Sweetclover, Damiana, Valcane, Harbringer, & Mandragoro

Since the fracturing of the pack, Sweetclover found things much less stressful. Although she did try to keep tabs on the family, especially little Phelan, it was impossible to keep track of them all twentyfour-seven. After a while, she began to devote more of her time with Taiser... and eventaully, the enevitable happened.

Now the young mother was curled up in the den, with four little puppies jostling around her. Taiser had been in to see his offspring, and the little whelps had already been named. While Sweetclover gave them all another bath, Taiser had set out to alert the pack.

Sweetclover, Taiser, Damiana, Valcane, Harbringer, & Mandragoro

Filled with fatherly excitement, Taiser proudly led the way to the Den. He was all smiles and wagging tail when he reached the enterance and stood off a little ways to the side, "Clover, your mother is here. Lilac and Liam are with as well."

Rustling could be heard in the depths of the darkness before the mother crawled up the chamber and blinkily into the light of day. Squinting as her eyes adjusted to the brightness, Sweetclover offered a brilliant, if not slightly exhausted, smile to the others, "I'm glad you all came. There are four - two sons, and two daughters."

Hungry squeaks and grunts filtered up from the chamber as the four little whelps found their mother not amonst them. Right now, they were all identical little creatures covered in thin black fur. In a few weeks though, their true colors would begin to merge in, and they'd be out to meet the pack.

Aaka

She was comforted by Liam. He was...He was like her own pup now, like the ones she had given up for her mate to still love her. She gave a smile to her daughter, but like her first smile it did not reach her haunted eyes. Thats lovely, Clover. I'm happy for you. Indeed, she truly was happy for her daughter. She lay down, relinquishing her alpha posture. It was alright, just to lay here and speak with her children.

Sweetclover, Taiser, Damiana, Valcane, Harbringer, & Mandragoro

Sweetclover relaxed more as well, feeling no need to be worried or tense around those gathered about her. Although her eyes had searched the surroundings for her father, she was sort of glad he wasn't there. Although she didn't think Legosa would do anything to her pups, she would be more tense with his presence. "Mom, have you seen Sang or the others? I saw Phelan the other day, and I'm sure Faute and Atticus can take handle themselves, but I'd still like to know where they are."

Taiser sat down next to his mate, half focused on their conversation, and half alert for any trouble. Humans had been a threat last time with the pups, and Taiser wasn't about to let that happen again.

As Sweetclover waited for her mother to reply, the squeaking of the pups got louder. They were getting fussy now, but they could do without her for a few more minutes. After all, she hadn't gotten to speak with her mom for a while now. It disturbed her greatly that she and her father had faught, but she didn't know what to do to make them happy again.

Lilac Dreamer*Liam

The white female trotted into view soon, giving her most golden, sweetest smile to Sweetclover. It would be good to have more pups running about the terra. But if only Liam...

Liam followed behind with Aaka, sitting at her side, as though she were his mother and not Lilac. A brief look was passed between mother and son, but he shook his head and she turned back to Sweetclover, smile still in place. What on earth? But the pup turned his eyes back up to Aaka, letting them speak for him. You know. And I know. We're the same.

Aaka

Her eyes lifted to seek out Legosa, and when she saw he wasn't there a soft look came into her eyes. It wasn't a look of love, indeed it was more of pain but she lowered her eyes back to Sweetclover. I haven't seen anyone in some time, dear. I Will go look for them later. Then she looked down at Liam. Aye, that we are. Still that look of utter defeat, of deep anguish lingered in her eyes. She couldn't get rid of it no sooner could she slow down the age of time.

Sweetclover, Taiser, Damiana, Valcane, Harbringer, & Mandragoro

With a light sigh, Clover nodded. She would love nothing more than to have her siblings here with her; well... and to have everyone happy again. That would be the best wish, but it was a long shot if anything.

Taiser caught the faint look of disappointment in his mate's gaze and stood up. "I'll leave you guys to chat, and see if I can't find the others."

Clover looked up to her mate, flashing a look of 'thanks' as he departed. Attention was then turned to Lilac, "Liam sure is growing." As she did her best to further lighten the mood, she heard her mate's howl nearby, calling for the rest of the family.

Lilac Dreamer*Liam

Liam nodded at Aaka's thought, eyes still turned upward. At least you have speech. You can tell others what you want. Mother... she does not understand.

Lilac nodded, waving her tail a little to disguise her trouble. Yes, he is that. Perhaps when your pups get old enough, they might become friends. I'd be afraid to let him too near them just now for fear he'd hurt them without meaning to.

Liam's look turned hard and cold, though at least his mother did not see it. No... those pups would not want to be friends with him. He was... different. So... he would not want them, either. He would not need anyone. Not even Mother. He didn't need Mother. His face got a harsh, aloof look on it, and he turned away, sitting and looking still up at Aaka.

