Chapter 1 [OPEN]

[kahara]

CAESAR, NOVOCAIN, CASPER, DAE

[/i][/font] Dae shook suddenly and leaped forward, creating a series of holes in the snow where his paws fell deep. He danced around in the snow until he found a small patch of dried grass that one of the patrols must have cleared out. Snow dropped from his fur as he shook and danced around in place. Then he spotted Novocain and Caesar nearby.

"Hey fellas!' He called out as he began to skip and jump their way. Dae came to a halt as the two split ways. Caesar grunted and brushed past Dae with a nod and Novocain rolled his eyes. "Ohhh... did I interupt something?" Dae glanced over his shoulder as Caesar leaped into the snow and took off toward Cocaine's final resting place. No doubt that entire clearing was full of snow. And to think, somewhere beneath all of it, their great king and founder rested!

"Not really. Just Caesar being Caesar. What're you up to Dae?" Novocain's voice pulled Dae's attention back.

"Oh not much! Testing the snow out. There's so much of it. I never imagined such a place would be so.. snowy." Dae poked at the snow nearest him and shook his paw. "I like it, but I don't want it to last." He frowned at the thought of dealing with anymore snow than this for too long. It could cause starvation, as he doubted any prey animals lurked in such conditions!

"Me too." Novocain nodded his head as he looked around, but he seemed distant in his thoughts. "I don't suppose you've seen Firenze?" He asked Dae. Dae shook his head.

"Sorry, I haven't. If I see him, I'll let him know you were looking for him!" Dae tried to sound optimistic, but knew too well that sometimes warriors - pride - family - they just left without a word. It was hard on everyone. Especially those closest.

Their conversation was interrupted by a thud softened by the snow. They both turned to see Casper with a doe hanging from his jaws. If anything good came from giants, it was that they often caught larger prey than others in the pride! Casper moved toward the duo and dropped the catch.

"It isn't much, but it should serve the pride well. For now." Casper eyed both of them until they nodded in agreement. Something about the usually gentle giant seemed hardened. He looked around. "Where is Caitlyn?" Casper asked. Dae and Novocain both shrugged. Casper slowly nodded his head and then moved off without further word. Once he was out of earshot, Novocain continued their conversation.

"Anything.. thanks, if you could do that for me, I'd be thankful." He grabbed a bite of the deer, not much, and gave Dae a nod before he headed off to find a decent patch of snowy-dead-grass to eat at. Dae eyed the fresh-kill and then opted to only take a small bit; just like Novocain, but he headed back toward the den. Maybe Caitlyn would be in there and he could let her know Casper was asking for her.[/ul][/blockquote]

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[LAD]

Caitlyn Caliver, Joshua Malvaca-Caliver, Campion Malvaca-Caliver, Donato Dark Donovan, Brooke Malvaca


Brooke ran through camp, kicking up snow as she did so, a gleeful laugh escaping her as she bounded over the side of some rocks - Joshua and Campion running right after her, struggling to pull themselves over as they were still much smaller than her. Seconds after them came Caitlyn and Donato, their eyes watching after the trio before them to make sure they didn't slip and get hurt as they spoke softly to each other. They hadn't heard the conversation that had taken place seconds before they showed up - but they'd heard voices and had seen Caesar take off down to her father. A quick glance around showed Caitlyn just whom else was up and about.

"It's good to see you all haven't turned into a bunch of hibernators." She teased, but her mind still wandered to Caesar. She had to speak to him soon. It pained her to see him still mourning their father. That's what it felt like for her at least. Donato gave a small snort of sorts in brief amusement before he caught sight of the new addition to the clearing.

"Good hunting, it seems like." Caitlyn's gaze rested upon the doe and she nodded her agreement to Donato's words.

Wow. Much short. Idk what happened.

[kahara]

CAESAR, NOVOCAIN, CASPER, DAE

He had taken no more than two steps when Brooke, Joshua, and Campion very close nearby. Dae lifted his head around and spotted Caitlyn with Donato too. He turned around and placed his share of the fresh-kill on the ground and held it tightly beneath his paws.

"Casper caught it. He wandered off though. Without a bite." Dae tossed the last bit in there so that they could later tell Casper to eat. Just because he caught it doesn't mean he can't have some as well. Especially since he was one of the larger brothers. Dae sat down.

"Oh, and Casper was asking for you Caitlyn, too." Novocain had taken a few more bites of his share before he'd moved toward Dae, and now stood beside the younger male. "Don't know what for. But.. have either of you two seen Firenze?" Novocain seemed a little hopeful that his half sister or Donato may have seen Firenze around.

Down past the throne, beyond their caves, in a small opening surrounded by winter-shaken trees and various pine; Caesar rested in a thick path of snow above Cocaine's grave. He heaved a sigh and began to move snow around with his paws, clearing the patch of snow up to make it easier to rest where he was at.

