constellations;; open

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now that he's back from that soul vacation
tracing his way through the constellations

Oberon preferred winter for exploring. Now that they were in the depths of it he enjoyed the notion that he could see the slightest speck of wolf in an open space. All that blank, cold snow made him see more clearly. He made his way across the usually dusty Outlands picking his way through the snow as it folded down the land before him. He stopped to admire the view through the falling snow, enjoying the solitude.

He knew he should not be feeling this peaceful. He knew that sooner rather than later there would be a battle, and grounds like this would be smattered with red. But for now he had not received the go-ahead. So much tension had formed within him whilst teaching the pack to fight as best he could, he'd wound himself up until he was ready to spring. Now he saw that if he'd been let loose then, he would've been no better than one of the slavering dogs in the enemy pack. Time and patience had brought him into clarity, and he felt that he may fight even better now.

Partly he felt a sense of time passing. Working with the pups, teaching them, had made him realise his wishes to start a family. He'd been in the shadows of the pack for some time now, never really making a mark. He'd always expected that some day a pretty female would catch his eye and it would all fall into place. By now he was wondering if it would take a little more work on his part to find happiness in a mate. He considered the upcoming war, and the hope of spring beyond it, as he stared out across the divided valley and the icy river between them.

[[Midnight]]

It was probably the biggest risk she could have taken, heading out into No Mans Land. Suspiscions about her true intentions and loyalties had only grown tremendously, of course. No one really called her out on it, but she saw enough in the glances and the snarls and even the nips at her face when she tried to eat at mealtime. Her ranking in the pack made her feel more like a loner just tagging along the outskirts of a pack; she had to wait for everyone else to finish eating and abandon a kill before she could even think about taking a first bite. She'd grown thin.

There was little light in her eyes these days. Taya had always been bright, optimistic. Reality had beaten that out of her. She had real life or death responsibility now; to keep Caden alive. To save him and save his pack. Her pack; the Stars. In her heart, she still had a place there. By now, though, she held little hope of ever returning. It wasn't as if they would even take her back after she so suddenly left to join their worst enemy, thinking it was a good idea. She split up a wonderful family as a result, and now he was gone, too. Bion was gone.

She bit back tears as she thought of the carefree best friend she'd made in Bion. She missed him terribly. Life was meaningless without him. Sometimes she considered abandoning this valley to make a new start somewhere else. Cowardice wasn't her style, though, and she couldn't bring herself to do it. Especially when she thought of Bion; he had an ex mate and their puppies. She'd taken their father away from them, so she was forever bound by the life he'd left behind. It was the reason she would fight in this war and give her life to help Caden escape.

It happened once, and it happened so quick that she almost missed her chance. She was left alone with Caden.

She spoke words of encouragement, but he didn't seem to want to hear it. Like Taya, he'd lost a lot of that youthful joy that had made his expression so warmly inviting. Bitterly, he asked Taya why she bothered hanging around here when there was obviously no way they'd survive this mess.

She had narrowed her eyes with anger, and surprised even herself with her choice of harsh words.
"I'm not doing this for you. It's for the families you and I have left behind. It's for Bion, who was the first to die for you. And there are going to be more who will bleed to death for you. Like Sayuri, Caden. Think of your sister with her throat ripped out by Duke. She's probably going to die, so the least you can do is survive and give meaning to all of this pointless bloodshed. If we Dancing Stars live through this, then we've already won."

And somehow, Caden was moved to tears. Something seemed to come back into him, a fresh new wave of strength. It was hope and resolution created out of pure hatred and remorse, but Taya couldn't help but grow speechless as she herself was also moved to tears.

"I've been thinking of a plan," he'd admitted. But that was the last thing she got to hear him say before his guard came back with a slab of meat for the prisoner. Taya was quickly chased away.

She thought of this now. All her brain power had been used the past few days towards strategizing, but for the life of her, she was stumped. What kind of plan could he have, and how would she even get to hear of it, when he was guarded at all times of the day?

