Burning in Memories long ago [PRP; NB, Me]

[archer]

Archer mind turned and twisted as he dreamed, dark shadows in front of his eyes, never ceasing to torture him as they had for so long. His nose twitched into a snarl in slumber, but as the dream progressed, he showed no outward signs of it. Limply, he hung on Nightblood, sleeping away like a couch potato who had a little too much to drink. If he had been awake, he would be stunned by the conversation taking place around them.

"We are one in the same. Draviria was a death trap. Blood feuds everywere. No one could trust, but no one could say or think that they didn't."

Sadly, that was the way of fighting packs. No one was to know who your true alliances were and had to hide those you had pledged yourself to protect and honor. She and her mate had been arranged to be mated since they were pups. Even though she had mated him, it did not mean she had full trust in IceBlazer. He was a fighter, and she a healer. They never were meant to be as one. She had never told Archer of this, surely he would have got made from the greif his birth had been only to serve the pack's need for strong and able wolves.

"I know it seems unreasonable, but part of me misses it,"

Cota and Archer both could understand this, the need to be amongst the familiar faces and battles of one's homeland. Cota looked at the female, eyeing her slowly before she spoke softly, but with a matter-of-fact attitude to the way she said it."It is all we know and all the ones we loved in our packs. Despite my best attempts to forget, it was were I had my sons, made a family. I cannot simply wish it away."

"Why...? I have accepted it, but still don't comprehend. Why do we need eachother?"

The female laughed, knowing fully how she felt. She had been in love once, with a male known as Windcry. He had been the wolf of her dreams and had promised to become her lover, but alas, fate had its own plans and he was condemned to the life of an exile, never to allowed back into the pack or near his family. As Cota thought of her dream lover, she spoke the answer to the question. 'You need one another as companions, you know the pain of each other's past, were raised so similarly, that you and my son have connected in a way that only true mates can. It is this connection that increases desires and then need to be with one another and love each other." She stopped before continuing. "That also means that you want to know everything about him and he wants to know everything about you. He wants to see you as his equal, someone he can fight along side. He has willingly given himself to you, and you can control him. Archer would have been your master, so to speak, if you lived in Durochen with us. Males controlled the females and they had to allows act like omegas groveling up to the alpha." She sounded bitter as she spoke, telling that she knew how that worked.

[nightblood]

"You need one another as companions, you know the pain of each other's past, were raised so similarly, that you and my son have connected in a way that only true mates can. It is this connection that increases desires and then need to be with one another and love each other." She stopped before continuing. "That also means that you want to know everything about him and he wants to know everything about you. He wants to see you as his equal, someone he can fight along side. He has willingly given himself to you, and you can control him. Archer would have been your master, so to speak, if you lived in Durochen with us. Males controlled the females and they had to allows act like omegas groveling up to the alpha."

As Cota spoke, NightBlood slowly began to understand. They needed eachother simply because they were so similar. They reminded each other of their birth packs. What was the saying? 'Birds of a feather flock together.' That could be said for them. Night silently disagreed with the saying 'Opposites attract'. There had to be some kind of common ground or they pair couldn't possibly ever love.

"The same can be said for Draviria," Blood said coldly as she turned away, hiding the anger in her eyes.

After some thought, the female turned back to her, a different expression on her face. Her eyes had softened.

"What was that you called Archer? Arrow?"

Her mind formed images that only she could see. Little pups running around her den site, Archer romping with a few of them, her and Cota keeping an eye on all of them... It put the thoughts of Draviria far from her mind.

"I want that to be one of the pups' names."

She knew the name was meant for a human weapon, but it went hand-in-hand with Archer's chosen name. The need for connection was vital, even in names.

Blood looked forward once more. They were coming to a clearing. The vegitation had been washed away over the years by floods; floods that shouldn't happen again for years. She could hear shallow water rushing over rocks.

"We're close now," she called back quietly, not wanting to break the silence entirely.

[archer]

Times had been changing through it all, and yet, as Cota saw her son sleeping, all the years of pain and hardship melted from him. She could not help but pause in her walking to smile sweetly at her pup, speaking warmly. It was breathless, like she had been thrown down.. "Why didn't I protect him more? Its partly my fault for all the pain he feels." Cota looked at his sleeping form as he rested and tried not to see him as that frail newborn he had once been. Her heart yearned to cradle hnim against her and hold him safe from everyone and everything thing, but he had grown up in a war prone pack where only hatred and anger were allowed to bloom. Durochen made several attempts to seize Sallin's wolves and destroy them, but sadly, the few that survived the last masacre were killed shortly after Archer lost control over himself.

