A New Reign: Jabbar Junayd

He'd been waiting for a response when Damean appeared by his side. Petra answered the question, and he moved to settle by her, asking Tristan and Cornall a question. When the young king-to-be looked apologetically towards Petra for speaking up, Blade gave a faint nod of approval. If he wanted to experience this, so be it. He wondered why the change though. It wasn't as if Damean hadn't been interested in his future duties before, but now, he held himself better. More like an alpha than the offspring of one. He was acting more mature, although they'd have to wait to see if this was a phase or a change.

Blade would let this go on unless his intervention was required. He doubted it, but there were a few reasonings to keep Tristan here, even if the bru himself couldn't think of enough to satisfy Damean. Questions like the one young Damean had asked would separate the quietr, humble wolves from the proud or confident ones.

Petra perked her ears to Damean as his voice filled the air, asking questions that one would expect from a mature adult wolf. As he looked up at her, she couldn't help but to smile back at him, not wanting him to feel badly for going against what she said. Aside from listening, Damean would learn most by asking questions, so long as he paid attention to the answers he received. She wasn't about to scold or hush him, that would only lessen his desire to ask questions. He had every right asking, especially in a situation like this. She nodded to the young one as he looked up at her, then seated herself as well. The tension had left her body, and she felt more comfortable now, and was more curious about what Tristan and his young one had to say.



Rawbones stood there in stunned silence for many moments, trying to comprehend her tone, her posture and her words. Was she serious? He tilted his head, hearing her out. She seemed to have no intention on getting back at him. He hung his head silently when she mentioned his indiscriminatory state of killing. It was not something he was proud of. He knew he could fight harshly and destroy any enemy, but he also knew that if a comrade was in the wrong place at the wrong time, his violence would be turned upon them, too. Still, she was not dwelling on that, and he forced himself to forget it, as well. Instead, he focused on her gaze that was so intensely focused upon him. Then she came to sit directly in front of him, her stare just as focused. He could not look away; not because he felt threatened, or like he needed to stand his ground... no, it was because her golden gaze drew him in, capturing him. She asked him to teach the whelp, Echo, that she was in charge of. The pup seemed to mean a lot to her now, regardless of where she came from. He didn't know much about Echo yet, but he was sure that he would get to know her in the moons that would follow this conversation. Then Exodus asked about Damean. Rawbones had not seen the young King since his return.

"The boy's been asking of me, has he?" he asked, his voice gruff, yet somewhat proud. Then he huffed; he needed to spend more time with the boy. He wasn't worthy of such attention. "I haven't seen him in some time.." he uttered lowly, "He must have grown since I last saw him. I hope he's doing well." Then he felt ashamed again, knowing he hadn't been keeping his promise to both his King, and to Jaded. He sighed, then shook his pelt, trying to rid himself of such thoughts. Yet, he knew he had to do better. Then he focused back on Exodus. It seemed she really wanted him to teach Echo some things, and he was surprised by the faith she had in his abilities. He knew age was hindering him somewhat, but he also knew he could hold his own when he was in good health. She mentioned that Echo did not have a 'father'... was she suggesting something? The older male hoped she was. "If she needs someone to look up to, I will be there," he said, smiling as her paw met his shoulder. He felt warmth enter him with the physical contact, something he hadn't experience in much too long. He closed his eyes briefly. Then he opened them again, quickly, wondering if he was enjoying this too much. His murky silver eyes watched her as she lay down and flopped onto her side, looking up at him. For a short moment, he wondered if she was doing all of this just to get him to let his guard down, so she could strike at just the right moment. Was she really this comfortable around him?

Then he let it go. He let his body fall to the ground next to her, stretching out his hinds, tail hanging loosely to the side. Suddenly, he felt young and giddy, and he gave himself over to the feeling. As she asked him about what happened after the fight, he cocked his head, wondering what he could tell her. "Yes, my scent was faint..." he murmured, hardly able to look at her, yet he did, "It was a hard loss, for me and for the pack, and then the battle... I needed some time alone, and I had spent the last few moons alone... I'm afraid of hurting wolves that don't deserve it.." He looked at the ground, stretching out his forepaws and clawing at the ground somewhat. Then he looked up at her again, and he was able to muster a rather sincere smile. "But I'm glad to be back, too," he said, sighing happily, "There is little to be found in solitude." He tilted his head slightly, wondering what she was thinking. What was this meeting all about? Was she hoping to play on his feelings and make him a slave to her desires? He wasn't sure if that sounded bad or good.. He just hoped that this wasn't going to turn out badly, whatever happened.

Blade nodded in response to Tristan, who let his son take over in answering Damean's question. They probably figured out who the true alpha was, and why Akiko was acting alpha. After Conall spoke, he leaned towards Petra and muttered for only her ears, "So, we have a potential storyteller and one who could still be molded into a role we need." It was a good enough reason for him, although they'd have to wait and see how Damean would respond. Blade hoped he'd paid rapt attention to their guests and not be distracted by his friend's whereabouts. As long as she was still in the lands and not known to be in danger, Damean should be able to focus on the job.

