Veiled by a Song: PM to Join (Fox RP)

[cookiethekitty]

(Yeah, she's pregnant. You just thought she was fat? UGH. >:| Kidding. (: Good post!)

Bluebell's fur bristled. "Don't say it so loudly! The leash must NOT know!" She cringed at the thought of how the leash would react if they knew. She glanced down protectively at her bulging stomach. I would fight Zargon himself for these cubs, if that's what it takes! she thought.

[keydemon]

"That's great, thanks." Ryuu grumbled, testing his paws on the hard ground. It felt okay, though, the poultice stung his pads. He nodded to Wisp and walked out of the den. As he passed by Bluebell, he could sense how distressed she was. "Calm down, getting all upset and worked up can't be good for the cubs." Ryuu told Bluebell softly as he passed by her to go lay in the warrior and hunter den.

[Calypso Sky]

((This is so long. Unless you're interested in Copper's novel of a history (which is actually pretty interesting, if I do say so myself), then don't even bother reading all of it, just go through the last three paragraphs. xD And wow Sidewind, Flare was pretty fast )))

Soul led the way out of camp, glancing back to be sure that Shiko and Copper were following. He took them just far enough that the hustle-bustle of the camp couldn't be heard and sat down, mentally preparing for what he had to do.

Copper smirked at Shiko before padding after Soul and sitting down beside the leader and the alchemist, waiting to see what was to be said about his past.

"Copper, you have always been hardhearted and closed off to the rest of the leash," Soul began, "It was a miracle when you began to change. You were fun-loving, dedicated, and committed to doing your best. Little did I know that the only reason for that was your love for Sadira. When she left, she took the real Copper with her and that is not okay. Lately you've been disrespectful and ungrateful. Your mentor and the rest of the leash are fed up with you, and the only one who can do anything about that is you." Soul sat back and waited to see Copper's reaction before continuing.

The warrior apprentice was subdued, and he wasn't entirely sure how to respond. It was one thing to challenge his mentor, who had run out of camp, but it was an entirely different story to do anything against his leader. Copper calmly placed his tails behind him and simply nodded to Soul, waiting for him to go on.

"Now is the time to tell you what really happened when I found you in the woods that morning. I was planning on waiting to do this when you became a full-fledged warrior, but it seems like now is the right time,” Soul glanced at Shiko and then made steady eye contact with Copper. He took a deep breath and began the story, "I always liked to hunt very early in the mornings before the leash got up, and I continued this well into my leadership. The day I found you started off just like any other. By dawn that morning, I was over by the huge, cracked rock hunting mice when I saw a flick of three, gorgeous, white tails. A sweet smelling scent then wafted by my nose and I stopped what I was doing to run after it, knowing very well that it was Kinari. She took me very far, and when I would tire and slow down, she would move beside me. Once I'd get my energy back though, she was up ahead, bounding towards who knows what. That was one of the first times I saw her like that..." His eyes glazed over as he swam in those memories, his voice rose and fell with each and every moment and the story only got more interesting as he went along, "We finally reached an old part of the woods. Many of the trees had died, and there was just a very bad feeling being there. Kinari's presence warmed me though, and I was able to creep forward towards a clearing. In that clearing... In that clearing were two foxes. One was fully brown, and the other was the usual red and white color. Both… Both of them had eyes as red, and as empty as Zargon's, and there was blood on both of their paws and muzzles." Soul's voice cracked and he looked at Copper with pained eyes.

Copper's heart was lodged in his throat, beating so hard, he was sure that Kinari herself could hear it. The apprentice dug his claws in the ground to keep his paws from trembling. More than anything he wanted to get up and scream to block off Soul's story as he ran off. Away from all of this, away from the past that was being told. But he knew he couldn't, and he painfully implored Soul to continue. Bracing himself, Copper waited to see what would be said.

