, oh now, things are finally starting to settle again, and The Trio are finally starting to be their old selves. Not exactly the same, for Ikuna is right. They are adults and some of that childishness will have to be left behind. But still, that bond of theirs is on the mend, and that can only be a good thing for the pack as a whole. And so, with Miakoda's acceptance of his apology, Ahiga grins and pulls back, punctuating his words with a nip and a skippish hop away. "Fine, I won't hit'm," he says to Ikuna. "But if he bites me again like he did when he was smaller, I can't promise anything."
Tala dozes off or something, she so totally did.. Though now she is awake, an ear flicks forward and a soft snuffle escapes her while she licks across her nose. "What did I miss?" Sleep does such strange things, include making one miss the conversation!
Wolves change, but how much? Is it possible to truly leave an old self behind? That's a question for philosophy, though it has practical applications. Ikuna's thinking of those now; the matter of Kurux. What will become of the current youngest of Ute? "If he bites you again," Ikuna says to Ahiga, "You have my permission to bite back." Haha? No, actually, his tone is serious. Presumably he'd still be annoyed if Ahiga actually damaged the boy, and he's certainly not giving permission for Ahiga to bite /first/, but Kurux isn't a wee pup anymore. He's old enough to understand consequences. "And then I want to hear about it." With that, Ikuna turns to Tala and steps over to nosebump at her cheek. "Nothing too important, I don't think."
Bite back? Well yes, that would be Ahiga's initial reaction and it'd be an act of every good spirit to keep him from actually doing it. But, he's been green lit? Like, really? He quirks a brow a little, eyeing Ikuna, seeking signs of jest or.. something. Nope. Those are his serious eyes. He nods. "Alright, got it." Hey, the little punk needs to learn a lesson some way, somehow! But perhaps it won't come to biting. He follows Ikuna back to Tala, tail beginning to sway again. "What do you mean? She missed the rainin' mice. It was like, all you can eat. I tried to save you some, but Ikuna wolfed them down,” he teases as he settles on the ground next to her, lightly nuzzling her shoulder as the conversation continues between the four packmates. Four friends. And Ahiga is … happy. Happy because unlike too many times before, this does not seem forced or scripted. The tension that strained every other meeting during that bad time is no longer present. The presence of dog is gone. Anger between friends has faded. Feelings and friendships mended. And now, with that strain gone, they’re left with nothing standing in their way of carving a new future for themselves. Nothing that can’t be faced together.
Setting: Woodland Clearing
Scene:
Winter, winter! It's in full swing. With deep snow and cold and such, but it isn't always a blustering snowstorm. There are days like now, when the snow falls from a grey sky in playful flakes that flit here and there, sticking on fur, whiskers, and noses. It's cold, but the breeze is light. Prey animals are hard to find, burrowed down in their winter nests as they are, deer gone and those that can be found spindly. But there have been worse winters than this. Food is scarce, but not depleted. Scars are beginning to heal. Anger giving way to uneasy calm. Ahiga is awake and sits near the middle of the clearing, ears up and eyes watchful. Keeping watch. It's not the meaning of his name, but it's what he's been prone to doing lately. Eyes and ears wide open.
Prey is hard to find, but not impossible. Just hard; hard enough that Ikuna often finds himself hunting. There are two pups in their first winter, after all; not to mention one Skahla's young that's still not capable of hunting for himself. Plenty of mouths to feed, but so far, they've been managing it. Today, his patrol has included a small amount of success in the hunting department. He's trotting into the clearing, and he's got... a mouse. A scrawny little mouse. He is the mighty hunter. Aww yeah.
Tala is up and moving around a bit more, she has too in order to get her strength back after all, an at the moment she is slowly making her way through the thick snow from the den like area she has been using to sleep. The den itself is really just a hole dug out in the snow near the bushes. Her ears perk forward, nose twitching slightly while she slowly licks across her maw nervously. There is something on her mind the last few days, something she is worried about telling Ahiga and Ikuna, but she won't be able too keep it to herself much longer. Though the problem is how to bring up the problem... She isn't sure, an is clearly worried.
