Nightmares (Taggr)

[Akree]

Run left, pass is blocked by snarling wolves. Run right, pass is blocked by fallen trees. Run back, Anek stands before the small pup. Khenti is frightened, but glad to see his father, he tries to bark to get his father's attention, but no sound comes out of his mouth. He turns to look back to see the snarling wolves after him, so Khenti tries another urgent bark: "Dad, help!" But Anek shakes his head, his eyebrows knotted in anger and disappointment, turning away leaving the small pup to fend for himself.

Khenti wakes up with a frightened yelp, luckily he was at the edge of the den and none of his brothers and sisters are awakened. Shaky, he takes a deep breath to calm his nerves.

Just a dream, just a dream.

The pup keeps repeating in his head, it calms him down, but barely. With another shaky breath Khenti heaves himself to his paws, looking around the sleeping figures of his family. Decided that he wouldn't get any sleep soon, he heads outside of the den, being careful not to trample or disturb any of his brothers and sisters.

Outside, dawn slowly approaches. The first warm rays of the sun only start pouring from the mountains giving the land a soft warmth. With a sigh, Khenti steps into the snow outside of den the den walking aimlessly, just wanting to be outside, alone.

His large puppy paws drag on the snow, leaving deep tracks where he thread. It was just some horrible dream, something like that would never happen, would it? Khenti shook his head, no, it wouldn't happen, his mother wouldn't allow it...his mother.... The young pup shook his head roughly again, best not to think 'bout it.

A shadow covered the ground where the pup stood and automatically lifted his head, to see a small bird fly away into the sky, chirping happily as the sun started to lift itself into the sky. Shacking his head again he headed towards a rock, barely visible, only a streak of gray to show it was there. Skillfully, Khenti scrambled to the stop and sat down looking at the horizon.

He sighted deeply, sure he barely saw his father, but that was because he was busy, right? Khenti shook his head, trying, with no success, to make the nagging thoughts go away. He sighted again, just wanting someone to come and say it was just some dream, that it wasn't real. But this feeling in the pit of his stomach told him it was real, that it was the truth and the truth was bad.

With a huff of breath the pup tried to think of something else, of Dakarai and Orem getting picked by Surethim and Zuka giving him a big smack in the head, of the snow under his paws, of his mother and Armageddon, of his uncle, anything at all.

But nothing worked.

He sighted with a big intake of breath, holding it in his lungs. When he started to feel dizzy he let it out, but not even a dizzy brain will let the nagging thought keep from nagging him. If only he could smack it like Zuka did every time Surethim started to bother people?

-"Stupid brain." he grumbled under his breath.

(bah, kinda crappy)

[nightblood]

NightBlood flicked an ear when a yelp sounded close by. Knowing they were in the den with no strange scents to cause alarm, the Beta concluded that one of her pups had a frightening dream. By the sound of it, that pup was Khenti, the runt. Letting her good eye open by a fraction, she turned her head ever so slightly to see him heave himself up and walk toward the mouth of the cave. A sleepy smile graced her face. She knew she couldn't play favorites (with a litter as odd as this one, who could?), but Khenti was much different from the rest. He was smart, something that Night would've never expected would come from Anek's or her own blood line. And yet, there he was.

Another thing that made him stand out from the rest, apart from being the smallest, was that he was the one who had nearly been killed when he was first born. No one could blame RavenShard or NightBlood for the mistake, as he had been so still and quiet that anyone would have mistaken him for a stillborn. For that, his mother knew he was special. He was lucky to be alive and therefore, she was lucky to have him here to be doted upon.

Not wanting to lose sight of her youngest pup, the Beta picked herself up, let out a quiet yawn, and followed him slowly out onto the snowy ground. Here, there was another reason to be thankful to have all eight of her children still alive and breathing. Normally, pups were born in the spring in order to have the whole of summer and fall to grow up and survive the harsh winter. Her and Anek's genes outsmarted the elements once again in this situation, giving the pups very thick puppy coats in order to help them survive during this cold time. Sometimes when NightBlood would watch the pups during a very windy day, one of the pups' fur would fluff up, making them look like a large pillow. To this, it was all the Beta could do to stop herself from laughing too hard.

"Stupid brain."