Her foot crunched loudly in the snow and she did not notice Oberon until she rounded a large tree trunk and was within inches of his muzzle. Instinctively she bared her fangs and leapt backwards. She was caught off of her guard and had almost run into him. This time of year, wolves were especially skittish. She just might have her nose bitten off yet. And yet...she blinked and her hackles suddenly fell, her lips uncurling.

"...Oberon?" she gasped, her head lifting as the realization struck her hard in the gut.

It was the first time she was seeing a packmate in many, many weeks, and she was without words. Oberon had been a good friend.

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Oberon, oddly enough, had heard the crunch of snow signalling an approaching wolf. He'd inhaled but the wind was against him so he could not tell who the wolf was, but something about the step of the creature reminded him of someone. He assumed it was a Stars wolf, as he was rather good at remembering the distinctive steps of his packmates, so he did not move. When the pale form of Taya shocked into view Oberon snarled in return, not recognising her at first, hackles up and saliva flying from between his long ivory teeth.

He saw her drop her hackles and quit her growling, but he could not for a moment. His snarl continued just a second too long although his brain had registered who it was. She looked so different to before. He stood up straight again, dropping his threatening stance, and stared at her as she said his name.

"What on earth have they done to you?"

It was all he could say at first. His brain didn't remind him quite yet of what she had done. He was aware that she was behind enemy lines and that she'd abandoned all of them, but Oberon had never quite believed that the Taya he'd known was one of them. And the Taya he now saw before him still didn't seem like her. So much thinner, and with a mean glint in her eye from what he could see. He stared at her.

[[Midnight]]

Despite all of her nagging doubts, the familiar smells of another Dancing Star and the sight of Oberon's orange face brought warmth back into her frozen toes. Before she realized it, her surprised frown had turned into a smile of pure relief. She almost burst into tears with the rush of emotion that threatened to take her words away.

But she'd grown the past few seasons. She'd learned to control her emotions when it was most needed for her to keep composure. She stifled her cries and lifted her head, daring to take only one tentative step forward. She trusted Oberon, but she had no idea what he would even think of her.

She stared back. His eyes were unreadable, but she could tell that he was shocked to see her. She swallowed nervously and wondered if this chance meeting was a fateful encounter or a mistake. Her heart was twisted again with depressing homesickness. Oberon's question as he studied her ragged appearance made her all the more emotional as she pictured the one last Dancing Star left behind in Moons territory. She dropped her head with a heavy sigh that spoke of all her frustrations and hopelessness she secretly held inside.

"Oh, Oberon," she whined, shutting her eyes tight. She was picturing Caden now, and both the burden and blessing of the knowledge she had of his whereabouts and living conditions. Like word vomit, all of her secrets started to pour out. And yet somehow it had not even registered in her thought process that she was actually meeting with a Dancing Star, after all this time! She'd been trying to find them discreetly for so long now - a howl would only carry back to the enemy, as well as her home.

"If you think I look terrible, you should see Caden. He's so thin that the wind blows right through him. His pelt is ragged and the slightest exercise makes him weak now. They feed him just enough to make it through the day. He's... He's...."

The white of her eyes were visible as she trailed off in her sentences, and for a moment she seemed to stare through Oberon as though she was haunted by a waking nightmare. It was a brief lapse, however. She furrowed her brows and flicked her gaze back into Oberon's, seeming to remember her place in reality. The hard glint came back into her expression.

"He's trapped. Guarded night and day and kept inside dens during most hours. I would've come back to you long ago, but Bion and I... When they captured Caden, we just couldn't leave him behind."

For the first time since leaving the pack, Taya felt a powerful surge of guilt that left her wanting to lie down and hide her face in the snow. She was finally facing a former packmate with all of her wounds out in the open. To be rejected now was what she felt would only be natural, and she was prepared to face retribution; it didn't mean she expected it not to be unbearably painful. All she had ever wanted was to make lifelong friends and be there for them no matter what.

At least, in the end, she could say that she had done just that.

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Oberon stayed silent as Taya unleashed her secrets, imagining that there had been no release for them in the Moons territory. He was unaware that it was only Taya and Caden left, though, assuming that Bion was still there with her. Oberon was a traditional wolf, and felt a surge of violent protectiveness against Bion as he looked at Taya. The poor female had obviously had little support from Bion while behind enemy lines, she looked absolutely ragged.

