Watching the World Go By

[Malo]

It was a warm, sunny day in Caden Valley, despite it being the first couple weeks of fall. Atop Moonhowler Cliff lay Fallon. She was stretched out on her back with her legs partially in the air, warming her stomach. Her white belly fur blew in the slight breeze that passed over her. Turning over, she looked out over the cliff, the land below stretching out far into the distance. She swore she could see the Stars territory, but since she had never been, she was unsure.

She had no duties today, so she decided to relax and give her leg a break. So she went to her favorite part of the Moons lands. The mountains. They were high, gave her a clear visual and held hidden surprises and treasures, like the springs. The mountain range was also wide so if she wanted to be left alone, depending where she was, it would take some time for the others to find her.

So there she lay on the top of Moonhowler Cliff, surveying her home in peace and solitude. After her talk with Justyn a few weeks ago, she had regained some of her vigor. Having him rooting for her had boosted her spirits. She hadn't been as depressed the past couple weeks, and had gotten the energy and urge to hunt and become active again, rather than staring at her reflection in the river. She had been more involved than ever in her pack duties. Guarding Caden, working on strengthening her paw and limb, working on hunting strategies. She occasionally patrolled the borders but that was when she was bored, and she wouldn't dare let Duke find out, lest he thought she was defying him. No, that was the last thing Fallon would ever do.

She stretched and gave a yawn, her tail wagging slowly. She was content for once, and she would take full advantage of he alone time.

[Paint]

Duke also had the tendency to reach sky-high into his territory. Sometimes in search of somewhere new, sometimes simply to be alone. He didn't go into No Man's Land because, frankly, he wasn't an idiot. Having seen the enemy alpha dragged through that spit of unclaimed lands and into his territory had actually scared him slightly. Caden was a few years younger than him, although it probably didn't much show right now. Despite his size and reputational force, Duke wasn't one to tempt fate. Or the jaws of an enemy pack.

So he would explore upwards instead. True, there was not much in the way of hunting opportunities up here. The mountain goats had long gone with the threat of a wolf pack nearby, not to mention cougars and bears. Although, even then, there weren't many of them around. Perhaps even they felt the hostility of the Moons wolves. Or they'd followed their prey to greener pastures.

Duke lumbered upwardly, finding himself a good spot to survey his land. This was also how he kept himself fit, but he was beginning to feel the ache in his shoulders and the occasional shudder of his legs as he climbed. He was beginning to wonder how others even still feared him. When was the last time he had killed a wolf? Or even attacked one? The last fight he'd had was with his own son, Onisim, and god knows where he had gone now.

In this contemplative and marginally stormy state of mind, Duke came upon one of his most loyal pack members. He took in her wagging tail and her expression. For a moment he considered sending her away. One gruff growl would tell her that he wanted to be alone. But his feet carried him forwards and his aches kept his muzzle shut tight. He simply settled down near to her, gazing out across the territory, nodding ever so slightly in her direction to acknowledge her existence.

[Malo]

She had heard the approaching footsteps long before Duke appeared. She had contemplated leaving her spot, but some of her stubbornness had returned. Whoever was coming would have to deal with her. The wind had picked up at the moment and she caught the scent of her Alpha. Turning her head, she watched as he climbed the mountain; his steps seemed slower than usual, or maybe she was just imagining things.

She observed him quietly as he drew closer, taking in his large form. His expression was not one of anger or malice, as he was rumored to always have. He seemed, for lack of better words, calm. The last time she had seen her alpha he was threatening to rip apart the throats of two arrogant wannabe newcomers. Oh how they had humbled themselves then. The memory made her chuckle to herself. Fools.

Fallon sat silently as Duke made himself comfortable, nodding in her direction. In turn she dipped her head low, showing her submission, before she spoke. "Hello Duke." How old was he now, she wondered? He was up there in age, but still somehow managed to keep tight control over every member of their pack. Whether it was out of fear, loyalty, or respect, she did not know. She also didn't know what his plans were for Caden, but she had the suspicion that everyone was afraid of what he might do. Granted, it was with her help and a few others that Caden had been dragged to Moons territory in the first place. What happened next was out of her control. As far as she was concerned, it was one of the best ways to weaken the Stars with their already low numbers. They didn't stand a chance if a full on war broke out. She wondered if Duke had any thoughts on the matter, but she wouldn't press the alpha.

[Paint]

Duke's great dark body finally relaxed as he looked down over his territory. Truthfully, most of it was a blur now. A mass of green here and a splodge of brown there. A smatter of blue running through the middle of the valley. Still, he knew it was his, and that put him at peace.

"Hello Fallon," he returned the greeting, turning to her once more. Duke wasn't one to wonder what his packmates, or any wolves for that matter, were thinking. He'd never really had to know. He had a way of making his will happen whatever the circumstance. Part of him remembered being the violent, wily lowly pack wolf and how he'd ripped his way to the top of the pack slowly but surely. Some wolves were born to be Alphas.

