Checking the Markers

[Kaziph]

The ridges opened up into the flat meadowlands in the east, and as spring approached the rich and colorful flowers were already beginning to bud. The yellow of winter was changing to the green new life of spring, and as the white wolf padded through their gently swaying tips he felt his age. His back legs were once more troubling him, although really they had never stopped since his fall down the ravine.

His pace was slow and deliberate, the back limbs jarring his hips still. Yet he trudged along, intent on making it to the border of his domain and checking the markers. He knew his son was somewhere behind him, perhaps catching up. He wondered what Basile wished to speak of and decided that now was as good of a time as any to have "the" talk with him about the mountain clan. A great many things would change in the next year, Cassiel knew, and it was best to be prepared for those changes.

[Tay]

After catching up to the white brute, Basile slowed himself. He walked an easy distance behind his Father, thinking of what exactly he wanted to say. He looked upon the male that his whole form copied. He was large, like his Father. His paws were huge now, and his chest had developed into a big strong wall compared to what it had been. He and Cassiel were nearly the same, except that he carried a black pelt.

The beautiful thing his Mother had... no, his was more faded, almost washed out. Still, it glistened in the sun, and rippled over his muscles as he prowled the lands. His orbs too were like his Mother's, but once again...they didn't seem to hold the vibrant sting Epitaph's venomous eyes had. Pale green moons beneath a speckled brow.

He noticed that something seemed almost off with Cassiel's step. From where Basile walked behind him, it seemed almost painful. He eyed his Father's gait, but saw no limp. He wondered just how long his Father had been injured, and how long he would be willing to cover it. Respect flamed up in his orbs for his aging Father and he hastened to his side.

Father...Many things have opened my orbs in the past few hours. That is why I wish to speak with you...I... He hesitated, for Cassiel and he had never had a heart to heart. I respect you Father, I always have. When you appeared with Luma at your side...I didn't know what to think. The words flood from his maw, and he glanced to Cassiel.

I doubted you then. He admit slowly. Then Glyph spoke up...and my mind turned to Mother...the absent parent. I was filled with such a rage, Father. That she had picked so few to know she lived. That she picked so few to know her teachings and her touch. I...hate her for it.

He felt a tear slip down his cheek. She left for the Mountains...and Aisha was left alone...had I not found her. She left me, too. All at once I understood the feelings you must have gone through. All at once I...

He walked ahead of his Father, and stood in front of him to block his path. Father all at once I became so thankful for you. For how you lead and how you never left. I feel as if I betrayed Mother by submitting to Luma...but...I felt I would betray you if I did not...and...my loyalty to you is so much stronger. Is that wrong? The black brute's feelings were so twisted he knew not what to think.

[Kaziph]

Cassiel had continued walking when he heard his son's steps behind him, although his ears angled back in Basile's direction. When the black wolf began to speak, his pace slowed - hardly noticeable. He didn't turned back to face him, though. These were hard thoughts and words for a younger wolf, and the alpha knew it would hurt more to confront him face to face. Yet then Basile placed himself directly in front of Cass, and the white brute had to pulled his head up to stop and keep his balance, so sudden and unexpected was the movement.

There the brute's dark brown eyes gazed into pale green, and again the fur along his nape tingled. What do I know, besides what I think I know of him? His thoughts were mixed, but his mind and heart were set. Loyalty above all else, Basile, remember that. You must do what your heart and mind together command. It takes cold reasoning sometimes, you must understand, to lead oneself before leading another; yet in the same moment it takes empathy, consideration, to harbor the trust and love a leader needs in order to help his clan thrive.

The younger wolf would probably wonder where he was going with this. We all make our own choices, Basile. I chose in ignorance to take Luma as my mate because I could not stand alone. I am not strong enough now. She has been a mere prop for seasons while your mother was away, but it was time her happiness too was realized. He paused, and his eyes grew darker. Luma has had her fair share of sorrows. In the same year you were born, she too bore a cub. Riyo. Cass's tone was serious, and it indicated that this knowledge was to remain between them only.

I was loyal in what I could be, and I acted with Luma in my knowledge, or lack there of. I believed in my mind that your mother was gone, never to return to me after I had searched for so long... and so, in that, I acted against my heart. I do not regret what I have done, though. Please do not think that I have or that I do not truly care for Luma and these new cubs. He gazed steadily at Basile. If you learn nothing else from me, Basile, learn to live with what you've done. Take the consequences of your actions upon yourself, and do not blame others for your mistakes. I put aside loyalty to your mother for what I believed was loyalty to the clan, to make a stronger clan.

And so loyalty is what drives us all, Basile. Only those who are without loyalty are truly dangerous. I cannot answer for you, son. I can only know that when you chose the Kameskai, you sealed your fate. Unless the Maker chooses another path for you... he didn't continue, for he found himself tiring. The brute lowered his rear to the ground, and then continued if nothing had changed.