"Can you tell me where the Moons dens are? Can you tell me so we can come and save him?" he asked urgently. He knew that they might try to move the old Alpha if they attacked, but he hoped that the element of surprise and Caden's poor shape would make it impossible. The Moons' cruelty may have worked against them this time.

"We're going to save him, Taya," he began again, stepping forwards also in an attempt to show comfort. It then slowly dawned on him that Taya and Bion had abandoned the pack before Caden's kidnapping. She may well be working for them now, using her old ties... He hated to believe it but it caused him to step back again, and he didn't hide his suspicious look. "How do I know that you're not working for them now?"

[[Midnight]]

In her heart Taya already knew that things would play out this way. It was the most natural and obvious path for Oberon to choose. To question her motives was rightful; not just for him but for even for the Moons wolves, really. She didn't flinch at his question, or the way he hesitated in closing the distance between them. Perhaps in the back of her heart somewhere, it hurt, even if it was inevitable, but she wasn't too concerned enough about feelings to start getting bitterly nostalgic. She narrowed her eyes in frustrations.

In the old days she might have cracke under insecurities. How could she convince everyone that she stayed with the Falling Moon pack in order to help them?

It was simple, really. The truth.
If that didn't work, then it was beyond her paws. She had to trust Oberon and trust that he in turn, would trust her. She raised her head to meet him at eye level.

"Do you remember the stories that you, Caden, and I have always heard from the earthquake survivors? About the cruel things Duke used to do to wolves he was once packmates with? We couldn't understand it then, naturally. We were detached from it. Even now, you are living in this mess, but you're still so far away from reality. The truth is, you don't have a clue what you're up against.

"I get it now. I watched Caden get dragged by his back leg while the pack took turns tearing off clumps of his fur. They take pleasure in humiliating him just because they can. It's not because they hate Caden for any deep reason; they just enjoy cruelty. Little things, like holding his head under water when he's just trying to take a drink, or eating meat in front of him and throwing him only pieces of the gizzards."

She stopped speaking for a long pause and simply stared at Oberon pointedly. Her eyes were flickering with her struggling composure, but her muzzle stayed shut tight in a firm frown until she decided to continue her speech.

"I've always respected Caden. Now I'm blessed to have the privelege of having a front row seat to watch him suffer unspeakable torture. Meanwhile, my best friend, the only one I have left in this world, has disappeared. I'm terrified that he's dead or lying injured somewhere, waiting on me to find him. If that is the case, I'm afraid all of my strength will die with Bion. So look at me again and ask me one more time; who's side am I on?"

She let a tear slip and it rolled down her white cheek, but she preferred not to acknowledge her own pain any longer. This was not a meeting to earn her sympathy. What was important was that Oberon learned all he could and relay this information to the pack. If anything, she was at least glad that she no longer kept the burden of this lonely guilt all to herself and could share it with those back at home. Though she did not have good news to give them, it was still a relief to finally communicate with one of her old ties.

"Listen carefully! Falling Moon is not a tightly-knit family like we've always been. A lot of them are loners and have dug their own dens across the territory. But Duke and any wolves who are on guard duty are all collected in the same area. If you go east to where the river forks off two ways, go directly south. The dens are beyond the forest. If you reach a tall cliff in the center of a barren clearing, you've gone too far West. If you make it to the Heathland, you're too far East. The territory is cut off to the south by mountains... If you had to, maybe you could skirt around the valley, and come in through the mountain passes..."

She clenched her teeth in frustration as she looked down a the ground, seemingly studying the soil but really just trying to think clearly.

"Caden said he's been thinking of plans, but before I could ask of it, I was chased off. I'm afraid that I don't have much else to give. He is guarded day and night by at least one wolf."

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Oberon found it so strange to hear these words coming from Taya's mouth. She used to be so bright, so positive, and to hear such awful realisms pouring from her made his heart sink. But it also convinced him. He knew that for better or worse he had to believe her, and it seemed natural to him to do so anyway. He stepped forwards, gently at first, moving halfway across the distance. He didn't know if she wanted physical comfort, but he was offering it. It was his way of showing peace with her.

