Tell the mirror what you know she's heard before,

'Mommy, why did you kill us?'

Nightmares twirled within the sleepless night, heavy breathing while constant movement, the children often hissing in reluctance toward their comfort - but she paid no mind, for the Queen was asleep. In heavy darkness would it last, the haunting faces of the victims she held. Though not them, her two that looked just like them, constantly asking why did she do it, and will she do it again?

With such horrors she woke up in the morning in a cold sweat, a sigh sweeping across as the sun shinned down onto them. Her two, @Rohesia and @Calhoun, who could not speak, just stirred in whining from the desire of the early lunch.

Célnes decided they would call her mother.

the staff team luvs u

As the newest arrival to Elkshire, it was in Tavra's best interest to gain the favour of their Queen. She felt she'd done a decent job of that already, but was confident in her latest attempt in doing so.

Between her jaws hung a fresh kill: a plump pheasant. Blood trickled from the large wound at the base of its throat and dripped down its head, staining the feathers along the way.

Tavra paused several yards from the hollow where Célnes made her mother's den, taking a moment to sweep the area for any sign of her personal guard. With no one in sight, she wondered with a fleeting and amused smirk if they'd bored themselves to death yet, then stepped carefully forward to deposit her gift.

Soft mewls from within, but Tavra didn't want to stick around. She chuffed for the earthen Alphess to alert her to the delivery of meat, and waited quietly for acknowledgement before she'd be on her way.


the staff team luvs u

There was only few visitors that came since her birthing, usually the medics themselves, the elk, or her royal guards. She was rather pleasantry surprised it but a newcomer that arrived! Her tail gently swept the den floor, disrupting the only half that was asleep, and so the crying only grew louder. The best that she could do was simply use her paws to tuck them closer, a motherly love to quiet them down but of no use ; it was all they did.

"Hello Tavra," Célnes greeted, "how are you?"

the staff team luvs u

From within the hollow came a voice, not a rumble of warning. Tavra pricked a ginger-kissed lobe at the mention of her name on the Queen's tongue, and she blinked in surprise at the small talk to follow.

“All good. Isn't it more appropriate to ask how you are doing?” Tavra remained in her place as she ducked her head to peek across the void she'd placed between herself and Célnes' den.


the staff team luvs u

"I suppose, but it's always pleasant to know how others are adjusting to the forest." She knew as it came with the territory, certain wolves, certain traits.. Would not be permitted, despite the obvious desire for numbers and power that came with it. She would not budge on such a way, the least she had done was accept those who had white, far better then those of pure-white heritage. Even if majority held such colors she would be reluctant - though the fiery woman seemed to be a pleasant split, and a well warrior. 

She would do well to try and keep Tavra to the forest, though the more fierce they are, the harder it was to keep them in one place. She slightly smelled the air of fresh prey.

"I am.. Adjusting, they are quite active," the Queen said through the mewling cries of her young, some more quiet then others, but the first borns seemed to be the most active during the days. Her tail thumped against them, sometimes it was an amusement of simply hearing the tone rise higher and higher when she would tap, then remove. Other times it was a headache, and the mother stored her tail in front of them like a cushion.

"Would you like to see?"

the staff team luvs u

Tavra listened, though she felt no desire to linger. She couldn't make much out from her position but could see the glimmer of Célnes' hot orange irises looking back at her. Not wanting to stare, her own copper gaze was averted as not to cause offence.

“Active is what you want though, right?” Tavra said, her tone confident despite the waver of hesitation in her words - detectable if one listened close enough. She knew next to nothing about babies and their development and, disinterested in ever reproducing herself, she held no desire to understand.

An invitation soon followed, which she absolutely wasn't expecting. The young Mayfair rose her head in surprise, wondering if she'd been set up - were Meissa and Flynn snickering in the shadows, waiting to see the Queen bite her face off? She frowned, torn between her anxieties, her dislike of children, and her drive to support her leader. “Alright,” she rolled a shoulder, strode forward, but paused at the entrance once again to allow Célnes the opportunity to reconsider, “are you sure?”


the staff team luvs u

"Of course, it just means they're strong.. Even if they are currently bundles of trouble." The Queen almost said annoyances, but it wouldn't be very polite, nor' nice to openly call her litter pests to the moment. They screamed and cried, constantly bickering for a teat to drink from. Eyes yet to open - if she remembered by the sawbones advice, it take over a week for them, and even then, their world would just be a blurr. No one remembers the first awakening, and a slight curiosity how they would react to the stuffy den of their many, many siblings.

