Aaka

She was quiet the entire way. No sound escaped her, and barely any sound came from her falling pads. Silence. She had learned to use it as a weapon. Her eyes went to Liam, and she said This is Pikes Lake. When food is scace, I come here to catch fish. She trotted out into the water, then began to swim. Come on, Liam. We're going to teach you how to swim. She called to him. She didn't fear anything in the water, there were only large fish here. Nothing dangerous. If anything happened to Liam though, there would be hell to pay.

Liam

Liam followed her with a steady pace, "listening" to her explain things. But as he approached the water for his swimming lesson, he looked up to her, eye-voice sad and a little angry. Why are they so mean? Why do they not like you, Momma?

Aaka

Her smile faded a bit and she came towards him so that she could stand. I've done some bad things, Liam. So bad, that some will never forgive me. Not even my sister. Her eyes were drifting, and she turned behind her to look out at the lake. Come on, Liam. She backed up a bit, so that she was nearly submerged in the water. Swim to me. She said.

Liam

He didn't really understand, but his eyes spoke again, determined. You don't do bad things. You're Momma. Mommas don't do bad things.

But he let the topic drop as she moved on, and eyed the water suspiciously, but finally gave in and gave a small leap, landing a few feet away from Aaka. Fortunately, instincts served him well, and so he began to paddle frantically, in a steady if not completely straight line, toward her. Steering... that was a problem. He made a couple of circles before he figured out how to use his tail as a rudder. Once he had that down, he just had to get used to the fine tuning. So, with a splash and a wiggle, he made his way to Aaka, bumping his nose against her chest.

Aaka

Her laughter was soft as he came towards her, and she turned, swimming a bit deeper out, and then went back towards shore. Enough lessons for one day. She....She needed to talk to Liam about everything. Tell him straight up she wasn't a good wolf. If he wanted to leave her, she would understand. She wouldn't want to be with her either.

Come here, Liam. She said to him. Soft, gentle. Take it easy, and don't scare the poor kid.

Liam

Just as suddenly, the lesson was over, and she was calling him. With a tail wave and a smile, he struggled back to the shore, shaking off as grinning as the water sprayed around him.

Finally, he came, running his dial up her leg as he said, Yes?

Aaka

Pain flickered in her eyes, and she began to speak to him so that no one but he would hear.

I am not a good wolf, Liam. I wasn't always a mom, and therefore I had no reason to be good. No reason to worry. My...My first litter of pups were all killed. They were all killed by me. No one thought I would make it, they kept saying I was nothing and one day I snapped. Then I came here, running from my past thinking I could make it all better but it all followed me. My family, my old pack. They all wanted me dead. I made a life for myself. I gained a pack, a mate. I had a new litter of pups, and they all strived. All except one. She was killed by...By another wolf named Torture. Her name was Laporta. Then....About a year later I was raped by my daughters murderer and had three pups. Legosa wouldn't accept them, nor would my other children. I sent them to go live safely with another pack. Then you came along. Liam, I was so happy when you came along, for you looked just like...Just like one of my sons. You don't act like him though. Little Shadow, he was rambuncitous and hyper. You, your calm and gentle with a fire that burns deep inside of you. Your mother...Your mother probably doesn't trust me, and I don't blame her, Liam. I don't even trust me anymore.

It was a run down version of her life. Sort of. She skipped the fact that she had kind of killed her brothers mate, killed her own mate, slaughtered a few members of her old pack but he didn't need to know that stuff. Right?

Liam

He listened, completely unfazed by it, oddly. And when she had finished, the blue eyes that met hers were steady. So? One word. But in that word were so many things, made possible by the version of communication he used.

That one little word... it said that he was sorry that others had mistreated her, wished he could hurt them for her, kill them for her. It said that he understood that her pain drove her to these things... but it also said, and most important... that this did not change his veiw of her.

The fire that lurked in him... the one that his father had managed to pass to him despite all his mother's precautions... it reared up in protest at the indignity and uselessness of undeserved pain. She might she the fire behind his eyes, if she knew to look for it.

Aaka

She could have wept at that single word. She could see that fire in them, for when she had been younger it had been her own fire.

I'm glad you think that way, Liam. She said to him. She then lightly batted him with one of her dainty paws, laughter filling the air as she did so. IT was soft, gentle and quiet. Unused by her in quite some time.

Liam

He smiled and ducked his head as she batted at him, hopping away only to come back and dive under her stomach, coming out the other side and leaping high to grab her ear, playing with more energy than he had with Condemned, and enjoying himself far more. But he soon dropped off of her, eyes looking up to meet hers as a serious tone came to his "voice". Just let them try to hurt you again, Momma. Their blood will make our grass grow. A dangerous purpose was born that very moment... from now on... he was her little soldier, and he would kill anyone who hurt her.

Legosa

Although knowing he was now a grandfather, Legosa hadn't stopped by to see Sweetclover and the younglings yet. He hadn't checked on the whereabouts of his missing offspring, be they Aaka's or Aminita's; the latter of which he didn't hold any concern over. He had tried to find love for Faute and the others, but he had failed. Hell, he couldn't even pretend to try!

