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Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

"Miss Crystalspark."

Alec channelled every last drop of the fluid court manner to which he had recently been subjected, as the elven woman addressed him. He had NOT forgotten the "promised favor" she had extracted from him after his rescue. If she decided to act on it now, it could seriously complicate matters his father was precariously juggling. He elected to wait for her to finish her address, before jumping to conclusions, however.

To his palpable relief, she only asked what his opinion of this mission's success was-- though that too could be a positive disaster politically. In the past four months, his father had ordered the accelleration of his political education, and greatly curtailed his leisure activities. In many ways, he agreed with them; hunting and sport placed him at extreme risk of another abduction attempt, and that was something he was not eager to repeat. On the other, the gruelling pace at which his father had been pressing him into his recently invested role and its responsibilites had been jarring, and unpleasant. He understood the need, and the more his father brought him in, the more he had started to share the man's worries and doubts.

Revealing those doubts, even to a trusted associate, could well set events into motion that could spell the kingdom's doom. He very much wished to evade her seemingly jovial and innocent question she had casually tossed his way, like the venomous serpent it truly was.

Being the prince had become difficult, demanding, and dangerous in a great many ways, and this was one of them-- the question needed an answer, and one that passed the 'smell test.' Carefully selected truths, and discrete half truths seemed the obvious choice.

"I am afraid I could not be of much use to you, with my limited opinions. There is much my father is privy to, to which I am not. These are treacherous times, and a great many things must be kept secret, even from myself. I fear, this matter is one of them. Further, the more I HAVE come to know, the more I fear upsetting his plans."

He took in a breath, then did his best to act casual, before resuming.

"What I do know, is that if he felt the operation could not succed, he would not have summoned you here. There is great utility with holding the lot of you in reserve."

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

The two looked at each other for a moment, then had that thin sliver of white flash around their oversized brown irises, before their ears went back in alarm.

"Ya don thank..."
"Naaawww.."

They once more focused their attention on the patiently seated gentleman, and unleashed another volley of unrestrained verbiage. This time however, it was less jovial reminiscence, and much more alarmed concern.

"Mistah, we ain't gunna be gone no month 'n a half is we!?"
"Pappi dun know we gone!"
"We o'er heared at Cedah were gunna go visit a girl an--"
"--We wann'ed to see who she was!"

They spoke together in unison once more, expressing their shared dismay.
"We didn't 'spect tuh get caught up in some sheit!!"
"We didn't 'spect tuh get caught up in some sheit!!"

"oh dayum-- Poor Pine-- He gunna git all o' it!"
"What you worryin' 'bout HIMS for!? He DESERVE IT!"
"But PAPPI don'!!"

And then once more-- the realization that no-- they in fact, DID NOT tell their father they had left, when they would be coming back, where they were going, why, or anything else that would set his mind at ease. Instead, they had LEFT HOME unannounced, and their father would have more than one child missing, he would have THREE, dawned on them for the very first time since they had set out.
"HE DON' KNOW WE GONE!"
"HE DON' KNOW WE GONE!"

"Wut we gunna do!?"
"We in SOOO MUCH trouble when we git home!"
"We better come up with a storeh RIGH' NAOW!"
"---Yeah!"

That same wide-eyed look flashed between them a second time, along with a mortified expression.

"We aint gunna come back lookin like HIMS is weh?"
"Oh sheeit-- uh hopes not!"

"S'cuse meh Mister Doc-- Dey's gunna be FOOD on dis here trip.."
"--RIGH'?"

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

"Oh-- Acourse!! I's Lileh--"
"--An' I's Rose!"

"Pleased tuh meetcha mistah Doc!"
"Pleased tuh meetcha mistah Doc!"
They said in unison, then continued their assault unimpeded.

"So's, you wus wit' Cedah las' time he wus out 'bout?"
"Why da hell he gone so longed?!"
"Yeah! Pappi was so upset, hims din' let us outta his sight!"
"You any idea how hard it is ta keeps daown a job, when ya pappi won' let you leave da house?"
"We tried fer a WHOLE MONTH AN A HALF--"
"Our lil brudder Pine kept TATTLIN' on us!"
"'An den he comes an shows up all skin-n-bones, with a big arsed wagon full a food, darndest thang!"
"We asked hims what happen, he tol' us tuh min' our own business!"
"So C'mon mistuh, OUT WIT' IT!"

