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 Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 2:59 pm
 Cas had never felt his brain work so hard in his life. He had spent the last hour or so in his den, licking the three speckled rats that were his sons to an acceptable modicum of cleanliness, all the while feeling half-paralyzed with awe, with fear, and crushing obligation. He knew he cared intensely for them, but simultaneously as he wondered at their snub noses, the thin, fluffy fur marked with the bright earth tones that betrayed their parentage, he couldn't help but think, What am I supposed to do with them? Something inside him clenched in anger at Varia's heartlessness, to go out of her way to create three helpless creatures, to carry them for months only to throw them away; there was something terribly wrong with that wolf, he was certain.
Grimacing, Cas forced himself not to dwell on that situation and handle instead the one at hand - the puppies were clean, but he couldn't imagine they'd nursed at all. He would have to take them to the pack's nanny. The thought offered a surprising sense of relief, and he realized he should try to talk to Iosef. Without further ado, he settled a pup delicately into his jaws and spirited up and out of the den, his dark nose and golden eyes searching out the mottled slave.
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 9:25 pm
 Iosef was, predictably enough, lurking about Seraphin's den. At the moment, the pups were all safely tucked away inside, but he kept a watchful eye on the mouth of the den in case one decided to awaken early from its nap and wander away.
He was uneasy. With as much time as he had spent stealing away to spend time with the pups, and then with Casimir's mysterious disappearance...and then Varia's obvious pregnancy...well, Iosef had put the two together, and he wasn't sure how he felt about that. He had never approached Cas about it, seeing as they'd never been precisely close and he had enough on his plate as-is...and he certainly hadn't spoken to Varia...but the whole situation made him very uncomfortable.
His ears pricked forward, catching the sound of someone approaching, and he was on his paws in an instant, hackles defensively raised -- as though he, puny and useless as he was, could defend his family against anything.
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 9:32 pm
 Seraphin was laying with the pups inside the den though she remained awake and watched over them as they slept. They were growing fast and with each day they had more energy to spare, it was tiring sometimes especially when she had the rest of the pups in the pack to look after as well but no matter how hectic it got Seraphin knew it was well worth the effort. And Iosef, he was such a great father, spending every spare moment he could here with her and the pups.
Speaking of Iosef, she knew he had been outside of the den guarding the family as they rested but his sudden movement caught her attention and she quietly got to her paws, careful now to wake any of the pups and slipped outside. Stopping beside Iosef she looked in the direction of the sound and then to Iosef. "Who do you think it is?" Hopefully it wasn't Varia, Seraphin wasn't a hateful wolf in the least bit however the patchy head warrior did induce a bit of anger in her just because of her bad treatment towards the slaves. Of course Varia's pregnancy had been a huge shock, one that even Seraphin hadn't gotten over. More pups for her to watch once they came, but that was her job and she would do it no matter how much she disliked Varia.
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 9:48 pm
Casimir got to enjoy new feelings of relief and anxiety blooming within him when he spotted the smaller slave sitting outside the nanny's den. More out of nervousness than than of a real sense of emergency, he picked his gait up to a hasty trot, lowering his head as Iosef prickled up ahead. Unable to talk, he simply kept forward, figuring the sight of himself with a newborn puppy in his mouth would explain the situation adequately for another few moments.
Cas slowed to arrive rather humbly in front of Iosef, dropping his eyes and, hesitantly, awkwardly, settling the wriggling golden pup between his forepaws. Drawing in a deep breath, he trained his eyes on Iosef's, his face an open book of conflicting emotions and his tongue bothersomely tied. "I have a very big favor to ask."
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 9:56 pm
"It's Casimir," he murmured -- probably unnecessarily -- to Seraphin as he caught sight of the large-bodied male.
He stood his ground at Cas's approach, but his eyes didn't miss the golden pup in his jaws. His gaze followed it as Casimir set it down, and he summarized the situation mentally within moments. "He's yours, then?" He said, in a wearied sort of way, a shudder of terror welling up inside him as he contemplated the situation. "....Is he the only one?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 10:03 pm
Seraphin gasped when she caught site of the pup being carried by Casimir. She immediately knew what had happened, or at least had a damn good idea of it, Varia had abandoned her pups. Why else would Casimir be bringing one to them and not Varia? It was so small, perhaps a few hours old at most. It made her want to cry that Varia would do such a thing, but when she stepped forward to look at the pup it didn't take long to figure out why - it was a male.
Well being the nanny it was her duty to watch after them, usually it was while the parents of pups were busy with training, but in this case Seraphin knew what the favor was that Casimir was about to ask of them. Moving closer she reached down and picked up the pup, knowing Casimir would not object strictly because she outranked him and because she was already agreeing to his unvoiced favor. Once she had a hold of the pup she took a few steps back and laid down, immediately placing it at her side. She was still nursing her own pups and therefore had milk to provide to this one, plus her warmth would keep it safe. Only then did she look up at Casimir. "If there are any others you must bring them to me immediately. Go quickly, Iosef help him." Normally Seraphin was quite soft spoken, but the command in her voice now was unmistakable. This situation required urgency.