Petra listened as Tristan patiently told his story, and she felt bad for him. It all sounded so awful, and yet he sounded right at home speaking of it, as though it had never hurt. How could he be okay with it? He must be beyond caring by now, yet his son stood near him and he was here for the boy, to give Conall a good home. The hybrid could not understand, but she would not pry; it was enough that he had to repeat himself to each wolf that asked. Now it was Damean's turn to have his questions answered, and Tristan decided he would give his boy the chance to speak up. Thus far he'd been very quiet, polite but on edge. Petra wondered what he was really like. She was pleased to hear him speak. He seemed a little rough around the edges, but he was trying, and Petra had a feeling he would fit in just fine with the wolves of Jabbar. And he was young, so he would easily adjust to their ways, especially with Damean around the same age.



She tilted her ears when Blade leaned close to her, whispering to her his opinion of the two males. She looked to him and nodded in agreement. She couldn't see any reason they should turn these two away, regardless of what had happened with Tristan in Jabbar all the years ago. Then her attention was drawn back to Damean as he spoke his approval, and she smiled at the corner of his mouth. He was trying so hard to fill the role he'd been born to. Then he gave some instructions and proposed to lead Conall away, probably to rough house and spend some time feeling free. She looked to Tristan, then Blade again. "Well, I'll go ahead and see if anyone is around," she said, hoping that Akiko would be out of the dens now. Trotting off, she looked over her shoulder, hoping they would come along behind her shortly.



Rawbones nodded immediately when she said it was nice to relax sometimes, and smiled back at her, though his expression was gruff from lack of practice. It was not often that he smiled. He shifted onto his side, letting his hinds stretch out comfortably and his tail tapped the ground. He shrugged when she said sorry.. Not because he didn't accept her condolences. He just wanted to forget it all and let it be. It was hard, because he had lost so much in life, and he had never been given the chance to settle. He was certain the cycle would continue until he died, whenever that might be. His mind was snapped back to the present when Exodus giggled, and he gave a wolfy grin. "Yes, there has been a lot of change," he commented. He knew what she meant. It was a difficult change, but things had happened the way they did for a reason. He wondered what his purpose in this was. Maybe he would find out, but maybe not. He perked his ears when he heard that another female carried out Legend's progeny as well. He had known about Cinder, but the second was news to him. The brat had certainly gone around... it was for the better he'd been taken down. He'd gotten too high on himself.



Then she asked if he thought the lands would change. He quirked a brow. "Well, maybe," he said, not sure what to say. It was hard to know how Damean would turn out, as he was still young and had so much more to learn. "I suppose that will all depend upon what we teach him," he said, wondering what she thought of that. Any wolf could influence the youngster, for better or for worse. "It's important that we carry on his father's dream.." Rawbones murmured, "But I'm afraid of the pack's reputation being dampened. Even if we have different allies, we must ensure that nobody takes us lightly." A shiver ran down his spine as he thought of it. He had been raised amongst truly vicious wolves, and had lived here through his entire prime, where his hardened persona and tough exterior had benefited himself and the pack. He didn't like the thought of this pack becoming soft, or their young ones growing up with a life of luxury. It would be great if they never suffered the pain and hatred that many of the older wolves had experienced, but it would do no good for them to remain naive. Tragedy was a part of life, and the fighting that ensued.. they had to know what to do.



He watched as she sat up slightly, smiling at him. Had she always been so forward? His memory evaded him for the moment. Perhaps he had never had a conversation with her since she had matured. Her molten gaze smothered him, and his silver orbs looked back at her. Normally he could hold the stare of another wolf, but that was only when he was being challenged, or when he knew what he thought of them... He looked away from her, chuckling lowly and rising to his paws. He glanced back at her, waving his tail. "What do you think, Exodus?" he asked, trying to keep the conversation going, "How will things be when Damean takes his place? What will he have to offer this pack and the rest of the lands?" It was a question that left a lot of pondering, but it was all up to them how the future turned out. Damean needed guidance from them, and depending on what they taught him, their future would become more clear.

Blade nodded towards the dens, seeing Tristan's almost step. "She'll be at the dens." He started walking in that direction, saying, "Stay close." As long as Conall stayed within Damean's vicinity, no wolf will bother him. Tristan on the other hand, had to remain even closer to a pack wolf, being a familiar sight to those who aren't aware of his return. Akiko was probably by the dens, perhaps still sleeping. He didn't know. She might attack at sight, but seeing him might at least allow Tristan a chance to explain himself. He didn't know how she'd react, but he'd figure out what to do before it happened.