"The same can be said for Draviria,"

Raising her head to the distanct anger in her voice, Cota looked away as well, understanding the pain she felt. Cota had been pushed around, beaten, and tortured, but she had never told them who she had been in love with all those years ago. Her lover had died in battle, but she wanted to believe he was not dead as many said he was. That was when she met the Alpha's son, IceBlazer. She was not given a choice in the matter, as she was quickly bound to him in body, but not in mind. Her mind was still free, the only safe haven she had back then. Sighing, Cota remembered the night that she had become his mate, refusing his attention. She had taken it free of complaint after he had beaten her and told her she was to die or have pups, so she went with latter. "I never told anyone how I came to bare to Archer and his brother. It was not my choice, I was forced." She knew Nightblodo would figure out what she meant.

"What was that you called Archer? Arrow?"

She smiled sadly before speaking. "Yes. His taken name is the one the pack gave him, the fighter's name, but his, the true form, is called Arrow, the side the embraces love and warmth." She silently wondered why she had asked, but this was answered a moment later when the female in front of her spoke.

"I want that to be one of the pups' names."

Ah, yes, the connection of the names. Archer would be pleased. Cota looked up at the female. "Have you never had any children? I trust you know the resonsiblity that comes with protecting them and raising them." She did not know Nightblood as well, but she hoped to know her better by the time she and Archer became mates.

"We're close now,"

Cota examined the area around her and she saw the cleared ground, curioius as to what could have done this. Archer, meanwhile remained still in sleep, a dream pulling on his mind. He growled slightly in his tired for, causing Cota to even her thread to Nightblood's and placing a paw on the forehead, calming him. He relaxed against her paw and murmered something she did not know how to react to. "Blood, feels…good mmmm" She wanted to thunk her son of the head for having those kinds of thoughts. She shook her head.

[nightblood]

"Why didn't I protect him more? Its partly my fault for all the pain he feels."

Blood turned a wary eye on Cota, speaking silently. She disliked it when the innocent blamed themselves for things that were inevitable, even going so far as to say she hated it.

-Don't blame yourself. He's safe now, after all.-

She quickly focused her eyes forward, making sure nothing was in the way. She couldn't risk running into anything, or else Archer might wake up or even be thrown from her shoulders.

"I never told anyone how I came to bare to Archer and his brother. It was not my choice, I was forced."

This time she might had snapped her neck, turning her head so rapidly that it could have rivaled the speed of a lightning strike. Archer? The product of a forced mate? The thought of it disgusted her, but at the same time, she had to be thankful that he existed now. Mixed emotions engulfed her, lead by guilt. She didn't know how to react to this statement. Falling silent, she turned forward. They would speak more about it later. Instead, she asked a question that was lingering in her mind.

"Yes. His taken name is the one the pack gave him, the fighter's name, but his, the true form, is called Arrow, the side the embraces love and warmth."

"I see... In Draviria, our bodies are given dual names. Once we are trained, we are split inside. One side takes part of the name, and the other is given to the remaining side."

She then spoke the reason why she had asked the question in the first place.

"Have you never had any children? I trust you know the resonsiblity that comes with protecting them and raising them."

"Never. I've denied love till now..."

She chanced turning her head back to Cota again.

"I know they are a great responcibility, but... I admit... I have also avoided interaction with pups in my youth. That is, until I came here the first time. I met a pup called Ziko. Three months old at the time- and he couldn't speak a word! I taught him his first- 'Snow'. That's what I called him before I was taken away. But that's another story for another time..."

With that, she signaled that they were coming close to the den. That's when Archer growled. NightBlood's ears perked forward at the sound as Cota jogged forward to comfort him. She saw her put a paw on his forhead.

"Blood, feels…good mmmm..."

Crimson eyes widened and flashed as she glared at Archer, realizing what he was dreaming about. Ears pulled back in embarrasment as she glanced at Cota, then pushed forward as her eyes ripped through the black male in anger. She growled. Not only were those words supposed to be private, but they were also reserved for after at least one of them became Beta.

