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 Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 8:41 am
Twix quietly slid through the forest as the sun slipped into the sky, it was a beautiful dawn. She had spent the night on patrol, but now that the war was over there was a sense of relaxation among the pack. A dark chapter had been closed, and now they had the time to look towards their future.
Her nose twitched lightly as she sniffed out her fox, seemed he was heading to his ow den for the night. Hmm...and Alas was awake near the stream, Twix was still irritated that the alpha female had kept her shamanistic powers a secret until the war. Still she understood the fear Alas had, she too would have done anything to protect the family.
She felt a mild pang of guilt, she had been hard on the pink female since the second she laid eyes on her. Yet through it all Alas had been kind, gracious, a good alpha female, loving mate and mother. Twix herself was...well a good sister and beta. Still she suddenly felt her years and mild misgivings about never settling down herself.
She tried to push the thoughts away and moved towards the stream.
"Good Morning Alas"
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 8:47 am
Alas too had been having misgivings, though they were quite different then Twix'. She sat quietly by the stream and gazed at her reflection, a lifetime of loving and caring had allowed her to age gracefully and despite her years she could have passed for a much younger wolf. She thought of her family, her pack and how they were one in the same. It had always seemed perfect that way, but with Veero's desire to explore an his return with a mate she had realized it wasn't perfect. The pack was comprised of family and almost all the pups were related in some way. Despite their desires to raise their pups correctly and provide the best environment for them she realized now they had stifled them a bit a well.
She turned as she noticed Twix approaching and slowly smiled at her sister-in-law. Despite how abrasive Twix could be Alas still loved her as much as any of the family. She knew that Twix was the best sister in the world, always thinking of Crunch.
"Good Morning Twix, it looks like it's going to be a beautiful day don't you think?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:40 pm
Twix felt a stab of irritation at Alas' usual cheerful demeanor, she wrinkled her nose a bit and shrugged.
"I don't predict the weather...besides you think everyday is going to be beautiful."
Alright, so much for trying to be nice and civil today, she huffed and slowly sat down bending her head to drink. After a few laps she finally glanced up at the pink alpha and snorted.
"At least it doesn't look like we're going to be attacked today, the war is over now, so that makes it a good day in my opinion...no matter the weather."
There see she could make nice conversation!
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:54 pm
Alas had to hold back a smile as Twix struggled to be pleasant, poor Twix what drove her into such sour frames of mind? She knew deep down Twix was a loving caring soul, she adored the pups even when she was harsh with them. Her devotion to the pack and family were obvious, but she always acted irritated with the whole lot of them. Perhaps Twix longed for a family of her own? Yet she had never expressed any such desires, she and her fox seemed quite the happy pair. Yet Twix was a prime example of the issue she had been considering, Twix had never left the pack, never found a mate or settled down to have pups. If this cycle continued soon the younger generation would find themselves lost and confused with no love and no future.
"Yes...the war is over...you know I was just thinking...it would be nice if we brought some of the younger pack members to the borders to mingle a bit with the Agua Azul youths."
Alas waited for the explosion sure to come, Twix was going to hate the suggestion of course. Still she had a long argument and she would wear her down.
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 2:03 pm
What? What had she said?! Was she out of her mind?! Twix growled and turned while trying not to yell.
"Are you crazy? We can't trust them like that yet! It's only been a season and they can stay on their territory and we should stay on ours! This isn't the time to mingle! And another thing you teaching those rotten northern bastards healing was a stupid idea! Don't you know how quickly they would turn on us? Kill us all in our sleep! You're too friendly to be smart Alas!"
She was yelling...but it was justified for goodness sake! Just look at the stupidity that had come dribbling out of Alas' mouth in that sweet tone she had s if suggesting mingling with their former enemies was a grand idea!
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 2:24 pm
She sighed softly and allowed the beta female to rant, a mild frown crossed her muzzle however when she brought up Raelin and the Reign.
"Twix...you are like a sister to me, and I have always shown you courtesy and respect even when you were...harsh with me. I will not allow you to insult me though, to pretend as if you are the only one who cares for this pack." She shook her head and then continued.
"When Raelin came to me and asked me to teach her, she did not come as a messenger from the Reign of Terror, she did not make demands. She came to me as a mother who wanted only to protect her children and mate. No matter what I may think of our northern neighbors, no matter how wary of them I might be, I have no right to deny someone the knowledge of how to serve the ones they love. Did I not go begging at strangers lands for the ability to protect my own? Were my desires not granted? I was given a great power, and I am certain in my heart that if I were selfish with my love, that power would be gone."
Alas took a deep breath and then turned back to the river to drink and allow her words to sink in. She knew Twix wouldn't want to back down, maybe if she gave her a moment she would see reason alone.
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 2:32 pm
Twix frowned at the explanation and bristled at the set down, yes Alas was her alpha and truthfully didn't warrant being insulted. It was just hard sometimes, Alas seemed so naive at times, and yet so confident and poised as well. She remembered the war and how easily the pink female had walked through the battle setting things slowly back to rights. Power, yes Alas had it...and she refused to abuse it, overtax it, or hoard it.
