Saulk & Others

Long, sturdy limbs of gray and white carried Saulk through the dappled light of a courtyard, and in through the arched doorway of the Temple's main chamber. Here he stood, muzzle lifted and multi-toned eyes blinking to adjust to the dimmer light within the spacious structure, where the scent of his packmates was at its strongest. He could tell that Velvet had traveled this path not long ago, and that somewhere among the mossy pillars that held the vaulted ceiling erect for so many centuries, Blackmist was taking an afternoon nap. And beyond them, lost in a deeper slumber, Tersek was retired to his own personal chamber where he'd been spending more and more time.

The wolfdog breathed these scents in and left them go with a soft exhale. His bright eyes of mahogany and gold, shadowed by a mask of black fur that encompassed the top half of his face, shifted methodically from pillar to pillar, looking for signs of any other Haunters that might be in the Temple at the moment. Not immediately seeing anyone, Saulk stepped forward and began to trail down the length of the cavernous space, searching for one scent in particular.

Mystic

Soft steps were carefully made against hard stone flooring that had been carved and laid out so long ago by ancient human hands, long before she, or any of the other predators using the temple as a shelter, had even been born. It had initially been strange, when she and Kazmei had first arrived, to take up residence in the old human structure, especially with the small fae's background tied so closely with the crafty two legged creatures, as evident by the tag still swooped through the soft tissue of her left ear.

The slight jingle of plastic against plastic was the only sign that gave away Mystic's position as she moved towards the entrance of the expansive temple. Her ears swiveled with each step, ocean blue eyes scanning her surroundings in hopes of not running into any of the...larger, more feline 'packmates' of the group. They were the main reason she tried to stay by Kazmei's side, yet today was different. The ochre guardian was no where to be seen behind the ghostly white femme's foot falls, left behind to nap in the comfort of her own nest – which she so graciously let Mystic occupy, wrapped in the warmth of long legs and brown fur.

Such soft brown fur to bury her muzzle into... Strong legs that held her safe... Those beautiful fiery eyes that she swore could stare into her soul and read her thoughts... It all culminated into one being. A being so fierce and protective that the Baffin Island Wolf knew that no other would be able to threaten her well being with the guardian by her side. But then why... why was the touch of Kazmei's muzzle and fur making her shake. It caused a tightness in her throat and jittering in her stomach like she felt sick, the same feeling that came and went with fear and anxiety. Yet somehow, it was different than those emotions that she knew so well. And when the larger had attempted to lay paws against white fur during their nap, Mystic couldn't help but get restless, rising from the nest and apologizing with a stuttering tone before she mentioned going for a walk to burn off whatever energy was flowing through her being.

All that led to the movement she was making now, heading straight towards the outside so she could stretch her legs and clear her muscles of whatever was making her feel to warm and full of what felt like insects underneath her skin. She had never felt something like this before so why was she feeling it now? Kazmei and her always laid together, especially during the cold months of winter, where the warmth of another was needed to survive the freezing temperatures. Was it because it was warming up outside? But she didn't feel hot, at least...not in the same way.

A vigorous shake of the head was given ‐ an attempt to clear those thoughts ‐ before her paws suddenly carried her straight into a solid wall of fluff and muscle. The smallest of yelps escaped her as she was forced to an unexpected stop by the form, words immediately stuttering out as she stumbled backwards. "Ex-excuse me, s-s-sorry, I w-was just l-leaving for a wa-" Words came to a stop when ocean eyes looked upwards to see the telltale mask of one of the leaders of the pack. The one that she had seen drag Kazmei away when they had first come. "S-Saulk!! I-I m-mean... I-Im s-s-sorry, I d-d-didnt mean to r-run into y-you like th-hat..." Ears pressed against her skull and twin tails dipped between her legs, Mystic stood frozen as she waited to be reprimanded and questioned by the larger canine.

