A Tangled Mess

[cptkickercutleg]

Graal shakes his head, Cercius would be fine without him, as much as he was astounded by his half-brother's best friend appearing in the land mere moons after he had arrived, his new sister needed him.
"She needs me, that's all that matters, all that can ever matter."
He steps closer to the blue-furred she-wolf, nose low as he calls to her,
"Midnight, oh, my dear Drappa, what happened, are you okay?" he asks, placing his muzzle on her back in an attempt to calm her mind, he could almost feel her tears.
"Whoever this Vulf is, he helped her, and that is all that matters to me."

Cercius would have been surprised, but he knew better, he had known that the old wolf would answer the pup's call, he knew few other that would, and only one by the name of Graal.
"So, old friend, she is your charge now, a wise choice, she'll certainly keep you on your feet" he thinks to himself, glancing towards the other, before going back to his cleaning.
"A nasty scar by tomorrow, but there is no silver there. That's good.."

[Midnight]

Midnight slides in and out if conciseness, only Graal's nose arouses her. Too tired to talk, she just opens the link up and lets the scene play back out. She snuggles up to him, and mumbles, "Food...." she also adds, "Are all males so clueless?" ((Sp?))

[cptkickercutleg]

Cercius perks his ears up to hear Midnight's muttering, and with a small smile, without regret for hurting either of them, he retorts:
"I am not clueless. Only broken. Voh máct ken nort dastarren Vulfen."
(( "You should know not to disturb Lycans." ))
he calls, earning a fearsome glare from Graal.
"Drappa en Dragga es nort ou Ashory! Bos ner sort Vulfens!"
(( "Midnight and Ainoko are not from Ashory! They've never seen Lycans!" ))
Cercius stands, shaking his head. His wounds are closed and seem to already be healing. "Ah es ou putnan." he mutters, stepping quietly from the clearing.
(( "I am going hunting" ))

[Relairah]

OoC: Welll let's just say by the time Cercius gets back it's been a while and Ainoko has had time to rest and such <.<; if that's okay with y'all...

iC:

Ainoko stirred, a groan escaping from his throat as he shifted. He now was lying on his belly, drawing his legs into himself and he opened his eyes, blinking. "Ugh..." After a few moments of grogginess, he became more aware of his surroundings, and realizing that Cericus was not here, but another wolf seemed to be near Midnight. On seeing Midnight, he moved toward her, "Are you okay?" was the first thing he asked. If she was, he would then look at Graal suspiciously, though seeing Midnight so comfortable around him, would assume he was okay. Perhaps.

"How long was I out?" would be his next words.

Then, "Where's Cercius?" He wanted to make sure that brute wasn't causing any more harm. At least today.

[Midnight]

((Lol that's fine wit mei))

Midnight looks at Ainoko as he wakes. "I should be asking you that," she replies. "But yes, I'm fine. This is my brother Graal, Graal this is Ainoko. He saved my life." She said simply. She watched the conversation-angry one at that- between the two others. It was unusual, and she didn't really understand most of it, only picking up a few words here and there.
"A while, but not that long, and he went hunting," was her reply to the two next questions.

[cptkickercutleg]

(( I SWEAR I posted here :/ ))

Graal steps up behind Midnight, smiling at Ainoko with a nod,
"Aye, are you okay, Dragga? You don't look injured, but in this land, that means nothing." he says, then glances towards where Cercius had gone.
"Ash Drapack-Vulf es putnan." he mutters, then shakes his head, focussing, "Sorry, I meant to say that my pack brother is hunting. I apologize for his behaviour, changing never leaves him quite right for a while." he says, bowing his head again in apology.
"My Pa said there was too much Varg in him for him to be a true Vulfen. Too much Man and not enough Vulf."

[Relairah]

OoC: Lol it's all good xD

iC:

Ainoko rose slowly, finally in a seated position, most of his weight on his front legs though slowly shifting to his rump. He nodded at the two wolves, "Yea, I'm good. Thanks." He paused when Graal was saying he didn't look injured and then smiled and shrugged. "I didn't sustain any physical injuries. But using such power... it takes a lot," he said with a light chuckle. He glanced to where Graal's eyes went, remembering what Midnight said about Cercius having gone hunting. Well at least he was out of their fur... for now. He didn't understand what Graal said, at least not all of it, but soon he was talking to them again.

"Cercius is your brother." It was more of a statement, since he didn't need to question. He shook his head to himself. How different they were. "No apology necessary. He is responsible for himself." A pause, taking in what Graal said next. Another smile graced Ainoko's lips, this one ironic. "It seems to be his Vulf side is what is corrupt... not the Man."