NightBlood looked around for a moment before spotting the fluffy figure on a nearby rock. Coming down off of the rocks and boulders leading to the den, she walked quietly over to him, making sure not to be spotted. She wanted to surprise him, though she reminded herself of who she was sneaking up on. She highly doubted he wouldn't notice her.

"I don't think it's so stupid," she said when she was directly behind him, lowering her head until it was even with his.

[Akree]

Khenti gave a big sigh and looked up in they sky to see two birds flying away, chirping and sining happily. With his eyes, he followed the two birds as they landed in a thick tree branch, two fluffy chicks chirping happily as their two parent returned with food, stuffing into into their eager beaks. He knew that the two chicks were young and that they probably had more brothers and sisters...who didn't survive the winter.

With a shudder the pup repositioned himself into a more, depressed-pose, giving a big sigh. He crossed his front paws and curled his tail close to his body, his blue eyes boring into the horizon. So it came to no surprise when he heard silent, muffled footsteps crunching ever so slightly in the snow.

From the sound it was much more heavier than a pup, so Khenti immediately knew his mother had seen him scurrying away from his brothers and sisters. He probably woke her up, which was really stupid of him to yelp out when he woke, but what else? If he would have been able to stop himself he would have...

-"I don't think it's so stupid,"

Khenti gazed back at his mother's maroon eyes, a smile playing on her eyes. His blue eyes gazed back, he sighted, but a small smile crept to the corners of his black lips. He liked it when his mother contradicted his depressive thoughts, it somehow made him feel better, the thought of knowing that someone thought you had something good in you.

He sighted.

-"Hi mom" he said, sounding like a grumpy teenager. "Sorry I woke you up, mommy." he said more politely, trying to smile.

Smiling felt a bit weird, but he shook his fur, raising himself to a sit. He gazed back at his mother, trying to smile more convincingly, probably not seceding much and if he did, almost immediately he sighted, his ears back.

He loved his mother and he was sure she loved him to, but he barely saw his father. It bothered him, he worry was probably the source of the nightmare. Surely his father was simply just to busy, he would come again soon, very soon, as soon as he could. He continued trying to mentally cheer himself up, with little or no success, because then came the questions which had no answer, if the pack was so busy, why did Armageddon come at least three times more than his own father? why did his mother spent so much time with the them if she was busy, surely someone else could take care of them with the same diligence and care?

With a sigh he shook his head again, driving the thoughts and questions again, but like a fly that wouldn't go away the thoughts pushed themselves at the top of his head, he could swear he could see the questions blurring in his visions, the words he didn't want to see.

He sighted, more in frustration.

[nightblood]

"Sorry I woke you up, mommy."

"It's alright, kiddo," NightBlood answered, giving him a gentle lick on the head.

She smiled at the constantly sighing pup. Always thinking, this one. She was proud of him for his brain, though she worried he might be giving some topics too much attention, much like Orem. He was smart too, but Khenti topped him. Not that she would point it out. Orem would probably get to Khenti's level once the two sides of him merged. Until then, he'd have to focus more on that than building up his brain power.

A more frustrated sigh caught her full attention. Yep. Something was defiantly bothering him. Sitting down, she lowered her head until it was resting next to the pup on the rock. She shifted, making some of the snow fall off so her voice wasn't muffled. Her good eye looked up at him.

"Whatcha thinkin' 'bout?"

[Akree]

-"It's alright, kiddo,"

Khenti smiled, a struggled misplaced smile, probably making his expression something to laugh at. relief came as his mother licked his head tenderly and he smiled again, easier this time. The small pup shifted his footing, lifting himself trying to look not so depressing.

-"Okay, mommy." he said a bit more cheered up, trying to convince his brain that his mother was here and that was enough, still without much success.

But still the idea of his mom here with him did cheer the pup up. It was more easier than beating yourself up with your won thoughts, no matter how stupid his remarks and observations may seem.

His mother lowered her head, meeting his eyes and shifting her head to the side so her good maroon eye could look directly at his wide blue puppy eyes. Some snow cascaded of the rock, making a weird muffled "plop" sound. If it were in any other more, Khenti would have laughed, but the sound seemed misplaced and he gave a big sigh.

-"Whatcha thinkin' 'bout?"