There are certain days when being useful just needs to be put aside. For Miakoda, this is one of those days. So what's she doing? Eating a stick. Or at least shredding it into little pieces with her teeth. The evidence of this lies in the scattered remnants of wood and bark all around her, stick body parts that she's discarded with each successful chomp of her jaws, making an arc of darkly speckled snow about her forequarters. She's in mid-chew when Ikuna returns with his... um, trophy hunt. She blinks at him, teeth still wrapped around her mangled branch.
Oh, the mighty hunter has returned! Ahiga's ears perk up upon spying first Ikuna's approach. And...he squints his eyes as he rises to his paws. What is that dangling from his jaw? "Is that...is that drool?" he asks. "A bit've leaf? Somethin' stuck in your teeth?" He takes a few pawsteps forward, still squinting at the object...an object that, upon closer inspection, is a mouse! "Oh." He pauses and grinds his teeth in attempt to keep from snickering. Ahemahem! Let's look somewhere else, shall we? Like over there, where Miakoda is ravaging a stick. Cue a blink. "Mia. So violent..." His head is given a somber little shake at the display of branch cruelty, trying harder now to keep that snicker from bubbling. Lo! There is Tala, up and about today. Seeing that does inspire a genuine grin from him, and, oblivious to any inner turmoil she may be experiencing, he directs his trot towards her. "Ikuna's brought back a feast fit for us all," he announces, slowing to head bump her very, very gently.
Ikuna has his dignity. So much dignity. He's practically dripping with dignity... not drool. Dignity. So dignified, he doesn't even dignify Ahiga's taunting with a response. He pads in, and sets the mouse down carefully. "I thought the pups could use it. For practice." See? It totally wasn't actual hunting. His actual hunting would bring back a deer... maybe. Let him pretend, at least for a moment.
Tala looks to Ahiga, a soft smile seen and she noses back at him. "Oh really? Well I'm glad seeing how I'm hungry." As if on cue her stomach even grumbles. A soft heh escapes her. "Told you." This said with a playful tone. Her gaze turns over to Ikuna and she looks at the mouse, seeming amused. "It is the BIGGEST mouse I have EVER seen! How did you take it down by yourself??"
Miakoda's eyes move to Ahiga as he looks in her direction and, noting his study of her current project, she haughtily hefts her nose into the air... while chomping mightily upon the thoroughly disfigured stick. Yes, she knows you admire her chewtoy and her craftsmanship in creating it. But you cannot have it! Nyah! With a sweep of her tail over the snow, the she-wolf sits herself up with a few shoves of her front paws... mostly so she can have a better look at the oh-so-impressive kill of Ikuna. She tries to keep a straight face, but Tala's comments do her in and she bursts into a fit of giggles, which are intermingled with a few hearty snorts thanks to the effort it takes to keep her precious stick in her mouth.
"Uh huh.." replies Ahiga over his shoulder to Ikuna, fixing him with a 'you wish I'd believe that' sort of look. Tala's comments gets him grinning though, and he turns to face Ikuna with a haughty look on his face. "I don't think he did," he replies, shaking his head. "A kill like /that?/ Nah. That'd take at least three wolves. Bet...bet he tripped over it. Was already half dead or somethin'. Lucky find." An ear twists at Miakoda's snorted giggling, and he can't help but to laugh as he uses a paw to swipe snow her way.
Ikuna gets no respect. None. Instead, he gets sass. He hmphs to the teasing, though there is most assuredly a smile there. It's nice to be horribly teased agai- wait what is he even thinking? What is this guff they give him? Do they not have respect for the hallowed role of alpha? He leaves the mouse where it is - or did he accidentally inhale? - and pads away. His tone is even. "I expect you all to share nice, now. There's plenty for everyone." Only at the end does he quirk up his muzzle in a smile.
