Where I left my lover,

How the days seemed bored, and lonely. Conversation of passing by that didn't provide the ample socialization she so sought. Company was but a dulling matter and often tended to her children were were of an adore, and yet were not on the same level ; especially not with their mother. Amusement they may bring but she sought for someone of a comfortable level for but chit-chat and voided of politics — or even a tension, thoughts that plagued her mind of who, and where she would be betrayed once more.

The endless wandered almost seemed to cease, and a shame to be for those that desired to be recruited. A silence would wave over — and she wondered how @Teodora was faring on the outside. Finding friends and lovers, Celnes wondered with an amused, but soulless chuckle. She would hope the other is safe and well, but achieving the goal she was sent to do.

A sigh, escaped the Queen, as she laid upon a fallen log and paws dangled off. A bore, she thought at the moment. It almost seemed she wanted to find trouble, which was very unlike her.

Maybe she should toy with an affair, ah..

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It doesn't look like it's changed much, Siilgit observed. She had gone ahead of them, stumbling all the way, unused to her long legs. Mooksgm'ol could already tell that the brown cub would be taller than her at this rate, broader and brawnier too. Her voice was low and gravely too, breaking and cracking like any young man's. Already the pale bear was thinking of her adult name.

“No, it doesn't.” Mooksgm'ol observed, sniffing the air. The smell of apples had faded away, replaced by strange smell of melting snow, wet ground and bark and leaves. Spring was arriving though. She could see the buds on the trees, fat and round and beginning to show their colors.

Oh! Mother, there's Queen Célnes. Mooksgm'ol turned at the sound of Ts'iwaangit'voice, following her gaze to the regal figure of the Elk Queen. Huffing approvingly, she began to approach the wolf, only to be outpaced by Siilgit.

Hi, hi, hi! Hello! she says in heavily accented English. Hi Queen! Hi! she runs in tight circles in front of the wolf, grinning broadly with delight and jumping in the air. Mooksgm'ol shook her head reprovingly, still too tired from the lack of energy to chase after her daughter, with her youthful energy and long legs. Ts'iwaangit remained at her side, blinking with wide eyes at the wolf queen.

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tags for reference!

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Though a man who did not whisk away the Queen appeared, she perhaps found something of equal value. The bears had returned from their hibernation, a long winter that it was and the realization that truly, spring was around the corner. The relishing of the ability to hunt once more as easily as she usually would, would once more return. The glistening of the forest and the riches that it brought, she was waiting for all that the colors would appear.

A warm smile upon her face as she watched the excitement of the cub, running around with greetings in a heavy accent, but understandable. She relished — if only her own children were just as cute. When she thought of her entire litter, she supposed.. @Warwick was the most innocent in nature above all, and the gentle sickness that @Melrose brought as well.

The rest? She didn't hate them, but they definitely did not provide the puppy cuteness that she sees the cub before her have, and that energy. @"Calhoun," had an arrogance to an air and loyalty to the High Elk presenting already, but she would admit.. He was a cute child for maybe a week, so innocent and playful, and she already missed his more sacred nature. Alas her other children could not say the same, as she imagined them. @Edith and @Rohesia were prideful ones with the same arrogance, an unruliness took hold. The rest of her children were.. Cynical, and downers. Always within the shadows, of a quiet or crying nature.

Celnes only had one, Warwick, that held the same energy that the cub had. Well, though she'd never admit — he was the favorite.

"Hello there, and good day" she greeted, "you all came out from hibernation?" The Queen asked, clarifying with a smile and a question. If it was but a minor visit through their slumber, she was honored to be greeted.

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Her children were old enough to speak on their own, and she let them do so. They were itching to do so, Siilgit especially, after so long asleep and quiet. Siilgit nods vigorously, mmhm! mmhm! Ts'iwaangit peeped up from her mother's side, looking up, unsure. Yes,

Mooksgm'ol sits back on her haunches. She was starving. Her milk reserves were low, though her daughters were more than able to feed themselves. She needed to eat soon. “We just made down dem mountains.” She says. “How have dhings been?” What goes on in a winter for wolves? She had to admit, she never really knew.

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"It has been a lackluster of a season, though safe, and well-fed." The Queen admitted, openly stating no war was presented or even a fight to the matter, nor did someone come looking. Though vaguely did she fall into the fight of an actual buck, but that was a moment kept to herself.. It was a strange time, where religion came through and mocked in the form of whatever it was. Her son and daughter met such a man, Duez from what she remembered, but for the time being.. It was a secret to the rest of Elkshire. They need not to worry.

"The boars are quite active if looking for a meal." A prey who did not hibernate, and to the luck of the forest, was a prominent meal. Surely they must be starving after a season of resting. She did not understand how they hibernated without food.. Were they hungry after sleeping so long?

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Edith loathed when Célnes conversed with those who were lesser than them—especially the less common fauna of their woods. She saw weakness in her mother’s mercy, and she wasn’t shy about stating her opinion regarding it.

She had been tracking a stray boar through the tangle of roots and underbrush, but was easily distracted when she came across the Queen’s recent scent trail. She followed it quickly, wondering what her mother was up to. As she neared she could hear the a conversation. Although she wasn’t entirely sure who was responding, Edith somehow recognized the voice.

Emerging through the sun-dappled wisteria trees, Edith’s curiousness was addressed. She wasn’t pleased, and it showed. ”I was just tracking one,” Edith interjected, regarding the conversation of boar. She strode to stand beside Célnes, her chin high and her expression judgmental—this thing was an abomination and disgrace to the High Elk.

