the days of our glory, JB Den, JB Pack, Y3 Summer

[Juku]

Colo! That was his name! Soviet faintly remembered her mother saying that name, or she remember her mother saying that name faintly; either way, it rung a tiny little bell in her brain, and she latched onto that ding-dong-ding-dong with a fervor. Somehow, knowing his name meant finding him a little easier, and find him she would, with or without Kotch. Kotch, now, seemed to be quaking with terror at the first sight of pack member. That disappointed Soviet, but didn't really surprise him. Well, she'd said she would protect him, so she let him cower over by her flank. If this red fellow got nasty, she'd show him what-for, and then Colo would have to come see them, to see the puppy who took out one of his senior members. Just the idea made Soviet swell out with pride. But the red wolf didn't look angry at all, just a little.. annoyed. Like he wanted to talk. Why did they all want to talk? That was the most boring thing they could do! She stared indignantly up at the pack member, and answered cheekily back to him, "We's not sleepin'! We's better wolves an don need no sleep! Mother won' notice we're gone, not 'tall." Well, that wasn't a lie so long as Sati stayed asleep. "Plus," she added, "we have ur-gent biz-niss wi' Colo. Ur-gent!" She could feel Kotch nudging against her side, and she nudged him back, as it to warn him of what would happen if he blew their cover.

[DragonHybrid]

Despite his suspicions, Scarlet couldn't help but smile in the face of Soviet's clear rebellion, thinking it really rather sweet. It may not have been the reaction she wanted. Still, although he was still unsure where these pups sat on the heirarchy ladder, he was sure that he was still above them - at least while they were pups. Who knew what the future had in store for them? Scarlet let himself glance back at Kotch, the boy's abnormality fascinating, and wondered whether he would be made Colo's second. It wouldn't surprise him - but then again, Colo appeared to want as little as possible to do with the poor creatures. What oh what was to become of them, then? Kotch flinched away again at the calm gaze, though less than before, comforted by Soviet's confidence (and happily complimented by being included as a 'better wolf'). So why would they be looking for Colo? Perhaps Sati... but no, if she wanted an audience she would surely go herself, there were plenty of members content to watch her young, and they still seemed too small to be so apart from their mother. Scarlet considered Soviet's explanation, turning back his eyes to her, saying nothing as he carefully gauged the situation. His decision was not in Soviet's favour. "That may well be," he said slowly, carefully, as though afraid Soviet would explode from premature fury, "but ev'n urgent business can wait 'til morning." Something Soviet had said - mother won't notice we're gone - had decided it; Sati didn't know they were here, which meant that their expedition wasn't authorised. If there was indeed urgent business, then Sati could confirm or deny it. The opinion of the mother meant more to him, right now, than that of her young; he knew very well that the love of a parent ran deep. Too deep to permit this foolishness. "So I 'dvise tha' we do just tha', and right now return you t'your mother. She'll know you're gone." Summoning the authority that wasn't quite natural to him yet, he then stood, trying to bring every advantage to the battlefield (this one being superiority of height) and stepped forward, practically over the pair, then stopped. "I 'dvise," he said again, licking his lips, "tha' yer come quietly, th' rest of th'pack's still asleep." Perhaps some extra threat could have been made, but he didn't feel right throwing his weight around in front of such diminuitive organisms. Kotch stared at him as he moved, and obediance compelled him, terrified of retribution (both if he did not obey now, and what he may have to face back at the den) to turn towards Scarlet, preparing to follow. Something still tied him to Soviet, though, and he turned his head to his sister, gentle pleading in his face. "Vie," he said softly, not so much that Scarlet could not hear, "we's been looking ages, 'n' might've never... 'n we cin try 'gain another time?" He offered it to Soviet desperately, but also genuinely; perhaps she would take note that for once he wasn't just trying to compromise, but showed remorse in their failure and a true willingness to engage in roguish behaviour in the future. Scarlet chose diplomatically to forget that he had heard it.

[Juku]

Was Soviet really expecting this authoritarian if nervous red wolf to let her have her way? Even she wasn't sure. On the one hand, she was Soviet, and the only creature who ever dared oppose her was her dear brother who had so surprisingly joined her on this escapade. On the other hand, this was a pack member. He wasn't family. He was something different, and her sphere of influence might not have any power over him. Which was, of course, a ridiculous thought. Even in her youth, Soviet could understand that there was something special about her and he family. Others treated her differently. Because she was better. So she glared up at the wolf who was twice her size. She could intimidate her siblings this way -- why not him too? All the while, she could feel herself growing antsy. Why did he have to be so slow about things? She wanted to find Colo, and she wanted to find him now! The smile that crossed his face was a good sign: he was going to give in! Of course. No one could resist her. But his words told another story, and as she heard them, Soviet's expression turned from cheeky and confident to very, very disapproving. He was telling her no. Soviet did not like being told no. Kotch's reply was even worse. At the first sign of pressure, he gave just as easy as pie. Oh, he claimed it was because they weren't having much luck, but Soviet could see though those words. He was just using the easiest excuse he had to hightail it back home to mommy. And she had even started to like her brother, had started to think of him as a partner in crime. Soviet realized that she was still scowling, so she tilted her head up and scowled her most intimidating scowl at the red wolf who was so eager to boot them back home. Scarlet had just put himself on her blacklist, and she wasn't apt to forget this anytime soon. She lowered her muzzle, and for a moment the cocky, confident young girl seemed to float away. Instead, all of the energy that she so often released outwardly was focused inward, and she could feel a strange, hot bubbling feeling beneath her skin. Scarlet had unwittingly hit upon the one thing Soviet was incapable of doing. She would not come quietly. She would not be dominated. "Yous all're makin' a mistake," she said, and with a final glare at Kotch (who had severely disappointed her), she broke off running, between trees and under foliage with the agility that only a puppy could muster.

[DragonHybrid]

Scarlet didn't really know puppies. He didn't really know authority, either. Soviet's face told it all, despite Kotch's surrender; they clearly didn't have shared family values. Oh well, one out of two isn't bad he found himself thinking, then immediately scolded himself for it. This was puppies, not rabbits, and nothing less than two out of two would - - shit - "Soviet!" he yelped, having utterly failed to anticipate that her stubbornness for rebellion went so deep. "Soviet!" But it was too late; she was gone, he hadn't reacted fast enough, and though he could track her he would likely lose Kotch in the process, and although Kotch looked like he would be unable to move for several hours - dumbstruck and devastated, Soviet's brother stared at the space she had been in with his mouth agape - Scarlet made the lazy decision. One out of two would have to do afterall. "Come on, Kotch," Scarlet muttered, turning his back on the runaway. If they had been in the plains, he may have given chase, but the foliage was too high here and frankly - frankly? - Scarlet couldn't be bothered. Bastard, said Jambul. Sati won't appreciate your excuses. The mexican wolf swallowed nervously, wanting nothing less than risking the wrath of a mother, but figured that he still had half a prize. It would have to do. Kotch continued to stare, unable to believe that not only had Soviet directly disobeyed an order, not only had she abandoned and rejected him, but that he hadn't followed her. Guilt for letting her down conflicted with his shame for getting caught, until it was all too much and he turned, sniffling and whining, to follow Scarlet, his scrawny, sorry tail between his scrawny, sorry legs. "Sorry, Vie," he muttered through sobs, and Scarlet once more politely chose to ignore it and return him in silence.