I'm Starting To Notice Who You Are

A rat scratching at the wall around my heart

OOC: being vague on his appearance for ic reasons, and he doesn't smell of Wolfbron right now, this is DURING the WB challenge

Wanderlust. That was the excuse he and his father had given the family for his departure of the bluffs. It was a lie, but far better than trying to explain that he didn't know where the fuck he belonged anymore. This wasn't teenage angst, it was his innocence been torn from him by the reality of things.

Did he stay with his Dieudonne kin? Or did he try to join Asteria and Nazonal? Would they even want him around? A snarl left the teenagers throat while he clawed into the earth beneath his feet. Leaning against a rocky formation, he half sat down and glared at the distance. Should he go back and wear a mask for his familys sake? A loud call rang out in the bluffs, a challenge. Ears pushed towards it, and he even stood up, but then he sat down again.

Ears flicked back against his head he turned to walk further into the badlands. He was still a little stiff from where his left leg had been broken. And his nose had a permanent push to it enough to be noticable in a side profile. The teenager looked unkept, skinny and grumpy as hell.


"talk"

code by corvus

A call for the Bluffs soudned out. Who? Why? Nzonal knew that the crowds would gather and part of them wondered what might happen... part of her wanted to show up and see. See her own personal threats and enemies fall. But if any pride challenge was dangerous this one would be doubly slow to attend.

So while they thought through their options they walked slowly onwards, drifting closer but in an indirect path and without urgency. Suddenly though- a brown shape in the distance moving along a still, flat horizon. Ben? Ben! Naz shouted at the still distant form. Their heart hoped it was him, but so too did part of her hope it wasn't. The form didn't look the healthiest....

@Beñat

ART BY KIM, CODE BY LARS

I'm Starting To Notice Who You Are

A rat scratching at the wall around my heart

OOC: being vague on his appearance for ic reasons, and he doesn't smell of Wolfbron right now, this is DURING the WB challenge

Beñat was lost in his thoughts, brooding over Louve's words of why he would still consider them family if he didn't want the name? It made his jaw tighten in frustration, he thought he had answered fairly. Even if he didn't know the true reason to why he still considered them family. Maybe one day, it would only be his siblings and mama, but right now he was conflicted.

So lost in his thoughts he almost didn't hear his name being called, it was the sudden increase in pitch that made him stop. Turning his head to look over at the source, and he felt his heart rise and then sink. "Naz?" he muttered before turning to approach them. He gave a feeble smile at her, glad she wasn't seeing him with a broken leg.


"talk"

code by corvus

What the fuck happened? Where did you go?

Guilt racked her as she approached and saw the rather scruffy nature of his apperance, the since healed broken nose an injury not unlike Naz's broken jaw that just didn't sit right anymore. He'd vanished without much trace or sign, they were supposed to go back to Wolfbron together and... and then he just wasn't there. And Naz had been left to wonder if he'd decided to leave after all, to go back on his own....

She hadn't questioned it, it meant safety for her, her family, her children.

But now seeing him they regretted that selfish thought. He didn't have a broken leg but he didn't look great either.

ART BY KIM, CODE BY LARS

I'm Starting To Notice Who You Are

A rat scratching at the wall around my heart

OOC: being vague on his appearance for ic reasons, and he doesn't smell of Wolfbron right now, this is DURING the WB challenge

Cursed words hit his ears which folded back immediately in dislike. He winced visibly as though he was struck physically by the words. "Someone was skulking around that hyena den... they knew da- Tripfire," he began to explain. Though he would admit it felt odd to call his parental figure by his first name. But maybe this would help him seperate himself from them a bit.

"I tried to fight them but they ... uh..." he trailed off looking at ground shifting his feet a bit. "I woke up in the bluffs again," he muttered skipping the bit about how he had his leg broken and he had been dragged back. "I'm sorry Naz, I didn't mean to worry you... or mama..." he added with a childish whimper. Reclining to sit down he didn't want to get closer in case Nazonal wanted to hit him. "I'm out now... of the family..." he added in a quiet voice.


"talk"

code by corvus

@Nazonal

They came and took him. Plucked him out of the Jungle under Nazonal's nose. She felt a wave of insecurity, of vulnerability. If it had happened once it could again. Her home, their home, had been invaded. Her features turned dark, looking away from Benat she begins to growl and grab the badland's ground below her paws as the only means to release some stress. Between sounds of anger and disdain tears began to build and churn in her eyes, welling into large drops which trailed on down her cheeks and round the edges of her jaw.

I should have gone looking for you... I'm sorry Ben. I thought you went back on your own. I thought you decided you wanted to be there. It had been the easiest way to think of it in her mind, his abandonment of them was safety for them. It hurt but it seemed to be for the best at the time.... but no. Stupid Naz They couldn't have been more wrong. Just one more family member she failed. ... do they know you've left?

ART BY KIM, CODE BY LARS

I'm Starting To Notice Who You Are

A rat scratching at the wall around my heart

OOC: being vague on his appearance for ic reasons, and he doesn't smell of Wolfbron right now, this is DURING the WB challenge

"no, i tried to call for you but I passed out before I could finish," he said shaking his head, causing the longer strands of fur (the beginning of his mane) to dance across his head. Beñat took a few hesitant steps towards Nazonal then paused. He was so conflicted. Did he approach and seek out physical comfort? Was he even allowed to do that? A uncomfortable whine left his throat.

"Yes," he said and added quietly, "I spoke with Louve about not taking the name... that I need time away. Beñat frowned a bit, he had perhaps told a white lie to his once cousin. And chances were he would pay the price for that later. Glancing towards the bluffs he then looked back to Nazonal. "I'm sorry that I couldn't come sooner... My leg was broken when I was taken, I'm sorry it took me so long," he added in a quiet tone that hinted at the misery in his head and heart.


"talk"

code by corvus

@Nazonal

... do you want to stay? He'd asked for time away. And she couldnt' tell if it was a for good time away or just a break that the poor child wanted. In the end... he deserved to make the choice himself and be understood, not to have Naz assume what they so desperately hoped was true. That he would come home with them forever.

No more broken legs, no more fights, no more kidnapping by his own parents. Or whoever this Louve was.

She was fighting the want to hug and comfort him just as much. She wanted to soothe him, to soothe her own guilt. But he hadn't wanted to fully give his family up before, at least not at first.... who knows what had changed now?

ART BY KIM, CODE BY LARS

I'm Starting To Notice Who You Are

A rat scratching at the wall around my heart

OOC: being vague on his appearance for ic reasons, and he doesn't smell of Wolfbron right now, this is DURING the WB challenge

Beñat expected Nazonal to chastize him in some way, to tell him he was wrong to leave. Instead she asked him if he wanted to stay. And this time it would be his choice alone, no adults to meddle in things. A brief silence fell between them before Beñat moved towards Nazonal. Attempting to lightly push his head against her chest, seeking comfort and reassurance. He may be bigger now but for the moment he was still a kid. Just a big one. "Yes please... I wanna come home," he murmured at her softly his voice tired and relieved in the same breath.


"talk"

code by corvus

@Nazonal

He leans in and they lift an arm, giving him ample room to snuggle in before wrapping the arm around him for a good big squeeze. Their heart and brain raced in unison, a mutlitude of emotions burned and boiled when she just wanted to drown them out and comfort Ben. She was angry, at his supposed family, at herself. They wouldn't fail again, idealy there wouldn't be a chance to fail even. But she wasn't naive. If his family had done this once to him, they could again. And it wasn't unknown to Naz that her family would be back in the line of fire. She, willing and ready, to defend him.

Then let's go home kid.

ART BY KIM, CODE BY LARS