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 Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2020 11:48 am
 Huck spit to the side as he exited the meeting, more out of spite than anything else, and went into a light trot. He didn't want to hound Maple necessarily, so it was less a stalk and more a casual tracking that the male did as she left the scene, though he made no effort to be particularly silent. Maybe the head start would let her cool down a bit; Huck knew his presence alone was...polarizing for most of the pack members at best.
Honestly. Being punished for thinking differently was a shitty way to go about things if you asked him. Thrush probably just shut him down because doing anything else would get him dirty looks. He wondered lightly if either of his parents or any of his siblings (or apparent half siblings in the future) would care if he did ever manage to slip away into the night and never return--and what he could do to retaliate for the treatment.
But nursing that could come later. First, he had a fellow disillusioned soul to commiserate with.
Whatever Maple did end up doing, Huck would wait a few more minutes before stepping closer. "So, that was a shitfest," he said by way of greeting.
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Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 2:55 pm
Maple slunk off with irritation pouring into her expression. Her shoulders tensed with each movement, ears pulled back and frustration exuding from her. It was no secret Maple had always struggled to be a part of the pack. She loved her family and loved her home, but Maple was, by nature, opposed to any authority being impressed on her. She just didn't enjoy it, and the more she stayed in the pack the more she wondered how to satisfy her need for freedom and not abandon her family.
And now this. Sure, it had been presented as a plea and less an order, but the expectation held heavy in the air. She had saw her mother and the panic that fluttered across her face. The pressure of the request of the Alpha held heavy, and she didn't want to face the judgement of those who willingly followed Thrush's steps.
She wasn't ready. For all of it, but especially kids. She was barely grown herself, and Maple had never truly had time to consider in what situation she'd have children. She never considered mating; who would want someone so independent and rebellious as her? She wasn't the ideal, and Maple was fine with that. She wasn't like her mother. She didn't need romance in her life. But she certainly couldn't imagine children without it.
That thought genuinely dumbfounded her. It had never come up, and now that Thrush had announced his intentions for the pack it had hit her like a weight. If she had kids she'd want them with a partner, and she was in no rush or desire to pursue one. Pack be damned, she wasn't going to put aside her goals in life to help bolster the numbers. Did that make her a bad pack member? Should she leave? Would she slowly resent the restrictions and requests? She had always wanted to find a way to be herself and a team player, but her first meeting had developed a pit in her stomach....
Did she belong there?
Maple had stopped finally at a tree, settling on her haunches and exhaling sharply. She had heard someone behind her, but in true Maple fashion she hadn't cared. It was only when the wolf approached and spoke did she realize who it was; Huck. She hadn't ever spoke to him despite being close to his sister. Her ears swiveled and her head cocked over her shoulder to eyeball him, eyes narrowing.
"I can't imagine he thought everyone would be behind his speech," she answered, irritability. "Didn't go well for you, either?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 12:26 pm
"Think about who you're talking to." He grinned a sour grin. "Nothing goes well for me as a matter of principle."
To be fair, it made life interesting. That was something the Swiftfell lacked to him.
"Pops's always been stupid, but this is a whole new level," Huck said as he trotted up. He put on a parody of Thrush's voice. "The only way we can be a real pack again is by ******** everyone and having lots of babies, guys. Definitely the only way. Strangers are too scary, but parenthood totally isn't."
He snorted. "Seriously, that was a s**t move, saying your dad could go find some other lady if he wanted to. We're the only smart ones, leaving like that. Thrush doesn't know s**t about anyone, I swear."
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 3:45 pm
Something eased in her as Huck ranted, her shoulders lowering as relief flooded through her bones. Someone who felt the same. She straightened her posture, nodding here and there as she rolled her eyes sharply towards the end of his words.
Yeah, that had been a lot. Maple didn't judge how anyone went about their lives. Monogamous, non-monogamous, as long as everyone consented it was great. Yet, asking her parents had seemed violating, in a sense. It wasn't that they were her parents as much as the fact they were Minnow and Willow Bark; the two known for their whirlwind romance that centered entirely on one another. She couldn't imagine her mother or father ever spending a single night with another wolf. It just seemed so... wrong.
And secondly, Huck was right! The only way to be a pack was breed within it? What load of bull was that? "Why breed mostly in the pack, anyway? We need more outsiders, send out scouting parties. Hell, I'd join at this point. Mom was a loner who was recruited and that worked out well." Her tone was bitter and uncomfortable, ears curling at the edges.
"If this is what Swiftfell was before... I don't even wanna be here for the recovery." Her eyes widened slightly at her own admission; was that how she felt? Did she have to say it to really realize? She met eyes with Huck, heaving a low and angered sigh.
"I'm not gonna have kids just because he wants me to. None of us should."
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 5:16 pm
"Because, young Maple," Huck said in the windy tones of a Dusk Owl, "you are too young to understand what is good for the pack. Did you not hear Thrush? Strangers are SCARY. Now sit still and let me get into position." And then Huck coughed, because that hurt his throat to do. The old fart had been open to other paths in the meeting, but in that moment Huckleberry Horizon just didn't give a s**t what any of the Point had to say: all of them were part of the conglomerate that was The Law, and he wanted to kick dirt in their eyes regardless.
