The shadows, they grow in a back of my mind,

@Edith

Faust didn't know much about who her family was. She was aware of names, and the only ones the young deorwine was close to, was relatively her littermates and the eldest of all of the Queen's brood, Warwick. However she had heard of her older siblings, and had seen Maral a few times here and there as she was younger, though.. Avoided her. All of them. There was a few others within the forest that she was aware of, though they too relatively were silent and kept to themselves. Yet, she was awfully curious, as far as she knows she was the first-born of the second, but was still younger then all of them.

Her venture took her out of the den. Although Faust would like to see them ; she didn't know where they would be. Her nose twitched and tingled, the smell of family and elk within the area but she knew not how to use it, or even follow. Tracking was a sore method, and she could see on occasion the older Elkshirian's do so. Sometimes she'd find it, but then lose their trial shortly after.

Faust didn't dwell on things too often, there was no point for if she cried — not many would be around to comfort. Though when they do it felt heavy, like a reminder of a warmth that had trouble gaining from a particular. They didn't have it often, but she wondered why she yearned it so.. It was a lonely feeling that was quick to try and ignore ; as no one would be there to clean up their tears.

Her ears flickered, the sound of running water was within a distance. She noticed that the forest was abundant of trees and occasional streams, and had yet to properly find a deep water source. Just a few dry ones here and there of nothing but a puddle. Her tail wagged slightly, as she carefully moved to follow the steps of where the stream was. Over the rocks did she go, over all the debri that fell from the trees.. Oh the sky was very blue today, the frosted elk noticed.

She was close to the stream, but got distracted by above as a bird flew by. It was also blue.

the staff team luvs u

The day was pleasant enough for Edith to wander through the Elk's Crown without overheating, and this allowed for her to do something that she'd been meaning to do. She wanted to track down her younger siblings and do something to establish her place within the family's hierarchy. They—the bastards that they were—had no place in Elkshire as far as she was concerned. Today, Edith sought to lay down the law. Although it took a little while to track one of their trails, she got lucky along the shoreline of one of the forest's many rivers. She followed it southward, taking her time to stay out of sight of the child. 

Maybe this one will slip and drown," she thought to herself once she spotted one of her siblings through a particularly heavy tangle of foliage. Watching Faust, Edith sat and observed her little sister. The child seemed oblivious as far as she could tell; a bluebird flew overhead, distracting the blue-eyed child. She grinned to herself, feeling as though He had aided in setting the scene. 

When Edith felt ready, she began to prowl towards Faust. She slipped through the shadows and navigated the uneven terrain with grace and fluidity, stalking in an arch so that she could approach from behind. Once she was satisfied with her position—and only when she felt ready to attack—Edith threw herself toward her sibling. It was hard to gauge if she had been successful in catching her sibling off guard, but there was no going back now.

She sent a prayer to the High Elk that she would land her strike.

the staff team luvs u

Idle so, the bird came, and went, soaring high beneath the leaves that no more could Faust see. She paused for a bit, craning her head and staring in it's direction like she expected it to return. Although it never did, and she was going to go back to finding the stream that was heard distances away ; the young bastardly Deorwine, was attacked.

Like any child would be she didn't know how to prepare herself, nor' even see the signs. Faust yipped, crying and alerting any adults or parents nearby that she needed help, she was being attacked by someone she knew not but they smelled so similar to Elkshire. But a stranger that they were it only caused a fear, a reflex on attempting to bite back with puppy fangs and growling, fur standing as if a giant puffball but with their size they were nothing but an adorable, frightened, baby.

the staff team luvs u

Faust’s cries only motivated Edith to move faster and to strike before anybody else could interfere. This wouldn’t take long—she assumed, at least—as the child was defenseless. It was pathetic—she was pathetic.

She leapt towards her sibling, aiming to drive the much smaller wolf onto her back.

the staff team luvs u

Maral heard the cries of a whelp, and at once she was sprinting. She didn't even take a moment to consider what sort of danger might await her, what horror she might look upon, she simply ran with a body driven by instinct to protect.

We never asked to be born, she'd told her brother upon finding him at the crag, neither did they.

It wasn't fair that little lives had to suffer for the mistakes of their parents. While she hadn't exactly been the most accepting of her new siblings, Maral would never wish any harm to befall them. Especially by the paws of those who were meant to be their family.

She did not hesitate to charge in on arriving at the scene to witness Edith's crime, for immediately at the sight of her rogue sister did a red mist cloud her judgement. Reminded sorely of childhood tainted by neglect, of loving a mother who favoured the children who didn't appreciate her, of the crowding and cruelty and fear

With a guttural snarl from she who'd been mostly silent throughout her whole life, Maral moved in with every intention to permanantly mark her "perfect" sister wherever her fangs might find purchase - no matter the consequences.


the staff team luvs u

Skipped/PP'd @Faust with permission from Cyprin.