"I have to tell Bandit immediately. This information could give us the upper hand, Taya," he tried to smile, but he knew the topic was too serious. Her words about the torture of Caden had seeped into his bloodstream and the adrenalin had begun to pump, pushed by anger and duty. "We will save him. And you. And Bion, if we can find him- we're all going to be there."

He didn't want to tell her that even the youngsters had been training. Firstly, he was unsure if she would think it was right, or whether they were sending the next generation on a suicide mission. Secondly, it was not that he did not trust her, but if she were tortured too... He knew that wolves would give away any information to make the pain stop. So he didn't tell her the power they were trying to create and wield, for fear that it would cause her harm.

"I need you to do something for me. If it's at all possible, it's all I can think of," Oberon rushed his words a little, it was very unlike him. Despite the deep layer of freeze around him he felt no cold, only his heart pumping. "Rile them up. Turn them against each other. If they're as volatile and cruel as you say they are then it would do us so much good for them to be split up into warring groups. Does that make any sense?"

[[Midnight]]

Of course, Taya couldn't be sure what kind of reactions to expect from Oberon. She knew that Oberon and Caden had been good friends; Caden once spoke of how much he'd valued Oberon's opinions and how he'd been the first to join up with the sibling duo to form the pack. So perhaps that was why she was not surprised to see that Oberon, despite staying level-headed, was deeply troubled by what little yet terrible news Taya had to offer.

She felt oddly calmed now to have shared her load with someone else, at least at first. Still, when Oberon stepped forward to offer her comfort, she surprised herself by ducking her head low, closing the distance between them, and burying her muzzle into the soft undercoat of his chest. Her tough exterior crumbled away and she let herself be soothed by the nostalgic scent he carried, smells that originated from her true home.

She didn't let herself indulge in the pampering for very long and after inhaling one last time, she pulled her head back, just as Oberon began with his first reply. At the mention of Bandit's name, Taya was reminded that the Stars had been without leadership upon his kidnapping. But Oberon spoke immediately of Bandit, the headstrong female that Caden had personally picked as his Beta, and this was another piece of relief for Taya. Bandit must have taken over completely in Caden's absence. Taya didn't know her well, but what she knew of her was all reason for admiration.

She, too, tried to smile but her looked sad. The upper hand? Not likely. She didn't voice her negative opinion, however. In the end it would not change things, since she knew they would all try to rescue Caden no matter the consequences or how hopeless it appeared.

Oberon grouped her and Bion into the list of wolves that were to be saved. Somehow hearing her situation put into that perspective made her eyes widen. She felt shocked to hear it from someone else; that she and Bion were trapped. In reality, the two of them could make an escape at any time, but what kept them there was Caden. She let herself sigh a long, quiet exhalation.

Yes, that's right, she told herself. Our fates are tied with his. If he can be rescued, we are free.

Her thoughts were interrupted and her eyes went back to Oberon's gaze as he turned the conversation back to strategy. Her heart skipped a beat when he mentioned that he wanted her to do something for him. She couldn't possibly imagine what it was, and she felt momentary fear that put a wobbly weakness in her paws, but Oberon was speaking in a hurried tone and she didn't have time to think much of it. His suggestion was heard by her and she found herself thinking immediately that, yes, this could be done. Some hope came back to her. She straightened her neck.

She'd already seen how these wolves interacted with one another. Many of them she'd been watching for a while; she knew their families, their relationships... She'd even been involved in a spat of her own that, somehow, seemed to spark a chain reaction that reached all the way up to the Beta, Justyn. It was such a strange situation; she'd met Bion's mother, who was mad at him. She'd seen the way Justyn looked both at Rose and at the orange-hued female next to him. She'd also seen the jealousy in all of their eyes. Somehow these wolves were all connected in some sort of emotional web; if she could get to the Beta, perhaps she could even get to Duke himself.