I suppose what I am getting at is this, Basile. I know the seasons of my life are dwindling down, but I will rule as long as I am able. One day I will find myself too tired to rise, and when that day comes, another will step into my place. He gazed off, breaking eye contact, and looked into the distance. It saddened him to think that he might only see one more winter before his time expired. Since your mother is gone and Luma will no longer hold the position of beta, I am left alone in my duties. I will, soon I believe, chose another beta to replace her. Silence then, for he was still thinking of the possibilities.

You realize, of course, that you are a top consideration for the position, but Basile - do not be ashamed or angered if I choose another. I have my reasons, and I ask that you trust me. Cass sighed, finally finished. He brought his attention back to the younger brute before him, his orbs taking in the appearance of his son. He, like the others, had grown into a handsome, powerful young wolf. Potent. And your time will come, perhaps sooner than I'd like. But in the meanwhile, my son, look to your friends, and make those bonds stronger. The pack is about unity, and we cannot achieve that goal if there is anger or distrust in our ranks. It destroys the spirit of the pack, and it makes loyalties waver. And loyalties are key.

Then the old wolf smiled, a genuinely pleased expression. He stood, stretching his back limbs as delicately as he could without looking feeble, and then started off again. He was still moving slowly, though, so they could continue to talk. He was certain his companion would have questions.

[Tay]

Basile watched his Father, listening to what he'd said. He nodded his head, thinking. When he stood before his Mother with the choice to leave with her or submit to his Father his heart and mind had told him where his place was. He struggled to react to all his Father had said. Cassiel had explained why he'd mated with Luma, and Basile understood. He'd understood the loneliness Cassiel had felt the moment he realized he and Aisha had been left behind.

The comment about Riyo caused his eyes to bug, and the differences his brother had from the others suddenly made sense. He shook his head, confused. With whom? Luma never had a mate...did she come to the clan pregnant? Why did Riyo pose as one of my brethren?

The comment about the beta made his orbs raise to his Father's. He looked over the male in a new light, seeing how old the brute truly was. He felt sorrow in his chest. The Kameskai without Father? It did not even sound the same. He felt pride swirling with that sorrow, too, however. Cassiel was considering him to inherit the clan. He realized the magnitude of pride that Cassiel held in him, and he felt his chest begin to swell.

He nodded to his Father, understanding. He thought of the others who could be considered. Beryl, perhaps. Aisha wasn't a leader. He felt a snarl threaten his lip as he thought of Jaden ruling the Mountains. He held it in though. He sighed. He would need to make friends then, as Father suggested. He nodded to Cassiel. Having just learned so many things at once, he felt slightly worn.

[Kaziph]

The old wolf smiled at his son, and within his aging eyes there was still a measure of joy and the love of life. Cheer up, things can be so tiring, but there is always a bright side - or a silver lining. His own personal silver lining happened to be a pretty silver wolfess.

Cass padded along, finally answering Basile's question after a few moments of silence. She did not come to the mountains expecting. Her mate was named Duskai, and he was once a member of the clan, too. Thoughts of the useless brute made his chest burble, a growl forming. Riyo never knew that Luma was his mother; he was taught to believe that I was his father and Epitaph his mother. He was never to know Luma as his dam as punishment for Luma and Duskai's actions, mating without permission.

It was cruel to do such a thing to a she-wolf, but the law had to be enforced. And I could not kill a cub. He looked back at Basile, but now they had reached the edges of the mountain clan's territory. Cass pawed at the ground, scraping his blunt claws along the earth and adding a warning to his scent-lines. Will be enforced with fang and claw.

[Tay]

Basile paused in his step. Luma with a mate? I don't remember this brute. Why is he not here? Did this...Duskai steal Riyo, then? He and Sierra disappeared. What happened to Duskai? He wondered if his Father had banished him, but he knew that Cassiel would not be cruel enough to take a fem's pup and her mate.

He watched his Father scrape the ground with his claws and he trot to a near tree. He rubbed his side along it. He took his claws to the bark, creating deep gashes in the bark. He started to walk away, but turned back, still feeling unsatisfied. He urinated upon the tree, making the threat even stronger. He then nodded to himself, and turned back to Cassiel.

I believe you chose well, Father. Luma will never be Mother, that much is obvious. They are very different wolves...but I think that it's good, though. Luma is what you need. Cassiel did not need his blessing, and Basile knew this. As the only son remaining in the Kameskai territory, though, Basile thought he should give it. He walked to his Father's side and brushed shoulders with him.

She is what the pups need. He offered a small smile, ready however to nudge his Father about Duskai's fate. It dawned upon him now that he had known Luma for his entire life, not hers. Her life had not just started with his entrance into the world. He was now extremely curious.

