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Iosef had a difficult time in containing his delight that one of his nephews had chosen the life of a slave. It occurred to him, distantly, that perhaps others would not find this to be a cause for celebration -- that, indeed, many people were already grumbling in consternation or downright rage about it -- but for himself, he was overjoyed. Ever since Terreis had brought news of her shameful all-male litter, a little beacon of hope had lit up in his chest that maybe one of them would come stay with him.

Besides, a mean little voice in his thoughts said. Maybe having another relation around would help ease the tension with Chimera and Romir a little. Chimera had no interest whatsoever in being a slave. He sauntered around the territory like he owned the place, and it was nothing short of a miracle that he hadn't gotten himself sorely beaten because of it. And Romir...always with his head in the clouds, and now the way he looked at Iosef all the time with that wounded look. Romir knew that he was hiding something, and would probably never forgive him for it.

Oh, jeez. What a mess.

Yes...having one of his nephews around would make this all so much easier.

He was on his way to collect the wolf now, in fact, to show him to a den -- he'd already picked one out, right beside where Romir and Perdicas slept -- and he was already outlining in his mind all of the great lessons he could teach to Corinth. He'd probably be terrified. Iosef could show him how everything wasn't so bad, show him how fun and rewarding the life could be...

He stopped, brow furrowing over vivid purple eyes, and threw his head over his shoulder. That was odd. He thought he'd seen a flash of something through the bushes. And -- there, again, a scent...male scent...familiar male scent.

Immediately on edge, he barked out an interrogative question.

Iosef's eyes bugged out of his skull and his heart actually stopped beating for a second. "Balios?!" He hissed. "You can't be here! What are you thinking?"

Iosef was gentle and demure with females, but he was not a natural submissive towards males, and as the image in his mind of Balios was still very much that of a young puppy, he rose to a surprisingly impressive height to glare at him. In another life, Iosef may well have been a wolf of authority. He had inherited his father's long legs and silky fur, and his mother's compact muscles -- though his were stringy from hard work and little formal training. He looked down on his nephew as though ready to pick him up by the scruff and drag him back home....and then realized that Balios was far from being a child anymore.

He deflated, just a little.

"Don't you realize how much danger you've put yourself in -- and your brothers -- just by being here?"

Iosef had to marvel at his nephew. He had never in his life met anyone so stubbornly optimistic. Well, no -- there had been Casimir. But his spirit had been broken in the end.

Sighing, he shook his head. "Fine...I'm heading back that way, anyway. I'm supposed to be showing Corinth to his new den, actually. Walk with me and we'll go speak to the Queen." He shot a warning glare at his nephew. "And if you cause any trouble here I won't interfere to save your tail. Your mother will be livid."

Neira's brow furrowed as she eyed up the skinny teal male who seemed to have turned up out of nowhere. It wasn't Iosef but she was more than happy to hand the stripling off to a menial - even one who was a little lacking in the deference as this one. He had to be one of Iosef's spawn, she thought, with those white, black and fawn splashes, perhaps he was not as good as Iosef at hiding his true nature. She didn't trust the little submissive male, she figured he must be up to something - afterall that's what males did.

"Go on then" she nipped at Corinth's flank and turned on her heel, happy to have gotten rid of that particular problem.



Corinth almost yelped when he felt teeth on his rear and quailed a little at being handed over from one near-stranger to another he didn't know to be taken goodness knows where. Still to his uncle, he hoped. He remembered Iosef, remembered how kind and caring he had seemed and held that to himself as he fell in beside the mix-pelted wolf. Come to think of it, those patches of colour were a little like his uncle's - didn't he have some children who were about Corinth's age.

"Are you my cousin?" he asked outright, but shyly.

He'd never felt close to his brothers, the opposite in fact except for Balios, but he was interested in those here in a strange way - as they had grown up in the life he wanted to have. He assumed, really, that they all must be happy with their life being so, he'd not grown out of the childish naivety that would allow him to understand why others might not wish for the same goals as himself.

"Yes, my mother is Terreis" he confirmed glad in some small way at the connection - another tie to this place. He followed along quietly, both a little dazed from all of the sudden changes to his life, a little fearful because of them and, overlaying it all, a sense of happiness at a goal fulfilled. He had to half-skip some of his steps, though, to keep up with his long-limbed, skinny cousin - his smaller frame and pudgier body slowed him down.

"Huh?" he said, coming out of his own thoughts when chimera finally spoke to him again "oh... well, I guess because I... I belong here" he said, half sure that this would all turn out to be a dream, or a test to catch him out as imperfect, to send him away. "I've always heard stories about this pack, always felt like... well like it'd be more my kinda place". Corinth was a little timid but not entirely shy. Indeed, he was less reticent to talk here than he might have been at home. These were his new pack, but still strangers who had, as yet, no great expectations of him.

Varia's pups... he'd heard mention of her, of course, usually in less-than-kind tones but why did that thought twig something in his mind. Oh, yes, it was them. "I ah yeah, I think they and their father moved to my pa.. my old pack". He hadn't really socialised with them, had tried to stay away from them in fact. Another brood of boisterous boys was not his idea of fun and strangers who'd run off from the life he wanted? Even less so.

Corinth's ears perked when he heard his uncle's bark and he smiled, eyes brightening - uncle Iosef would understand, right? He'd welcome him rather than giving him funny looks or barely tolerant glares? Corinth thought a lot of his uncle, had in some small ways modelled himself on his perception of Iosef's behaviour. As he came closer, though, he could see another figure, a male who looked all too familiar. Tail tucking against his podgy belly Corinth slowed, dragging his feet. He had known his father would be upset about his absconding, but he'd forgotten that his brother would also likely not be too pleased. Please, he thought, let him not be here to drag me back.

Corinth visibly cringed as his brother burst forward from centre stage doing his best impression of a charging bear. Balios was not one of the relatives he'd most dreaded coming after him but he hadn't really wanted any of them to. "I.. uh hi and thanks.. I suppose" he answered to the barrage of thoughtfulness and caring, tail staying firmly tucked, his eyes darting to the uncle he only barely knew in a silent plea for help.

"N..no me neither uncle" he admitted. He'd envisioned something a little more... noble? Perhaps with fewer of the others around...

Corinth didn't really know what to think. He'd barely been here a few hours and already here was his brother, already they would be asking special dispensations just for his benefit. He didn't want to rock the boat that much and visibly quailed.

Corinth's deep green eyes flicked up to meet Iosef's bright purple ones. "Yes, I want to train, I want to be here, I w..want to..." his voice trembled in line with his body. What he did not want was to be checked up on by his family, to be watched as though he needed them there. He'd made it all the way here alone, had even been in front of the Queen herself. Slowly his trembles ceased, and though his voice was still a little trembly he managed a curt "you can do what you want but I don't want you following me around all day!". Instantly he felt regret - knowing Balios above all hadn't been cruel or unkind to him so he added "I just want to fit in here Bal, have time to settle, to learn what I'm supposed to do without being, you know, checked up on by my brother".

His eyes were now, once again, firmly on the ground - all his rebeliousness spent. He was hungry, tired and emotionally drained.