Normally, this wouldn't bother him - but because of Aaka, that annoying guilt had built stronger in him. Guilt was an emotion he had never really experienced before, but now it had overwhelmed him until he was forced to make amends.

Returning to the last place he had seen his beloved mate, Legosa was happily suprised to find her there. But before he approached, he held off a moment to observe. Pups... something she loved. Why had he been such an ass about that? So stubborn and hot-headed to at least pretend he cared about pups, just to make her happy? Well, he was going to do that now, ego or no ego.

Resolved to make an honest change in his life for the sake of his love, Legosa took a deep breath and headed onward. Forcing a casual nod to Liam as he drew closer to the two, his eyes drifted to Aaka and softened immidiately. "Hey." Not the most affectionate greeting in the world, but Legosa had trouble expression his 'deeper' feelings in front of others. If Liam hadn't been there, Legosa would have nuzzled her.

Aaka

She laughed softly and batted at Liam, when suddenly she heard the sounds of someone approaching. Her ears perked, she turned to look for that sound, and was delighted to see her mate there. Hey. She replied. She looked to Liam, then back to Legosa. This is...Liam. You remember Lilacs son, don't you? Your son How she wished to say those words. Lilac said I could take care of him now. He was her replacement, for all those lost ones. Do you want to play with us? I was just thinking a game of tag would be fun. Her white banner waved a bit, and she looked so young, so impish right there and the sun hit just right making her look so innocent and beautiful. The Beautiful Murderer.

Legosa

Though he tried, his eyes didn't show much of any interest when the looked back at Liam. He gave a nod to acknowledge he remembered the little tyke, though it had been some time since he'd seen him. When asked to play, Legosa's eyes got wide and he looked to his mate. "Play? Well..." Damnit... no, I will. For her. He thought to himself, sight cast to the ground for a moment as he debated with himself.

"...sure, why not." Legosa forced a half-smile as his tail swayed just a slight bit. When he saw next, so beautiful and unflawed in his sights, the smile grew more sincere.

Aaka

A soft laugh escaped her as Legosa agreed, and those bright yellow eyes looked just like the sun. Okay you two....I'm it so you'd better start running. Her banner waved, and she looked just so adorable as she waited for them to run.

Liam

Liam returned Legosa's nod, and this one too was more an acknowledgement than a greeting. Being Aaka's mate meant nothing. Legosa was not part of the island... and not to be trusted... yet. But his little face remained neutral, keeping this all inside, not even letting it come out through his eyes. Instead, he smiled up at Aaka, tail waving as he took off like a dart, circling around to the one side of the lake, hopping atop a small boulder, his whole hind-end awag. His very posture said, Can't catch me!

Legosa

Not so adept at reading into others, Legosa saw no hinting as to what might be going on in the other's mind. Stupid little imp... He thought to himself, watching as the youngster began to bounce about in apparent anticipation. Lets just get this over with. Why he was so easily annoyed and put-off by pups and adolescents, Legosa didn't know; but for some reason, he just didn't like them. But for Aaka, it didn't matter if there was one or one-hundred here right now - he'd do anything to please her and make her happy again.

Tail high but swaying slightly, the big white brute bounded a few yards from his mate before dropping his front end down in a play-bow.

Aaka

Her laughter filled the air as she looked at one then the other. She bowed low, and darted towards Legosa, but at the last second switched directions, her laughter filling the air and she headed towards Liam, her movements swift. Her limbs stretched forth, she leapt for Liam, aiming to tackle the little pup. Her laughter was soft, and her eyes were full of merriement instead of the pain that she had shown just moments before.

Liam

His eyes grew dark as she headed toward her mate, jealous, but as she turned back toward him he quashed the darkness, waving his tail and half-dodging, basically allowing her to tackle him. He gently gnawed up at her leg, smiling. His attention, however, was half on Legosa. He had hurt Momma... hadn't he? Liam had seen the pain in her eyes... so why were they playing?

Aaka

She laughed softly, and lightly nipped at Liam. She could see the confusion in his eyes, then looked up at Legosa. Love. Its a harsh thing, Liam. It makes you do things you never thought you would do. Then she leapt off of him and bowed. Can't catch us, Liam! She said to him. Her tail was waving, her eyes bright and happy. She looked....Beautiful. Alive, more so then she had in years.

Liam

The confusion in his eyes dissipated, for he of all wolves knew what it was for love to cause pain. His own mother was a prime example. So words formed there in his orbs for Aaka. I know.

But then she was gone, and he hopped up after her, chasing after her with a vigor born from having pent so much energy up inside himself for so long. Now it had been released... and he couldn't seem to stop its flow. Smiling, he leapt up in the air to hopefully capture the end of her tail.

Legosa

The soundless words that passed between his love and Liam were lost on Legosa. For her sake, he was fighting the sting of jealously while she showed affection and attention to another being. He wanted nothing more than to shove that little runt into the lake, but didn't dare.

Instead, acting painfully out of character, Legosa romped towards the pair. His smile was so feigned it looked almost more like a grimace than anything, but at least he was actually trying for once.