Tala chuckles softly and is slowly setting onto her haunches, her head lowered slightly to not put much strain on her still healing shoulder. "So who wants the tail, and who wants the ears?" This questioned while she grins, it is amusing thing to talk about it seems.
Miakoda continues her abnormal chortling until Ahiga decides to shove that pawful of snow in her direction. It falls across her in a sheet of white and the she-wolf lets out a yell of surprise... which, woe to her, results in the accidental expulsion of her stick from her mouth. Oh no! With the snow sticking to her coat and turning her abnormally white, Mia bounds up to her paws and begins a search for where it got to, a slightly tricky thing considering the depth of the snow. "He made me lose my stick!" she yells out in an overly whining voice to Ikuna, shooting Ahiga a melodramatically accusing look. Well if Ikuna wants to be Alpha, then he gets to be Alpha... which means dealing with the squabbles amongst the pups! Even if some of the pups are full grown.
Woohoo! The dividing of the spoils! It's Ahiga's favorite part of every meal! "You know I love the hindquarters," he says, tail wiggling. He keeps himself near Tala, offering support when she needs it. A crutch, if she wants him to be. Miakoda's whining perks his ears though, and he looks wide-eyed at her. Wide-eyed and innocent. "What? Who me? It wasn't me!" he retorts, picking up on her dramatic act. "I didn' do it, I swear! She's always /blamin'/ me for stuff. Geeze. You ain't got no proof." Like...other than the snow swiped smear on the snow where his paw just swiped. Other than that, no proof at all! "It was /Tala/ who did it anyway, not me." Hrmph. Always being blamed for Tala's dirty deeds.
That's right. There's plenty of mouse for everyone. Ikuna will just... ... ...ohh boy. He drags up his tired old ancient alpha bones, and gives them a look. First one for Ahiga. Then one for Miakoda. Then one for Tala, just for good measure. "Now, children," he says, in the grave and honestly somewhat gravelly voice he has dredged out from his childhood. Is he being properly stern? Will this work on the puppies? "Why don't we all work together and find Miakoda's stick?"
Tala does indeed lean against Ahiga, her head settles low to press against his neck, her eyes closing whiel she takes in a soft breath and she soon smiles. "The stick?..." Oh dear why is that being brought up? "Does it have to be the same one?" Cause she has NO clue where the first stick is thank you!!
Miakoda's ears fold back as she glowers over toward Ahiga, but the wagging of her tail doesn't do much to make the threatening look very convincing. "Don't you try to shove your guilt off onto Tala! She didn't do anything! She just... just stood there and held you up!" Yeah, or whatever! She tips a quick wink to the other she-wolf before her facade continues as she turns to Ikuna, who she hefts a brow out in a dubious... and still thoroughly impish... expression. "But if Ahiga finds it, he's gonna keep it!" she protests.
Work together and find..."Uuuuugh, but whhhhyyy?" whines Ahiga, looking absolutely appalled by the idea of helping. "I didn't lose it. /She/ lost it. /She/ should go lookin' for it cuz /she's/ the clumsy one that can't hold onto sticks!" So there! Snicker snicker. No wait...no laughing! Ahiga struggles to keep a proper 'whiny pup' face, which makes it look like he has some twitchy disease in his facial muscles. "And you liar. If I found it, I wouldn't keep it. I'd throw it in a ditch so you could never ever get it again." Nyeah nyeah! "..And Tala /was/ the one that kicked snow. I saw 'er."
"Children," goes Ikuna, and then it doesn't work because they aren't listening, so he repeats himself. "Children!" Repeat the glare, because that is totally a glare he's got and not a grin. "If you can't play nicely, then I'm not taking you hunting." See how serious he is? So serious. "Or patrols, either. We'll all just have to sit and stare at the trees. Different trees, if I can't trust you to stare at the same one without fighting. Do you really want that?"