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Small talk? What was that even supposed to mean? Did he mean-- GOSSIP?

A dirty look flashed between them for just a split second, then vanished. Papa hated it when they gossipped, but it was ever so much fun-- and practical to get somebody set up to take the plunge from one of their pranks-- but the comment about the bakery had them confused.

"Why'd he beh all droopy o'er stale bread for?"

"Was dey anybuddy else tryin' tuh buy anuh?"

"If dey was, at'd es'plain it-- at silly bear. He buy all da bread he could 'ford, on accounta bein' a bear an all-- and 'en somebuddy want some afer, and no' get none? You know how he is!"

The two cackled mischeviously with their heads bowed and their noses almost touching each other, before returning their attention to Solomon.

"So tell me fellah, why you's smell like ya roll' in dirt a'fore ya come here?"

"LILY! Ya cain't as' 'at! Dis here nice man wanna tell us why he smell like he crawl' outta an ol' hole, he gunna do at hims own self-- Don' go askin' 'im stuffs like at! He prolly got hims' reasons!"

"Well i's true-- but acourse ya's righ'-- Sorry mis'er-- You wanna tell us why yas smells like an ol' graveyard, you goes ahead an tells us, but ya ain't gotta. Sorreh uh asked!"

"'Ats better! Naow, was' yer name, fellah?"

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Rose sat next to her sister Lily, off to the left, as usual, putting her the closest to the group (and Lily closest to where the 'king' was seated.)

The tall, thin, masked man sauntered like a shadow up to the pair of them as they were lost in their own world, thinking about their brother, and trying to process the encouragement the handsome young 'prince' (whatever that means) had given them. Of the pair, the king, being older and more refined, was the more attractive. However, he seemed a little untrustworthy and sneaky; A thing the both of them were VERY familiar with, being that way themselves.

The tall and masked man seemed to have difficulty sitting down, but crouched on the floor in front of the pair of them, more toward her than her sister Lily, out of proximity, rather than preference. Perhaps he was of well-advanced age? With that mask on, it was basically impossible to tell, especially with how covering his clothing was. The thought about how 'inconvenient' human clothing was in this respect drifted through her mind, but was replaced quickly by his sudden inquiry.

“So tell my my ursine friends, what is Cedar like at home?”

It took her by surprise, and she boggled for a second, trying to process it, before something automatic and perhaps, a bit less than proper, borne of her cheeky mode of affection for her older brother spilled out in the space where conscious and careful speech had left blank.

"Cedah? Oh, he' a fuddy-duddy..."

She felt Lily's paw clench hers, and could feel eyes boring into her from her sister, that just screamed 'No, dont say that!' without saying a word.

"...Uh.. whut I means is..." she stammered, trying to recover, ".. He spen' all his time talkin' ta birds an' bunny rabbits, insteada goin' out an' havin' fun."

Lily then took over for her, filling the void where she was having difficulty expressing herself. This was usually how this worked out. Somehow, the two of them were always 'essentially' of the same mindset on things, despite seeing them slightly different.

"If he given da choice a feedin' an' sittin wit birds, or goin' swimmin' and havin' a good time, he choose da birds e'ry time."

"--Wull, not E'RY time-- Jus' ALMOST e'ry time." she interjected.

The HONEST truth, was that cedar DID know how to go have fun, but *ONLY* after all the 'chores' were done, and that bear had a nasty habit of prioritizing every last beetle over himself, far too often. The two of them felt it was a moral imperative to break him away from all that work to save him from himself, but he did not seem to appreciate their honest efforts, and was frequently cross with them for it. Deep down, they really loved their older brother, despite his being so dedicated. When you COULD pry him away from those tasks, he was actually quite fun to be around. The two of them had some GREAT memories of going fishing and swimming together with him and their brother Pine, despite the irritation and protestations of their mother over it.

"Why ya ask?" ventured Lily.