Edith wouldn’t disclose where she had found the scent. No, that would be unforgivable in His eyes.

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Well-fed was good. She nodded approvingly at that, though she had to wonder what Célnes meant by lackluster. She wouldn't know what winter was really like, having slept through the bulk of it for all of her life. Perhaps there wasn't enough snow?

What's a boar? Ts'iwaangit asked, looking up at her mother. Mooksgm'ol prepared to answer quickly in their own tongue, but was cut off by Siilgit's scampering. Siilgit had seen the incoming wolf before she did, wandering over to her to greet with a smile and a hello hello!.

Mooksgm'ol only grunted. She saw the judgement in the younger wolf's eyes, and had to wonder: was it because she was a bear? Certainly the Queen had long since disseminated that information. Perhaps she was new...no... She saw the familiarity between the two. A child, or relative. Why the hostility, then?
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Her eyes narrowed as she looked at her daughter — though a pride and joy, she held an arrogance that wasn't controlled compared to some other of her children, "Behave yourself Edith," Celnes sharply said to her daughter, "though they are not part of Elkshire, we share the forest." It wasn't wise to get on the badside of a bear family, much less show an hostility. Rather, she took the incentive and welcomed the family to the forest, an extra side of protection in case some betrayers came to wage a battle. Casting her as a villian, it wasn't unexpected. At the very least though, it has been so much time.. That it seemed her worry for naught.

"My daughter is very protective of her family, we do not meet many others besides those in Elkshire, especially of other species.. I'm afraid she is not used to them." As she tried to bandage the situation of Edith's rude behavior, "but she is quite a wonderful hunter, aren't you Edith?"

Perhaps maybe the young Deorwine could eventually show the other her tracking efforts, and where the boar may have gone.

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Edith’s attitude was (understandably) not welcome. Especially when she ignored Siilgit’s greetings; she did a once-over of the younger bear and continued on her way.

She glanced at Célnes, feeling the sting of her mother’s tone, before he turned her attention towards the nearest tree line. Edith was smart; she knew her limits, and obeyed more often than not.

The princess huffed and lashed her tail, deferring to the queen’s order.

While Célnes tried to fix the damage that had been done, and Edith observed the spaces between the trees. There was nothing interesting, but Edith favored boredom over looking at that thing.

—”but she is quite a wonderful hunter, aren’t you Edith?” said Célnes. Edith nodded, returning her gaze to the bear.

”I am,” she said matter-of-factly, ”I prefer hunting large game.” Edith knew that some of her younger siblings preferred smaller prey, and she pitied them. It took true skill to hunt larger animals.

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Clearly Célnes disapproved, and the reasoning became exceptionally clear: daughter. Mooksgm'ol had not met many of Célnes's children, but the resemblance was unmistakable, even with different eyes. Edith at the very least adhered to her mother's words, perking up slightly as Célnes turned to praise. Mooksgm'ol had glowered at first, but did her best to shake her annoyance aside.

Siilgit looked crestfallen at not being acknowledged, though the disappointment did not last long — at least, not visibly. She looked between her mother, Célnes, and Edith, before asking: Eedit', Eedit', what laaarge game? she said, experimenting with the words on her tongue. Though it was quieter, she could hear Ts'iwaangit doing the same.
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As a Deorwine, they were prime hunters. Long legged beauties, rarely were they stocky or even within the smaller side, but it wan't exactly rare, just more uncommon then their taller counterparts. It was something they took pride, for their warm browns and tall features — wonderful hunters, which her daughter was falling suit. She knew not what her size would be in the end, but would follow nonetheless. There was a nod of approval..

But at the same time a look of 'play nice,' as she expected her daughter to answer the young cub, in a nice manner.

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What a moron. It took every fiber in Edith being not to roll her eyes because should could feel Célnes’s stare. There’d be trouble if she misbehaved. Though, there was something that she had to correct before answering the other creature. ”It’s Edith,” she said flatly, with some grit in her voice. Edith let out a sigh; why’d she insert herself into this stupid conversation?

”Big game is … well, big animals,” Duh? ”Like, uh, boars and cattle and buffalo.” she glanced at her mother, silently sussing whether or not the queen agreed.

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She grumbled at the girl's correction. The word was hard enough for herself, let alone a child, learning two languages at once. She could at least be considerate of that.

She translated each word as they came, knowing that Edith did not understand the truth of the confusion. Then, she added on. “Large prey. They say game to mean prey. It is another term for it.” Both her daughters looked perplexed. She didn't blame them. Why did languages have to be so hard with their synonyms and metaphorical and colloquial uses?

“Dem girls, dey don't speak Common so good. Neit'er do I,” she explained to Edith, looking her square in the eye. “Dis all new t'ings to dem, Ee-dit',” she said the girl's name, reiterating that even she spoke it that way. An accent was a hard thing to lose. She wouldn't have her children mocked for holding onto their heritage.
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Edith felt Mooksgm’ol’s stare—the wrath of a true mama bear. The expression reminded her of Célnes, and intuitively, she knew that she needed to step down. With a defeated huff, Edith broke eye contact.

”Okay,” she replied, having nothing else to say. She remained silent for the rest of the conversation with a bitter taste in her mouth. Why had she allowed such a sinful creature silence her? It was pathetic.

When she finally broke free from the dreadful conversation, Edith went off to sulk alone and apologize to the High Elk. She had failed him today.

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