Eight and Zen trailed along, in the shorter brush and grass between the tall field and the evergreen trees, Zen led just a bit and Eight followed him to their destination.
Eight was to meet with Deogee, but couldn't think as to the nature of why he was being summoned. In fact, the more he thought on the subject, the more a sick feeling in his stomach grew. What if Lilac trailing to his dugout the night before was the question on the old Wolf's mind? Had Eight committed some sort of Taboo? He had already been in hot water before only days earlier, and the elders assured him that there would be no leniency for matters in the future - if Eight was to live with the Clan, he was to follow certain rules of the Clan. ESPECIALLY when it came to the safety of the pack.
Though Lilac was an Omega, and Eight a Beta, he had been told that as an outsider, he and Lilac should have no reason they could not be involved with one another. He may have needed to work for the pack, but some of the rules did not apply to him.
Eight didn't keep his train of thought the entire trip, as Zen had apparently picked and chosen his conversation after moments of silence. But even though the conversation would take his mind from his fears, they still resided in that sick feeling in his stomach.
"So, the two of you had a gratifying time last night, I trust?" Zen began, "At the howl, I mean."
Eight nodded and smiled,
"We sure did, my friend. Your Sister is incredibly special. I count myself to be... Very lucky."
"Good." Zen proceeded. The two faced forward as they walked along at a leisurely pace, speaking seriously on the topic. Eight followed Zen's lead in this as well.
"Then I won't need to relay to you how special she is. You are aware." Zen contemplated, then continued, "As far as your luck, I have no doubt that you're the most fortunate Wolf I've known. I have no lack of faith that you're not a good wolf. True. Honest. Smart. But I wouldn't be doing my duty as a Brother, if I weren't making sure that your fortunate moirai with my sister wasn't being innocent."
Eight nodded, He figured that was coming, though, some of Zen's choice of words at times could be a little over the top, he still understood what was being said. He considered his response for a moment, he didn't want to rush such a delicate matter, regardless of how innocent he was.
"Well, I appreciate the benefit of a doubt." The shaggy beta assured his pale companion, "And I just want you to know full well, your trust is not misplaced. You know that? Right?"
"Indeed I do. Don't mistake me for badgering, Eight, please." Zen made a point to make his intentions clear, "If I didn't trust you - if my certitude in your amiability and intents with Lilac was ever in doubt, You would be having this exchange from the other side of our territory. Unaccompanied. Solo. I realize now that this line of questioning may not put your mind at ease as well as I intended."
"I hear ya though, man. Loud and clear." Eight assured the Omega again. Zen nodded in return.
"I wonder if you may be a touch more resolute in your attempts to stave off my Sister inviting herself to your abode... In the future?" Zen came out with his main worry now, he spoke more quickly, as though the words were pushing their way into the open, like he couldn't keep them contained any longer.
Eight immediately knew that this was the prime of the conversation, the entire reason behind it. Apparently, Lilac's presence after the howl the night before did, in fact, go noticed. Which is what Eight had a problem with from the beginning.
"I figured that was coming" The Beta said between the two of them. He turned his serious face up and toward Zen just enough to ask a question, "Would it help me any if I told you that I was against it?" He cracked a grin on the side of his face and furrowed his brow up inquisitively.
"As a Beta? Not much." Zen professed. "My Sister... she can be very persistent. I know this is the only quality that got her into hiding with you for the evening. But you are a ranking member of this Clan. As such, I hope you will be more stern in the future. For her sake. Think of it as... Saving her from herself."
Zen gazed over to Eight now, as their eyes locked in understanding before breaking away and facing forward again as they trailed on, ever closer to the Den.
Most of the journey from that point remained silent. With this topic of conversation, Eight wondered if it may be on anyone else's mind. Namely, Deogee or one of the other Lead Alphas. It certainly gave him more to think about now, a better perspective on how to handle Lilac in the future - though the thought of breaking her heart or having to be outwardly demanding of her made his own heart sink.
The clearing the pair walked in thinned out more now, further and further, turning to rubble, stone and sand as they neared the base of the plateau that the clan made their home. Only a few minutes travel upward from here and they would be with Deogee. Eight's heart raced at the thought of being in any real trouble because of his actions the night before.
Eight slowed to a halt now and braced himself for the final paces of his trip. Zen stopped along with him now and read the concern on Eight's face as his gaze went from his paws and up to the den out cropping on the side of the mesa.
"Something troubling you, friend?" Zen asked with a step forward in placid concern.
Eight turned his green eyes to Zen and thought briefly,
"Just a little concern as to the topic of this meeting is all. Given any actions last night that may have gone noticed, I wonder about what it is that Deogee may want to discuss. Or the outcome for that matter." Eight sighed heavily, his lips pursed in thought as his attention turned back forward and to the ground.
"Well," Zen began, patting Eight on his shoulder and speaking more plainly than any other time in Eight's recollection, "There's only one way to find out, huh? Besides, there's a chance that it may not be what you think it is..." Zen looked up the side of the plateau.
Eight looked up at him, puzzled at first at what he said,
"Do you know?"
Zen looked down at him for only a second, as though caught off guard by the question and without a moments thought replied,
"I know many things."
With that, Zen trailed up the cliff side, calling back to Eight,
"Come on. If I'm to deliver you to Deogee, he doesn't want any dawdling."