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Lily looked at the short, black haired woman dressed in men's breeches and a strangely stiff looking jacket top. She seemed positively jovial, even pleased to meet the indifferent looking elf woman, doing her best to appear indifferent and unaffected.

...('She look like she like a good joke, at leas'.').. she whispered to her sister, before her thoughts took a terrible spiraling turn.

--Not like our brother

That was the thought that set it off like a powder keg. How their older brother, so caught up in connecting the dots between how every tiny action affected the outcomes of everything else, that he seemed completely impervious to fun--Even to the point of being preachy about how they needed to be more mindful...

That angry and tired face of his, every time they pulled a prank on Pine, and he found out...

She wondered if she would ever see it again.

Her heart sank, and she clutched Rose's paw tighter.

....('you's thinkin' 'bout 'im, ain't yas?').... was the whispered reply.

..('yeah...') was all she managed to get out, before the emotions overwhelmed her.

"Pardon me, young ladies." came a soft, and polite voice they did not know. It was a smartly dressed young man-- Boyishly handsome-- The thought that maybe he wouldn't make that bad of a dad, "with a little work" flashed through her mind then vanished like a cloud of smoke, replaced by the return of the despair and melancholia over her brother's abduction. "I am prince Alec, Lord of Rascade, and heir to the throne of Kindeance; But please, call me Alec. It's what your brother did."

"You know Cedah?" asked Rose, confusedly. She herself, was curious how this young man could possibly know their brother.

"I do. He, and half of the people out there, saved my life last fall. Your brother is a fearless, and kind creature. He opened my eyes to see beyond first appearances. At the time, I did not know the fullness of his contribution to my rescue. I have... Come to know much.. Since."

The two just stared at him, equal parts incredulity, and wonder. The man continued--

"Every moment I was with him, he seemed to want nothing more than to protect me, and to make me feel at ease. Certain things that did not make it into the official reports, were learned after. I have come to understand that he is a kind, and gentle soul. My father is a fine judge of character, and he esteems your brother highly. It disturbed him greatly when he refused his offer to live here with us, at the castle."

Two sets of brown eyes about bulged out of their respective heads, as two hands clutched tighter.

"Master Steinwell tells me of you; Tells me ... you care for your brother deeply. Understand, you are not alone in this matter. As I said, my father is a fine judge of character. He has selected all of these people to help you, and our kingdom. He passionately believes your brother will aid in this second task, once he knows of it, and what is at stake. As I said, he has worked with half of them before. He asks that you join him. I believe him. So should you."

The man then gently placed a hand on each of their shoulders, nodded, then straightened, and returned to the far end of the room behind the handsome man, still sitting at his desk. There was a wordless exchange. A glance. A nod between the two, then both returned to their surveillance of the room, as though nothing had happened.

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Lily and Rose looked at each other, then into the larger room full of strange, and in some cases, strange looking people.

There was a very lovely woman with cat-features, but she had a very stern and attentive visage that did not look the most friendly. The others were either human or 'elven' (the presumed, from matching the descriptions they had been told about- They had never actually met elves before.)

The handsome older man had instructed them to come in, and sit down among them, but the furnishings looked unsuitable to the task. Quite likely, they would destroy any of the wooden chairs present if they sat in them; Not the least of which from the extra width of their bottoms, but just from the extra weight. There was a bench present though, as if added as an afterthought. They shambled their way in, clutching each other tightly by a left and right hand, respectively, while large irised brown eyes rimmed with a thin sliver of white darted around the room nervously at the assembled group of people.

Who WERE these people? It sounded like they were going to rescue their brother, but what was this talk of war? Her dad and older brother had whispered furtively about it, and the townspeople were worried -- very very worried-- but until now, the two of them had felt that everyone was simply blowing some rumors out of proportion. These people in the room looked, and in some cases, smelled deadly. (and in at least one case, maybe even dead? It was hard to tell. Maybe he was a grave digger instead? All they knew is that the thin, masked gentleman reeked of old grave soil.)