---

Edith had managed to tackle Faust—but her victory was short-lived. They had company; she had not expected anybody to arrive as quickly as Maral had. "Stay out of this," she warned. "This is not your battle to fight." The warning didn't matter. Maral was already charging toward them. She whirled around to face her sibling with her fangs bore, knowing that her warnings wouldn't deter her sibling.

Things were about to go down. 

She lunged, leaving their younger sister to fend for herself, and aimed for her littermate's throat. Although Edith wasn't sure how much training Maral had gone through, she was confident that she had the upper hand. She had trained with their father after all.

the staff team luvs u

Fueled by a very real hatred for her mother's more beloved daughter that she hadn't known lay dormant at the heart of her, Maral felt only fury for what she'd witnessed.

Edith, a brat from the very beginning, entitled and vain and nasty right to the core, dared to bark orders at her. She who'd departed the forest wordlessly, she who'd broken their mother's heart with her stubbornness and pride, she who dared harm a child. There were no words her sister could say that would stop her from attempting to assault.

So they clashed, a collision of bristled bodies and snapping teeth, and Edith at once ducked her head to reach for the most vulnerable area of the shadow's throat. Maral, unwilling to shy from the fight she'd thrust herself into in defense of little Faust, jerked her head back as she reared up so that Edith instead found purchase on the offending alabaster of her chest. Her grip was firm, enough that canines pierced flesh, and she felt the sharpness of it despite adrenaline coursing through her veins. Made all the more enraged, Maral clacked her fangs repeatedly toward Edith's head and reached to hook her forelimbs around her neck and shoulders, to shove against her with the weight of her body so that the imbalance might encourage her to release.


the staff team luvs u

skippable

---

Without knowledge to defend herself, Faust was thrown into a fight ; her first one, and one that was unexpected. What was once playful banters between her siblings and self was now diverged to a successful tackle that riddled herself with an uncomfortable pain, feeling her pelt slide into the uneven ground and rocks digging into her back. She whined, large baby-blues looking at her supposed sister with a questioning of a 'why' of what was happening before her. Shouted as any puppy would do, a savior of sorts ; crying for her mother who at the moment, was not around.

She could only squirm and move against Edith, although that moment of being caught and trying to fight against in a meekish puppy biting as shortly lived as another figure flew from the deep woods, and intercepted. Faust knew of her, the older sister who held a paw similar to herself though a quiet one, rarely around unlike Warwick and it was surprising to even see her come out — and attack Edith.

She scrambled up, getting away and plunging into a bush as the young Deorwine peered and watched the brawling of sisters, but could only ask — why?

the staff team luvs u

Edith was surprised by Maral's tact—she had suspected that taking down her sibling would have been a breeze. While she bit her sister's pale breast, her opponent worked to imbalance her and gain the upper hand while biting repeatedly. She snarled through the pain, feeling each bite burn as it happened.

As Maral shoved, Edith released her hold and forced her head upwards, aiming to headbutt her sister's chin as she struggled to keep her balance.

the staff team luvs u

Grappling, Maral's claws raked through Edith's fur as she fought to hold her firmly in something resembling a headlock, scratching against neck and shoulders. With this movement, the latter released her hold of her hide and maneouvered, squirming to maintain balance.

She had not expected the backward jerk of her sister's crown, which collided roughly with the underside of her white-tipped muzzle. Maral felt the connection, the sharp pain of it as her own fangs clacked together - catching her own tongue and unknowingly forcing the tip of an upper canine to chip away as it made contact with another tooth.

Blood pooled in her maw, spilling from between her lips to drip onto Edith's brow as she saw stars and slackened her hold. Maral stumbled backward, dizzy and disorientated. She shook her head in attempt to ease the overwhelming discomfort, spattering the area and likely her littermate with crimson-tinted saliva.


the staff team luvs u

She could smell it : the ting of metal within the air and the unusual sounds of battle. Not many fights happen near Elkshires claim, especially inside its borders that the Queen prowled through with a minor haste of curiosity. Yet the closer she got, the more her pace hastened as the scents mixed were far too pugnent to be mistaken as any other. Her young, were fighting.

Although Celnes was not built as a fighter, her years of border patrol and minor scats had gained a hand within her momentum as a fighter. She did not know of strength, only timing, precision, and overall playing dirty. The spew of droplets fell to the floor and she looked wide eye in surprise as she barreled out of the forest, the scene of her two daughters fighting, and a youngest slithering within the bushes out of fear.

The Queen — the mother did not halt, bolting as she raised her hackles and fangs in an attempt to step between the fighting, "Cease!" Did she so demand to her young, a concerned look particularly at Maral ; who did not gain the Nightwalker training, but soon a gaze that switched at Edith with a softened heart as well. She was prepared to take any of these puppy blows to stop their mindless squabbling, and soon demand why they were.

the staff team luvs u

Maral's claws were sharp and they left trails of firey wounds in their wake, and Edith grimaced as she did her best to work through the pain."You bitch!" she hissed through gritted teeth. Swearing helped somewhat with alleviating the radiating affliction, and with this clarity, she took advantage to counter her sister. Edith knew that her headbutt was effective when she felt her sister's blood trickling onto her brow and felt the hold on her loosen. She escaped, bouncing back, as Maral stumbled in the opposite direction. As Edith attempted to get her bearings, an unexpected voice commanded their attention. 