"HEY!" she barked, jumping up and kicking the air with her back legs. It was only enough to wake him up, not to throw him off. "Wake up, Archer!"

Her eyes barreled through him, glowing bright red in annoyance.

"Behave."

With that, she took off at a fast paced trot toward her den. But she couldn't hold her anger for long, not here. As she she broke through the last of the brush, Night took in the sight of the area surrounding her den. About a month ago, she had chosen this site for its closeness to the border. Yes, it was a bit out of the way, but just enough so that it was safely inside the pack lands.

It was a deep ravine. The river had cut the land through the years to create a wound in the earth. The clearing was guarded by thick, black trees and almost overgrown with tall grass. There was no shore. The water had cut still deeper into the ground, filling a creavice instead of a dent in the land.

The den itself was tucked away, hidden, except by trained wolf eyes, in a natural corner made by the water years ago. The entrance was marked by a small, vertical rock with a log leaned neatly up against it. It was a perfect disguise, as there was a shade tree very close to the entrance. The log was big enough to be mistaken for a second trunck.

NightBlood turned to Cota, a cautious, almost questioning smile on her face. It was an important place, a den site. It was almost like a piece of artwork, always being judged or critiqued by on lookers. NightBlood was the artist awaiting Cota's judgement. She was the critique.

[archer]

Cota watched as the female swiveled her head so sharply around that she could have sworn that her neck might have snapped. She made eye contact with the female as she looked on silently. The mother said nothing, preferring to say little over the guarded secret. She knew that Archer was not supposed to exist, but if he knew he had caused her pain, the results wouls lead only one direction: self mutalization. Archer would try to physically harm himself thus the need to keep it secret. Sometimes, the truth was harder than the illly known lie. Archer would never find out why he was, and if he ever did, Cota and Nightblood had best be there to protect him from whatever course of action he choose to take. The need to keep the truth sacred was strong within his heart, but also an urge to keep himself from being an outsider to everyone.

"I see... In Draviria, our bodies are given dual names. Once we are trained, we are split inside. One side takes part of the name, and the other is given to the remaining side."

So alike, yes they were. One could have sworn that Durochen could have been Draviria. The packs were war based and fighting was the norm for many of the wolves. It was either the way of death or that of the pack, most forced into training either by cruel and uncaring sensei's or a need to avenage the death of a fallen commerade. Archer had many die by the fangds of others, but he had been forced at a young age by his sensei to do horrible things, and had learned that to kind and warm was a sin, yet, he had a heart, secretly nurishing its need for love under the noses of his mother and father.

[darkred]"Never. I've denied love till now..."[/color]

Love was a thing that only a few were fortunate to have known when Durochen had been a powerful pack. There was no such thing as friends, allies yes, but never in the years the pack had been in existance had they fallen under the urge to have friends. Archer had never been allowed to love or even show emotion, and he hid himself well from everyone, but he had opened up. It was a world full of surprises.

"I know they are a great responcibility, but... I admit... I have also avoided interaction with pups in my youth. That is, until I came here the first time. I met a pup called Ziko. Three months old at the time- and he couldn't speak a word! I taught him his first- 'Snow'. That's what I called him before I was taken away. But that's another story for another time..."

Cota laughed as a memory of Archer chasing a squirrel and running into a tree. He had not known back then what it was, but Cota had relished the memory, the first time she ever heard her son laugh. It was one of the most protected things. "Archer will make a great fuss if he knows I have told you this, but he had trouble learning to hunt. It was the funniest thing ever to see the little guy stumbling over his feet after a squirrel. Her voice was warm and kind, like any good mother she have for a tone.

Archer had been right in the middle of finishing ticking Nightblood in his dream when her voice awoke him. She sounded angry at him, but yet, he could not figure at why. He grinned sheepishly at the sudden awakening.

"HEY!" "Wake up, Archer!"

He then realized what he happened and blushed, the bright red visable against his pale skin and black fur. He knew that he was asking for it, but he began to tell a very descriptive version of the dream. "Night, did you know that I was about to mou-oath" He was about to say mount when Cota wrapped her tail around her perverted chikld's mouth, effectively silencing him before the damaging words could escape.

"Behave."