Eight simply sighed, shrugged and followed Zen up the trails, unaware of what awaited him when he obtained his destination.
Eight was to meet with Deogee, but couldn't think as to the nature of why he was being summoned. In fact, the more he thought on the subject, the more a sick feeling in his stomach grew. What if Lilac trailing to his dugout the night before was the question on the old Wolf's mind? Had Eight committed some sort of Taboo? He had already been in hot water before only days earlier, and the elders assured him that there would be no leniency for matters in the future - if Eight was to live with the Clan, he was to follow certain rules of the Clan. ESPECIALLY when it came to the safety of the pack.
Though Lilac was an Omega, and Eight a Beta, he had been told that as an outsider, he and Lilac should have no reason they could not be involved with one another. He may have needed to work for the pack, but some of the rules did not apply to him.
Eight didn't keep his train of thought the entire trip, as Zen had apparently picked and chosen his conversation after moments of silence. But even though the conversation would take his mind from his fears, they still resided in that sick feeling in his stomach.
"So, the two of you had a gratifying time last night, I trust?" Zen began, "At the howl, I mean."
Eight nodded and smiled,
"We sure did, my friend. Your Sister is incredibly special. I count myself to be... Very lucky."
"Good." Zen proceeded. The two faced forward as they walked along at a leisurely pace, speaking seriously on the topic. Eight followed Zen's lead in this as well.
"Then I won't need to relay to you how special she is. You are aware." Zen contemplated, then continued, "As far as your luck, I have no doubt that you're the most fortunate Wolf I've known. I have no lack of faith that you're not a good wolf. True. Honest. Smart. But I wouldn't be doing my duty as a Brother, if I weren't making sure that your fortunate moirai with my sister wasn't being innocent."
Eight nodded, He figured that was coming, though, some of Zen's choice of words at times could be a little over the top, he still understood what was being said. He considered his response for a moment, he didn't want to rush such a delicate matter, regardless of how innocent he was.
"Well, I appreciate the benefit of a doubt." The shaggy beta assured his pale companion, "And I just want you to know full well, your trust is not misplaced. You know that? Right?"
"Indeed I do. Don't mistake me for badgering, Eight, please." Zen made a point to make his intentions clear, "If I didn't trust you - if my certitude in your amiability and intents with Lilac was ever in doubt, You would be having this exchange from the other side of our territory. Unaccompanied. Solo. I realize now that this line of questioning may not put your mind at ease as well as I intended."
"I hear ya though, man. Loud and clear." Eight assured the Omega again. Zen nodded in return.
"I wonder if you may be a touch more resolute in your attempts to stave off my Sister inviting herself to your abode... In the future?" Zen came out with his main worry now, he spoke more quickly, as though the words were pushing their way into the open, like he couldn't keep them contained any longer.
Eight immediately knew that this was the prime of the conversation, the entire reason behind it. Apparently, Lilac's presence after the howl the night before did, in fact, go noticed. Which is what Eight had a problem with from the beginning.
"I figured that was coming" The Beta said between the two of them. He turned his serious face up and toward Zen just enough to ask a question, "Would it help me any if I told you that I was against it?" He cracked a grin on the side of his face and furrowed his brow up inquisitively.
"As a Beta? Not much." Zen professed. "My Sister... she can be very persistent. I know this is the only quality that got her into hiding with you for the evening. But you are a ranking member of this Clan. As such, I hope you will be more stern in the future. For her sake. Think of it as... Saving her from herself."
Zen gazed over to Eight now, as their eyes locked in understanding before breaking away and facing forward again as they trailed on, ever closer to the Den.
Most of the journey from that point remained silent. With this topic of conversation, Eight wondered if it may be on anyone else's mind. Namely, Deogee or one of the other Lead Alphas. It certainly gave him more to think about now, a better perspective on how to handle Lilac in the future - though the thought of breaking her heart or having to be outwardly demanding of her made his own heart sink.
The clearing the pair walked in thinned out more now, further and further, turning to rubble, stone and sand as they neared the base of the plateau that the clan made their home. Only a few minutes travel upward from here and they would be with Deogee. Eight's heart raced at the thought of being in any real trouble because of his actions the night before.
Eight slowed to a halt now and braced himself for the final paces of his trip. Zen stopped along with him now and read the concern on Eight's face as his gaze went from his paws and up to the den out cropping on the side of the mesa.
"Something troubling you, friend?" Zen asked with a step forward in placid concern.
Eight turned his green eyes to Zen and thought briefly,
"Just a little concern as to the topic of this meeting is all. Given any actions last night that may have gone noticed, I wonder about what it is that Deogee may want to discuss. Or the outcome for that matter." Eight sighed heavily, his lips pursed in thought as his attention turned back forward and to the ground.
"Well," Zen began, patting Eight on his shoulder and speaking more plainly than any other time in Eight's recollection, "There's only one way to find out, huh? Besides, there's a chance that it may not be what you think it is..." Zen looked up the side of the plateau.
Eight looked up at him, puzzled at first at what he said,
"Do you know?"
Zen looked down at him for only a second, as though caught off guard by the question and without a moments thought replied,
"I know many things."
With that, Zen trailed up the cliff side, calling back to Eight,
"Come on. If I'm to deliver you to Deogee, he doesn't want any dawdling."
Eight simply sighed, shrugged and followed Zen up the trails, unaware of what awaited him when he obtained his destination.