Aaka

Her eyes were only on Liam now, she ignored everyone except him. She saw the change in his eyes, the changing of expressions. You cannot speak, Liam? Or you choose not to? Then her eyes lifted to Lilac, and she said to Liam She loves you very much. Her white tail curled around her as she lay down. She liked the little pup, she really did. She was going to pretend as if he was hers to take away the pain of losing her own children.

Lilac Dreamer*Liam

Aaka's eyes did not let him escape, and for the first time in his life he looked down, a little ashamed. But his head came back up, still meeting her eyes, trying to explain. My speech... I tried once. Mother was hunting, not around. The words... they will not make themselves. There is sound, but no words.

What he did not understand was why he could make sound, but not words. There was a deformation in his brain that had robbed him of the ability to articulate properly, so that he could make sound, but no useful sounds. He, of course, was not aware of this. He knew only that whenever he spoke, nonsense came out. To prove it, he put his mouth to Aaka's ear and let his voice come in an undertone so that no one else would hear. Aayyyyy. I am Liam, he meant. But it would not come. His brain knew what to do but somehow his words got lost on the way to his mouth.

But her second comment made him look up at his mother before turning back to continue his "conversation" with Aaka. Does she? Or is she afraid that I will be like my sister, my father? Does she love me, or does she cling to me because she is afraid to be alone?

His eyes were relentless, accusing, and if his mother could have understood him, she would have been terrified, for it was very true. She might have loved him at some point, yes, and perhaps loved him still somehow... but it was a desperate love, the love that is vampiric and sucks the life out of its object.

Lilac Dreamer had never spoken of her one-time mate, or rather her rapist. She had never spoken of her daughter, Rhyamyn. Both of them still lived, but his mother denied their existence. But Liam knew. Oh, he knew. He remembered... another body curled next to his at his birth. And a name. Rhyamyn. No more.

Liam tore himself away from these thoughts and smiled sadly up at Aaka. She needs me. But she does not love me.

Aaka

She nodded as he whispered into her ear. Sounds, but not words. Then her eyes lifted to Lilac Dreamer, and she saw to what Liam saw. She felt sympathy for the both of them, but nothing gave this away. My children....They have turned out just like their father. All except three. My two boys, they have grown vicious and cruel. Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake in making Legosa my mate. There was such pain in her eyes, for she knew not what to do. She lay down, keeping a smile on her face to fool all those around her. Make them believe that she was happy. I thought I would be happy with a mate, with a bunch of little pups running around. Instead, I feel fear. Will Legosa attack them? Will Faute or Atticus try and kill them out of jealousy or hate? I want more pups, Liam, but I don't want to bring them into a family of hatred.

Liam

He nodded slowly, understanding completely what she did not say, what she could not say. How odd, that she should confide to him, a small pup, all her hopes and dreams that she never spoke to another. But he looked back up to her, with knowledge beyond his years, and his eyes spoke. Then you have only a few options. You can have no more pups, and let your dream remain a dream. You can have your pups, with Legosa or otherwise, and risk your other children or your mate hunting them down. Or... you can leave your mate. Those are your options, and only you can pick the right one. He leaned against her, a soft sigh leaving him, the first sound he had made that everyone could hear. But... you have me. That's something. He was making a dare, for so much... he was so much like her. He wanted, more than anything... to be loved, and not just because he was the only option. To be loved for himself, that was what he wanted. And he felt Aaka wanted it to. Aaka would be his mother... right?

Aaka

Her smile was sad, so very sad. I know, Liam. I know my choices, and I'm still trying to decide what to do. At his next 'words' she replied I'll always have you, Liam. How about me and you go for a walk, huh? I can show you some of my favorite places. Her tail wagged a bit, a sad wag as if half afraid he to would reject her. Just a pup, but now he was...He was her pup.

Liam

He smiled and stood up, tail waving. Now he looked every inch the sweet innocent pup, with no hint of the sage that had stood there moments before. Her acceptance was all that was needed to make him smile. He gave her a small nuzzle and began to trot off, looking back to her, eyes saying, Come on! in that impatient tone that pups get every now and again. Impatient to see the world.

Aaka

She stood, and began to trot beside him. Lilac, I'm taking Liam to meet my sister, Moon Spirit. It wasn't a "Can I" or a "May I." It was an actual order, a way of saying Stop me if you dare. With that, she trotted to the Sedge Creek territory

Lilac Dreamer*Liam

Aaka's tone made Lilac Dreamer's face fall, and the glance at Liam's cold stare made it even worse. Oh no... he couldn't...

But Liam trotted away with Aaka, the same air of "stop me if you can" in his every step.