He sighted, yeah, he was being pretty obvious. Should he tell his mother? He figured she wouldn't let the subject drop that easily and he would feel better getting everything of his nagging brain. His eyes brows knotted in concentration as he struggled to find a way to bring the subject.

With a sigh he looked up, at the family of fluffy chicks and their two parents, both the mom and dad had come to feed the little chicks, had come to visit the nest. The mom and dad were together, like a big happy family. He sighted, shifting his footing and turning his head so he could look at the nest as the chicks scuttled back to the nest and one of the birds sat snuggly in them. The other giving a chirp before going away, probably to gather more food, to work. Khenti sighted.

-"How come dad's never around?" he whispered, more to himself, but turning to his mother, his eyes wide and full of worry that no other pup could probably achieve. "I really like when daddy come, but...." he shook his head, not finishing the sentence. (Yes they way he differenced his biological father with his stepfather was "daddy" being Armageddon "dad" being Anek.

He found it funny that he could have "two" fathers and only one mommy, but it seemed ok, the right way, the way things should be. But somehow he knew it was wrong, there should only be one father, one daddy and not a dad and daddy. He frowned as he struggled to answer his own questions, getting impatient and frustrated.

He sighted is frustration and pound one big puppy paw on the rock. He looked up to his mother, begging for some answers. He needed to know if his nightmare was partly true, if his dad would turn away from him like that and let the snarling wolves get him. He wanted to know if Armageddon wouldn't allow the snarling wolves to get him, if he would have helped Khenti and scared the mean wolves again. He took a deep breath, holding his mother's maroon stare.

[nightblood]

"How come dad's never around?"

NightBlood winced at the question. She had a feeling one of the pups would ask one day. Not all of them would accept it like Zuka had. She was so willing to take Armageddon as her father that she started coming up with ways to make herself think that they were biologically related. She concluded that since she was more solid in color, the only explanation was that a solid colored wolf had sired her. Hence, Armageddon was indeed her real dad. The Beta didn't know wether to laugh or not at this, but she was happy that she accepted him so voluntarily. Some of the others, however, needed a little bit of convincing.

"I really like when daddy comes, but...."

Now there was a little dark humor. 'Dad' being Anek and 'Daddy' being Armageddon. It shouldn't be that way, but it there they were. To her knowledge, Anek and Armageddon had never officially met. This was a bit of a relief because she didn't really want both of them around the pups at the same time. It would be... awkward, to say the least. She could understand the little one's confusion about it. Anek wasn't exactly the fathering type. Heck, she didn't know what type he was.

"He's an Officer and a Warrior, Khenti. He has a lot to do. You're right, he should come around more often than this, but we can't make him."

Now Khenti had his mother sighing. In truth, she'd rather Anek not come around at all. She felt no connection with him and really thought that he should either be a father or stay away, but how on earth could she say that to her son or her other children? In all reality, Armageddon was taking up the role of foster father quite nicely. So far, only one of the pups completely wouldn't accept him, and that was Surethim. It was to be expected since he and Anek looked so much alike. Khenti, she worried, was probably stradeling the fence at this point as it were.

"In the end, I guess you're just going to have to choose who you really want around," she said gently, afraid the concept might upset him.

[Akree]

-"He's an Officer and a Warrior, Khenti. He has a lot to do. You're right, he should come around more often than this, but we can't make him."

Khneti sighted, he knew that, he kept telling himself, he knew his dad was very busy. But somehow he couldn't help as his gaze shifted back to the birds in the nest. He had been looking at those birds for some time now, he always watched as the father returned at least ten times a day to check on his family, always bringing food and singing happily. That bird was busy to, he thought a bit angrily, he had to bring food and make sure the nest wouldn't fall and do all sorts of bird things, but that didn't stop him from coming to visit his family. He was sure daddy was busy to, but he came to visit every time he could, he came to visit and play with them and check on mommy...

-"I still think he should visit more or keep away, he's always a grump when he comes like...like Surethim when daddy pops up" he said a bit more fiercely than he intended "if he's that busy why does he come at all..." Khenti ended in a whisper, his large paws sliding down from underneath as he slid into his stomach, legs outstretched.

He took a big breath feeling the cold sting of the snow on his nostrils, warning him not to do that again. Not his brightest idea. He looked at his mother as she seemed to be thinking of a way to say something.