As he listened to her, it began to become aware of a very interesting feeling between his headback legs. To solve this, he thought of strange things, a naked human, his mother's supposed corpse, Nightblood angry. It took a moment, but he finally felt it disapate, but the scent was still there. Cota blushed, turning her head and muttering to herself. "I shouldn't have allowed you to attend the alpha's mating, Arch" Her face was vibrant red, but paled in comparasion to his. He was like an over ripe tomato and he held on as Nightblood moved toward the den.

Cota examined it and gasped at the beauty of it, her eyes lighting up like a child at Christmas. She followed them slowly, taking in the landscape. "Its beautiful. was all she managed to say.

[nightblood]

"Archer will make a great fuss if he knows I have told you this, but he had trouble learning to hunt. It was the funniest thing ever to see the little guy stumbling over his feet after a squirrel."

NightBlood bit back a laugh, half disguising it as a cough in case Archer woke up right then. That's when her mate uttered the words in his sleep. She knew she had a look of terrified embarrassment on her face as she woke him up to get the thoughts out of his head.

"Night, did you know that I was about to mou-oath."

Blood glanced at Cota with a look of gratitude, but half wanted him to continue. Not because she was interested in what the dream was, but because she wanted to get to know Archer a bit more. How much detail would his personality allow him to reveal? That was the real question on her mind.

Even so, she sent Archer a secret message, using her eyes again. She couldn't control the mind of any wolf, especially males. But she could test their limits.

-Later, Love.-

Giving him a mischievious grin, she turned her head forward for what seemed to be the bahzillienth time. With a slight crick in her neck, Night moved on, taking them to her den site, all the while wandering exactly how long Archer could wait.

"I shouldn't have allowed you to attend the alpha's mating, Arch."

Blood didn't know whether to laugh or be disgusted. She decided to give a low chuckle. She distinctly remembered a similarly named event in Draviria, but she, at her age, had been forbidden to witness it.

-So that's what they were doing...-
~Took you long enough, oh Slow One.~
-Oh, hush... I'm thinking...-

It took Night a minute to realize that Blood was running very... naughty images through their mind. Apparently she was guessing that Archer knew a bit more about this particular topic.

~AH!! Stop! It BURNS!~
-Took you a minute, didn't it, oh Slow One?-
~Just knock it off!~
-Hmm...-
~... Ack! NOOOOOO!!!~

Blood gave a silent, evil snicker and let the images fade. At that moment, she caught a strange scent. The half-blind wolfess had never scented anything quite like it, and yet... she knew exactly what it was. Archer... A mix of emotions waved over her. She was part embarrassed, part annoyed, part guilty, and part amused. A hidden part of her also longed for the same thing. Awkward... Blood shook the feelings from her mind. There would be time to deal with them later.

The scent had faded as they entered NightBlood's den site. She looked to Cota this time, awaiting a bombardment of modification suggestions to keep any and all possible pups safe. Instead-

"Its beautiful."

She relaxed, having been very tense, and allowed her tail to wag briefly at Cota's comment. She allowed Archer to scan the area before moving on.

"This way."

The den was across the creek, which wasn't very high despite the amount of rain they had been getting. Perhaps a dam had been made further up river. Blood stepped slowly into the water, not wanting Archer to shift and fall off. It was a quick cross, being less than six feet wide.

The den entrance was large enough to let NightBlood pass if she lowered her head. With Archer on her back, she had to crouch down a bit. Bit the ceiling soon became high enough so that Night could stand up properly. Near the back of the cave was the highest part of the ceiling, but she didn't comment on it.

Over all, the den was barren. Rock walls, floors, and ceiling. Only near the entrance was the soft dirt from outside kicked in like a floor mat. She had grown up in a similar den, another reason why she'd chosen it.

"Well..." she chuckled, "Welcome home."

{{Edited slightly. This is starting to stretched the limits of -that- rule... XD }}

[archer]

(( I know, but I have been very careful about what I put, but it is funny to think of them like that. Glad wolves can't drink Vodka.))

Archer turned on his charms as Nightblood sent him a message, laughing lowly, his eyes hellish red and a smirk on his face. He looked so high and mighty, but Cota, who knew this look simply thunked him with a gentle paw, causing him to give her a unappreciated glare. The mother looked at her son and rolled her eyes. Both were headstrong and would not give up an arguement that easily. Like mother, like son. It was funny really to see both wolves huff at the same time and Archer lowered his head, allowing bangs to cover his face and hiding his very obviuos blush somewhat. He was not usually so open and he was uncertain of his actons.