Tala is quiet for a moment as she hears Ikuna say 'children'. Her tail curls to her side and a soft tibbit soon escapes her, while her gaze drifts over the three. A wink is sent back to Mia. "Oh he totally did something with the stick.. Totally!..." At the bit on not hunting, her stomach grumbles out again. "I think we better think on tis bit a bit longer then..."
"You know, it's a good thing you've got Tala over there protecting you... cause if she wasn't, I'd be thumping you into the dirt right now. Yeah that's right, not the snow but the /dirt/ under it!" And to complete the entire ridiculous image, Miakoda actually sticks her tongue out and delivers a loud raspberry at Ahiga. But Ikuna's doomsday words about being restricted from the hunt do quiet her, or at least quiet her melodramatic outburst; and then Tala's stomach decides to speak its own mind too. "Oh /fine/," she mumbles at the Alpha. "But this day will go down in history as The Day Mia Lost Her Stick Thanks To Ahiga's Shenanigans."
Gasp! No! Anything but no hunting and staring at trees! Trees are soooooo boring. Miakoda gets another glare, both at her taunt of thumping him into the dirt /and/ at that raspberry. Double gasp! He lifts a paw to point at her, gawking at Ikuna. "Did you see what she did??" And see what he didn't do! He didn't do anything! He was just standing there, being the angel wolf that he always, ALWAYS is.. *cough* He hrmphs, putting his paw back down on the snow, then plopping his rear down soon after. "More like The Day Miakoda's Teeth Were So Dull She Couldn't Even Hold Onto A Stick.." he 'mumbles beneath his breath', smirking to all three of them afterwards. "Geeze Ikuna. You're a total drag. Your pups are never gonna do anything ever." Yeah. His pups.
"I saw," says Ikuna. "And you should both think about what you've done. I /will/ turn this pack around." He will! Don't make him! Cause he will! "This better be The Day Three Puppies Learned About the Magic of Friendship." Sothere. He gives another look around, then snorts because he can't hold in the laugh entirely any longer. He flicks an ear to Ahiga, and shakes his head. In the tones of one speaking of the patently impossible, he says, "Aww, like that's ever going to happen. How would I have pups?"
Tala swallows slightly, great now they are talking about /pups/ what is it.. They know what is on her mind or something? She thinks of deer then, deerdeerdeerdeer... maybe they will pick that up instead? "Oh I'm sure we can find her a new stick, a better stick, one with power, and other things that lovely powerful sticks have?"
"A stick with the power to avenge its lost brethren?" Miakoda says to the other female and then laughs. She prances a small circle in the snow and lets out a muffled woof, finally shaking the snow out of her fur although a fair portion of it has melted by now. As the subject at hand turns to pups, she laughs to Ikuna's question and says to him. "You don't need us to draw you a picture of how you'd manage such a thing, do you, oh mighty Alpha?" She's quite plainly just teasing him, but one has to wonder just what was in that stick that she'd been chewing on to put her in such an oddly goofball mood.
Ahiga shoots a feeble, probable, nay, likely apologetic grin to Ikuna in response to his question. How would he have pups? Er, well... Oh hey! Miakoda to save the day! He snickers at her answer and glances to Ikuna again with a near imperceptible shrug. But, hey now. There's an idea somewhere here. Golden eyes glance from Mia. To Ikuna. Back to Mia Then to Tala. There's an idea forming in his mind (yes, be afraid!) and they will need to discuss things, dear mate of his. But not right now in present company. Ahem! "Speakin' of pups," he says, not quite changing the subject but almost. "I talked to the female one. I'm goin' to help teach her to hunt. I told her this already. So... in case she brings it up to anybody, no she isn't losin' her mind or makin' it up." The Female One. Not calling her by name, but hey, at least he's talking about the wolfdogs and not blatantly pretending they don't exist? Baby steps.