But then Maple said what she really meant, and it gave Huck pause. It was maybe the first time he had ever heard anyone express discontentment to that level that wasn't just parroting his words back in mockery. As far as he had known, for some crazy reason everyone was fine with just being this isolated group of idiots in the forest, chatting up birds and then eventually ******** something to produce more kids that would do the same. And there had been times when Huck had thought he was the one that was crazy for somehow disbelieving it, though he would never reveal that to any of the Swiftfell. Like there had been something wrong with him for not wanting this kind of peace. Like he wasn't normal.
Hearing someone else say what had been rattling about in his head for so long was...cathartic.
Of course, he was Huck. He couldn't begin to express something beyond a level of disenchanted affectedness, even as that feeling of relief threaded through him. "Course you shouldn't," he agreed. He went on with a toothy smile, "I thought I might just to mess with him anyway. Seeing as he can't stand me. Maybe raise those lil' monsters to hate him too. But, eh. Too much energy raising pups." He would know as a caretaker - or "caretaker", really, since he wasn't trusted in the other positions.
And also, Huck...just didn't have it in him to strike out like that. He could be exceedingly petty, but not enough to involve others unless they wanted to. (And who would?) This was his apparent cross to bear, and he wore the nails like anyone would dazzling earrings, even as he bled.
"What if you did leave?" he asked. "Where would you go?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 10:13 pm
Maple gagged at Huck's demonstration, her brows furrowing at the image. Dusk Owl wasn't like that, truly, and yet the meeting soured her image, making the show almost possible. He was awfully eager, after all, and a bitter part of Maple bit back accusations piling in her brain against the older male.
Huck continued and Maple scowled absently. Yes, the idea of pissing Thrush off by doing only half of what he requested had briefly crossed her mind in her rage, but she couldn't bring another soul into her misery. That, and any children born out of such ill-intent would be set up for failure. Thirdly, she wasn't going through labor to piss someone off, either.
"I can imagine quite a few ways to piss him off as he did me," she murmured. Immediately thinking on the worst slight; leaving Swiftfell. No, she was just upset and being irrational.... right? Huck's final comment caught her off-guard; was he psychic? Her brows furrowed, ears flattening as she considered the question.
"I'd visit my supposed grandmother. Mom talks about her a lot. Then maybe just... explore. See the world for what it is instead of sitting around here repeating the same boring routines." The more they talked the more dissatisfied she felt. She had always been rebellious, but had she truly been this miserable this entire time? er feelings were raw, granted, but Maple had always felt as if she didn't fit in.
Maybe she should stop trying to and give in.
"Where would you go? Do you think he'd even care, in the long run? Would they just replace us with more and more pups, I wonder."
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Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2020 9:06 pm
Maple's surprised look made him curse inwardly. Huck had been entertaining the thought of leaving the pack for as long as he could remember. As a pup and young adolescent, it had been with the intent of returning, if not within the day then at least several days. Just a short journey beyond what he already knew. And then he had begun to think about the possibility of just...leaving and not looking back. The idea had become sharply more appealing now, and he had thought without speaking. He was lucky Maple, little miss "Girls Can Be Alphas, Too", didn't chew him out.
"Who cares where I go, right?" Huck said, deflecting the question with an ironic smile. "Away is the best possible answer for most of these bastards when it's me they're talking about."
He had never had a plan. Planning meant committing, meant thinking things out at least a few steps ahead, and he had never been good at that. It's why he had gotten in trouble as a youngling, running his mouth without a filter beyond what might benefit him best. Facing the idea now, even as it drew him in, Huckleberry still resisted having to plan. If you didn't plan things, they couldn't go awry, right?
It was Maple's turn to be somewhat psychic, and his smile turned even more sour. "Finally caught on to the grand plan, haven't you. I bet Thrush already has that b***h pregnant," he said waspishly. "Hopes he gets a better son that way. Lead by example and all that bullshit. And your parents, well. No offense, but they pump kids out like they'll die if they don't. All about those numbers, the Swifties. M'not saying you'll get replaced necessarily but, well...You already have, what, seventeen siblings?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2020 9:19 pm
Oh, that she didn't like. Her ears swiveled, eyes snapping to eyeball him. Magpie was not the issue here, and she refused to make her it. Thrush was injecting her into it, but Magpie couldn't help who she loved. Even she had looked a bit off when Thrush mentioned breeding with other females, although to her credit she had quickly covered it. That was it, though, wasn't it? Magpie was always going to support Thrush. She loved him, and she probably believed in what he spoke of. It was another strike against love; it made you stupid.
"Watch it, Huck. She isn't the issue. Thrush is," she snapped, reminding him who she was. Sure, she could complain alongside him, but she had her values. "And my parents -- I don't get it. I don't. I know Mom wants a big family, but when is enough? Sure, I'll love any siblings that come along, but she just had us. It's as if she'll have her own pack at the end of this." Hell, maybe she preferred that. Maple and Willow Bark were insane, but loving. They wouldn't expect her to make promises about furthering anything with her own damn body.