"Alright...I get it...so you helped her. That still doesn't explain why you think we should mingle with Agua Azul? Whats the point Alas, the war is over and we don't need them hanging about, and they don't want us around either I'm sure."
She snorted and huffed trying to watch her tone before they attracted the attention of one of the younger pack members.
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 2:40 pm
"Twix, let's face it we could all use a bit more interaction outside of the pack, a chance to bring in new faces, to welcome others into our family as well."
She considered bringing up Twix's lack of companionship, but that probably wasn't the wisest course for the argument point she was trying to make.
"If we allow the younger generations to mingle and become friendly then the odds of another feud happening lessen. Besides Tempeste and Shezaam agreed to have a bond as sisters and allies, it's in both their interests to foster goodwill between the two packs."
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 2:47 pm
"Foster goodwill? The next thing you know Akiiki Chibale will be swallowed up by Agua Azul!" Twix growled low her ears falling back in irritation, but Alas was...right. They had promised peace and she knew that Tempeste was going to make good on the alliance. Sooner or later they would need to be friendly with Agua Azul.
"I don't think this pack needs anymore new faces..." She grumbled and then sighed softly. "Why must things change?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 3:00 pm
"I know it's hard to accept, but things have changed. Agua Azul and Akiiki Chibale are allies now, we must behave as such, and no hostile takeover is going to happen." She sighed and allowed Twix her moment of anger, she knew it was hard. They had been so wary of the western pack for so long it was hard to contemplate extending the paw of friendship now.
"Think of Veero...Twix do you remember how worried and confused we were when he wanted to leave? We didn't understand...and now he's back, back home with a mate and pups of his own. Don't you see? We were holding him back, treating them like pups, but they aren't pups anymore Twix. We must encourage them to do more then just be good family, they must learn to be good packmates relation or no."
She slowly smiled and flicked her tail "I was not a member of your family if you recall? I love Crunch with all my heart though, and look at Talia. We worried that she would take Veero away, we saw how much he loved her, but she has come to love us, love this pack. We're providing a home here, a safe and wonderful place, but just like my healing gifts...we must share it with others."
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 3:05 pm
Twix hated to admit it, but Alas was right...Talia and Veero were the best example. They had beautiful pups and Veero had left and returned because within the pack were only his family. If he had remained he would never have become a father. Of course out in the harsh world he could have been killed, might have never come back, could have followed Talia off to some distant land. They had to start bringing in pack members, instead of simply relying on the family.
"Alright Alas...you make a good point." She grumbled softly.
"I don't like it though, but better a close pack like Agua Azul then sending out the pups into the unknown."
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 3:19 pm
Alas slowly nodded and then dared to venture into even deeper waters, since she already seem to have Twix in a more open frame of mind.
"They aren't pups anymore Twix...and we're not so young anymore either you know?" She slowed a bit worried that the beta was going to go off on another rant, really she had to learn how to talk to Twix the way Crunch did. She never yelled at him, she just agreed with everything and anything he said. Of course he was her brother and in Twix' eye Crunch could do no wrong.
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 3:28 pm
Twix frowned a bit as Alas continued, hadn't they settled things? Now what was she going on about? Oh...the pups...not pups anymore, but still young.
"Well compared to us they might as well be, we raised them after all they'll always seem like pups to us." She shrugged and lapped up a bit more water before throwing Alas another glance, she had a feeling there was more to it.
"Why what does it matter anyway? I might not be so young but I'm not dead yet either." She grumbled softly and sat back down sensing Alas was going to go on.
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 3:32 pm
So much for an open mind, it seemed she was back on the defensive, which was going to make this harder to say.
"No you aren't dead, but you are...I mean come now Twix you deserve some rest. You always patrol, more then Crunch now even, he's taken to letting the younger set handle that sort of thing, especially with peace finally here. Maybe it's time for you to consider your replacement." Uh oh, she could see those ruby eyes flashing.
"I mean Crunch and I have settled on Tempeste stepping up soon, and we've been training her and giving her more responsibility. Musketeer is looking for a new lead hunter to take his place, and Butterfinger and Tae have been training their children to take over fishing duty. Tempeste will need a new Beta Twix..."
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 3:37 pm
"You think I can't do my job anymore?! I've been beta of this pack since before you waltzed in and became alpha! I keep us safe! I do patrols! I handle things when Crunch needs me to and I can do just as well for Tempeste!"
What did Alas want to do this for? Why did she want her to step down? True...everyone was looking to the younger generation for the heirs to the many duties of the pack. Musketeer hoped for Frey to become lead hunter...Twix thought Frey ought to be alpha, he was Crunch and Alas TRUE son. Yet Tempeste had proven herself and despite being adopted, she was one of them, Twix loved her despite it all. Did Alas think she wouldn't be a good beta to Tempeste because of that? Twix had made her opinion obvious, but she had accepted the final decision, and now she realized it was for the best. Frey could barely handle being a father let alone an alpha to the whole pack.
"I won't step down yet...I'm a good Beta, I've always served you and crunch and this pack."
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