Somehow his found his eyes shifting back to the nest, the bird snuggled in, resting, waiting for the other bird to come. His tail twitched in annoyance.

In times like this Khenti wished that his brain would double in on itself, so he didn't have to think. Some times, maybe it was better to be like Dakarai, who acted without thinking and said things rude out of not thinking. He loved his brother very much, but he was a bit...clueless. Ah hell, if Zuka could hear his toughts he would get a pounding, or something similar.

With a huff he wondered why he always was thinking, making himself suffer over his own thoughts. Maybe he had some annoying bug on his brain that pushed the thoughts he didn't want to hear into the front of his mind, just to annoy him. He sighted.

-"In the end, I guess you're just going to have to choose who you really want around,"

Khenti looked at his mom, for the first time he thought he would scream out in anger. So not only did his dad not come to visit, but he had to choose. Well that was easy, the pup thought angrily, daddy would be a better choice, he always was around and Khenti knew that somehow he made his mom feel better. And unlike dad, daddy played and laughed and came by more often.

-"Well I like daddy better" he said in a final tone "he's always around and he plays with us..." he trailed off, his eyebrows pulled together as he tried for the right way to shape the words "and mommy always seems happier when daddy''s around." he finished, smiling proudly back at NighBlood.

[nightblood]

"I still think he should visit more or keep away, he's always a grump when he comes like...like Surethim when daddy pops up. If he's that busy why does he come at all..."

Blood gave a half smile and grinned sideways at her youngest son. He was reading her thoughts now. Such a brilliant pup, although the slight ferocity in his voice made her a bit concerned. She didn't want him growing up to genuinely hate Anek. Disliking greatly was fine, but she needed to know they could at least get along with each other in the same area. It was crucial that pack mates cooperated, especially in times of war.

"Well I like daddy better" he said in a final tone "he's always around and he plays with us... and mommy always seems happier when daddy''s around."

"You got that right," Blood said happily, nudging her pup with her nose playfully.

Armageddon always put a smile on her face. She loved him. Having another pup accept him was only adding to her joy. They were slowly becoming a real family. If Surethim could begin to see that, it would complete the whole deal. However, he would have to come to terms with it on his own. She only hoped that Khenti was smart enough to see that.

"I don't want you being mad at Anek, though. You need to understand that it's not all his fault. He was ordered to father you and your brothers and sisters. He can't help it if he doesn't feel as close to you as he would with pups that came from someone he loved. Kind of like Armageddon. He can't help but be around you because he and I love each other. His love automatically transfers to you as well."

That was the logic behind everything, but most pups don't think like that. So, to give it a brighter note, the Beta decided not to end it there.

"Besides, no sane wolf could ever not love pups," she added kindly, giving him another lick on the cheek.

[Akree]

-"You got that right,"

Khenti grinned, feeling a lot better now that the pup got that of his chest. He liked the fact that his mother praised him, and always said thing like "you're right." He appreciated his mother looking out after him, making sure he was happy and better yet, listening to the pup's ramble. He smiled again, feeling much better.

-"I don't want you being mad at Anek, though. You need to understand that it's not all his fault. He was ordered to father you and your brothers and sisters. He can't help it if he doesn't feel as close to you as he would with pups that came from someone he loved. Kind of like Armageddon. He can't help but be around you because he and I love each other. His love automatically transfers to you as well."

The truth, was harder to accept, but he understood almost immediately what his mother meant. It wasn't his dad's fault, he has probably doing his best. Khenti repeated that over and over in his mind and slowly, but surely started to feel better about the whole two dads thing.

-"Dad will always be dad and daddy will always be daddy." he said cheerfully, smiling up at his mom "Thanks mommy, I get it now...I think." he finished, raising an eyebrow, trying to see if he did get it or far off the mark.

Khenti went over the idea of the ups and downs of having two dads and found the idea not that awful, daddy would always be with his mommy, so that means he would visit as long as he had free time, khenti would get to see him when the black skinny wolf got the chance to be around and as for his real father, he would always be there, but not as conveniently placed as Armageddon.

-"Besides, no sane wolf could ever not love pups,"

As NightBlood gave a tender lick on Khenti's cheek, the pup couldn't help, but laugh. He felt better, much better to be able to get that of his chest and shoved back to the corners of his head. He felt better, like being free of some headache, much better. He grinned at his mother, slowly flashing his teeth.