"In the paws of the female, the brown one, was a screaming, whimpering cub," Soul's voice got low as he continued, "She killed it. She killed it and then she flung it over to land on top of two other dead cubs. There was one more cub left, and both of those foxes moved towards it. Without even thinking, I leapt forward and tackled the male to the ground. Catching him by surprise, I was able to kill him quickly. The female was clever and had reacted right away to my ambush. By Kinari Copper, I swear to you that I fought Zargon that day. Your mother twisted out of every grip I tried, but Kinari was standing off beside you, because by now you realize that you were that last cub, and I just knew that I had to get to her. I finally managed to kill her. I buried your family before I walked over to Kinari and you." Soul looked away from the apprentice as he said this, the emotion in the air was so thick, so tangible, and the leader had to control himself before going on, "She picked you up and handed you to me. Kinari led us both home before disappearing. That is the story of your past Copper; I didn't find you randomly in the woods one day, assuming that your parents had died saving you. Instead, I killed your parents to save you."

By now, the tears were silently streaming down Copper's face, and he had to muffle the sobs that threatened to come up. He didn't know how to act, what to think. All of this was so sudden, and so ridiculous, he couldn't even wrap his mind around it. The more time Soul gave him to think, the more depressed Copper felt. He had nothing in life. He didn't have Sadira, he didn't have the hope that his parents were with Kinari, watching over him, and he didn't have the leash, not with the way he had acted. The apprentice bent his head and shook it, tears scattering everywhere. He bit his tongue so hard, he tasted blood, but that was better than screaming out to the forest.

Soul's face fell with the apprentice's and he padded over to sit beside him, stroking him gently with his tail and waiting for him to try and calm down. When it seemed that Copper was more or less better, Soul said, "There is something here for you Copper. Kinari was watching over you that day, and you need to live up to the love that she has for you. Don't be who your parents were. Now is the time for Copper to go back to being Copper. Let the leash, and let your duty to be the best warrior fill the holes that Sadira and your family have left in your heart. Help Kinari, help the leash, and let’s save the forest." Soul finished and pulled the apprentice closer to him, comforting him with his presence.

Copper nodded bitterly; there was so much for him to do, so much for him to make up. He leaned against the leader and stayed there for a while, waiting a while for his breathing to even and for his eyes to dry. He sat up when he felt strong enough and looked Soul in the eye to say, "Thank you for telling me the truth. As hard as it may be, I appreciate knowing."

Soul dipped his head to the apprentice and stepped back. "You're welcome. By the way, Ryuu wanted to see you. If you sprint back, you'll be in camp in a few seconds. Go now and find out what he wants. Shiko and I will join you there soon." Soul watched the apprentice run back before turning towards Shiko. "What do you think?" was all he said.

Copper burst through the camp entrance, glad to have worked his muscles for that little bit after sitting still for so long. He sought out Ryuu in the den and sat down in front of him. His voice quiet and hurting, he whispered, "You wanted to talk to me?"

Raven's eyes widened and she stepped back from Flare, almost in disbelief. "I... I... I..." Raven couldn't think of anything to say, and just then, Jingle was shouting about Creo's cubs. Confused, and glad for an excuse to leave, Raven bounded towards Jingle and Bluebell. "You're, you're expecting CREO's cubs?!?" she tried to say it as quietly and as calmly as possible, but her yellow eyes reflected her worry.

[keydemon]

Shiko's mouth twisted into a wry smile, "You forget, young Soul, that was just a few weeks after I had become a full alchemist and my mentor..." Shiko swallowed, "Our old alchemist, Briar, died. That was a terrifying day for me, not knowing if I could heal you and Copper." Shiko sighed and shook her head, ashamed that she had revealed some of her past when it was Copper who needed help. "I think... his parents are with Kinari." she said suddenly, "They were probably taken over, I don't think they turned to Zargon themselves." Her expression revealed nothing about her feelings as she looked at Soul, "I think Copper has a lot of damage to repair. Especially with Ryuu." she finished.

