What we might gain, by what we might lose (Zuka)

[nightblood]

Zuka growled at the tone of his suggestion. He was treating her as if she were a newborn.

"Live? Live a life filled with happiness, not marred by the ugliness of war and death? Being a warrior is a heavy burden, Zuka. That is often masked in the shine and polish of glory and idiot heroism. We tell the tales of victory, but we hardly ever relish the bittersweet tang of defeat. But still, I think you needn't fear not being able to fight. As you said, One-Eye cannot fight all by himself. I suspect Nightshade is not his target. Listen."

NightShade? Not his target? Then what was he doing? Her ears perked as she turned her eyes toward the Sallinian border. Another scream pierced the air.

"Those screams are close to the border. He must be harrying them near it. He's not going further in. That would be suicide. I believe he means to return soon. Tell me honestly Zuka...would you be so hateful if he did?"

The yearling looked intently at her paws, unsure of herself. Was that really his plan? Why did he make it seem like he was taking his revenge on NightShade? Why had Umbra reacted in such a manner when she and her brothers told him that they would be the ones to kill NightShade?

"Why didn't he tell me, then?" she asked aloud to the forest floor.

[Electus]

"Why didn't he tell me, then?"

Otame looked at her, a bemused look on his face. "Would you have stayed behind if he did? I don't know what he said or did that made you so angry, so I can't say."

Otame sighed and stared heavenwards again. "If you don't mind, I would like to know what happened the day he left."

He once again averted his eyes from the bright day sky. "Perhaps then my understanding of One-Eye will be clear."

The black wolf's face was wise beyond his age. "Perhaps by reliving the moments, you'll learn something yourself. Knowledge is a valuable resource. Some think it's more important than life itself. Some still think it's a weapon, to be used against one's enemies. I don't know. But I think that knowledge is fundamentally important to our lives. So. Tell me the story, if you please."

[nightblood]

"Would you have stayed behind if he did? I don't know what he said or did that made you so angry, so I can't say."

'Probably not... But wait... He invited me along! No... That was Umbra,' she thought to herself.

"If you don't mind, I would like to know what happened the day he left. Perhaps then my understanding of One-Eye will be clear."

Zuka sighed. He was asking for a beating, this one was. This was going to take a lot longer than she had first thought. Then again, they really had nothing but time.

"Perhaps by reliving the moments, you'll learn something yourself. Knowledge is a valuable resource. Some think it's more important than life itself. Some still think it's a weapon, to be used against one's enemies. I don't know. But I think that knowledge is fundamentally important to our lives. So. Tell me the story, if you please."

Mumbling to herself, the yearling stretched her paws out in front of her and layed down, flicking her tail in annoyance as she did so.

"Might as well make yourself comfortable. This'll take a while."

With that as her opening line, she began to tell Otame about how she and her brothers had found Mortil, cold blooded as ever, walking toward the Sallinian border. She told him how Umbra had vowed for vengance after boasting about his many kills. She told him of how she had suggested he let them take NightShade's life after letting him enjoy the thrill of the battle and how he had erupted in rage at the very thought.

The last bit was the hardest. She recalled how her brothers had fought shamefully and how she had refused his challenge, knowing her own shortcomings. She left out her death threat, not wanting to remember how Umbra had scared her by claiming to need more blood.

When she finally finished, the brown female chewed on the skin of her foreleg, trying to bite away an imaginary itch. In truth, she just wanted to avert her gaze from the black wolf.

[Electus]

"Might as well make yourself comfortable. This'll take a while."

Otame was silent as Zuka related the story to him. He frowned inwardly. One-Eye was turning out to be much more interesting than he previously expected. He'd have to have a talk with the warrior when or if he returned. The black wolf certainly thought it would be worthwhile.

"Hm. I see. What an interesting character. Well, I can theorize no more for now...not without meeting One-Eye and speaking with him. But I think you'll get the chance sooner than we expected. Listen."

Otame tilted his head. It had been several hours now, and not a scream had touched the air.

"I think that's a little significant, don't you?"

[nightblood]

"Hm. I see. What an interesting character. Well, I can theorize no more for now...not without meeting One-Eye and speaking with him. But I think you'll get the chance sooner than we expected. Listen."

Zuka copied his motions, tilting her head in the direction of Sallin and swiveling her ears to the border. No sound. Nothing. Probably since she had started telling the story.

"I think that's a little significant, don't you?"

Her ears twitched and flattened down against her head. Unsure of wether to growl or whimper, she made some odd noise between the two and lowered her head.

"He's either dead or coming back. Either way, he's still dead..." came the only half-hearted threat she could think of.