Chernabog walked with ease through the forests, had the tribute been from anyone but Piper he would not be the one going to retrieve it. However he had a soft spot for the alpha female of the Gomorrah pack. Leaving his own court unattended rankled him and reminded him that the time for demotions and promotions was close at hand. He pushed away such thoughts and grinned as he crossed the pack border. Piper's scent was strong, it almost drove him wild with the desire to trace it all around her land. He caught a bare undertone of her mate's mark as well and snorted, pity the fool had gotten to her first.

Ah well, he would still have tribute, and with any luck the daughter would shine as finely as the mother, though no one could quite match the lusty beauty in his eyes. Without pretense he headed straight for the heart of the packlands where he could smell the den.

---

Piper sat watching the growing pups with a frown. They were far from perfect. Rumor was a bossy little thing. Squall was a coward. Moscow spent his days chasing invisible...somethings. If she had to pick one as a young heir, it would be Swell, who was the most sound in her eyes. Her ears folded back for a moment. Not that she'd give up her place as alpha anytime soon.

She'd already paid tribute to the small family her mother was collecting. The brown femme that was her sister got on Piper's nerves, however. Maybe it was because she voiced what Gerda could not. Maybe it was just a mutual dislike. She wasn't sure, but she wouldn't start anything.

She'd grown up, if not only just a little bit.

As the wind blew, sending a breeze her way, she caught a new, but familiar, scent upon it. Her head rose, scanning the grounds with a small race of her heart. What would be -his- reason for coming? The thought puzzled her.

---

Chernabog smirked and sauntered closer still until he caught sight of Piper near her den, the scent of pups was strong. His ruby eyes flashed from their metal prison, as did the double row of fangs.
"My lovely Piper..." He grinned and leapt up with ease to stand his ground before her.

---

Piper's gaze flickered over her children before rising up to greet the Goblin King's boldly. Her ears flicked forwards, tail rising an inch or two, but not higher than his. Never over his. He was one wolf she would always respect.

She flashed a toothy smile. "Chernabog. What brings you to this part of the world? Looking for something?"

---

"Of course my dear, I would not offend the most beautiful Alpha in the land by sending a mere lord or lady to collect a tribute from her. I have come myself for this task, granted I must admit that I also came to indulge myself in the pleasure of your company." He smirked and watched her carefully for a reaction.

While he was confident that she would offer him tribute, a cold part inside of him knew exactly what he wanted to do with her if she was foolish enough to refuse. He glanced at the den and inhaled. "Healthy pups...I should like to offer them the extent of protection from the Reign, should they ever cross into my lands they will be welcomed."

--

There was a strange excitement mixed with an even stranger dread. Tribute. And she knew exactly what he would want. Another soldier to join his ranks. Another lady for the obsidian court. She didn't blame him. And inside, there was a kind of pride. She puffed out her chest an inch and matched his smirk with one of her own. "Oh, you flatter me, babe."

She followed his gaze to the den. Any other mother would've been nervous having such a powerful wolf near her young. Piper was perhaps a little careless, but she felt that he wouldn't do anything to them. Even if Hurricane didn't approve. She snorted. "I thank you," she said solemnly, nodding. "I would like to think they will stay in Gomorrah, but the fact that they would be welcomed in your lands does my heart good." After a moment of silence, she stood up and beckoned him with her nose. "As for tribute... I would offer you the world if I could, Chernabog. However..." With a paw, she pointed over to the marbled orange coat of her daughter, Rumor. "I can only hope that the strongest child of mine would do."

---

"It is a precious thing you offer Piper, I can promise you she would be raised well, but not coddled within the court. She will have to earn her place, of course if she is anything like her mother I am certain she will earn it with ease." He gazed down at the pups his eyes carefully roaming over them before stopping on the offered Rumor.

"She is certainly the finest tribute you could offer the pack, and an honor to me." He smirked slowly and brushed his metal fangs against her neck. "There is only one thing I could think of that I should like more to possess..." He chuckled before slowly pulling away. "Ah well, I shall settle for the daughter, since the mother has been claimed. Let us see what your little Rumor can accomplish shall we?"

He stood rigid once more serious now in tone. "You will be permitted a visit with every three moons, no more and no less. Your mate may not attend, this allowance is only made since I can understand how a mother might long to see her child grow, and I would have her learn from your sage advice."

---
Piper sat down next to Squall, who was snoozing. She wondered what he would do if he woke without his bully of a sister around. She smiled. They would probably mourn her loss for a little bit and forget her whilst they played, only to remember her again later on, perhaps before bed. She assumed that was how loss worked. She wasn't sure; she'd never lost anything before now.

The hair on the back of her neck prickled with his closeness. She longed to brush up against him, bury her face in his thick fur. He was a striking wolf and the fact that he fancied her, even if only a little, still astounded and pleased her. But she had to think of Hurricane and her loyalty to her mate. Even if she wanted to stretch the bonds of loyalty. She stayed still, eyes watching him as he pulled away.

"I'm certain she'll do fine. She's always been the pup...striving...for lack of a better word, for inner strength. She will accomplish whatever you ask of her." Her words were spoken matter-of-factly.

She looked between little Rumor and the Goblin monarch. Rumor would do fine.. She would be the best. Her lips twitched in a small smile. "Perhaps I'll visit once she's older. Thank you, Chernabog. I'm sorry I couldn't...offer more."