@Melrose stuffled a small mew.

"If you would like to - I do not believe you would harm them, especially with many within this forest." Oh the obvious threat, any harm that would come she expected the over 20 wolves of Elkshire to rain hell upon any that desired to hurt her children. But, Célnes held no fear, confidence on her reign in the southern forests of temperate, and above with the ally of Nightwalkers in the north. She moved in comfort in the middle of the forest, a safety net of assurance.

Besides, if Tavra was truly a spy, they wouldn't send someone so.. Fiery.

the staff team luvs u

"Annoyances" would probably have been a more accurate description.

Ducking her chest low to the ground, she scooted forward - in the dim light of the hollow she could not see much. Tiny bodies wriggled at Célnes' belly, crying and complaining with noises nature designed to tug at the heartstrings of many a she-wolf. Tavra guessed she must've missed the desire to mother, either that or her own dam had robbed her in the fear she felt of turning out to be exactly like her.

She could not make out how many little figures there were, though she guessed six. The true number of mouths she'd be expected to feed in the near future did not particularly interest her; she would play her part, so long as the rest of Elkshire played theirs.

No white furs, that she could tell. That ought to please the Queen, Tavra mused rather bitterly, as she thought back to recent conversation with Flynn and Meissa. “Can I-” she lowered herself onto her belly, to be more at level with Célnes, who could not unfurl from her newborns for too long, “ask you something?”


the staff team luvs u

Oh but one of the two that did have white, decided to let out a very high pitched cry. They always tried to be on top of their siblings, disliking the feel of suffocation from their piling on, and often waggled her body to be freed from the stack. Many times did mother have to drag her to a rather safe location away from them all for her constant wailing onto the issue.

Head was lifted was the best it good, an awkward shaking of wobbliness, before Queen Mother tucked her between her paws - away from the other seven. A snuggle up to chest, a murmuring of mews for a struggle to look for a teat.

the staff team luvs u

Célnes had forgotten that Tavra was not informed by the unusual quirks Elkshire claimed, though unknowingly, others had mentioned. It was a subject she often avoided to newcomers, unless they particularly asked so, and even then it was rare. She remembered long ago of a golden woman shaming the Deorwine ways, a claim of notorious bad deeds to follow through ; they may dislike white, but they were not true devils.. To some.

"What would you like to ask?" The Queen said, a gentle sigh wisped from her as she picked up Vermillion and placed between her paws, a safe space, from the rest of the litter where she seemingly always had an issue with.

the staff team luvs u

The high-pitched yowl that sounded from one of Célnes' cubs was awful. The crimson wolfess grimaced as the sound pierced her delicate ears, which she twitched as though to free them of the discomfort. Thankfully, with its mother's attention in relocating it from among the group, the screeching lessened.

Her gaze lingered on the face of her Alphess, for she didn't wish to insult her by the scowl that was sure to twist her features should she glance toward the babe between her forelimbs.

“Someone told me that you've got a problem with this,” with an elegant arch of her neck, Tavra gestured to the feathered alabaster of her front, to the pale furs of her front paws, “so I guess, what I want to know, is wether or not there's any truth in that.”


the staff team luvs u

So someone did eventually tell her, and the Queen wondered who, "That is true." It wasn't shameful either, to be excepted to known.. A none worry, as all who joined came to the understanding of what was said to her ways, and none truly left since then. Even quite a few, including Tavra, may hold the abomination of what they are, they were true members of Elkshire regardless. She thought joining so, to help before any sin, was committed, as so their fur prophesizes.

"Within the Déorwine religion - for those who carry white, it is said you have sinned, or will sin. The less you have the better. Someone who was of pure white, would never be found in this forest." Her children started to quiet down, assuming it was lunch time, she placed @Vermillion back into the pile, but rather instead of a screeching mess, there only soft mewls toward the thirst of a teat. They feasted, and all one could hear was the small murmurings of the occasional push between siblings.

"I been betrayed by those who carry so, but, I believe those who carry less can be changed to more.. Holy."

the staff team luvs u

So, Meissa had not been bullshitting her as she'd hoped. Tavra so wanted to believe that Célnes was better than that, yet the Queen lifted her chin and admitted the truth behind her guards words. The young Mayfair, feeling her anger simmer, clacked her teeth shut as she tried - and failed - to stifle a deep frown.