[nightblood]

"Dad will always be dad and daddy will always be daddy. Thanks mommy, I get it now...I think."

NightBlood's smile dropped a little. She didn't know exactly how she wanted Khenti to feel about it. Nowadays Zuka never really even payed attention to her biological father. Not that he tried to gain it anyway. When she did talk about him (which was rare), she called him by his name or 'that guy'. She didn't hate him. But it was clear that she didn't love him either.

"There is another thing, though," she continued, a little grimly, "If Anek decides he doesn't want to associate with us, you won't be able to call him 'dad' either. He'll always be your biological father, but you'd probably have to call him by his real name like Zuka does. Understand?"

NightBlood tried thinking like a two month old pup. It would be a hard concept, but Khenti might get it. He probably wouldn't understand why Anek would want to completely cut himself off from them, but he had to know it was a possibility.

[Akree]

-"There is another thing, though," she continued, a little grimly, "If Anek decides he doesn't want to associate with us, you won't be able to call him 'dad' either. He'll always be your biological father, but you'd probably have to call him by his real name like Zuka does. Understand?"

Khenti tilted his head to the side in thought. Not sure why, but after his dream that didn't come as a surprise, he sort of expected it. His father had turned away from him, disappeared into the forest, his subconscious mind had been trying to tell him something that he didn't want to admit. That one day, something like that might happen. He might someday turn his back to his family and leave Khenti to fend for himself and because of this he had t be prepared to do so.

-"Ok, so that might not want to have anything to do with us, but he still would be around so we might still see him." of course his mother hadn't meant it like that, but Khenti had figured out that the reason he might not be able to call him 'dad' was because he would be sticking around, but not wanting to have more of a relationship than that of a wolf towards his pack mate. He nodded in comprehension.

Khenti leaped down from the rock, shaking of the snow that splashed up when he landed. With a peppier attitude he lay his head against his mother's leg, building up another question.

-"Mommy, why does Orem seem weird and panicky these last few days?" he asked wrinkling his nose "I'm worried, is he ok?" he asked while rubbing his head against his mother's leg.

[nightblood]

"Ok, so that might not want to have anything to do with us, but he still would be around so we might still see him."

Blood flicked an ear and looked sideways at him again. He was right again, but what he said surprised her. He skipped a step and was now way ahead of her. She smiled at the pup and turned her head, looking thoughtfully at the family of birds he was so keen on watching.

"Right again, kiddo," she said, letting her tail wag a bit in approval.

That was when the pup jumped down from the rock. She followed him with her eyes until he came to a stop, resting his head on her foreleg. She smiled and slid her front half off of the rock, laying down all the way so she could talk at his level.

"Mommy, why does Orem seem weird and panicky these last few days? I'm worried, is he ok?"

Another odd question, but at least is was easier to answer to than the Anek subject. There was a simple explanation to that, but one that no one could completely understand unless they had experienced it.

"Well... you know how Mortil has two sides to him? Umbra and himself?" she began, "I was similar to that. Part of me wanted something and part of me wanted something else. It's like you're torn in two on the inside. There's a difference between how I was and how Mortil is, though. Mortil has two souls. He's two separate wolves in the same body."

NightBlood looked toward the den, a frown on her face. She wished with all her might that Orem had never had to deal with this, but there he was all the same. Perhaps, in the end, it would make him a stronger wolf. Both mentally and physically. She turned back to her youngest pup.

"Orem is torn inside, like I was, and like most of my old pack was. There isn't much we can do except do what we can to make him happy. He can bring both halves together like I did, but it will be difficult. We just have to wait."

[Akree]

-"Well... you know how Mortil has two sides to him? Umbra and himself?" she began, "I was similar to that. Part of me wanted something and part of me wanted something else. It's like you're torn in two on the inside. There's a difference between how I was and how Mortil is, though. Mortil has two souls. He's two separate wolves in the same body."

Khenti nodded considering what would make him so panicky. He guessed something like that could be that bad, unless he was afraid of that other part of him or that other part of him wanted to do something that Orem wouldn't approve of... did that even make sense? As Khneti flipped on around ideas, he just got more and more confused, so he shook his head trying to change the subject.