Saulk & Others

As the big wolfdog moved past rounded pillars and high, slit-windows, beams of light flowed intermittently over his boldly grizzled coat, while his nose remained low to the ground as scent after scent was picked up, analyzed, and turned away with a soft huff of breath. Somewhere in the tangle of odors, Kazmei's was present, but its staleness told him it was an older scent, and the ocher wolf had left the area some time ago. Saulk could surmise she was out training with the younger wolves, perhaps even partnering with his own son or daughters in a round of sparring or patrolling. And upon gauging the length and direction of sunbeams stretched across the leaf-strewn floor, Saulk could see it was some time past noon, and she was likely due to return soon if she was indeed on a job.

The monstrous canine continued onward, unbothered by these thoughts as he sought the one thing he was after. Kazmei's presence, or lack thereof, wouldn't hindered his goal today, and that- "Hngh!"

Saulk's grunt was obscured by a much sharper yelp from the creature that had just run into his legs and lower chest, and it took a quick reigning in of his temper not to lash out at the other for their lack of attention. That didn't stop his face from twisting slightly at the sputtering of an apology though, or for irritation to darkened his dual-toned eyes at the obvious fear that shook Mystic's words. "Leader Saulk." He corrected with a rumble that matched his expression, "Just be more careful where you walk, next time. You're liable to be injured doing that in front of one of your larger comrades."

The slight curling of his pale lips subsided just as quickly as it had formed, marking Saulk's rather honed control of his hotter emotions, a stark difference between him and his sire. But the way he stood there, making no move to side-stepped his packmate and carry on, probably wouldn't inspire any relief in Mystic. Saulk stared hard at the smaller wolf, his gaze shrewd and calculating, while his glistening nose flexed and breathed in the scent he'd been after this whole time. At this proximity, he could absolutely confirm what he'd earlier suspected, and it lead him to speak once more, "As it is, I was actually looking for you." As her scent permeated the air and invaded his senses, Saulk found himself leaning heavily on his self-control to stay calm and speak pragmatically, "You've not found a suitable role for yourself in the pack yet, and I think you're ready to test out your skills as a Mother. Our pack's in need of new blood, and your nature... isn't entirely suitable for other roles, at this time." And though he could have easily lunged and taken Mystic by the scruff, Saulk stood ominously before her, waiting for the other's response.

Perhaps it would have been better if Mystic had run into one of the felines today, rather than the grizzled Co-lead.

Mystic

The rumble that accompanied the leader's correction of the small wolf's words – despite being short lived and low in volume as he easily controlled the temper that swirl underneath his coat – did not help in calming the anxiety that fluttered in Mystic's chest whenever she was around any of the other packmates that weren't Kazmei. The lightest of steps was made backwards, barely persceptable as her paws adjusted underneath herself. Those ears stayed planted against her skull, tails tucked neatly between her back legs as she was repimanded for not paying enough attention. The idea of being injured from simply running into a packmate made a shudder run through her body, a slight whine escaping her throat as the image of a rather...angry feline flashed in her mind's eye.

A nodding was given to those words, quick and jitterry as the energy underneath her skin ebbed and flowed with the growing anxiousness that this encounter was giving her. "O-O-Of c-course..." The stuttered words had Mystic straighten herself slightly, drawing in a long breath and holding it as she counted to three in her mind. She was in the company of one of the leaders of the Haunters... and without Kazmei here to speak for her, the little wolfess knew she had to try and control the stumbling that she so easily fell into. Her breath was slowly released as she thought back to what Kazmei had told her to do in order to speak a bit more properly. It was simply...harder to do now, then the practice she had with the ochre female. "S-Sorry again... L-Leader Saulk... I'll be more c-careful..." There was a small light of pride in her chest as she realized how well that came out. It wasnt perfect, and she could picture Kazmei getting on her about the few slips that accompanied those words, but it was still better than her usual speech.