"I can do that, I think. I can start rumors. I've met the Beta before - somehow he's connected to Bion's mother. Bion is Duke's grandson, you know," she spoke softly, her eyes darting around as her mind raced from one idea to the next. "Anyway, the Beta wolf seems unstable. For some reason, he targeted me and Bion and yelled at us, until he realized who Bion was."

Hmm...she wasn't sure yet, but she'd definately come up with a good lie that would turn these wolves on each other and start another chain reaction in the ranks. She looked back to Oberon with a determined smile. It was the first time she'd looked so confidence in months.

"Leave it to me. I'll do something useful while I'm there," she said, raising her tail out of the dust. "They have a strong fighting force. Over a dozen adults and some yearlings. I...hope you're all prepared to-"
She couldn't bring herself to finish. I hope you're all prepared to die. There would obviously be casualties. Still, it was all she could do to acknowlege that out loud.

"I'm sorry that we left the pack when we did. If anything happens to me, I just want you all to know - especially Esmerelda...this is my fault. I was the one who convinced Bion to join the Moons. If we had been there to help, maybe Caden wouldn't have been caught. And Bion wouldn't be as trapped as Caden is."

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Oberon felt his heart gladden when Taya accepted his physical comfort. In the blistering cold wilderness he felt her warmth against his and it reminded him of his previous thoughts. This would be the year. He had to survive because he wanted a mate, and a family. He had something to live for, and he was sure of this need even if he wasn't sure who he could share it with. When Taya stepped away again he was brought back to reality. Still, he felt it still within him, and it gave him strength.

He listened carefully to what she had to say, taking in every detail. In times of war even the most insignificant of details could be helpful. When she stumbled over her words he knew what she meant, and he nodded a little. It didn't matter if she didn't see, he needed to know it.

"It won't come to that," he said to her last comments. The thought of something happening to his previous packmate saddened him, but also steeled him in his task. He also did not want to deliver the news that Taya had led Bion astray from his family, because it angered him. But it was not his business. "I will go to Bandit and give her this information. You rile the pack as best you can. How many days do you need? I doubt we'll get the chance to meet again, we need to decide anything important right now."

[[Midnight]]

More relief was to come as Oberon explained that he would relay straight to Bandit, and it gave Taya more courage to keep trying. Maybe this wasn't so hopeless after all. Everyone was willing to give their lives to help Caden and stop Falling Moon from their tyranny. They would pay for their sins. It always came with a price, and Taya was aware that she hadn't yet paid all of her debts, but she would go back to the enemy pack with her head held a bit higher now.

"Thank you, Oberon," she responded, her eyes shining with gratitude as she forced a smile to her face. "I'm glad it was you I found. You've always helped clear my head."

She felt she was getting inappropriately off-topic and shook her head, giving focus back to the tragedy at hand. The matter was serious and she hoped the task Oberon had given her was not too much for her to handle. It was scary but it was somehow thrilling, too, because she was finally feeling as though she had real purpose.

"Give me three days. The pack is due for another hunt soon, and I might even be able to get to Caden again to talk to him. He's..." she trailed off, looking for the right word to describe Caden's mental state. "Besides being physically weak, he's mentally exhausted, too. I gave him a pep talk and it seemed to make him more determined to fight back, but there's only so much strength that words alone can give. The hardest part of the battle will be getting him away safely."

She shivered in the cold breeze, but her eyes were hardened in her strong willed desire to fight back. She wondered if Oberon would leave her now to find Bandit, and it made her heart ache. She felt so much less alone now, and wished she could stay around her packmate for more than just a few tense moments.

"If Duke decides he wants to strike first, I will try to slip away and warn you all. I have a feeling they are smarter than that, though, so I may not have as much freedom soon. If anything, I'm hoping to be held prisoner with Caden while the fighting goes on. I can drag him away."

Of course, in the back of her mind, this is all her assuming that she wasn't about to be slaughtered when the pack pinpointed her as the source of malicious rumors.

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Oberon smiled at the compliment, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He wasn't sure if he would feel entirely right until the pack was back to normal. Somehow he was so determined for victory, he hadn't even paused to consider any other option. At a later time, perhaps. But not now, not when he needed to be strong for wolves like Taya.

