[ P ] Turning Around

There's suddenly a shout, and then a whir of ember fur that blocks Timolean's view from the younger wolf. The Royalist takes a few pawsteps back, squinting and trying to get a better look at the stranger that so rudely interrupted his recruitment session. The man managed to shout so loudly that it spooked the dual-colored boy right onto his rump, causing Timolean to wrinkle his nose.

And then it makes sense. This is his son. The Lieutenant Major grunts, ears falling back mid-way before his eyes trickle back to the 'son'. Yeah, now that he viewed the two a bit closer, they had the exact same hue of red.

"Your son's like a year old and the size of a fuckin' mountain." Timolean points out, indicating that the yearling was quite capable of fending for himself, "Don't embarrass him like that, treating him like a helpless pup."

A smirk unexpectedly crosses the dark wolf, and then a bout of laughter straight from his belly. It's unclear who exactly Timolean laughs at-- the livid father, or his compliant son? A disgraceful snarl soon mixes into the laughter, and Timolean steadies himself once more.

"Maybe..." Timolean begins, emerald eye narrowing with disappointment, "You should let your son have a voice of his own. We both know how this ends, sir."

He knew he was dipping his paws in hot water, but Timolean didn't care. Every word was chosen intricately, trying to snake his way into the son's mind and make him think otherwise. Make him think that, just maybe, he could stand a chance and show his worth to both himself and his protective father in the name of war.
Yet now, Timolean completely crosses the boundary of respect, staring directly at the yearling.

"You'll stand for this kind of treatment?" The Royalist challenges, a tight frown on his lips.
--
@Summit @Cian

Summit Hiram Eithne


Instantly, Summit knew he had made a grave mistake – by wandering off alone, for finding the Imperial soldier in the first place. The tension between the two adult wolves made the youth uncomfortable. He was large, yes, but his life had been carefree thus far, thanks to his parents. He made no attempt to move; in fact, he felt rather glued to the spot, mismatched eyes turning between his father’s neck, where the ember-hued fur stood on end, and the gnarled features of the other man who looked on in disapproval.

His father, who had always shown nothing but love and affection. The other man, who had already demonstrated his penchant for cruelty in the brief time since Summit had happened upon him. Before his strange sights, a nightmare was unfolding, and the youth felt a surge of panic at the thought of violence breaking out because of him.

The dark beast frowned as he addressed Summit again: "You'll stand for this kind of treatment?" The stranger’s pointed words caused the sensitive boy to flinch. ”I – I don’t –” All he wanted was for his sister to be home and safe, and to feel like he was helping others. Why was his father so angry?


@Timolean

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C

ian knew with certainty that his son would not, could not fully understand the gravity of the brewing war. How could he when he was still just a boy, a giant or otherwise? And a boy that felt guilty if he accidentally stepped on an insect? This beast of a man knew nothing about Summit, who his family was, what their values were. His expression demonstrated the depths of his paternal protection, his fatherly fury.

The enormous fiery wolf had worked with great intention to shield his offspring from the pettiness of politics and the bloodshed that seemed to always accompany it. This was not Summit’s war to fight, and any army who thought otherwise was as horrible as Cian recalled from his own youth, when he had almost been forced into the same life of this stranger – almost. The notion of a man attempting to lure Summit away from his kin, with promises of violence, set the father wolf’s blood to boiling.

Cian would fight for his family, so that they would never have to. The stranger addressed Summit directly, and that was quite enough. His voice rippled with a deep growl, fangs bared eve as he spoke: ”No child belongs on the battlefield. Shame on you, and shame on Adamh!” And Cian would know. It was the path his father had intended for him. Cian was born to be a soldier. But he knew better than to follow a mysterious, faceless king, or fight on his behalf. And from the look of the stranger, he had already paid a heavy price for his service, where fleshy scars replaced what should have been a second eye.

”You didn’t answer my question, sir. Who – the fuck – do you think you are?” He spoke slowly so that the one-eyed brute would understand: this was not negotiable. No army from either side would steal away his only son, a child that knew nothing of war and brutality and violence.



@Timolean

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Timolean had a little bit of patience left in him, but the more this russet man continued to spew demands and hostile remarks toward him made him lose it.
The scarred man turns his attention back to the racket that flew from the maw of the father, lips baring back once more.

"I think I'm someone who's done talking." Timolean begins slowly, taking a step closer, "Can you say the same?"

The Royalist crouches down, already calculating exactly where he wants to take his strike on the new opponent. If Timolean could win this battle, he'd show the yearling what a wuss his father was, and the strength that the army gave the soldier. Strength that could be passed down and easily learned by Cian.

If he loses, well.. so be it. The Gods smite him.

He springs forward with a roar, jaws stretched wide and teeth eager to burrow into some flesh.

--Start of Fight--
@Cian @Summit

T

hough Cian had spent the first part of his life training for just a moment like this – to be able to take down an Imperial soldier, to prove his worth – it was an existence Cian had spurned, a relic from the past he had tried desperately to escape. He had chosen love before hate, peace above violence. He didn’t want to fight… But there was no other choice now as the soldier filled the space between them.

Though Cian managed to get in a couple of decent hints, it hadn’t been enough. The dark stranger easily bested Cian, until the giant painted in ember hues fell to the ground. He could scarcely see straight, given his injuries, but the father wolf would pull himself to his paws.

He looked back to where Summit had been standing, hopeful that his son had heeded his words and had gone away before the brutality began… But to his chagrin, the enormous yearling still stood there, frozen in place, a look of utter horror on his face. His voice was barely more than a whisper: ”Summit…” He had tried so hard to protect him, to protect all of his children from this. And he had failed.

They had to get out of there, and fast. He cast a final glare at Adamh’s pawn, but he hoped desperately that the stranger would not follow. ”You – you’ve proven your point. Relentless and shameless,” he remarked before spitting crimson blood from his mouth. He would limp away, urging Summit to follow him with desperation in his eyes. ”Mama’s gonna be mad,” he commented with a failed attempt at a laugh as he worked harder to leave the ebony maniac behind.


[exit Cian]



@Timolean

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Summit Hiram Eithne


Papa told him to leave as soon as the fighting began. But Summit couldn’t do it. Part of him wanted to intervene, to battle alongside his father so that it would just stop… But he just couldn’t bring himself to jump into the fray. It was fear that held him back, a newfound uncertainty that lingered in the back of his skull. He had attempted to yell out as the two males clashed, but his voice seemed trapped. He could only squeak out a pathetic, ”Stop.” But neither of the fighters had heard him.

The fight only concluded when his father fell to the ground, unable to continue. "Papa!" And still, the boy felt frozen. Unmatched eyes were wide with panic as his father addressed him as Cian attempted to pull himself away, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. Finally, Summit seemed to snap out of it, and his eyes narrowed as he glared at Timolean before moving slowly to assist his father in his escape. ”You’re a bad man!"

And now, it was time for a long, painful walk back to the rest of the family...


[exit Summit]


@Timolean

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