The tip of her tail twitched as appreciation for the older female made the warmth come back, her thoughts drifting back momentarily to her guardian before her paws itched to move once again. However, as her footfalls were made to start bypassing the larger canine, his words made her freeze mid-step. 'As it is, I was actually looking for you.' The paw that was moving to step to the side was placed back down, and her ocean gaze glanced up at the co-lead. "M-Me? Wh-What could I...h-help you with..." The ear with the plastic tag involuntarily twitched against her skull as the thought of him ripping it out made her chest tighten. When his next words came however, that tightness was allieviated and, for the first time since this run in had started, her audits rose from her skull in curiosity.

"A M-Mother? L-Like what Kazmei was d-doing?" She remembered how long she had been locked to the basement, having to take care of the pups that were both her own and not. There had been a few times that the older wolfess had brought Mystic down there for some company, but the smaller white wolf hadnt exactly helped her with teaching the pups. "I-I dont know... I-I dont have any...ex-experience with l-little ones..." Her gaze fell then, staring down at her white paws that looked so small compared to the co-lead's own that stood meer inches away. Would Saulk trust her with the pups? What if he gave her feline cubs to look after? They would probably grow bigger than her! Still, she had seen Kazmei do it... Another breath has taken in before it was sighed back out. Without raising her gaze, she continued. "B-But... If Kazmei c-can do it... I-I'll do it to!" She looked back up, the smallest flare of determination in her gaze before it died down. "Wh-Who's pups will I be l-looking after? I-I dont remember seeing anyone c-carrying... unless... y-you dont w-w-want me to w-watch over c-cubs...r-r-right?" She silently beat herself mentally as she fell into her stuttering even more, the idea of being surrounded by felines that would grow bigger than her within a few weeks making her worried for her own safety.

Saulk & Others

The incessantly stuttering words, the quivering of her muscles when she bowed her head in a nod, it was enough to stoke something more than annoyance in the leader. Saulk was a creature who demanded respect, but he wasn't a tyrant who relished terror and subservience from his followers, and Mystic's anxiety smacked of weakness in his eyes. He regarded her with an air of indecision for a moment, letting the smaller canine linger in his frightful presence as he mulled previous conversations in his mind.

This short reprieve gave the white wolfess time to collect her own thoughts at least, and fall back on the advice that Kazmei had gifted her with. And it was effective, at least enough that Saulk noted the subtle improvement in her speech as she went on to apologize for running into him. He inhaled deeply, tempering his disgust and anger, and as the breath swirled out through his dark nares, he let his aggravation go with it. He had a duty to preform, and he would carry it out.

"Yes, just like with Kazmei." Saulk's muscles had tensed, ready to make a broad step and block Mystic's path when she attempted to shuffle past him, but the little she-wolf had stopped of her own accord to address his statements. The co-lead's muscles remained tense, and that familiar irritation began to worm back into his mind when it became clear she was not understanding his intentions. A second deep, calming breath kept Saulk's words even as he addressed her, "You're young yet, it's understandable that you don't have the experience with pups. But they will be your own, and you'll have the benefit of the Mothers' support to help you through whelping your first litter." Giant paws, so much larger than the dainty white pads of Mystic's, remained planted firmly against the dusty ground in front of her, making no move to step aside. "You don't need to be so afraid Mystic. You want to help the Haunters, don't you?"

Mystic

Tension seemed to revolve and swirl around the leader of the Haunters, his muscles taut and his gaze never moving from the small wolfess that stood at his mercy in the expansive main room of the temple. Despite her improvements with her speech and her willingness to take up his offer of the new, more trusted, position of Mother, Mystic could feel the air of frustration that was sloughing off of him in waves; the heavy breaths he purposefully inhaled and let go, the suddle movements of muscles blocking off her escape whenever a paw was meerly lifted off the ground in the direction of the outside, and even the tone he carried in his words, hidden by the expertise of self control he had, undoubtedly, practiced his entire life. It all hinted at the disappointment that usually came when others spoke with the white wolf. An emotion Mystic was all too familiar with...