"Uhm," goes Ikuna, looking at Miakoda with an expression like someone just took that stick (or one of its lost, invisible brethren) and whacked him over the head with it. Did he really get to be Alpha without knowing where puppies come from? Is that how low standards have sunk for this pack? Well, no, not quite, but it certainly could look that way for a moment as he shuffles one paw against the snow. Well, better come out with it. "I don't like girls that way." After a moment, he adds, "I like guys." Just in case that wasn't clear enough. Now that he's done with explaining, on to Ahiga's new and improved version of the subject instead of the original recipe. He turns, tilting his head. "Nonkene?" he says, then nods. "Oh. Good. Thank you." He nods, smiling. "I've been trying to show her things, but..." he sighs. "I don't have as much time as I'd like."
Tala ears lower a touch as she hears Ahiga speak of Nonkene, which makes her smile a moment. "I'm glad for that..." This said with a soft tone before she is slowly settling to the ground, forepaws stretching out in front of her and her tail sways a few times. Oh how she wishes he subject of puppies could be changed! "So.. mouse. I bet Nonkene would like it."
Miakoda neatly steps in after Tala's lead and fastens quite quickly onto the subject of the growing wolf hybrids. Or, as they are more commonly known in her mind, the dog hybrids. "What about her brother? Hasn't anyone seen him around?" Her memories drift back to the time when she first found the pack again after the second dog attack, and how excitedly the pup spoke of the battle and the bloodshed. It still makes her cringe, although she does so inwardly now while hoping he's either grown out of that mindset or is on his way to doing so.
Screech! Hold up. Hold the phone. Pump the brakes. Back it up. Pause, rewind. Did Ahiga just hear what he /thought/ he heard? He turns an incredulous look to Ikuna. "It's that easy now? To say it? You couldn't've waited til /now/ to tell me then, instead of back then when it it took a whole season for you to spit it out?" Perhaps it wasn't an entire season worth of heartache and confusion, but it sure was a long time! And now, it's spat out like nothing. Geeze! He quirks a brow at him and smirks, more amused than anything else. A frosted breath is exhaled. "Well, yes. That's the long 'n short've it," said to Miakoda, though his ears perk at the mentioning of Kurux before he can go any further on the subject of Ikuna and pups. Or lack thereof. "That one I don't like as much," he says, nose wrinkling a bit. "But I haven't seen him. I've smelled 'm though. He's around, and he'll stick around if he doesn't want to starve."
Well, duh! Because Miakoda's safe, what with being a girl and not the subject of Ikuna's adolescent hawts. ... er, that is, because he's more mature now, yeah, that's toooootally it. Also, because now he actually knows what he's talking about. That's Ikuna, with no further contortions at all possible in his sexuality. It is /certain/. He's an entire almost three years old. Life has no more surprises in store for him. All this is said to Ahiga with an amused snort and a shake of his head. Ahh, but... Kurux. Ikuna frowns. "Kurux is... having a difficult time." He frowns, and glances to Ahiga briefly before shaking his head. Really, Ikuna, tell us again how you don't have puppies. Maybe it'll be more believable this time.
Miakoda is doing her best to steer well clear of the entire subject of Ikuna and his potential for puppy-making. Because in all truth, it's a bit much for her to absorb at the moment. She is still something of an outsider to this pack, not having grown up with them and not knowing all their personal histories; much of the time she can only stumble along and try to figure out what's going on based on what she's hearing. Like right now. And it's all quite confusing, but maybe someone will clarify it for her at some point. Until then, she won't shove her nose in where it might not be welcomed. With her eyes flitting back and forth between Ahiga and Ikuna as they exchange words and she abruptly finds herself not knowing what subject is even being talked about anymore. Ikuna? Pups? Kurux? Piddly mouse dinners? Her lost stick? Huh?
Poor Miakoda. So much to learn about. So many surprises! Well, at least she will never be bored, yes? "Kurux needs a good cuff to the head," interjects Ahiga, giving his two cents on the male half breed pup, glancing Ikuna's way. If he needs a volunteer to do some head knocking, look no further than here, dear leader. He rolls his shoulder a bit and gives Tala a gentle nosing be for rises, making sure she's steady before she steps away. His fuzzy tail flicks from one side to the other as he approaches the other female, ducking his head a little to bump it against her shoulder. "I think I growled at you before once. An' probably said some stuff that wasn't too nice. .. Sorry."