His mind continued to wander for a moment as he looked away again. How many pack members did he now have? It was so difficult to tell. Even if he got a meeting together he knew that would not be a full head count. They wandered into No Man's Land, or out of the valley, sometimes they would return and other times they wouldn't. He contemplated Fallon for a moment, her place in the pack, and with a mildly blank expression Duke did something rather out of character.

"How are you?"

[Malo]

Fallon was more than taken aback at Duke's question. Aside from her widened eyes, nothing else displayed her surprise; she wouldn't dare allow it, not in front of her Alpha. Duke was not one to care for the opinions or feelings of others. He didn't have to, considering he could manipulate others into doing his bidding regardless of how they felt. So she took a moment to consider everything that had happened to her recently before responding to the odd question.

How was she, really? Her paw had healed somewhat, but the scar still throbbed from time to time. When she exerted herself too much, it still caused a great deal of pain. No, that was something Duke wouldn't be interested in. Weakness. She thought some more. She had discovered one of Almira's surviving pups. That wouldn't do either; Fallon didn't quite know how she felt about suddenly having surviving relatives, ones so young and so new.

Caden even crossed her mind a couple times. The ambush had happened so long ago it seemed, but she knew it had only been a few weeks. There had been no sign of an impending attack from the Stars yet, but she wasn't fooled into thinking they were in the clear. They had taken their precious Alpha; for that, they would want revenge. It was only a matter of time and everyone in Falling Moon knew it. But they would be ready. In her spare time, Fallon had been working on exercises with her paw, hoping to strengthen it and speed up her recovery. When all hell broke loose, she wanted to be as close to a hundred percent healthy as possible.

She thought about Justyn and their relationship. They had matured the past few months it seemed. Justyn was no longer a hot headed fool, while Fallon had let go of her trivial ways. After her experience with Caden, she was lucky to still be around. A permanently injured wolf was usually a dead wolf, in more ways than one. Yet she had somehow survived...and for that, she was thankful. She was a survivor, as all Moons wolves seemed to be. Their strength and pride wouldn't let them go down easy.

So she thought about all of these things, picking and choosing the pieces she thought might be at least of some slight interest to Duke. It was a simple enough question, so she planned to keep her answer short and simple as well, without seeming like a babbling pup.

"I am well, sir. Healthy and in good spirits." It was an honest answer, for the most part. She looked out over the cliff, surveying the land in all its glory as the sun warmed her fur. They had a beautiful home. How damaged and bloodstained would it become when the time to fight came?

[Paint]

Duke was not a perceptive wolf. He'd never tried to be. He saw opportunities, not facial expressions. He read possibilities, not body language. So he was completely unaware of everything Fallon was thinking, despite looking at her after asking his question. He wasn't sure why he'd asked. Possibly the novelt; after all, he didn't think those three words had ever escaped his muzzle in one calm phrase before.

"Good," was his reply. He vaguely remembered that she had been injured whilst capturing Caden but took her answer to be honesty. Her wounds must be getting better. Duke knew that battle scars were no form of weakness- he himself had lived stronger and stronger after every fight. His skin was probably lashed with scars beneath his black fur, but he didn't feel them.

Duke did not offer her any of his own thoughts or feelings. As much as he did not analyse any other wolves, he was even less inclined to analyse himself. He barely considered his minds words as thoughts at all really, just realities. I'm getting old. We're due for war. My pack is strong.

The first appeared to be what was bringing on these strange twists of personality. Duke, as wilful and powerful as the surging ocean, had come to rest at the shore. He was lapping at it, gently almost. The storm of unfeeling violence that had risen after Myu's death, what he had seen as his last real chance at redemption, had done its damage and now abated. It would rise again, a whirlpooling temper tantrum that would sink his minors noses in respect and fear, but this time he knew that it may be his last. Duke had one last fight in him, though he would not tell a soul.

The war was coming. Last time they had waited until the perfect moment, slain a lowly omega or delta. Had some sort of bird name. Falcon? Kestrel? Eagle maybe? That had only been a useless, weak little pup of a pack member, and the murder of that wolf had sent the Stars rushing into their lands. Although he had killed Xaka and won the fight, Duke knew that it was close. This time he had the alpha. They would hurtle into battle, he knew that. He knew little of how it would personally affect him, though- would he be under attack by the Beta? That black and white female who looked so oddly familiar?

He shook his head, letting a gruff growl escape his throat at himself. Duke did not much enjoy overthinking and this compelled him to stop instantly.

[Malo]

Fallon wondered what thoughts swam in her Alpha's mind as he sat there, so calm and seemingly unaffected by the battle that was sure to come. With Caden in their grasps, many felt like they had nothing to fear from the Stars. But the tension in the air, the changing winds, everyone felt it. Sometimes it was so unbearable; Fallon felt like she was suffocating whenever anyone tiptoed around the subject in conversation.