Yet the words that came next were neither ones of disappointment nor anger, but of soft reassurances and guidance. With ears pinned against her head, ready to be reprimanded for her stuttering slip up near the end, the control Saulk showed in his words and tone helped to lift those audits ever so slightly...only for them to dip back down at the revelation the older wolf revealed. "M-My own?" Her words were breathed out, shock keeping her voice from rising to loud for others to hear. "I..." A single step was made backwards, gaze looking away from the masked crown that stood over her. "I-I...Dont know..." She had never been taught how to prepare for something like that... Had never thought about carrying her own litter into this world. And now, here she was, suddenly put on the spot to have to decide whether she would give her services to the pack she had been given shelter with for the past few years...

New lyrics drew her gaze back to the leader, ocean blue finding mismatched orbs as he tugged at her self-confidence, pulling on the certain strings needed to move her towards compliance. 'You want to help the Haunters, don't you?' "I-I do!" Desperately, she barked out a response, the step she made backwards being reversed and pushing her closer to Saulk's vicinity in an attempt to show her want to help. "B-But..." The gaze dropped once again and, slowly, ever so slowly, her haunches drooped until they sat against the dusty floor and Mystic found herself subconciously leaning fowards...until her crown pressed against the well defined chest of the grizzled co-lead. A shudder ran through her at the touch, similar to when she experienced the touch of her guardian but not nearly as powerful, twin tails splitting as each curled around either side of her haunches, tips dancing against both her and Saulk's paws that were barely inches apart now.

"Wh-Why m-m-me?" Mystic didn't know why she was pressed so close when the co-lead scared her to her very bones, but the energy that seemed to pass through her body at the touch kept her in place, instincts even wanting her to press closer but fear and anxiety keeping her planted where she was. "W-What if they c-come out wr-wr-wrong? I-Im to sm-small and m-my t-tails and..a-and..." She trailed off, her heart beating hard against her chest as her mind swarmed with more possibilities that her voice couldn't say out loud. What if she couldn't carry them to term? What if they were malnorished or an anxious mess like she was? Then there was the thought that she could di- Her mind didn't let her finish that thought, a whine escaping her muzzle as she instinctively rubbed closed eyes into soft fur. "I-I-I d-don't even know h-how to st-start being a M-M-Mother..." Truthfully she wasn't sure how the deed was supposed to be done, despite her instincts ebbing and flowing through her body at this very moment, willing her to press into the warmth but not being strong enough to guide those muscles into action.

Saulk & Others

In the face of Mystic's anxiety and conflicting emotions, manifesting in flighty paws and stumbling speech, Saulk stood strong and unwavering as he watched it all unfold, a solid boulder that refused to budge and let the smaller of the two slip past. And when inevitably Mystic was told what was expected of her, and began to physically backpedal at the thought, Saulk didn't immediately pursue the young wolf. He waited and watched, letting Mystic grapple with the weight of his expectations, and then used words rather than fangs to try and coerce the other back into compliance. And it worked.

The sudden, desperate bark earned a slight twitch from Saulk's smoky audits. So, he'd found a powerful motivator in this petite little lupine, one that'd he'd already suspected was there, but now was confirmed. If we were a more devious creature, a grin might have tugged at the edges of his maw. As it was though, no smile graced his pale, solemn muzzle, for his actions were motivated by a sense of obligation and duty to his pack, rather than simple lust. That's not to say the big brute didn't feel his heart began to pound and his blood begin to rise when Mystic pressed against him; like her, he felt the more carnal urges of his nature begin to take hold, but he at least had the experience to know what they meant, and the strength of mind to keep himself in control... at least for the moment.