Archer noticed she blushing, too, and faintly considered grabbing her and giving her a good tickling, just to see how hard she could laugh before she pummeled him. Cota caught the look in his eyes, mischeivous and playful. This was not something she was expereinced with, and had not seen since Archer had been a pup. She watched them, interacting as one, wondered who would be the first one to cave.

He read Nigthblood was normal and heard the snicker. "Mother, later, Nigthblood and I will need to talk, alone" His voice was seriuos, and Cota understood. They needed to sort out how this made them feel, however awkward it might make them feel afterward, but they needed to learn more about each other, and although Cota had a sneaking suspicion that Archer might try something, she knew he had honor and would not tarnish his honor in anyway.

Cota noticed how her adopted daughter relax, wagging her tail. Had she really been so worry? Cota made a note to speak to her later, tell her that there was little she could do to make her angry or scared. She was a part of her family, here daughter and the only one he knew Archer better. They had given themsleves something to look forward to with everything they had been through, try and rebuild the woirld around them and not falter. She admired them both deeply for this and found having a temper at either was futile.

"This way."

Across the river, Cota watched them. She was not the best of swimmers, but it was not high, nor fast. Growling softly, she approached from behind, putting a little speed in her step to keep up to the lovers. She stopped as Nightblood ducked down into the den, only to straightened out later as the ceiling rose.

Cota followed, wagging her tail. She knew Archer was going to try to resist and it was best to immobilize him. He usually rfused medical treatment from her or any other healer and had scars because of it, scars that could have been prevented.

"Well...""Welcome home."

Archer looked around and his eyes darted back and forth as he took in every detail. He put his weight down on his front legs, only to be brought down as Cota delivered a sharp blow to his shoulders, knocking his weight out from under him. Slowly, he slide off Nightblood and onto his mother. Cota gently laid him on his right. Archer put his paws around her neck and leaning into her embrace as he hugged him. He growled in unwanted pain as a paw slipped up to his shoulder, examining. Archer growled even more and tried to pull away, only to have his mother tighten her graps around his neck. She closed her eyes and hummed a soft tune.

It only took a moment or so for Archer to relax, his apws falling to his side. Cota then stood up, walking to the outside of the den and returning with a flowers and a few stones. Archer groaned. "I know this is going to hurt, alot,"

[nightblood]

"Mother, later, Nigthblood and I will need to talk, alone."

Blood gave a grin. His tone was serious. She couldn't see his face, so if there was a hidden message, she didn't recieve it. However, she did let her mind wander on that one.

~I don't think that's what he meant.~
-You never know.-
~Shut up.~

A few moments later, NightBlood felt Archer try to get up. Half afraid he might try something, Night lowered herself and was about to move slightly away from him when his weight come upon her again.

"Oof!"

She suddenly realized that Cota had immobilized him again. As Cota took him from her, she half worried that she might collaps from his weight. But she knew his mother was stronger than that. She placed him on the ground and pretended to hug him. In truth, she was inspecting her son's injuries, prooved positive by Archer's growls. With that, she left.

NightBlood was conserned for a moment as she watched the older female exit, only to remind herself that Healers needed herbs. Blood directed her attention down at Archer, smirking at his vulnerable state. Her eyes mocking him, she circled him as if he was a newly caught meal, deciding which organs to delve into first. She didn't know how soon Cota would return, so she wasn't going to try anything, but she couldn't help teasing him.

-Males are so fun to toy with... and I meant that in a cleaner way.-
~Oh, thanks. You have no idea what just-~
-Oh, yeah I do.-

Blood lingered for a moment near his back legs. And idea reached her mind. She lowered her head and tugged on his tail the way a pup would bite at an adult's tail. Night growled at her in her mind, knowing that she was trying to tease him. Whether it was working or not, she didn't care. Blood had to be stopped for a few reasons. 1. Because they didn't know when Cota was coming back. 2. Because she was being mean to him in his condidtion. And 3. Because this was Archer's job.

~... You've gotten a bit reckless ever since we gave Archer that neckless. Draviria far from your mind now?~
-Hush.-

With that, she stopped playing with his tail.

~What was that human saying? ... 'Letting your hair down'?~
-Shut up.-

She moved toward Archer's head and sat down beside him, not really paying attention to him. That's when Cota came back bearing flowers and stones.