In mere moments, they crossed into the room with slow, ponderous and clearly terrified steps, before finding the bench, then making it creek as they sat down. First one side, then the other, the wood making visible deformation from their combined weights. Never once did those pawed hand release each other.

This entire ordeal had been a terrible one. First, their brother had been taken right in front of them, then the strange man in the pendant instructed them to come ... HERE... then, after they arrived at this massive .. 'city'.. (They had never before seen, or imagined, so many people in one place, nor even considered people actually LIVING behind massive stone walls, like this place had. The closest they knew to this kind of thing, was the tumbled down tower ruins, which had a large stone wall surrounding them, fitted with a large dragon-themed gate that opened for no-one. It was a desolate place that no-one went to, or came from. (The meadow surrounding it however, was a GREAT place to get sedge grass in the spring, and flowers in the summer. Rose had picked more than a few useful ingredients there, and Lily quite enjoyed the flowers... But this place was nothing like that at all. The way the stones were fitted was noticeably different, and inside--- more people than they had ever before imagined, all in one place, doing so much..) men in brightly colored fabrics and shiny metal plates covering their bodies had intercepted them almost immediately, and practically HERDED them down tight, twisty back alleys and to THIS place-- this.. "Castle", the pendant-man had called it. It's interior quite literally would have overflowed the edges of the small village they called "town" by a hefty margin-- and its interior was a maze of both ornate and garishly opulent halls and rooms-- intersected by cramped, drab ones. They had been shuttled through the more drab and tight ones, before being led here, to this room, and instructed to wait.

As they sat down, the opulently dressed man in the center of the room, behind the large heavy table with the colorful roll of paper on it, addressed them seemingly as an afterthought--

"Are there any questions before you set off, is there anything you wish to say in your time of need, we are here to help your family first?"

For some reason, being addressed, and asked to speak in front of this group, sent waves of terror through the both of them. Lily's paw ached where Rose's claws dug in, causing a reflexive clenching of her own, on hers.

---('They lit up brigh', Lilly..').. she muttered nearly inaudibly to her. The realization that these people didn't just look stern and tough, but were powerful enough to give her sister the willies, dawned on her terribly.

She heaved a breath, and asked a question. THE question. It came out cracked, strained with emotion and fear, but it was the only question she really wanted to know.

"A... Are yas... Are yas really gunna help Cedar?"

Then more slipped out right behind it, unbidden-- the secret questions that had been eating at her insides, that she did not dare want to address, even inwardly:

"Why'd dey take 'im? -- He gunna be a'right?..."

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Indeed,.I just have a recurring char that lives far away, and is technically foreign.

He heeded "orbital drop pod insertion."

You are not expected to have more layers of imagination than an onion, or to write war and peace.

I had to get mr bear from being in hibernation and into the mix. That's all. (But I do have a nasty wall o text habit... try not to pick it up, it's hard to break.)

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Lily looked at Rose from where they had concealed themselves-- Downwind, naturally-- to eaves-drop on their dad and brother's "Private" conversation.

Mischief bloomed silently between them, and not a single word was spoken. They had known each other their entire lives, and were "thicker than fleas on a dog", as their dad would often say. They had fleas too, of course, having fur all over, and living outdoors-- but dogs didn't rub themselves with fresh smelling, and sticky tree sap like bears do. Dogs were just too dumb to know such simple but effective remedies to such every-day problems-- and neither of these girls was dumb. They knew *ALL* the rub spots in the area. ALL of them.

Another thing they knew-- was that their older brother was going to see a girl-- and that was something they DAMN SURE was not going to miss out on.

It had been a recurring point of cruel joke they made at his expense, that he was twice their age, and not once told a girl he thought she was pretty. The VERY IDEA that he might ACTUALLY say something-- TO A GIRL-- was just too saucy a proposition for them to even CONSIDER passing up. They just *HAD* to be there.

Naturally, the had come to that simultaneous conclusion, completely without uttering a word to each other, and embarked on their mischief together-- silently stalking their older brother from a reasonable distance.