Ryuu's eyes flew open and he bit back a snarl. He hated to be woken up. Though, what angered him even more was seeing Copper in front of him. His eyes narrowed angrily up at the apprentice, "Yes, I do not want to mentor your any more, but Soul is making me train you for two to three days more." he growled, standing up and pushing his way past Copper. He exited the den, the wraps around his front legs muffling his footsteps.

[Calypso Sky]

"I did forget that," Soul chuckled, his eyes rising to meet Shiko's, "But you did very well that day, if anything both Copper and I were better than new, and you continue to serve the leash amazingly. I don't know where we'd be without you," Soul's smile faded as he addressed the second statement Shiko had made, "Hopefully I didn't make a mistake in telling him, I think he's going to try to do better, and if his parents are with Kinari, then all the better. Thanks for coming and sitting with me, now it's probably about time we went back to camp." He stood up and stretched and slowly walked back to the other foxes, checking to see if Shiko was beside him.

"You... You don't want to mentor me anymore?" Copper squeaked, feeling the tears coming back up to burn his eyes as he followed Ryuu out of the den.

[keydemon]

Shiko nodded and followed after Soul, her soft footsteps barely making a sound as she padded along. They entered camp and she noticed Ryuu's legs and feet looked bound fine. Her apprentice had did a good job. "I'm going to go teach Wisp." she told Soul and padded into the alchemist's den. "Wisp?" she called.

Ryuu spun around, wincing a bit at the pain in his pads. "No, I don't." he told Copper firmly, "Do you think I do after how you behaved earlier? After you insulted the leash? After you were so ungrateful?" he bared his teeth as his eyes flashed angrily at the apprentice. "If you seek softness and sympathy and kindness you need to be mentored by a female. Like Jupiter."

[Calypso Sky]

Soul nodded to Shiko and he padded over to where Heron and Leaf Fall were sitting. "Are you guys ready to go?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

Copper shook his head at Ryuu, blinking his eyes rapidly to keep the tears from falling. "I don't want softness and sympathy and kindness from Jupiter. I want to be challenged, and I want to be pushed until I can't go anymore, and I want to be reprimanded when I screw up. I want you. I'm not going to say bad things about the leash anymore, I just want to train. Can you please take me out of the camp and teach me to be a warrior as well as a protector for the leash?"

[cookiethekitty]

Bluebell hung her head, defeated. "Yes," she said softly. "I'm having Creo's cubs." She lifted her head and looked at Jingle and Raven straight into their eyes. "And I will love them, regardless of who their father was. And after they're born, if you lay a single paw on them and try to harm them, I will tear you to pieces." She felt her eyes burn with fierce and protective love for her unborn children. "A cub cannot choose its father." She let these words hang heavily in the air hoping the words would sink in.

[Calypso Sky]

((Ohh, GREAT post!))

Raven looked for a moment into Bluebell's eyes. One was green, and one was blue and she saw the fire in the soon-to-be-mother's eyes. Raven smiled weakly, "Those cubs will be half yours, and they will be raised by you and the leash. May no trace of Zargon's spirit and Creo's evil ever enter them." The black hunter stood up, not yet ready to go face her patrol and Flare. "Bluebell," Raven said, "I will stand by you and your cubs. Yes, they can't choose their father, but they can't choose what they will inherit from him either. You're my friend, and I will be with you and with what means to you. Your unborn cubs have my protection, however little that may be." Raven bowed her head and flicked Jingle with her tail, indicating that they should be going.

[Sidewind]

Flare flinched as Raven trotted off. He looked at Jingle,Bluebell but especially Raven. He needed someone's comfort know and only her's would do. Yet,Flare would wait for her answer he would wait until she was ready to say yes or no.

Jingle flinched as Raven came over. "Do not worry I will not harm them as long as they live,and yes you are right a cub can't choose her father..." Jingle walked past Raven towards the group but quickly spun around and waited for Raven to join her.