~What would Father say?~
-SILENCE!-

She gave an outward growl and moved to the back of the cave. She sat down in a corner, not looking at either of the two beings there with her. She didn't know what they would say of her behavior, but she didn't frankly care. She was actually hoping that Cota would keep her attention on Archer. NightBlood would join in to help in a moment.

Guilt engulfed Blood's side of their mind while Night felt a little tiumphant, but a little empathetic too. She hadn't meant to hurt Blood that much, but she had to get him away from Archer for the moment to gather herself. She had been getting carried away. If it came to it, she would let her interact with him freely, but not while anyone, especially Cota, was around.

Blood, on the other hand, was fighting herself this time. Doubt and guilt overwhelmed her once more. She was loyal to Archer, but in that loyalty, she had betrayed her birth pack.

~And what of Shade? You think he does not feel the same way? By following us here, he had betrayed Draviria.~

Blood was silent, but knew it to be true. ShadeBlood had forsaken Draviria as well. They both had their own lives now. Draviria was miles away. It had no hold on them! Birth packs be damned! Arnlan was her home now!

"I know this is going to hurt, alot."

NightBlood turned to view Archer once more. Cota was preparing to heal him. Healings could be just as nasty as the time the injury first occured.

-Damn Umbra...-

Mortilitas Umbra was the cause of his pain then. Healing was manditory, and therefore this pain was still to be blamed on him. She stood up and quickly returned to Archer's side, awaiting orders from Cota. This had to be done.

[archer]

As pain surged through his shoulder and foreleg, Archer gritting his teeth, and although he managed to stop from yelping, he did hiss through his teeth. His annoyed expression increased as the pain did. As Cota gently pried him off the female, she noticed that he was blushing slightly and chuckled under her breath. Never could she had guessed the not only were her son and Nightblood compatible and behaviorly alike, but also in demeanor, they were almost twins. She had to stop a smile as it threatened to spread from her mouth, though if the two looked closely, they could see her lips twitching as she restrained herself. Archer took no notice of it as he closed his eyes against the pain, silently muttered words that would have been rude if not for the fact he had been saying them for a long time.

"Oof!"

Cota offered her an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. I sometimes forget he is heavier than he looks" Archer twitched at the comment of being called little, however subtle it had been. He had a Nepolean complex when he was younger and had not been very large, but he had grown into a large and powerful wolf. As his mother left to go collect herbs, he stared at his lover. Her eyes mocked him and he wanted to look away, a liitle humilated by the fact that his own mother could control him so well. As she circled him, he reacted on instinct, eyes turning on her with a sharp and almost accusing glare. The motion of her moving about him when he felt so vulnerable made his Archer side surface.

"She is going to hurt us. Kill her!
"No, no. You know she is helping us"
"How?! Making you feel like a dead deer?"
"No, keeping me busy. Go away, you know mother doesn't approve of you being around."

Archer grunted as the Arrow part of his mind shoved him forcefully away as Nightblood nipped his tail and pulled on it. He felt Archer rising again and this time, he spoke, but in a unsually calm and relaxed tone. "Yo Blood, mind laying off the nibbling?" Arrow shook his head mentally and wanted to slap himself and almost did, but then she stopped and moved forward toward his head. He strained against his own weight to lay against her, seeking her comfort. He knew he did not react well to the healing and never exactly could control what happened, a fact he had never shared with anyone. It seemed he and his mother were two of kind.

Cota returned to find Archer alone and Nightblood in the back of the den, but did not ask why. She simply approached Archer, smiling sweetly. The flower she had chosen was strong and effective, but it hurt to high hell and using it on an ex-assassin might not be the best idea, particuarly when a part of his mind would do anything to defend himself.
Slowly, she began to pluck of the petals, setting them on the ground before smashing them until a smelly white cream was expelled from them.

Archer, meanwhile, he his eyes on Nightblood and could tell something was not right. Cota did not see as he tried to get to his feet and check on his lover, but as the ground and earth shifted, she heard it and gave him a stern glare that could of awoken the dead as he froze instantly; however, he remained standing for a moment. His ears were pulled back in indecision. His mother needed him to lay down, but Nightlbood needed him more. Slowly, he titled his head, fighting the pain in every movement. His eyes asked her a question. "What is is?"