"Don't get yourself hurt," he reminded her. Taya didn't seem like the deceptive type, but if her life and happiness depended on it... Perhaps she would discover another side to herself. Or a side he did not yet know of, at any rate. "You don't look like you once did, Taya. You look tougher. And the fact you haven't come back yet... maybe they'll fall for it. Maybe."

He paused, watching her as the wind whistled about him. His mind tracked back through their conversation, recalling the important information, willing it to be branded into his memory. When she shivered he stepped forwards again and nudged her cheek gently with his nose.

"Go, get back. Get warm. But... wash the scent from you first. It may be too cold for water, but you can mask the scent with something else," he suggested. He wanted very much to press himself to her to warm her, but knew it was too risky. It may be one embrace too many, it was too risky to have his scent clinging to her fur when she returned to the Moons lands. He dipped his head courteously to her, ever the gentleman, and felt the urgency to run and tell Bandit the news. But he paused, waiting, not wanting to abandon her until she was ready to leave.

[[Midnight]]

Taya shuddered again as Oberon chided on her to be careful. She wondered if he thought she was crazy for having stayed there so long, wondered if she had done the right thing. On the other hand, she pictured Oberon in her situation - one of Caden's closest friends - and could not picture the male running back to the Stars just because living in the south was too scary. No, he would also stick close to the pack just to do whatever he could to protect Caden. It was just a shame that Taya couldn't do more.

She nodded to reassure him. "No matter what happens, I'm not ready to die. If they come after me, I'll run, or even take one down with me."

The next phase of his speech made her feel odd. To hear someone else's subjective viewpoint on her appearance was like an out of body experience. She would never have guessed that she looked tougher, just worn out and frightened. She was encouraged, though, and stood a little taller as he nudged his nose into her cheek. Such warm expressions from a friendly face was so comforting that words would not come to her. She remembered how sorely she missed home, and the sweet old days of stargazing with Oberon and lazing in the sunlight with Bion.

Her ears angled forward, she found herself agreeing with Oberon that she needed to be careful about her scents. She would take her time returning to the pack, perhaps even make a fresh kill if she could and cover herself in the blood. She was still lost in these thoughts when she saw Oberon dipping his head, the conversation ceasing now. The harsh wind whipped up snow into their pelts and she tried not to feel overwhelmed by sadness. Was it over this soon? Seeing Oberon had been just a small but significant dose of encouragement, and she wished she could stay much longer in his company. But to even suggest that was, she felt, selfish of her. She sighed.

"Same goes to you, Oberon. Let everyone know I am safe and sound. And, about Bion... I don't know about him just yet, so no need to assume things and upset Es and their pups. I'll keep searching for him. Who knows, he might be planning something."
She hoped she sounded more optomistic than she honestly felt. But she was trying to think rationally. There had been no talk of him being killed or injured, so he was probably just on the down low.

"See you soon..."
She took a few steps backwards, keeping her eyes glued to Oberon, all of her emotions spread dramatically across her white face.

[Paint]

"Everyone will feel strengthened to know you are safe... and that you are still on our side. I know I am," he smiled genuinely, shivering ever so slightly as the wind blustered snow from beside him onto him. Then it dropped again, taking the chill out of the air, and his bronze fur protected him once more. He was glad to hear some fighting talk in Taya, but fearful for her. If they were as bad as she said they were, then... He stopped the thought, instead focusing on her face. As the emotions played out all over it he realised how much he felt for her, how much he sympathised her situation. He probably would've stayed over the border too.

"If you need three days to stir things up, Taya, then I'll stay with you as long as you wish. It will not make any difference to us."

Oberon hated to see those he cared for suffering. He was a protective wolf, sometimes too much, and he would've given anything to go back with her right now and bulldoze over the border to take Caden and Taya back himself. But he knew, unfortunately, that he was not strong enough to take on the enemy himself. It frustrated him. He wanted to make her laugh, make his old witty jokes- and see her, and all of the others, light up. Right now, though, he knew this was serious. It was no time for jokes. So he waited patiently, not feeling the cold anymore, smiling a little. It would not be wasted time of his to stand there forever if it'd make her feel better.