"Cease!" Célnes demanded. 

"It's both of their faults. That one disrespected me," she said through heaving breaths, motioning towards Faust with a jab of her muzzle, "And then that one attacked me while I was teaching your child what happens when they step out of line."

the staff team luvs u

Maral blinked, her head spinning; her hind limbs gave way and she crumbled to the ground. For a long moment she almost forgot about her sister's threatening presence and the strong possibility that she'd dive in for the kill upon seeing the shadow wither, but a commanding voice drew her back to reality.

Mahogany eyes blinked, and she lifted her head to see the blurred form of another's approach. Initially she thought it was Warwick, but the voice had been significantly more intimidating. Mother, she recognised, and it was then that Maral realised her mouth had filled with fluid. She tried to pull herself together, upright onto her paws, but she stumbled again and twisted an ankle in the attempt.

She swallowed deeply, and above the ringing in her ears she heard Edith's voice - more excruciating than ever. Maral furrowed her brow, bloodied saliva dripping from between her lips, as she stared blankly at her littermate as she whined her reasons for being such a bitch.


the staff team luvs u

Edith spewed that the two disrespected her. A gaze carefully going over Faust and Maral ; both although blessed as her young had also been cursed by the stains of white upon them. They were quite similar actually, although the main difference is being quite young. Normally so wouldn't even be out this far, if not for her rather wanderlust needs and disdain for them as well. An uncaring attitude, but even then they were hers.

"Edith, you know very well how wrong it is to attack a mere' child who doesn't know of defense, nor', to talk well." How could Faust, who speaks in slurrs and lisps know how to even disrespect the other? They were far too young, as far as Celnes saw, to know of hatred or envy.

"You are supposed to help guide them, as the High Elk wills, not to dominate within force, especially as they are you sisters." She slicked her ruffled hair back, and sat between the two. As she 'gently' told of Edith as so, it was clear that the Queen was not pleased by her actions. She had not seen the fight, nor' had she actually known what was said.. But there was blood. She would remember this moment, of Edith not even referring to the young as a sibling, but Celnes's child.

"And you Maral?" She then turned to the young nightwalker, although perhaps was more of a night prowler. She had not gone under the training as a walker, but held herself firm. At least some of Remus's training came through.. But was her claim to this fight?

the staff team luvs u

Edith sneered as Célnes scolded her. "I'm teaching her a lesson she'll need to learn eventually," she retorted, "She needs to know her place—especially if she thinks that she can disrespect me." How had Faust offended her—by existing. She snorted and glanced at her younger sibling. "I wasn't going to hurt her—I could have killed her if I really wanted to." This was her attempt at reasoning with her mother. "I showed mercy—but I did as He wanted."

Maral's intentions were questioned next. Edith looked at her sister with daggers in her eyes and palpable anger written on her face. 

the staff team luvs u

She heard her mother scold Edith, but she barely registered the words. It was the Queen's stern tone that she recognised, yet still her littermate barked in defence of her actions. Maral glared up past a furrowed brow at her, dark eyes narrowed dangerously,

Faust, as the shadow had observed, was innocent. The girl did not have a bad bone in her body, and there was no need for such a small babe to learn any place. Her job was a simple one: to grow, to be a kid. She would not stand idly by while anyone, blood ir not, made attempt to rob her of that opportunity.

Attention turned on her, then. Maral felt rage spike again to feel Edith's bloodred stare upon her hide, and her fur bristled in response. She glowered right back at her "perfect" littermate, then fixed their dam with the same stare.

She said nothing. She had done what was right by Faust, yet felt as though her own actios were being challenged. With a scoff, Maral spat a mouthful of bloodied spit onto the ground and turned to move away, eager to be free of the scrutiny and feeling that she need not explain herself.


the staff team luvs u

"Disrespected by someone younger then you, who barely knows how to talk?" Celnes eyes narrowed on Edith, "how would the High Elk see you preying on the innocent, when they have yet to even learn proper prayers?" She knew that her daughter was speaking insolence and was only attempting to seem she was justified, and the Queen knew that was only an excuse for behaviors of scorn.

"Go seek salvation from Him, and pray for forgiveness." Did she so then command with the flick of her tail, not even yet looking at Maral who stayed within a silence, and within her own blood.

the staff team luvs u

"Preying on the innocent?" Edith couldn't believe Célnes's claim—it was ridiculous! "You've got to be kidding me." Why was her mother always so dramatic?! It was probably to divert the attention away from her misgivings. After all—the queen should be begging for forgiveness. Faust and Maral were evidence of that. 

"No, but I'll pray for you," Edith sneered. "They're evidence of your sins. It seems like He is still upset with you—Faust is still pretty new." She shook her head and tsk'd before turning her back on the confrontation and leaving. Edith had no destination in mind, but she strove to get as far away from her family as possible.

the staff team luvs u