Archer then felt a paw on his shoulder and gasped as a sharp pain sheered through his body. He could not help the strangled yelp that slipped between clenched teeth. Cota felt his weight sag slightly and then was given only a second before Archer's fighter side decided that it had enough of this and lunged at Cota. The female did not move, but parred his blow and brought him to the ground, snarling. The snarl and the evil, angry glint in her eye made it apparent she was angry with him, but she understood this reaction. The look of obviuos fear on his face was apparent, and it was clear to see why. Cota looked like she could kill.

Arrow struggled to get control of his head as the pain exploded through him like a dagger. He felt something touch him again and hissed, another petal. "Nightblood, I need you to restrain him. I cannot control the fighter very well as you have seen." Archer buckled against her and his eyes turned a hellish red and he looked twitchy, unkept even. Arrow felt his control slipping, but he tried to hold it up. Cota placed a paw on his chest, snarling still, trying to get him to look her in the eye. She followed his eyes and saw they were on Nightblood. He was shaking from the pain and he gasped out in agon,y words forming. "Night, please. His tone sounded suspiciously like that of a plea.

[nightblood]

"Nightblood, I need you to restrain him. I cannot control the fighter very well as you have seen."

Her ears had already flown backward at the site of the struggle between the two. She had seen the question in Archer's eyes and tried to give him a reasuring smile, but no such luck came. He was gasping in pain and there was no possible way NightBlood could smile at that.

"Night, please."

NightBlood layed down beside him, her right front leg resting around his neck. He was shaking in pain from the touch of Cota's healing remedy. Night surpressed a growl as she stared into Archer's eyes, fearing for him... for his safety.

~Archer is going to hurt someone, be it himself or Cota, if he doesn't calm down!~
-It is the fighter side of him. Archer, his trained mind, is reacting to the pain.-
~What can be done to stop him? Arrow will lose complete control at this rate!~
-Perhaps I can calm him.-

With that, a new glint came into NightBlood's eyes. Night was still in control, but only just. Blood was allowed only to send a silent message.

'-I know the pain you suffer, Dear One. Lie still, limp even. It dulls the pain. When you're tence like this, more nerves are aggitated. Calm down and it will be over soon.-'

NightBlood looked up to Cota for a moment, silently asking what else she needed to do. However, her attention was drawn more to Archer now and she looked down at him once more. She layed her head on his for a second and hugged him as best she could in this position, but Blood picked her head up again, not wanting to have her eye torn from his gaze. She looked down at him, sadness in her eyes. She hated seeing him in pain. Their eyes connected, and the fighter in NightBlood spoke directly to the violent side of the ebony wolf.

'-I love you, Archer.-'

{{Edited a bit}}

[archer]

Arrow argued within himself for control. Archer was ramming against the barred gates, trying to escape unnoticed. It was not clear who was winning on the outside, but on the inside, Arrow knew. He was loosing and fast. Archer rose quickly, teeth grasping seizing Cota's throat, but not peircing. The black and white female did not move for a moment stunned, but something within his own head, the voice of love and reason, Arrow, yelled loudly, telling him to stop this and not to hurt mother. The black wolf grunted around the fur as Cota moved with a skill so amazing it was hard to beleive she did it. She managed to dislodged his fangs by burying her paw against the pressure point under his jaw, the discomfort forcing his jaws apart. She inhaled sharply as air rushed back into her strained lungs. Arrow, who had regained some control looked mortified and afraid. He surged upwards, trying to get far away.

As he moved to stand, he met resistance from his leg and then the eyes of his made, so worried for him. He laid back down as a strong leg looped around his neck, both restraining him and soothing him. He leaned into her body and closed his eyes tightly and going crossed eyed for a moment. Her scent eased his breathing as Cota rubbed the paste against the wound, soon stopping the flow of blood that had been cuased by the sudden movements of the momentairy scrap. The black felt Nightblood hug him and whimpered sadly against her. His defenses were down and he was restrained, but he did not move once he was firmly within her loving touch, her presencing soothing him and Archer both.

Arrow saw a message in the eyes of Nightblood and a strange glint. He hissed as his mother finished finally, working through the pain. She backed away and rubbed a paw against her neck, she had thick fur luckily and she was only bruised, although it hurt a little.