[kahara]

LAD

[LAD]

Omg sorry woman

Caitlyn, Donato, Brooke, Joshua, Campion


Caitlyn hmm'd softly at their reply, automatically knowing exactly what Dae was alluding to but her gaze flickered to Novocain when he began speaking. Casper wished to speak to her? She halfheartedly wondered what for but didn't give it much thought before her younger brother asked a completely different question. One that had Caitlyn inwardly faltering. She'd noticed that others had left the pride - Caspian being one, Firenze had disappeared himself. Last she had seen him was the mourning of their Father's death. It pained her to admit this but she wasn't one to lie, and so Caitlyn found herself shaking her head. "I haven't, though he may be lurking around the mountainside." She murmured to Novocain, her tone soft as always. She still found him to be a little brat - but one she loved none the less and she knew how close Novocain had been to Firenze. Peas in a pod.

She stepped forward a bit and looked over at Donato, tilting her head down towards the path Caesar had taken and Donato nodded in understanding but he stayed in place for now. "Well, lemme go see what Casper wants." She stated, reaching down to tear off a leg of the deer with a wink to both brothers. It was obvious to whom she intended to give it to. She'd have her share later when the rest of the pride was fed.

And as she disappeared after Casper, following his scent as Donato gave himself a brisk shake. "All this snow is gonna drive me nuts the more it clings to my wings." He stated blandly, staring at the little bits of frost with annoyance. Yet he looked back up at Novocain. "I doubt your brother went far, you two never seem to be apart for long. How have the pair of you been faring?"

Brooke poked her head back out from some bushes, realizing then that Joshua and Campion disappeared. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously but she trekked back into the clearing. "Dae, where's my piece?" She teased, eyeing the fresh-kill between his paws. Yeah, she knew there was a whole doe not too far from them, but what good would it be to let her brother walk away unscathed?

kahara

[kahara]

CAESAR, NOVOCAIN, CASPER, DAE

What little hope Novocain had of Caitlyn or Donato knowing Firenze's whereabouts were shattered in an instance. He sighed and shrugged as Caitlyn went off then looked at Donato. "Yeah, me too. Excuse me though, I think I'm going to go and check out the mountain side..." Which would be longer than a 'be right back', and clearly this expressed his disinterest in how he's been fairing.

Dae noted this too, but his attention was pulled to Brooke. "Oi, go get yourself a piece, I'm no servant."

[LAD]

Caitlyn, Donato, Brooke, Joshua, Campion


Brook's nearly grinned at her brother's reply but she kept her composure - pouting instead. "B-b-but... You're my big brother! And your supposed to take care of me." Her pout grew and her shoulders slumped, her head falling slightly as she completely missed the conversation between Donato and Novocain. "You're so mean." Completed look with glassy eyes. Donato however, couldn't help the smallest bit of a sigh that escaped his nose, as inaudible as it was. He'd seen the look on Novocain's face and couldn't help but feel discouraged himself. He hadn't the slightest clue where quite a few members went - but he knew he couldn't protect them all. Just the ones that stayed within the pride.

Still. "I'll be sure to tell you, Novocain, if I see even a glance of him." He tossed out before the boy disappeared. Then his gaze rested on the siblings and he shook his head briefly with a half-smile. "Play nice." Was all he tossed out before he turned to make his way down to Cocaine's grave. A place he found himself in often enough and knew Caesar himself came to a lot.

Caitlyn found Casper not long after she'd left. His longer strides had her working her legs overtime a bit, but she followed him none the less. "Oi!" The mouth full of food didn't allow her voice to carry loudly, but at least she knew she'd be heard.

[kahara]

CAESAR, NOVOCAIN, CASPER, DAE

His ears fell back against his head and he looked at Donato, and granted him a little shrug of acknowledgement as if to say 'ok'. Dae looked back at Brooke and gave a less-than-amused face. "Fine." He said as he slowly stood up and turned toward the large carcass. "If it appeases her royal highness." Dae rolled his eyes; though none of this too serious. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, even if it was just play.

Caitlyn's voice caught Casper's attention. He stopped and slowly turned around on the path to face her. "Just the queen I've been looking for." He grumbled deeply as he sat down. "Have a moment?" Casper asked.

[LAD]

Caitlyn, Donato, Brooke, Joshua, Campion


A large grin broke across her face - nevermind that her brother had seemingly insulted her. She knew him, it was how they were. Siblings and all that. "Love you too, bro." She laughed, happy her rouse had worked. Soon after, Joshua and Campion lunged at her from behind, and a sharp squeal erupted from her maw as they slammed into her side. "BRATS!" She yelled out, allowing herself to fall to her side. She'd let her guard down for one second and they pulled this? "The pair of you! You're both little brats!" Josh and Camp both laughed as they slid off her, turning their gaze to Dae instead. "We'll keep the scary monster away from you!" It was all in jest of course, but that didn't stop Brook from cuffing them over the ears.

Caitlyn snorted gently at his comment but her look softened as she set down the piece of prey in her mouth. "Of course, I've always time for my family." She told him, a soft smile upon her maw. "Just as they should have time for eating food for themselves?" A raised brow followed this statement as she nudged the piece of leg towards Casper with her paw. "But tell me, what's on your mind."

Donato was careful as he worked his way down the path and it wasn't too long before he caught sight of Caesar. "Hey." He called out, his tone more quiet here in the area that they were in.