When she wasn't guarding Caden or enjoying her time alone or with Justyn, she often found herself thinking. She would look off into the direction of the river, waiting to see if any foreign figures crossed the water. Waiting to see who was bold enough to deal the first blow of war. As far as she knew, Duke had no intentions of stepping foot into No Man's Land. Quite frankly, none of them had any reason too. It was not their alpha who was behind enemy lines. The Stars had no choice but to come to them.

Still, she couldn't help but ponder what plans Duke possibly had. They had had control of Caden for over a month, yet the Stars had yet to make a move. What exactly were they doing over there across the river anyway? She knew it couldn't bode well for the Moons, but she would never utter the words out loud, especially not in the presence of her alpha. He had beaten them down time and time again; Fallon was sure this time would be no different.

She noticed his brief growl and it sparked her interest even more. As complacent as he seemed at the moment, Fallon decided to try and lure Duke into a real conversation. "They're waiting awfully long to make a move, aren't they?"

[Paint]

Duke turned towards the younger female with a vague kind of curiosity at her question. If he had been the sort to raise a brow when in thought, he would have done at this point. Instead his face remained stony in appearance. World-weary but toughened against the stormy winds of the passing times.

"Well if you were in their position, what would you be doing?"

It made perfect sense to Duke why they would be waiting. If they were going to attack, they would have to mobilise their forces. If they had any ideas about battle techniques then they would be using this period of suspense wisely. They hadn't tried any scare tactics, true, but Duke supposed that they believed that they wouldn't work. But the very fact that Fallon had asked this question probably played into some half-hearted grand plan of theirs, far away over the border.

[Malo]

Fallon hadn't thought about it before, but maybe she should have been considering what exactly the Dancing Stars had been up to all this time. She doubted they were shaking in their fur, hiding out in their dens as time passed by. No, they were probably spending their time preparing; if she was in their position, it would be the only logical thing to do.

If I were them, I would be thinking of ways to retrieve Caden. But since we have numbers on our side...they should be training as well.

She had no idea how many wolves aligned themselves with those pups across the border, but she figured that there weren't many. She didn't often come across their scents when she used to roam No Man's Land. The thought occurred to her now that no one she had conversed with had crossed them at all since the kidnapping. It was a bit disconcerning, not knowing what exactly their enemies were up to across the river.

[Paint]

"Exactly. They technically have the upper hand," he mused aloud, his voice a grumble as he looked out across the river and was met with the thick greenery of trees across the border. He could hardly remember where his drive had gone. Caden was proving to be useless to him, refusing to give up his pack or his lands. He was simply deteriorating before them. It was pathetic.

"I should probably snap Caden's neck and throw him back into No Man's Land," Duke's low voice continued, without a hint of malice. To kill a wolf in Caden's position did not seem funny to him, but it did not seem wrong either. He looked across at Fallon to see her reaction, but he did not for a second believe that she would take his words badly. She was a strong wolf, she knew what needed to be done to survive. A true Moons wolf.

[Malo]

Fallon had to stop from letting a gleeful smile cross her lips. The thoughts of breaking the Alpha's neck had occured to her multiple times in the past few months, especially after their last encounter. While she was offgaurd, speaking to Caspian, the brute had taken the opportunity to throw himself haphazardly at her; he'd managed to grip onto the tip of her right ear. The fleshy cartilage had ripped as she bucked him off, though surprisingly no blood had spilled. Still, it had been painful and Caden's saving grace had been that Duke wanted him alive, which didn't seem to be the case anymore.

Caden was slowly becoming a bigger liability than advantage. He constantly had at least two gaurds with him at all times, which took necessary pack members away from their other duties. He was useless as far as information went; he was usually unconscious and when he wasn't he spent most of his time spitting out pointless insults or trying to, unsuccessfully, manipulate his guards to have a change of heart and let him go. Fallon was convinced he was in a state of delirium and although she had such fun pointing out his weaknesses, Caden was becoming an irritating bore.

I agree something needs to be done with him. We can't afford to leave someone playing babysitter when the Stars strike.

[Paint]

Duke grew snappy at the thought of Caden. It was not directed at Fallon, at least she had some ideas and was unafraid to voice them, but he felt the tension seep into his muscles as he stared out across his lands. When were they going to attack? It would be winter soon. Were they really willing to spend time needed for choosing mates and protecting themselves against the ills of heavy snowfall in battle? He fell silent for a long time after Fallon's words.

"We'll batter and bruise him until he's unconscious again," Duke decided. "You can tell the others that. If they're guarding him at the time that the Stars attack, you beat him to a silent pulp and then fight the Stars."

Duke was beginning to wonder if he should just lead his wolves across the border and into the Stars land. They had the Alpha, why not take the lands? Then he could reign over the entire valley. If the Stars wolves wanted, they could be in his pack, if not, they could leave. Caden Valley would quickly be re-named Duke Valley. He wanted to chuckle but he knew the thought was too sobering. Duke knew, at this point, that he had too much to lose. For once in his life he felt that his life was at stake in this coming battle. He knew that if he was to die, he wanted to die on his own land.