[Kaziph]

Cass finished scent marking that particular area and walk along the border, intent on leaving as many blunt claw signs as he could. He rubbed against shrubs and trees that they came across, too, and left his own personal urine marks. He again waited for answer Basile, but Basile was thinking and speaking into the silence, so the old brute's brown eyes followed his son for a moment.

He read the younger male's body language and saw there what was a blessing, perhaps. It was not needed, for Cassiel was indeed the alpha and his word was law to those that followed him, but his orbs softened none-the-less and he reached out to touch the dark wolf's ear with his nose. It is appreciated, but the cubs do not need Luma as much as she needs the cubs. It will make her happy; I hope it already has. He firmly believed in making as many wolves as happy as possible, but sometimes things came between him and his goal. Epitaph was a prime example of one he had failed.

Duskai did not, to my knowledge, take Riyo or Sierra away from us. I believe that as they aged, they decided to find other lands to explore. I hope they are both well, but I do not believe that I at least will ever see them again. The thought had not bothered him before, but a tinge of sadness colored his tones. A shame, really, to not be able to see one's children grow into their prime.

[Tay]

Basile followed his Father, the private conversation making him feel warm on the inside. He marked threats into the ground and trees and urinated upon bushes. Everywhere he could he made it clear that the Kameskai was strong and proud and that they would protect their own.

He thought about his Father's words over Luma. He couldn't picture the fem sad. She'd always seemed happy, even when the pack had faced hard times. Basile wondered over the fem. She always seemed so happy. He thought, and hoped that finally she was truly happy and not just looking it.

Basile felt sadness color his orbs at the mention of not being able to see Sierra or Riyo again. He'd never much liked the weak pup but he'd have liked a chance to redeem himself to the brute. Sierra had been his partner in crime, he would've loved to have another sister like Aisha. Someone he could talk to easily and have that blood tie that so strongly flowed in his veins. He shook his head, and thought of where Aisha would be now.

He felt a growl and looked back at his Father. Father....what do you think of Jaden, truly? Basile green orbs searched his Father's wondering if he too had caught onto the...off feeling Jaden gave off.

[Kaziph]

Cassiel chuckled before he could stop himself, and his tassel wavered in its flagged rank. My son, I think you are perceptive. Much more so than Aisha, at least. He continued on, his walk a slow ambling gait. What did he think of Jaden? Well, that was a mixed question with murky answers.

Jaden is strong wolf, a good addition to the clan. Yet I've seen the way he looks at the world around him, very calculating. With Aisha as his mate, though, Cass felt himself worried less - which was probably, he would admit to himself, a mistake.

Ithink Jaden can be trusted, but his loyalty is confused at the moment. He initially wants to be loyal to only himself, but with time I hope he comes to find how selfish that sentiment really is. With cubs, too, he hoped that the brute would mellow out some.

I know you don't appear to think much of him, but give him a chance, Basile. We'll see one day where he keeps that loyalty, and once we do for certain, we'll know the true wolf. It was better, after all, to give trust once. He could easily respect a wolf like Jaden - the wolf was powerful, cunning... among other things.

[Tay]

Basile nodded to his Father's words. He hadn't understood if the chuckle was at him or Jaden, and he felt his body momentarily stiffen. Once Cassiel had finished Basile set to marking a tree with a sigh. He did not like Jaden and giving him even one chance would be hard on his patience.

He then trot back to his Father's side and matched his slower gait. He added words to his past nod. As you say, Father. I will try. The grumble behind his words was very nearly kept out, but not quite. He continued beside his pale sire, waiting for Cassiel to start the next conversation. He silently wondered how the others fared. His mind lingered longer on Keeya then anyone else, and he did not hasten to push her from his thoughts.

[Kaziph]

Cassiel continued along, the length of the side of the border he had intended to cover now almost fully checked since they had been walking for hours. There was more border to check, of course, but he was growing tired. His body was limping more pronounced now, but the pleasant look on his face had not yet faded.

He knew that his son was expecting him to keep the conversation going, but his mind was blank whenever he glanced back to look at Basile. He didn't know what to tell him. How could he just blabble on about simply enjoying the young male's presence? He smiled to himself and shook his head. He was old and sentimental, but he wasn't going to announce it.

Instead, he turned his path inward, back toward the rest of the clan. They hunted, surely, and finished by now. Maybe by the time they found them they would be able to dig in, rewarded for a job well done. Ironic. He issued a soft rumbling growl. Come, my son, let us find the others.

[Tay]

Basile nodded to his Father as he spoke. He'd quite enjoyed this small bit of Father-Son time. Now his mind shifted to the possibility of food stretching his belly, and he smiled. Oh, there was Keeya, too. His smile grew. He could congratulate her on a hunt well done, for he knew that would be what it was. Of course, Father. I hope Keeya--and the others--have fared well.