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 10:18 pm
Cas politely ducked out of Seraphin's path, feeling some flicker of relief at her confident handling of the little pup. He managed to smile in thanks before catching Iosef's eye and wheeling back in the direction from which he came. "There are three," he said quietly, and pushed off into a brooding jog.
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 10:24 pm
Iosef said nothing, falling into step immediately beside his fellow slave, a quiet sort of rage causing his limbs to tremble. In times past, this characteristic shakiness was a sign of fear; but, now that he was a stronger wolf in some ways, it betrayed only the quiet rage that had welled up in some unknown part of him. From the day he had seen Varia fighting with Terreis, something in his heart had turned cold, and the change it worked in him was clear.
"I'm surprised she didn't kill them immediately," he said, his voice low as he kept pace with the larger wolf.
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 10:30 pm
Watching the two hurry off Seraphin worried about the other pups that Casimir was about to bring her. Would they all be healthy? Sighing she concentrated on the one she had right now. The golden pup hadn't taken long to latch on and begin nursing, it was a good sign. Licking the pup gently, reassuringly Seraphin gave her head a slight shake at the situation. What would have happened to them if she wasn't here? No other female save Varia would be able to take care of them at such a young age. One thing was for certain, she was going to need some help over the next little while to watch over all the pups if three newborns were being added to care.
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 10:48 pm
Casimir was quiet for a moment, both startled and comforted to find the insipid hate he'd been confronted with gently radiating from Varia's own brother. "I am too," he replied quietly, his eyes darkening. "I caught her leaving them in my den-" his voice grew unaccountably louder, and he swallowed, trying to settle himself. "The Queen must have ordered her not to kill them." He shook his head, feeling disgusted. "She wanted them. She made me do it, and she just threw them away like they were trash."
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 11:45 pm
Without giving it a thought, Iosef nudged against Casimir's shoulder with his maw, the sort of gesture one would not necessarily grant a slave-brother. He caught himself, in Casimir's proximity, and froze slightly like a deer who has smelled a predator's approach. It took just a fleeting moment to check himself, and he was back in stride next to him within the expanse of a blink -- but the rage in him had quelled slightly and replaced with a more complicated range of emotions.
He had thought it before, and now it swung back to him, full-circle: if Varia had sought out Casimir, and he had failed to deliver what she needed...Tui could, very well, be next.
But that thought was too complicated to dwell on, and so he returned to the issue at hand. At least they were close to Cas's den now. "I am truly sorry, Casimir," he said, quietly, and meant it. "Were there any girls?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 10:33 am
Lucky for Iosef, Cas was by no means aware of any meaning in that nudge beyond the desire to comfort him. His mouth twitched slightly in a show of gratitude, though a shiver of fear struck him as they neared - just a handful of hours old, and left piled in an empty den all alone; would they still be alive? He bounded tensely forward, disappearing inside the little den to be sure that, yes, the two last pups were still warm and moving. He brought one to the mouth of the den, depositing it before Iosef, and shrugged bitterly before turning to pick up the last of the brood. "I don't know."
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 10:56 am
Iosef shook his head, disgusted. "Seraphin will tend to them well," he said, firmly believing this. He nudged the pup at his paws gently, softness in his violet eyes. He started to say more, but changed course and remained silent, lifting the pup delicately in his thin jaws and heading back to the nanny.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 11:55 am
Casimir followed without responding. He knew Seraphin was very good at what she did, and that the boys would be treated well for as long as they were too young to go outside. What would happen after, however, still filled him with dread. Even if they were well cared-for, even if Varia somehow ignored them completely...as long as they were in Antianeira, he would never believe that they were safe. And he would never be able to live with himself if he allowed them to grow up here.
At Seraphin's den, Cas lowered his head respectfully, doing his utmost to set the small, speckled pup down gently.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 2:46 pm
Seraphin remained laying outside of her den with Casimirs first pup at her side. The boy was small but nursing and seemed healthy, but only time would tell if their initial abandonment would affect them in the long run. Luckily her own pups remained asleep in the den so it gave her time to concentrate on Casimir's pups. Hearing the two males approach Seraphin shifted slightly when she spotted the two remaining pups being carried towards her. Giving Casimir a reassuring smile Seraphin took hold of the pup after it was set down and placed it at her side beside his brother. Licking the pup just like a loving mother would Seraphin gave him a small nudge towards her stomach to encourage him to start nursing as well.
Glancing at Iosef she motioned for him to place the pup he carried at her side as well. It would be important to get them inside the den soon to ensure that they stayed warm and protected but the most important thing right now was for them to eat. "The poor dears." She whispered looking at the three newborn pups and then moved her eyes to Casimir. "Don't worry, I will take care of them for you." She was their mother now and would be for as long as they needed it. "You will need to speak to the Queen. She must know of this." If anyone was to solve the problem of three abandoned pups it would be Penthesilea. For now however Seraphin would do as she promised and care for and love these boys as her own.
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