The older male watched Exodus as she stood up and moved next to him, making it clear that he wasn't going anywhere at the moment. He smirked, some mischief in his eyes. Fine by him. He tilted his head as well when she began to speak, and noticed her shift in character as she hung her head down low, looking at him with guilt in her eyes. He listened, curious about what brought on this sudden change. He blinked, his eyes filling with concern now. He nodded his head when she spoke of Jaded filling that gap... that wolfess had been good at everything she did. She may have been Damean's dark queen, but she'd had so much love to give, something that flowed subtly from her. Rawbones could understand what Exodus was saying. Damean Jr. had the entire pack.. yet none that he could call mom or dad. They were all here for him, he had admirers, friends and mentors but he lacked in that one area that was so very needed. Abandonment, loneliness, a sense of lacking... feelings the old bru was familiar with. "He needs someone sturdy to lean on when that time comes," he said, knowing he needed to stand up to his responsibility. The other would too, of course, but the youngster needed stability.

Almost as suddenly as Exodus had shared her feelings of uncertainty for Damean, she became playful again, of course with a little twist. Rawbones couldn't dwell on such unpleasant thoughts when she bumped him with her hip. It had been a long while since anyone had really connected with him, on a level more than just pack business. He had almost forgotten what a personal encounter could feel like, something that went below the surface and reached to draw towards his dulled soul. He would revel in this. He grinned at her when she joked, then let forth a gruff burst of laughter as she asked about his best memories from puphood.. "You're asking me to think back really far," he said with a low chuckle, then tried to think of something he could tell her. Good memories? There were not many beyond his days in the den, curled up warm with his mother and sisters. "It's hard to think of anything great," he said, though his voice did not betray any resentment, "The place I grew up in was violent in many ways... I don't know what stung more.. the bitter cold, or the Alphaess' bite. I don't think there is a wolf out there more vicious than she." He shook himself, remembering the wolves in that pack. But his mother.. his sisters.. they were the warmth of his heart during that first year.

"My mother was amongst the worst of them," he stated with a smirk, "But she reserved tooth and nail for any threat to her pups... me and my two sisters. Too bad the cold cannot be warded off, with no amount of love or fight. My smaller sister perished, our first time out of the den. I nearly did too, had it not been for pack's vigilant assassin, who found me covered by the snow." Was he sharing too much? He did not want to dampen the mood, but he didn't feel badly telling his tale. No one had really taken an interest in his past before, and she had asked. "But I could speak of many times I've tempted Death," a wily look entered his orbs, "What with all the icy cliffs, enemy threats and rabies." He had been lucky to survive the disease when most of his pack had died or been slaughtered by one another; had it not been for human intervention, he would have gone like the rest of them. "Too bad I was the only one," he said almost sullenly, but bit back the feeling. Not everyone had been killed... but those that mattered had. His father had returned at the worst possible time - not that Rawbones would have held back from killing the coward, regardless - but he had come into fray when the disease grasped him with its rage. That rage had been turned on many others as well, most of which were taken out by other wolves, but his mother was one he'd killed with his own fangs. Out of control of himself.. yet he retained the memory. He did not know where his sister went. Maybe she'd gotten away, but he would never know.

"Anyways, I suppose it was merely chance that led me here," he told her, shrugging his shoulders, "I had nothing to stride for, no goals. Just surviving, doing what I had to as a loner to protect myself. But I wouldn't trade this place for anything... so much has happened, good and bad, it's all been worth it." He looked at her, smirking, his tail waving. There was a sparkle in her eyes; something that seemed so enticing. Now he had to wonder upon her last question... his favourite thing to do? He hadn't done much enjoyable, really.. "You sure know how to make me draw a blank," he said, it was all he could really say to her, then spoke up mischeviously, "Something I've spent most of my days doing, which.. I suppose I quite enjoy... is chasing the very charming, and ever elusive femmes.." He grinned again, chuckling slightly. He hoped he hadn't bored her to death with his storytelling. Oh how that made him feel old, when he just wanted to feel young again. "It can't be helped," he said, shaking his ruffled pelt, realizing how matted and scruffy he must look, "Although, I suppose if I want to succeed, I need to groom proper."

Blade stopped when they arrived, and said, "Akiko will probably be here soon." He'd positioned himself just in front of Tristan, between him and Akiko's den, figuring she was still inside. His companion was currently silent, as if in thought, but the topics were hidden, and he didn't want to look any deeper to try to figure it out.

At least the pack didn't have to worry as much about the future, as there were pups here now. Soon enough, though, they'd have to grow up to the expectations of the pack. They were old enough to learn not to be as open as the pure wolves, unless they already unconsciously picked that up. His thoughts briefly went to the recent wolves who'd come near after the war. Did aligning with Midnight Meadows cause the more pure of heart to think they could amble along and live here? Lucky for those wolves Balthier'd still been around, else they'd be in a worse situation. Others had sense to turn around and not bother to try to join the pack during Blade's rounds. At least in person, they still had their edge.