Joy idled just beyond the sparring grounds with a lot on her pretty little mind. Creating tread within the snow, she recited words on loop with the occasional ‘Moon, guide me’ thrown in for good measure. She was both nervous and eager. This was not a new topic for either of them to discuss, but one she felt needed to be revisited.
After the feast, she had so much she wanted to say.
Meanwhile Cloud, after just putting another youth in check, was striding past her without so much as word. And he would have gotten away with it if she hadn't, at the very last moment, been pulled from her head and into the moment. A jolt ran through the cream female's body when the smell of her mate wafted, and reflexively his name spilled from her lips. “Cloud By Night!” Her eyes darted to find him, a familiar sight of the male's strong back being all she could see.
Joy, as impish as she was, had much more of a backbone than her mate ever gave her credit for. She stood firmly in her ground, submissive sure but… there was always a hint of something else. As if she were choosing obedience, rather than forced into it. She spoke his name again, to be sure he heard, before waiting. And he did, slowing to a stop. She took that as a sign to move closer, and as she did so he bristled.
“What.” He was tired but strained to hide it. To hide his breathlessness. To hide any sort of weakness. A strong exhale from his snout left him seeming exasperated, but it could have been many things.
“May I have a word?” Joy's voice was crackling, like she had just woken up.
“If you can make it quick.”
That was encouraging. He did not often say yes in so many words and Joy would not let this opportunity go to waste.
“It is about our children.” She nearly prolonged a pause, watching him stiffen in response, but thought better of giving the warrior a chance to rebuttal. Not yet. “You are firm with them and for good reason. I know. Their strength is crucial but I fear,” She searched for the words carefully. She watched his ear flick back. Fear... Weaknesses. “You do not give them enough room to succeed. Or... recognize them... when they shine their brightest. It would help, I think, to show them a little affection? Of some sort? In your way, of course...”
A heat was building in Cloud’s face, rioting in his chest, but the male committed to an eerie calmness. He would look over his shoulder with the same hardened expression that he always carried.
“They are not mine.”
“One of them is!” Joy returned feverishly, without second thought. To which Cloud reacted just as quickly. Suddenly, his features twisted into something angry, something surprised, and something impressed all at once. He was facing her head on, now. Larger than she was. Reading the imposition of dominance. Are you challenging me? A large, dark paw stepped forward. It forced Joy’s own feet to move instinctively, back and away. And she winced long before any blow could find her.
The tension was built in a silence, one that could make even the strongest squirm uncomfortably but neither one seemed fazed enough by it. Both were far too accustom to moments like this. Both were wearing their respective sets of armor.
“She is, though. Silver is your daughter, by blood. You cannot deny her."
"I do not deny her." He spoke heatedly.
Joy's brow furrowed, as if she were exasperated herself... As if she were disappointed. She continued, shaking her head. "Sometimes I feel like even she has to work too hard to earn your favor. She is your daughter, Cloud.” Her voice was beginning to wane, stressing the emotions that were bubbling up inside.
But the gates had been opened. The water was flooding in. And there was nothing Joy could do to stop herself from spilling over.
“Ivory, Ash. They both could use a father. Not just someone to impress them, or someone for them to impress. You've grown up with you, Cloud. You are the only dad they know." Her voice cracked. "I see how they fall over one another. How they tear each other down in order to just be seen by you. And you treat them as if they are less than the dirt you walk upon. At the feast, you passed over them but acknowledged the presence and strength of an outsider? And outsider that you did not seem wield strength for yourself. How do we even know if he will be strong enough to do it again? What if he is a blight upon our whole? Meanwhile, Ivory has taken countless beasts down with the rest of the hunters. He has proved himself time and time again. He is a good boy! It’s wrong that you should ignore his efforts! Any of their efforts!”
Cloud took another step closer, a slight quake to his form. He was unstable. He felt dangerous. And Joy's adrenaline was subsiding, forcing her to hesitate. To realize what was coming from her mouth. And to ready for whatever consequence might come next.
When he spoke, she flinched again.
“The stranger may never have to hunt again in his life.” Cloud’s voice, low and gravely, rumbled like thunder in the sky. It threatened to strike out with what lightning built inside of him. “He may very well sit with us, the warriors, at the next feast. Which means our alpha has seen him fit to lead a greater purpose within our ranks. Which means, girl, he is far greater than any hunter could ever be. Greater than your son. Greater than your other daughter. And even greater than ours. And as were the wishes of our alpha, I couldn’t possibly overlook that level of greatness.” It was so like him to ignore the problem. To hear only what he wanted to hear. He would overlook his trio of children, even when they were no where to be found.
A snarl formed on his lips, saliva beginning to spill from it. When Joy had stopped moving Cloud closed the gap with a single bound. Pressing his cheek against hers in a gesture, and touch, that they rarely engaged in, he whispered. “You will learn your place, or I will throw you from the Moongate myself, Joy. Be it a crime I will end your pitiful life for you if you challenge me again with this nonsense.” Pulling back to look her dead in the eyes, his tone deepened.
“Do not berate me for your kin's failures. Give me a child that is worthy and you might see it thrive.”
Then he turned, dealing Joy a blow she did not expect.
“Why do you allow them to be your greatest weakness? They aren't even yours.”
To which, in a crazed whisper, Joy replied.
"Moon, guide me."
((WC: 1172))