'-I know the pain you suffer, Dear One. Lie still, limp even. It dulls the pain. When you're tence like this, more nerves are aggitated. Calm down and it will be over soon.-'

He tried to relax, and somehow, found his eyes closing and his entire body going relaxed. Then, a soft humming started by Cota. It was his lullaby, the one he knew as a pup. Suddenly, he was not in the den with Nightblood or Cota, he was in a smaller and darker den, but cradled by his mother, safe and warm and wanted. He was but four weeks old and his little eyes were bleary from sleep. His mother's soft voice was tghe only noise as the two pups slept cradled against one another. His soft
tone was child-like and warm, distant but close, so welcomed. He began to sing as well, surprisingly well.

"Shush my child, go to sleep.
Beautiful eyes gently close
Lovely and warmth.

"Sunlight gone, moon greeting.
I fall asleep with you near, oh my child.
Loved and safe here you stay.

There same lines, over and over repeated until Archer's breathing evened out and he was alseep, put to slumber by the same lullaby he had been lulled as a pup with. Cota stood and approached Archer, staring at him as he slept with gentle brown eyes. The black wolf wore a light smile and he looked so young again, so carefree and happy. Cota curled up next to Nightblood and patted her back. "He feels safe with you, otherwise he woulf not have slept to easily. A great mother you'd be, so gentle and loving, full of love and kindess."

((That is an actual lullaby my mom sang to me when i was little, so I really like it. ))

[nightblood]

NightBlood watched patiently as Cota applied the paste to her mate's injuries. She listened intently as they sang the lullaby, wishing in vain with a voiceless whine that her own mother was here with her. It was all she could do to bite back the tears that threatened to betray her loneliness.

Slow moments passed before Night could tell that Archer was sleeping. She looked down at him, leg still around his neck. She did not pull away. Intead, she watched as he lay there, finally at peace. It was only when Cota place a paw on her back that she realized they were not alone. She leaned back, twisting her head to view Cota while upside down, a funny smile on her face.

"He feels safe with you, otherwise he would not have slept to easily. A great mother you'd be, so gentle and loving, full of love and kindess."

NightBlood lingered for a moment in that pose, thinking. She blushed and pulled herself up right. She loked to Archer and Cota, reveling as their warmth surrounded her. Resting her head on Archer's neck, she closed her eyes and followed him as she drifted to sleep. She was at peace as well.

But a dark cloud loomed in her mind as NightBlood dreamed. Blood was awake. She had heard Cota's words and repeated them over in her mind until she had them commited to memory.

"A great mother you'd be, so gentle and loving, full of love and kindess..."

NightBlood? Killer of dozens... the heiress of Draviria... trained and battle-ready... mother? Surely there was no comprehendable way for her to be anything but a fighter... She had told herself... ORDERED herself to never be a biological mother. Now she had told herself to love Archer, which was basically saying 'Damn Draviria'.

The ever doubtful Blood turned a cold shoulder to the outside world, shielding herself from it. Only her lips moved in the open air while her body lie sleeping.

"Not me..." she answered.

[archer]

As archer slept, he became restless as a strong dream overtook him. He saw a gray and tan wolf, blood, his everywhere. He was begging for mercy, but none came. He had screwed up and was paying for it, was all he knew in the memory. Several soft whimpers came from him and he unconsciously pulled closer to Nightblood "Master..master bloodloose," The soft whimpers sounded high pitched and like a plea. It was often that the black wolf had nightmares of his past. This was not hte first one, but one of the worse ones, as it was the time he had been severely beaten and then left to die, but he had survived as Cota came to him in the night and healed him, protected him and laid nearby.

Cota smiled back at Nightblood as she leaned back into her, pulling Archer's form with her a little. He snuggled unknowingly against her fur and sighed, her scent soothing and comforting. However, it seemed Nightblood had taken the words to heart and blushed, pulling upward once more. She laid on Archer, warmth enveloping the small family as they laid together in the manner of family. Archer was held by his mate, his mother keeping a eye on them.

"Not me..."

Archer, who had been listening in a light sleep heard this and grunted in disapproval. He did not speak, but no words were needed as he wrapped his black tail around her. It would take time for her to want to bbe a mother, as it was, it changed the life of a wolfess forever, Cota knew. "All is well that ends well" He said as she closed her eyes and allowed a trained light sleep to grab her.