Time to stand himself up straight. "He may," Ikuna says back to Ahiga, "-but not from you." As eager a volunteer as Ahiga may be for the task. "He's still a pup, and if he's a brat sometimes... so were we." He gives Ahiga a look with a slight head tilt and a splay of one ear. "We're the adults now." He smirks, just a little - and then the smirk turns into an honest and actually somewhat surprised smile as Ahiga goes and makes an unsolicited apology.
So it's Kurux they're discussing; alright. And Miakoda certainly can't disagree with Ahiga's assessment of him. If the juvenile has retained the same attitude he had when he was younger, there's definitely something off-kilter in his head, and she can't help but wonder if it's not some of the genetic makeup from his father showing itself. Only time will tell, she supposes. But she doesn't have much time to mull over the matter however, as Ahiga is up and moving in her direction; she watches him with open curiosity on her face which soon becomes open surprise as she hears his apology. It was certainly not what she expected but she replies without hesitation, "It's okay." Her forgiveness is offered with ease and she nudges the top of her head to the side of Ahiga's neck in a gesture of assurance.
Come to think of it...Ahiga might have growled at her more than once. Yes, this apology has been long overdue, for truly, he's always liked Miakoda. The timing of everything was just...very off. But now, oh now, things are finally starting to settle again, and The Trio are finally starting to be their old selves. Not exactly the same, for Ikuna is right. They are adults and some of that childishness will have to be left behind. But still, that bond of theirs is on the mend, and that can only be a good thing for the pack as a whole. And so, with Miakoda's acceptance of his apology, Ahiga grins and pulls back, punctuating his words with a nip and a skippish hop away. "Fine, I won't hit'm," he says to Ikuna. "But if he bites me again like he did when he was smaller, I can't promise anything."
Tala dozes off or something, she so totally did.. Though now she is awake, an ear flicks forward and a soft snuffle escapes her while she licks across her nose. "What did I miss?" Sleep does such strange things, include making one miss the conversation!
Wolves change, but how much? Is it possible to truly leave an old self behind? That's a question for philosophy, though it has practical applications. Ikuna's thinking of those now; the matter of Kurux. What will become of the current youngest of Ute? "If he bites you again," Ikuna says to Ahiga, "You have my permission to bite back." Haha? No, actually, his tone is serious. Presumably he'd still be annoyed if Ahiga actually damaged the boy, and he's certainly not giving permission for Ahiga to bite /first/, but Kurux isn't a wee pup anymore. He's old enough to understand consequences. "And then I want to hear about it." With that, Ikuna turns to Tala and steps over to nosebump at her cheek. "Nothing too important, I don't think."
Bite back? Well yes, that would be Ahiga's initial reaction and it'd be an act of every good spirit to keep him from actually doing it. But, he's been green lit? Like, really? He quirks a brow a little, eyeing Ikuna, seeking signs of jest or.. something. Nope. Those are his serious eyes. He nods. "Alright, got it." Hey, the little punk needs to learn a lesson some way, somehow! But perhaps it won't come to biting. He follows Ikuna back to Tala, tail beginning to sway again. "What do you mean? She missed the rainin' mice. It was like, all you can eat. I tried to save you some, but Ikuna wolfed them down,” he teases as he settles on the ground next to her, lightly nuzzling her shoulder as the conversation continues between the four packmates. Four friends. And Ahiga is … happy. Happy because unlike too many times before, this does not seem forced or scripted. The tension that strained every other meeting during that bad time is no longer present. The presence of dog is gone. Anger between friends has faded. Feelings and friendships mended. And now, with that strain gone, they’re left with nothing standing in their way of carving a new future for themselves. Nothing that can’t be faced together.