Cedar was not inexperienced nor did he have a proper lack of being wood-wise, but he wasn't the most discrete about his passing through. The two of them were considerably more sneaky than him-- Mainly, due to their mis-spent childhoods being devoted almost exclusively to mischief when their parents weren't watching. As such, they followed him completely unobserved, as he returned to his hovel, came back outside fully dressed with a huge bow over his shoulder, a fat sack of seeds on his hip, and that absurdly large stick he carried around with him.

It was several days travel, with difficult terrain to stay hidden in (given that several open fields were involved, and requiring them to spend a whole day's travel behind him to avoid being caught), before events turned sideways.

There was a wooded thicket, and their brother had stopped for the night there. In the night, he got up to go relieve himself, as he often did at night, leaving his posessions behind (as there was no need to pick them up and carry the for so mundane and simple trip away), when there was a terrible scuffle.

A red headed woman in flowing robes, a bent old crone, and a handful of ugly, stinky men had concealed themselves, and jumped him in the night as he was squatting. Green bolts of magic flared in the dark, loud cries, and cooing laughter followed as loud male voices called out for ropes and chains.

The two girls watched in silent horror as their brother got drug away into the night, loaded into a nearby cart, and carried off. Neither one of them felt foolish enough to try and intercede on such a dangerous and organized assault. Magic like that-- Neither of them had seen, smelled, or touched-- and it was far too focused for them to consider trying to deflect in the ways they knew. All they could do, was hunker down, and watch in horror.

Stricken, they returned to where his makeshift camp was, and collected his things, trying to figure out what they should do.

It was then that Rose noticed something "Magic" that had been in his pocket. Lily snatched it up like a crow stealing a silver coin, and the two of them hunched over it, examining it closely.

"Uh think it needs some juice put in it--" ventured Lily, after trying, and failing, to fully explore its use. It was so complicated inside, it made her head swim when she tried to delve it.

"Is it really safe to do that?"

"Uh don' feel no dang'rous bits.. Worth a shot?"

They hunched over it, as Rose gave it a gentle 'nudge', and it sprang to life. A handsome looking and well dressed-- if somewhat short and scrawny looking-- man shimmered into view in the center of the odd metal medallion, and wasted no time in addressing them. He was wearing what looked like fancy pajamas-- The incompetent magician that lived in town wore similar at night, and they were familiar with the practice, even though their dad preferred to sleep naked.

"Master Cedar-- To what do I owe....." the man started, a bit cheeky sounding, before trailing off. "You are not Master Cedar. ... Who are.. You Two?"

Lily and Rose looked at each other, then at the strange man in the medallion, then at each other again.

"I's Lily..."
"An' I's Rose..."

"I see." said the man flatly. "And where, exactly, is Master Cedar?"

"HE WAS SHOT AT AN' SNATCHED!"
"THEYS DRUG 'IM OFF!"
"WE DUNNO WHAT TA DO!"
"KIN YA HELP US!?"

The sleepy looking, put out, but still very handsome looking man shook his head wearily before answering as if he were dealing with simpletons.

"WHO. Who has abducted Master Cedar. If you want our assistance, you need to answer my questions."

"SOME RED-HAIRED WOMAN AND AN UGLY OL' CRONE!"
"SOME RED-HAIRED WOMAN AND AN UGLY OL' CRONE!"

They blurted in unison.
There was a long pause as the man looked at them with a deadpan expression, that subtly hinted that he knew EXACTLY who the two offending people were.

"You must come to the castle immediately. For both your safety, and his, you must--"

"Mister, we ain't ne'er been tuh no 'castle' afore, how we s'posed tuh git dere?!"

The look of complete exasperation on the man's face was evident as his shoulders slumped, and his eyes rolled.

"Wait there, while I dress. I will contact you again shortly, and then I will tell you how to arrive here."

and with that, the medallion abruptly cut off, the man's visage vanishing in an instant, leaving the two sisters dumbstruck, and staring at each other.

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

----
[Great misty forest, deep interior]

"NO! Jus' Look it ya! Ya ain't goin' lookin' like at!"

The grizzled, one-eyed man's eye was wide with dismay and indignation. "Yous jus' barely survive da win'er on accounta 'em folks, an' ya wants tuh jus' DIVE righ' back in!? YOU NUTS SON!?"