"Our healer senses something special in you." Saulk's rugged voice sounded back, as he breathed out with a muzzle hovering just above Mystic's head, where she'd buried it into the thick fur of his chest. "Your children will be blessed by Imre herself." His eyes slipped closed as he took in her scent and had to muster his resolve to stay in control. The heat, the softness, the closeness of another body to his in this moment... it was almost too much. "And Quilikahm will oversee your pregnancy, you don't need to worry about any of that." Despite himself, Saulk had let his muzzle drop a little lower, until he felt the tickle of fur against his nose. "Come, we're going to the upper chamber."

It was this scene, just as Saulk was lowering his head further to give Mystic a nudge, that Kazmei stepped into the complex. "Mystic!" The bark was sharp, accusatory, and a little threatening. The aggression wasn't direct at the alabaster female though, and a sudden, surprised look from Saulk found Kaz, silhouetted by the backdrop of filtered sunlight in the doorway, staring daggers at him...

Mystic

With her crown being pressed so closely against the co-lead's chest, Mystic could hear the beating of his heart – how it beat harder against it's cage, vibrating through her skull like her own blood pumping through her veins. His voice did the same, reverberating deeply in her ears with them buried in his fur, his breath cascading down the nape of her neck and bringing a shudder through her muscles that made her paws dance against the dusty ground in order to release the energy. It didnt help that his words carried such softness, a perfect concoction of reassurance and guidance that started to melt the fear and anxiety that coated her very being.

The tips of her twin tails twitched in appreciation, the smallest of movements causing them to drift side to side over their paws. She would be watched over and taken care of, just like her would be pups in the future... And the scary masked leader didn't seem to be worried about what they would come out like. Blessed... It was a word she used when she thought back on how lucky she was to be found by Kazmei... Now her pups would be the same. Although she didn't know who or even what Imre was, she had heard them spoken about time and time again by the others of the pack, and always in a positive light. So being blessed by them had to be a good thing, right?

The touch of cold from his nose brought the lupine gently away from his fluff, ocean blues looking upwards towards dual colored orbs. The smallest tilt of the head was seen at the location he spoke of. "Th-The upper ch-chamber?" She had never seen anyone go up there, not even Kazmei when they had first arrived. It was strictly off-limits, after all... Before she could ask why, a familiar voice barked out her name, sudden and sharp as it echoed through the main chamber. Mystic's attention was quickly pulled, like a moth drawn to a flame that burned to hot for it's fragile wings. Without a thought, she pulled away from the grizzled canine, paws leading her towards the ochre female with light, airy steps.

"K-Kaz!" Mystic's muzzle found it's way against the taller's chest and shoulder, stretched onto her toes to rub against her neck and cheek before pulling away. Behind her, the twins were waving back and forth more forcefully, and the sudden touch of fur so familiar made her body shake with the energy that she had started feeling only a day prior. "I-I hope your walk went w-well." Her speech flowed easily when talking with the wolfess, a testament to how much less anxious she made the white one feel. Glancing back at Saulk for a moment, she refocused her attention before a smile was sent towards Kazmei, small and soft. "I-I'm gonna be like you, Kaz... Sa-... L-Leader Saulk is going to make me a Mother. My own p-pups, can you believe it? H-He's not even worried about how they'll be... Says they'll be bl-blessed." Innocent eyes stared up at the other female, to excited to share the news to realize the tension that was building in the air...

Saulk & Others

Saulk had been about to step forward, to lead his smaller companion up the stone stairwell and into his own sun-lit chamber. His thoughts lingered vaguely in the realms of pleasure, these desires enhanced by the way Mystic pressed herself so close to him, and seemed so eager to please. The rest of the brute's inner musings swirled with pride and an unshakable sense of duty as he full-heartedly believed that their act was but the first step in the long-awaited journey to bring the Shadow Haunters back to their rightful might. Mystic would birth the Haunters a new Leader, and Saulk would let nothing get in the way of that happening.

Not even Kazmei.