"I rather be my parents, who have children out of love, then," she cut off, eyeing Huck. He was still Thrush's son; when was too far? Or was he truly done with Thrush and his antics? "That's what it was supposed to be, anyway. Love or desire. Children shouldn't come with obligations. They become tools then," she spat, bristling. That's what bothered her. New lives being brought in just for numbers. Sure, any pack wanted to grow, but this... didn't feel like the way. Not to her, then. Maybe she was young and stupid, but she preferred the idea of natural growth. Not the feeling of expectations.
"No, I don't like where this is going," she admitted lowly. "This isn't me. This hasn't been me, and now it's... just not. Keep this between us, but... maybe not coming back someday would be nice."
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Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:54 pm
Huck merely shrugged. Magpie was the issue, Magpie wasn't the issue. It didn't matter in the end to him, really. She was complicit just by aligning herself to Thrush, and frankly the spinelessness she showed by agreeing to Thrush's "buy one get one free" breeding policy disgusted him. He would never roll over on his belly just to please someone, let alone a godsdamned mate that was supposed to be his.
Maybe that was why his dad hated him. Maybe Huckleberry was just the first one to stand up to him.
"Lips are sealed," he said, like the practiced liar he was. Not that Huck was out to denigrate Hazel specifically, but if there was a way he could start spreading some dissent by mentioning that he wasn't the only wolf dissatisfied with the current rulings, well...That would be handy indeed. Or if Hazel decided to back out, it was decent enough blackmail mat--Ah. No. Who would they believe: Willow's hardworking daughter, or Thrush's good for nothing son?
Damn.
"Hey, you could always go and make your whole female leading pack," Huck suggested casually. "Wasn't that what you were on about for so long, being the alpha? I'm happy to make babies for that cause~"
It wasn't like males had the same physical obligations.
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Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 8:14 pm
She shot him a look, rolling her eyes at his suggestion. Still, what would she do with an all female pack? Men weren't the problem. A man was, Thrush, but... it was still stupid only males could be Alpha's. Maybe here, at least. Could she be something else, somewhere else? Even then, when she thought on it, displeasure washed over her. The more she stayed in a group designed to function under authority and rules the more uncomfortable she felt -- it'd follow her anywhere. Maybe pack life wasn't for her, ever. There were so many maybes, it made her sick. It was supposed to make sense naturally. She was born into a pack, shouldn't she have grown up to like it?
Maybe (ha, again) she would have it Thrush hadn't opened his mouth.
"What's your plan? I'm sure you storming off is going to get a nice lecture from Thrush. What made you leave, anyway?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:01 pm
Huck scoffed. "Old man won't bother," he asserted. "He's got better things to do. Like his new girlfriend and whatever line of ladies decide they want his junk." At least, Huck hoped so, because being forced to hear another damn lecture would drive him crazy.
"S'for why, I mean. I said so already. This pack's got bullshit rules; I ain't sticking around to hear them just because he's throwing his stupid title around. Unlike these idiots, I think for myself. Did you hit your head on the way out?" He dodged answering about a "plan" yet again and gave Maple a look. "Anyway, I'm sticking around just t'mess with them at this point. Maybe corrupt dad's new batch of perfect lil' kids when they crop up." His grin was toothy. "If he can make one of me, maybe I can help make it two or more. Wouldn't that be real fun, Mapes?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:31 pm
He knew what she had meant -- she could feel it. He had a plan, and Maple knew all the dodging in the world wouldn't convince her otherwise. If he wasn't going to be upfront about it she wasn't going to help him, or even stick around to watch it. She shrugged, rolling her eyes behind closed lids for a moment. Ah yes, corrupt the youth -- a very Huck thing to do. She didn't agree with it, no. Using others wasn't her taste, but she'd be around should any future pups grow into concerned wolves.
And maybe they wouldn't. Maybe the future wolves would be okay with the pack and their way of being. Perhaps her and Huck were the outliers; weird little wolves going against the rules of a weird little pack. She'd need to ask Bird her thoughts -- her real thoughts.
"Always dodging the serious questions," she yawned, standing from her settled position. She was thankful, honestly, to not feel rage anymore. The discussion with Huck had soothed her nerves. It was reassuring to know, in all of Huck's bitter jokes and inability to connect he felt the same. It made it easier, in a way. She glanced back in the direction of the meeting, ears flattening. Nah, she wasn't heading back. Someone would find her and lecture her and she wasn't going to make that easier.
"I'm done with this, I'm going to get a damn ulcer at this rate. I have a few fermented berries with my name on them; if you need a distraction you can come with me. Better then dwelling on that s**t for the night."
medigel We can end here if you'd like!
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:37 pm
"Serious just ain't my thing~"
His eyes lit up at the mention of the hottest new source of drink and distraction. "But that is. Don't mind if I do," he said, moving to follow with a pep to his step again. "I'm sure I can think've other, much better things to talk about."
He was, after all, a fast talker.
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