One-eyed-Jack, his father, was a very... Unique... person. To say the least. Not very many people would even consider being "Married" to a bear, let alone find it "Desirable", for instance-- But on top of that, this man had very very little concern for the affairs of humans outside, and far more concern for the health, welfare, and well-being of even the tiniest songbird, in the most scrubby part of the wood, in comparison. That isn't to say he was completely heartless to human sufferings, only that he felt humans were more than capable of caring for themselves, even to the point that their doing so, often very much jeopardized the health and safety of "Everything Else." -- Like his son.

"Uh din' say uh waz!" he protested, leaning on his walking stick for support. Really, he really WAS very weak with protracted starvation. "You an' Me's gots so dayum much tuh duh as-is, an' uh knows it! But *I's RESPONSIBLE* for em people's suffrin, pops! I CAIN'T JUS' Leave em! Ya taugh' me better 'an 'at, and ya knows it!"

"Yous goes ou' 'ere like at, an' it gunna kill yous fer shour!" the old man persisted, then took a more stricken, emotional break in his tone and demeanor. "Uh.... Uh caint lose ya both... Not tuh EM PEOPLE..."

Cedar hobbled on his staff closer to the old man, and embraced him. He loved the old man very, very much. He felt his hands slide through the shedding, coarse fur on his back, taking tight hold, as the man hugged him back hard.

"Pappi...." he muttered, craning his neck over the much shorter man's shoulder, and behind his neck for a nuzzle. "uh ain't ne'er gunna leave yous..."

The man said nothing. Just shuddered, and buried his face into the fur of his chest. He could feel the warmth of his breath, and the slight dampness of tears there. Cedar gently held him close, and the old man did the same. His protracted absence, and unannounced departure, had severely rattled his father, who had worried himself sick, and nonstop until his return, over a month and a half later. Once again, "Unforeseen consequences" of one's well intentioned actions, bearing terrible fruit.

"Uh's gunna stay a bit long'er-- you an' me's gots suh much tuh duh--" he muttered, rocking side to side, still holding the old man. "Uh know's dis year' "Special" fer yuh an' Mammi... Lil' Pine an' em girls' gots tuh has places fer em 'afore win'er... Wit' 'at many tuh make, it gunna take alls 'uh us workin... Ya knows 'at."

The man let go, then backed up a bit-- pained indignation still hard on his face.

"Suh ya jus' gunna go git, an' run off a'gin, is ya?" he scowled.

"Imma gunna eat wut uh cain afore 'en, dontcha wurry none 'bout 'at pappi..." he said, then placed his heavy paw on the man's shoulder. "... Gunna try an' warsh muh hands uh da whole ugly mess, 'en come righ' back home. Nearly da whole time uhs were out 'ere, uh was thinkin' 'bout bein' back 'ere.. ... an' 'bout yuh.... I loves you pappi. More an' you knowed.... But yuh knows I *HAS* tuh go."

"Ya ain't leavin' till all uh dat work's done 'en!--- AN YUHS BETTER GIT FAT, AN' QUICK, 'er yah ain't goin' 't'all!"

Cedar smiled. He loved his dad so very much.

"Uh will, paps... Promise--- We'd better git on it, en, uh? Mammi ain't gunna let em' little-uns tag along 'ahind 'er fer much long'er, 'reckon. Uh knows how dat is-- Buhlieve meh!" he said with a wry chuckle. "We both know'd she aint da type tuh mess 'round wit, when it come tuh stuff like 'at!"

That single, solitary brown eye narrowed and focused in intensity, and the brow furrowed.

"Nuh-- Nuh she aint!" he said intensely, then slapped cedar on the side. "We be'er git on it, en, shoun't we boy?!"

----

Days turned into a week. Then two.