The tone of her bark stopped the forelimb he'd raised in preparation take a step forward. The giant paw came down quietly, contrasting the way a flame now danced behind his bi-colored orbs when they darted to the wolfess that dared interrupt him. The fur on his back rose like a mantle, and his words were a little less amicable when they rolled forth, "Mind your tone, Kazmei." He'd not gotten the chance to answer Mystic back, or even bring her to the foot of the steps as he turned to contend with the new fae, mentally cursing the fact he'd not found Mystic sooner.

Unfortunately for Mystic, the young wolfess would receive no warm smile or gentle caress of the tongue as might have been the case in any other situation. She was too stunned by the realization that her girl had almost been taken from her, and her jealousy spurred by the palpable excitement, naive as it was, in Mystic's words. How dare this brute try to take what was hers! "No Mystic, you're too young - and you're too small for someone like him. You aren't ready to become a Mother in that way yet." Her words rumbled out with the same flare of accusation and anger, ignoring Saulk's warning as she answered to them both. "You're coming with me, Mystic - Starbane's brought a fresh kill back, and-"

Saulk fully turned to face the pair now. His eyes began to narrow, and though his lips trembled, he kept his fangs sheathed for the time being. "Mystic is coming with me." Despite not raising his voice, the way his spoke carried enough weight to give the feisty Kazmei pause. With his gaze not losing any of that dominance, they shot to Mystic, and the message was crystal clear - she was to rejoin him at his side.

In the spacious hall of the Temple, the argument had gained an audience. Coming from his own chamber on the main floor, Trelstar stepped cautiously from his small abode and cocked an ear towards the quarreling voices of his parents.

Mystic

The lack of reciprocation did not go unnoticed by the fae, ears dipping backwards ever so slightly as her ochre companion barely looked in her direction. Those blazing orbs didn't seem to budge from the masked canine standing at attention behind the alabaster femme, even as ice cracked from her teeth and shattered the thin veil of pride that Saulk worked to imbue into Mystic's anxiety fueled mind. Those towers official fell when her words reached them, pinning against her skull once again. Yet, it was not caused by fear like it had been with the leader, but a deep ingrained disappointment at herself. She wasn't happy for her... She was angry at her...

But why? The small Baffin Island wolf had thought Kazmei would be happy about her getting more involved with the pack. This was just...a different way than having to go out and hunt with the (much larger) feline members of the group. Mothers, from what she had seen from when Kazmei had been one, appeared to be well taken care of and watched over more than the other levels of the heirarchy. It would keep her out of danger, which she was sure her companion would have wanted. So why was she so visibly upset about the whole deal...

The order to follow dropped from both muzzles one after the other and Mystic couldn't help the light whine that escaped her own. Paws stepped backwards, pulling herself away from Kazmei before her gaze flickered between the two; from Saulk, the serious toned co-lead who had pushed her towards the new position, to Kazmei, her companion she trusted with every fiber of her being and who made her muscles shudder more than they ever had the past day or so. "I-I... I..." Those eyes ended up facing downward, staring at her own paws, tails tucking in between her hind legs as she slowly found her voice.

"I-I th-th-thought you'd b-be h-h-happy for m-me, K-K-Kaz..." Her voice cracked, stumbling over each word like she was talking to one of the felines. Mystic didn't dare look back up, afraid to see the disappointment that would be in the femme's fiery eyes. A paw etched a line in the dust of the stone floor before she continued. "Y-You w-were my a-age wh-wh-when you h-had y-your p-p-pups... we-weren't you?" Ocean blue barely trailed upward, ripe with the glistening of welling tears before she shifted back down. "I-I...I j-just w-wa-wanted t-to be like y-you, K-Kaz... B-Br-Brave... a-a-and str-strong..." She hadn't moved to stand by the leader, standing directly in between them, disobeying the direct order he gave her in favor of voicing her want of Kazmei's approval.