Ainoko rose to his paws and stepped back slightly, shaking himself out then glancing between Graal and Midnight. He wondered if he should reveal his own secret to them. While Graal claimed Cercius was his brother... well it seemed to Ainoko that he didn't really understand his own kin. Not that Ainoko did per say. But he knew more than they might think. Still.. he wondered if now was really the right time. No. He would wait. Now might be too volatile a situation.

"Don't worry about it, Graal. Midnight is safe. That is all that matters." He smiled, flicking his tail slightly.

With that he would glance around. "I think hunting was smart. Perhaps we should get some food of our own. I know I am famished, and I wouldn't be surprised if you are as well.

[Midnight]

((I'm pretty sure i was half awake when i posted my last thing, the one i deleted. -_-)

Midnight blushed a little at Ainoko's caring words. She thought it was nice that in all that occurred his only thought was her safety. 'This could be something one day…' she thought happily. Shaking her head head she pushed those thoughts aside."That sounds like a pretty good idea. I'm pretty hungry, and I cant have you dying on me." She said warmly. Midnight meant it.

[cptkickercutleg]

"Cercius is your brother."
"Well, that was a bit direct wasn't it?" Graal muses, but nods politely regardless,
"Aye, I am." he confirms, then smiles as the winged wolf insists on Cercius being responsible to himself, but perhaps that is as it should have been all along, regardless of what his clan Draegga believed.
"Ah well, time will tell."

"I have not yet thanked you for that." Graal says, nuzzling the back of Midnight's head gently."I don't know what I would di without her, thank you so much for saving her, if ever you need me, I am at your disposal." he smiles, ears perking as Ainoko mentions his intentions to hunt, "I don't think there's-"

"Ah, no need!"
Cercius calls, stepping into the clearing with a half-ravaged elk over his shoulder, his bare-naked human form walking unashamedly towards Ainoko, his face caked in drying blood from the animal.
"I have a sorry-for-causing-you-minor-harm-gift for you." he says, smiling slightly as he lowers to the floor beside the three wolves, then rolls his shoulder and starts walking towards what is left of his clothing.

[Relairah]

At Midnight's words, Ainoko glanced at her briefly, glad she agreed with him. However, his attention turned once more back to Graal as the male was speaking, confirming his gratitude and even offering repayment, in form. But of course there was no need for that since Ainoko didn't feel he was owed anything in return. He had simply been helping out another in trouble. That was all. Still, it seemed they were important to each other so he could see the point.

In any case, Graal began to say something about the hunt when he was suddenly interrupted as Cercius returned. Well that was somewhat unexpected. Then again, maybe not. As he had pointed out earlier, it seemed to him it was the wolf within which was corrupted - not the man. And as Cercius was in human form, he felt no hostility nor did he see any reason to grow defensive so easily. That wasn't to say he wasn't somewhat put on guard inwardly. He had heard tales of some who had little control of their wolf side, losing themselves to it. He suspected this Cercius was just a case. Afterall, there were many different types of werewolves each with their own strengths and weaknesses. He supposed that applied to beings in general.

All thoughts aside, the scent of the elk was more than tantalizing and his mouth was watering. He really was quite hungry. He smiled slightly, "Apology is accepted from me, Cercius. So long as you remain tranquil," he added with a chuckle as he then moved toward the animal and took out a large bite. It was delicious and he continued to eat his fill happily.

[Midnight]

Midnight murmured, "Yes, thank you Cercius." Before digging in. She was careful to keep Ainoko between herself and the naked werewolf. When she had eaten her fill, she waited until Ainoko was done, and asked "So, Ainoko, do you want to....go to the stream and rinse off?" She could still feel the caked-on blood, some running a little down her neck.
She hoped he would agree; she wanted some time alone with him to assess his feelings toward her. Was he genuinely scared for her safety, or did he think that it was the appropriate thing to say in front of Graal? She desperately wanted him to feel that way about her. Well, it wasn't so much desperation as longing. She had never loved someone before, other than Graal, and then it wasn't that kind of love.
In any case, if he agreed she would lead the way, coming upon the clearing. The sun shone through her fur and made the ends of it look golden. Her spots and eyes would also seem to grow brighter. She stops at the edge of the water for a second before slipping in and swishing around in the water. After some time, she would sit in the shallows and groom her neck manually. There was one part on the back of her neck that she couldn't reach, and for the time being she would struggle to reach it with her back to Ainoko, forgetting about everything except that stupid piece of fur that refused to be clean.