Old Jack had NOT been idle, while his children had been growing over the past four years. He was blessed with the "Long view" of things, and had been cutting, digging, stacking, and preparing timbers, stones, and other materials as time allowed that entire time, when he wasn't working in the shadows behind the fat, lumbering she-bear he called "Mama", for lack of a proper name, and the cheeky half-human cubs he had sired on her. He always stayed out of her way-- Letting her take the reigns in instructing their children in the hows and whys of surviving in the harsh natural world-- They could not possibly have asked for a better teacher, but he was always there, just in arm's reach, if there was trouble, or need. That was how he and the she-bear managed the need for balance between closeness, and separation that their "Relationship" required. At times, HE would get the kids, while she wandered off to indulge herself on food without competition-- especially toward the autumn months of the year. Times he greatly cherished, and indulged his children with. The man was nothing but love, and affection, with a healthy trapping of fatherly tutelage in "How to be people" when the opportunities arose.

This spring, "Mama" was quite content to let Jack "Steal" the children, as teaching them "How to den" was a very important life lesson that-- as much as it bothered her-- she admitted, she was not the best to give instruction for, given the kind of cubs she bore with her mate, and their unique needs-- and the 4 of them were hard at work putting the supplies he had prepped together, and getting hovels put up.

It was both a source of contentment, and of lament, for Cedar. He loved to see Pine settling into a home of his own-- even if it WAS rather far away from his own-- A necessity actually-- All of them needed quite a lot of space to sustain themselves, and that meant moving quite far from "home", and from each other. But with each hovel being built (thankfully, only two-- the girls had insisted that they would live together, despite incredulous attestations from both their dad, AND their mom, about that), the reality that he would be departing became more and more weighty.

He was still thin, but at least not half-skeletal anymore, by the time all that work was finished.

Discretely, he tracked the old man down again, and cornered him in secret one last time. There were more things... IMPORTANT THINGS.. to discuss with him, before he left.

"Paps... We gots tuh talk."

"Yeas... Yeas we does." said the man, with a kind of cold reservation. "Ya know'd uh ain't happeh 'bout ya leavin."

"Paps.... Yuh GOTTA git dis place readeh... Em problem's outside... 'Ey migh' no' STAY ou' 'ere... You KNOWED what uh mean. We dun talked 'bout dis when uh got back, ya hear?"

"Be a lot easier,---an' uh'd be a LOT happier-- if'n yeh stayed, son."

He was referring, of course, to the risk of both Kindean and Mechean soldiers trying to occupy the village of Mistville, nestled into the bosom of the forest, for its strategic location on the border, and the kinds of supplies either side could pillage from the villagers, in the event of all-out-war. Also, to the risk of serious and catastrophic harm to the forest-- from PURPOSEFULLY SET fires, by the opposing force, if either of them actually SUCCEEDED in that objective. They had decided, that the entire region needed to be as "Completely and savagely unhospitable to any kind of occupational force as was INHUMANLY possible." -- and that meant, rigging the whole forest edge with deadly traps and dangers for any kind of person foolish enough to try to gain admission. A very arduous task indeed, given the immense size of the forest, and the scarcity of able hands to do it with.

Old man Jack and Pine would likely need to spend ever waking moment after the old man's seasonal time with mama, devoted to the completion and succinct assurance of that end.

It would be no small task indeed.

"Uh knowed paps.... Uh knowed." He tilted his head, and smiled at his dad weakly.

"buh' Ya knowed I caint."

"Uh knowed."

There was a long, pregnant pause, then cedar ventured a little more.

"E'res a girl uh cared fer-- in 'at area. Had a narshty woun' in'er chest. Arruh clean through, recon. Poor thang never had a proper meal in 'er life... Did duh bes' uh could fer 'er. Uh wants tuh check on 'er, whiles uhs out. Be on muh way back, quick as kin be, af'er. Promise."

the old man looked at his son with a tipped head, then made a dirty smile.
"AINT LIKE AT PA!" he protested, but the old man just chuckled.

".... A'course it aint--- A'course it aint..." he muttered behind that cheeky bearded smile. "Buh you thinks she need come stay 'ere--- Tuh git be'er, a'course--- Well naow, yuh jus' go righ' on, and bring 'er 'ere. We'll fin' a spot fer 'er."

Cedars ears burned and his nose wrinkled. this was so damn embarrasing.

"PAPS." he protested, but the old man just raised his hand and smiled.

"Bes' be on yer way en, don' ya thank?"