Saulk & Others

Anger rippled through the co-lead, flowing hand in hand with both desire and frustration. He had the strength and size to take what he wanted, and the fangs to back it up. And Kazmei's behavior would easily justified physical punishment, but that might ultimately deny him his end goal. Haunter law forbade him from forcing himself on the unwilling, and if let his anger get too intense, that might push Mystic beyond his grasp. And he was so close! Just now, watching her ears paste back and listening to the stutter return in full force, told Saulk that he was about to lose her. He need to chose his actions carefully.

"Sister Kazmei." Those simple words were a direct warning, delivered deeply and with intent. "You wont deny Mystic the Motherhood you were already granted. She has made up her mind-" His bi-colored gaze shifted to the small wolf caught between them, his words growing slightly louder as he aimed to gain her attention, "-she is wanting and willing to participate, and understands how profoundly important she is to our Family." The brindle wolfdog boldly moved forward, his giant paws bringing him just before the tiny white wolf, so close that she could once against smell his scent as his shadow fell over her.

Kamzei was dealing with her own swell of fury at the moment, though jealously and a desire to protect her closest companion were the coals that her flames burned from. She didn't even notice Trelstar standing off behind them as she glared daggers at her one-time partner, but the sudden tremble that hit Mystic's voice did grab her attention. Vocals that were ready to spit acid now hesitated, and her wild eyes softened a degree or two as she looked to the obviously torn and confused wolfess before them, "Mystic, it's not that I'm not happy, it's-" It's that they're using you. And taking what's mine. But she could say neither of these things out loud, and so despite the lancing at her heart upon seeing the moisture build in her companion's gentle eyes, a growl bubbled back to life in her throat, ".. you're too young to understand! Refuse him, Mystic."

When Saulk had the audacity to close the gap between himself and Mystic, Kazmei had to force her muscles to remain still, lest she launch herself at the far larger male in an all out assault. Stiff legs inevitably brought her forward though, so that poor Mystic was now squeezed directly between the two larger beasts vying for her cooperation and attention. "Let her alone, she's coming with me" Fangs were bared now, "Come on Mystic, let's-"

One of Saulk's massive paws rose, lifting up and over Mystic's cowering frame as he pushed forward into Kazmei's space, calling the bluff of her exposed teeth. "Trelstar, escort Kazmei to Dima's Temple." As he'd expected, Kazmei didn't dare turn her fangs against him, though she snarled like a banshee as she was forced back by the other's greater bulk. Now with Mystic directly between his own legs, he used his muzzle to give her side a forceful nudge, "You can see Kazmei again soon."

Shaky breathes along with salty tears suddenly hitched in her throat when the co-lead's voice dripped back into the air. The words were coated in authority, pushing back against her ochre companion's fury. It made the femme falter, sniffing against the emotions that crawled their way to the forefront. Kazmei's words tried to find their way into her heart but when that soft tone broke to more reprimanding, Mystic couldn't help but find herself rocking away from her friend....straight against the same broad muscles she had been drawn into moments before.

The touch make her jolt, a shiver traveling down her spine as the co-leads scent coiled around her nose. Not a moment later, the stilt like steps of Kazmei closed in on her front and the alabaster wolf suddenly found herself in a predicament she could not run from. Her smaller form was trapped between the two warring canines, legs like bars blocking off any viable exit her small frame might be able to slip through. Her spine pressed against the male behind her and her nose brushed against the chest fluff of the femme in front. She could smell the anger, the rage that permeated from Kazmei's fur.

Ocean orbs squeezed shut and Mystic couldn't stop from pulling into herself, a whine emanating from her muzzle as the crackling electricity rose with each breathe her captors took. Her heartbeat rushed through her ears, loud and overbearing, like a drum taking over her hearing. Words were lost as her breath became heavy and erratic, body trembling with each intake. She wanted to get away. To get out of their hold that kept her here like a cage. Each second that passed made her anxiety creep up and up and up.... until....