[cptkickercutleg]

Cercius and Graal nod in unison,
"That beast is locked up tight for now. he says with a small smile, but quickly drops it and adds "My apologies to you all..." at the sight of Graal's glare.
"Perhaps I should expl-"
"I already have." Graal interjects, licking down a tuft of fur on Midnight's head that seemed to refuse to stay down.
"Oh..." He stands there for a few seconds, looking a bit lost, then quickly turning around, walking towards where he left his jacket,
"I see you didn't miss me over the years brother."
Graal halts, mid-lick for a moment then turns to Cercius, his lip raising into an angry snarl.
"My brother died in Ashory two years ago, you're just a painful reminder."

Cercius was stunned.
Numb, yet his heart ached, pain throbbing suddenly in his head.
"You are mistaken..." he croaks, walking away from the wolves,
"But maybe you really did leave your family behind, maybe we really did die, down to the last one... Enjoy your meal Ainoko..."

[Relairah]

Ainoko glanced between the two, Graal and Cercius, as they bantered, and he couldn't help the curiosity within him that arose. What exactly had happened in their pasts, he wondered? What was it that Graal meant when he said his brother had died? Why then... had he referred to him in a sense as a brother before? And why then, did Cercius seem so utterly grieved at the notion that Graal did not see him as his brother?

But he did not ask. Such was not his place, nor his business. He watched as Cercius walked away, looking so dejected. It was strange, how he wanted to say something to cheer him up. But before he could think of anything, Midnight's voice drifted into his ears and he glanced at her, blinking slightly. "Eh.. sure.." he said, rising and shaking out his fur slightly. He glanced at Graal for a moment, hesitating in his step.

"Not that it's my business, Graal," he meant no disrespect, "but... perhaps you should talk to Cercius. It seems to an outsider that there's a misunderstanding and as two remnants of a past life, it would seem it better, to me, to work together than to have ill feelings toward him." He gave a light shrug, "But, that's just my observation..." he could be completely wrong, of course.

Having said his two cents, he followed after Midnight, slightly curious. He paused for only a moment and watched her when they came to the clearing. The one in which they had met before... He wondered why she had come here? Perhaps to get away from the other two? But then.. why? What did she want to tell him? He knew there was something, after all...

His face softened slightly when he saw her trying to reach an unreachable spot and he moved toward her, dipping his paw in the water and then running it along the spot. He didn't want to lick it for her as that was crossing the boundaries, in his mind. Not to say he didn't think about it... she was very pretty...

Pushing that aside, he sat back, curling his tail slightly and watching her. "What is it?" he asked softly.

[Midnight]

Midnight stopped when she felt his paw. She looked at him gratefully, and mirrored his stance. "I thought it might be easier for Graal and Cercius ('and you,' she thought) to realize some things about each other. Talk it out, you know."
It didn't sound very convincing to her. She hoped he believed her. To Midnight, it didn't seem right to lie to him. So she added, "And I like this place...a lot of stuff happened here."
For some reason, she just wished he would see right through it all and say it himself. She didn't want to admit it strait up to him. More like gradually get there.
'But if he sees through me, I'll come clean.' She promised herself.

[cptkickercutleg]

"Not that it's my business, Graal, but... perhaps you should talk to Cercius. It seems to an outsider that there's a misunderstanding and as two remnants of a past life, it would seem it better, to me, to work together than to have ill feelings toward him. But, that's just my observation..."
Graal sighs, the air rushing out of him as if all the air was suddenly pumped from his body.
"Aye, mayhaps you are correct there, but our disagreements go back almost to my birthing. He is a disgrace that only a silver sword can end, more Varg than Vulfen, you've seems that he can't control himself, despite the best teaching, parenting and family anyone could ask for, he always failed to learn the most basic rules that every Vulfen must adhere to in the Otonami, he couldn't stop himself from hurting those close to him after a transformation from man to wolf, and only his father's love prevented him from suffering the fate of any other Varg: poisoned with sleeping drugs, hanging with a silver cord, then drawn and quartered with a silver knife." he says, grumbling under his breath, "His father should not have been so gentle..."
He draws himself up once more, looking at Midnight, then Ainoko, then lastly after Cercius.
"But I suppose you're right, I need to clear things up with him, at least so he's not a threat to you or Midnight. Enjoy the Elk, I'm sure it was the strongest of the herd." he adds, aiming the comment at both Midnight and Ainoko as he turns to go.
"Take care of her, Dragga, and you take care of him too Ash Drappa-pup!"