There were so many things she wanted to say, all of which would offend her leader's delicate, royal ears. She furrowed her brow and bit back the snarl of raw disgust that swelled in her throat, claws of her forepaws digging into the earth as muscles tightened along the length of her dorsal.

“And I have been betrayed by those who do not,” she finally spat when the Alphess concluded her ridiculous speel, and her thoughts turned to darker ones of Durnehviir. Her mother, swathed in shades of earth and rust atop fawn and without a tickling of alabaster, had been the most awful being that Tavra had ever encountered. “Can you honestly say, Célnes, that you have done no wrong in your lifetime? That you've never "sinned"? Everybody does, no matter what you look like.”


the staff team luvs u

Though this was the first who generally showed anger toward so. Rather then confusion or general silence, Tavra showed some kind of spat to the matter, a judgement to her religion so dearly, and also mocked by not only others, but herself as well, "I have." Though what has occurred would not be said, too many lives, too many words. Judgement upon all, but she is no God, but a mortal whose selfish through thick and skin.

"The High Elk that so says, has stripped of the future sinners of these colors. A warning, to us, a wariness, of what they shall, or would commit. Only through redemption, and proper guidance, could it be avoided." Célnes looked down to her children, particularly the two were drenched in the faintest of white. Future sinners, she calls them - a day that yet to come for they were just brought into the world. Her words though directed at the small dragon, at the same time they were almost like words to convince herself.

She never thought to be in this situation, where she would have to bare the burden, and correct their prophecy before it was too late.

the staff team luvs u

Tavra was no blind follower. She approached life with scrutiny, a keen eye, and studied each opportunity at length. She was opinionated and confident, intelligent and as independent as they came. Célnes took each arrow the yearling shot in her stride and with grace, proving herself far more patient than Tavra could ever hope to be.

And it fucking annoyed her.

She grit her fangs, steeled herself, wanting terribly to strike with her sharp tongue despite. Her argument was despicable - had no soul with dark furs ever disappointed her, harmed her? Tavra was a judgemental bitch and would be the first to admit it, but to scorn another simply for the colours they bore was ridiculous.

The young Mayfair quickly collected herself upright, cast a long glance over what cubs she could see. Soon their mother would poison their fragile little minds against those in their pack who were expected to help rear them, who she could see now to be little more than the Queen's servants.

Still, she needed confirmation: “did you make me Bearbuck because you think I'll never amount to anything more? Because I'm expendable should I die on the job?”


the staff team luvs u

"You've misunderstood.. You are like a fire, I thought perhaps such energy would be in good use, as well as most of the guards had been assigned other priorities. Would you perhaps like a different role?" It was true though, the Queen did not like the thought of throwing away lives. Rather even war itself was not something to be toyed with, even for her pursuit for power. She preferred the path of control, and easy way of forcing others to do the work she did not like - such as trying to convince Nightwalkers, to perhaps pursue The Pantheon.

Even if she did not show it, Célnes did care for the wolves of Elkshire, holy or not, she thought even those of white had proven their value. Away from sin.. Except though at the moment she argues with one, that does not deter the work he has done.

the staff team luvs u

A simple "yes" or "no" answer was what Tavra had been expecting, but instead she received some long-winded bullshit about which job she might better be suited to. Her suitability wasn't what she'd asked of the Queen - she wished to know if her life was valued. Already Tavra'd learned how she'd swooped in and surpassed the ranks of Elkshire's long-standing members, and did not know why that was made so.

Her ego had been inflated by this, initially, until Flynn and Meisa passed comment on the white of her pelt. She came to realise how naïve she'd been, how her desire for respect and title might've been taken advantage of, and burned her in the end.

She did not answer Célnes with words. Instead the crimson yearling huffed a dissatisfied breath passed gritted fangs and moved away swiftly. She turned her back to the Queen and padded from her whelping chamber, eager to quickly place as much distance as possible between them.


the staff team luvs u

Tavra vaguely reminded her of another long ago. He was a white man, someone she thought to bring to the new land in the hope of.. Opening up the Déorwine ways of sort. She was adamant at the time, determining that their discrimination should be lessened, they should learn to accept. Though my, how the Queen was wrong, for not only did he leave after learning of what the family was about, he left alongside with a lover.. Even later, she ended up being attacked, by a white elk.

Her dislike over alabaster had grown, and while Célnes could put in her due faith toward those of only half. She could never trust one of fully white since Him.

All she did was watch Tavra run off, clearly ruffled by the situation. Would such a dragon stay, or leave? Though with no words said, it remained a mystery.

the staff team luvs u