Pressure was taken off her front, a large paw stepping over her and claiming what the co-lead had won. A gasp of air as it was taken in, eyes opening once again to see Kazmei being escorted away from her. She stared at her friend, eye's glistening from the tears she had shed. Words froze on the tip of her tongue. From apologies to defenses. Yet none of it found their way to the air when she felt the forceful nudge from the wolfdog that practically surrounded her being. Frozen from her panic just a moment before, there was no resistance to his guidance. Ears still pinned against her head, tail tucked between her legs, pawsteps followed along. "O-Okay." The words were soft, barely heard above the clacking of their claws against stone. Still, that gaze never faltered from Kazmei, regret swirling in their depths as Mystic was guided along.

Saulk & Others

Bristling, panting heavily, and glaring daggers at Saulk, Kazmei found herself utterly defeated and helpless to stop this situation from progressing. Every ounce of her being wanting to pounce on the Leader and tear into him for daring to take Mystic for himself, even if she knew it would only be a temporary hookup. Just the thought of them sharing intimate time together, and in the privacy of the upper chambers where she wasn't allowed, made the wolf's blood boil.

But like Saulk, who walked a fine line in his aggression, Kazmei also had to control herself. For one, she couldn't hope to win a fight against a wolf so big. And secondly, there was a part of her that didn't want Mystic to witness her losing control to such a degree. So there she stood where she'd been forced back, fuming and thinking frantically of something to say or do, when Saulk called upon her own son to escort her away.

Kazmei looked back to see Trelstar emerge from the shadow of a lichen-speckled pillar, his bulky dial held at shoulder-level as he strode forth. A discomforting feeling fell over the fae as she looked into his mismatched orbs, the eyes of her own child, and saw a stranger staring back. The growl she held her throat faltered and she looked away, her gaze flashing back to Mystic one last time as the smaller wolf was being nudged aside by Saulk. A smack of guilt came to her then, clashing against the anger and jealousy as she saw the moisture that had built up in the other's eyes. She was trembling too; Kazmei had felt it earlier, before being shoved back, but Mystic's true level of fear and uncertainty hadn't really struck Kaz until just now.

As Trelstar was handling his mother and leading her out of the Temple, Saulk was moving with slow purpose beside the much smaller Mystic, his steps short and steady to account for her diminutive stature. Unlike Kazmei's frantic outburst, a much more collected Saulk had been acutely aware of the smaller one's trembles and rapid breaths, and waited only for Kaz to be contained before he turned his attention back to her as they ascended the steps in unison. "You have nothing to fear." He answered back to her whisper-soft word, his muzzle hung down to her ear-level. "After today, with Imre's blessing, you will carry the Haunters into strength and prosperity."

Mystic

Shaky breathes along with salty tears suddenly hitched in her throat when the co-lead's voice dripped back into the air. The words were coated in authority, pushing back against her ochre companion's fury. It made the femme falter, sniffing against the emotions that crawled their way to the forefront. Kazmei's words tried to find their way into her heart but when that soft tone broke to more reprimanding, Mystic couldn't help but find herself rocking away from her friend....straight against the same broad muscles she had been drawn into moments before.

Saulk & Others

"Sister Kazmei, take your leave of this temple." Trelstar's words snapped her attention away just as quickly, and she found her paws moving despite the urge to rush past him and rescue her friend. No, she couldn't... not yet. But... later, perhaps. Definitely, later. Mo< As Trelstar was handling his mother and leading her out of the Temple, Saulk was moving with slow purpose beside the much smaller Mystic, his steps short and steady to account for her diminutive stature. Unlike Kazmei's frantic outburst, a much more collected Saulk had been acutely aware of the smaller one's trembles and rapid breaths, and waited only for Kaz to be contained before he turned his attention back to her as they ascended the steps in unison. "You have nothing to fear." He answered back to her whisper-soft word, his muzzle hung down to her ear-level. "After today, with Imre's blessing, you will carry the Haunters into strength and prosperity."