-"Orem is torn inside, like I was, and like most of my old pack was. There isn't much we can do except do what we can to make him happy. He can bring both halves together like I did, but it will be difficult. We just have to wait."

He nodded, that cleared stuff up, a tiny bit. But Khenti wanted to change the subject before his brain popped with his choice of words.

-"But he'll be alright?" that was all that really mattered to Khenti, he didn't like to think of the nightmares his brother would have...

He paused to think as the sun started to heave itself unto the sky. Already the snow was brightened by the warm light from the sun.

-"When will uncle Mortil drop by again?" he asked, a bit concerned and eager to see his uncle. Because he wanted to train them to be warriors, he actually thought it would be better if he learned to fight before all else happened. That would be safer.

[nightblood]

"But he'll be alright?"

There was a tough question. It really depended on the nature and strength of the wolf who had the split. Night could only shrug, not knowing the exact right words to say. But she knew she had to ease his worries somehow.

"If he's anything like me, he'll be fine. Just don't upset him too much," she said, then she gave a wry smile, "You don't want to end up like Zuka, do you?" she asked, referring to the time Orem had turned on his sister, knocking the wind out of her.

That occurrence had no been the happiest of occasions, but at least they could look back and laugh at it now.

"When will uncle Mortil drop by again?"

Blood admired her son's ability to change the subject so easily. She herself had a hard time doing so, since her mind seemed to like to dwell on the topic for a while. She smiled at the thought of her adoptive brother and lifted a paw to drop on Khenti's head playfully.

"Probably sooner than you think. He's got his own training schedule after all," she answered, "He'll surprise us eventually."

In the cave, one of the balls of fluff was laying on her back with her hind legs propped up on the back of one of her brothers. Zuka was clawing at an invisible enemy with her front paws. In her dream, the opposing wolf knocked her over and was trying to rip her neck open. However, he wouldn't be able to complete that task without first receiving a painful rip at his stomach by one of the brown pup's hind claws.

As she slept, Zuka pulled her back leg toward her and kicked up, her heel digging into whatever was under it when it landed.

[Akree]

-"If he's anything like me, he'll be fine. Just don't upset him too much," she said, then she gave a wry smile, "You don't want to end up like Zuka, do you?"

Khenti chuckled and nodded, poor Zuka. That must have been a scary scene for everyone, but right now it didn't seem that out of place. With a nod, he turned away from his mother's leg to stand on her side, on her shadow was more accurate, but he was glad to have his mother talking to him, he didn't know what would have happened if she wouldn't have come, he probably would have been still in mourning and depression.

-"Nah, gues'not" he chuckled as he looked at the snow under his paws and slowly followed it back to the den.

-"Probably sooner than you think. He's got his own training schedule after all," she answered, "He'll surprise us eventually."

He nodded, chuckling a bit at remembering the ash gray wolf, which was badly scared. Khenti could only start to Imagen the source of all those scars and the wolves and who-knows-what-else that had fought his steely uncle.


Sleeping peacefully Dakarai saw twisted branches and running water. Flowers and grass covered the ground while huge trees reached with woody fingers towards the sky. He started to look up to see something dark and furry smash into his nose.

-"OW!" he yelped as some kind of paw like branch smashed into his nose, he could have sworn it even reached his brain.

His vision was all blurry and he could barely see in front of him, but suddenly sharp small claws started to dig into his nose. That was gross and it hurt like hell. So we another yelp Dakarai leaped to his paws and began to run wildly away from his attacker (a killer paw). Unfortunately his vision has still blurry and for all he knew he was still in the peaceful forest, so it came a as surprise when he smashed into the wall of the den.

Dazed he fell flat on his back, tongue lolling out of his mouth eyes wide and staring into oblivion. Was that a tree?!

Vision blurry he blinked, to realize he had smashed against rock and that would explain the throbs of pain that spread across his head, and -thanks to some branch with claws- his nose.

His legs buckled form under him, so Dakarai decided to obey his need to smash into the floor as well. That when he noticed that blood trickling from his nose and head.

He blinked, his vision went black (or red) and gave a weakened yelp. Trying to raise himself into his legs, only for them to buckle from under him and smash his chin into the floor of the den.

Not only what else to do, he gave an urgent, yet weakened, bark for help followed by whines as pain throbbed through his tiny puppy body.