---

"You needn't apologize to me my lady, you have offered something that precious few would." He nodded down at Rumor, if she did have the drive in her she would be well worth it.

"Wake her...she has a journey ahead of her." He stretched his muscles rippling beneath his dark fur and making the cruel faces there open their mouths in a silent scream. Despite no longer fighting for his life everyday the male kept himself in shape. It would not do for him to go lax and die in the forest after he had survived everything thrown at him in his captivity.

---

But it wasn't that precious to her, she wanted to explain. She kept her mouth shut, for fear she'd sound like a poor mother. What kind of dam let her children go to a different family before they were even three months old? And what kind of mother only had a small niggling of sadness?

Piper nodded briskly. She carefully stepped around Squall and over Moscow, her nose brushing against Rumor's side. Her jaws closed over her scruff, lifting her up and away from her siblings and gently placing her on the stone floor in front of Chernabog. "Rumor... This is Chernabog."

---

Rumor had been dreaming.. She was a high respected pup, a pup of her mothers blood. She had been dreaming of her mother offering soft nuzzles, rather than harsh teachings.
But the teachings were beginning once more when she was alerted. She was being picked up! ANd at once she was in the air.
She squealed, and when she was placed in front of the large scary looking male, her eyes widened just slightly.
Chernabog.. She did not know who this male was, but she was indeed intrigued.. Though she couldnt say that he didnt intimidate her a great deal... She was rather frightened of the large beast.
"Hello Chernabog." She nodded, looking to her mother for approval, before looking back at Chern, of course looking at him just below the neck, as to not make eye contact.. She did not want ot anger him...
"My name is Rumor." Her eyes blinked a bit, but her body stood proud. She may have forced her voice to be steady, but it had become steady, and that was where her talents came in. She was a strong female..and she only hoped to grow stronger.

---

"Lands on her feet doesn't she Piper?" He chuckled and crouched low to meet Rumor's eyes for a moment with his ruby ones.

"I am the Alpha of the The Reign of Terror little one, and you will be coming to our court, to learn, to better yourself, and to provide some service in the future. Do you understand?" His tone was firm and edged a warning, she would not wish to know what happened to those who failed to provide some service to the court.

---

She nodded once. She might have wanted a more pup like life, but she was not against bettering herself. And he had said that she was going to be taught! She wondered what it was Reign of Terror would teach her.
His ruby gaze glittered deep into her soul, and she shivered a but, wanting to lean into her mothers security. But mother would not allow anyone to hurt her. So that thought alone calmed her.
"Im a good pup.. I do as Im told, and Im always willing to learn."

---

"Good, all those assets will serve you well in your time to come. You'll make your mother proud I'm sure..." He rose and moved his gaze away from the pups.

"Say goodbye now, you'll have a long walk ahead of you." He nodded at Piper, her tribute was enough that no further would be requested of her pack until another alpha came into rule.

---

Rumor looked to her mother, going close to her, hoping for a nuzzle goodbye.. She would miss her family dearly.. she had not expected to be pulled away from them.
Her eyes would have watered with tears, if she was any other pup.. But she was Rumor.. And she was a strong hearted little one..
"Good bye mother... Will you tell father goodbye for me?..and Swell, Moscow, and Squall?"
She asked almost frantically.
She couldnt help but be so darned nervous!

---

Piper stood uncertainly, head dropping to lick her daughter's head. Her pink tongue flattened the sleep-lifted fur there, her lips curving into an easy smile once she finished. "I will," she murmured. "They will miss you, but it's for the best that you go. You will be able to make something of yourself there." Her ears folded back for a moment as she looked up at Chernabog. "I trust you'll take care of her like she's your own." She nodded, then turned and strode from the den, leading the way.

Hurricane... What would he say when he came back and found three puppies instead of four? Her heart gave a guilty shuffle, but she willed it away. Her eyes were dry as she sat down, prepared to see her oldest daughter off.

---

"I will care for her as she is yours my lady...you needn't worry." He glanced down at Rumor. "Be strong now, or you'll upset your mother, she can come to visit you once the moons have passed, by then you'll be much stronger."

He nudged the pup ahead of him to make her way down away from the den where her siblings rested so peacefully. Before the sun rose, Rumor would know hunger, thirst, pain in her little paws, but she would also lay her eyes on the great obsidian den and be welcomed inside where there was warmth, power, food, and water.

---

Rumor took one deep breath, picking up her chest, and carrying herself with pride as she walked out from the cold stone of the den, into the darkness which blanketed the lands.
She was scared.. She was terrified. SHe'd be traveling a long distance, and she was hoping she would make a trip like that.
But her heart was thumping in her chest.
She said nothing, as she walked on, and stopped once she was into the darkness. She waited for Chern to come outside as well.

--

Piper sat there, tail curled around her paws as the goblin king strode off, her puppy in tow. His words were reassuring to the alphess, but that didn't stop the strange pain that gripped her heart as she watched them go. She watched them until they disappeared into the dark. Then she took a deep, shaky breath and padded back inside the den.

The rest of the pups were sleeping, oblivious. Her heart clenched and she bit back the emotion. No. Rumor would be fine. She would be -fine-.

Still it didn't stop the loneliness. Gently, carefully, she curled up with Squall. The little pup stirred slightly, rolling onto his back and she nuzzled him.

If anything, this would teach her to be a nicer mother. Is this how Gerda felt when they had left her all alone? She shook her head and rested her muzzle next to her little boy, but remained wide awake.

Morning wouldn't come soon enough.