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Post by Picasso on Feb 26, 2013 11:50:07 GMT
Pluton Leader Smiff previous thread here
A small smile appeared on Denim's lips. Although he was well aware that the canine in front of him had literally torn his mother to pieces, he couldn't help but enjoy her quirky attitude. She was different to other leaders. She wasn't hell bent and insane like his mother or Alex. Denim couldn't understand why. He'd heard of the terrible things Florence made Brooke do. She had killed her own puppy. She witnessed her mate being forced to rape another canine. It baffled her as to why Brooke wasn't the most insane out of all of them. She'd been through far more than Alex had been to. Alex was so over dramatic, believing he'd had a terrible life. Granted, he'd been treated badly by a few Tempest dogs, and his mother and brother died, but that was life. Brooke was living proof that you didn't need to be so angry all the time.
Denim relaxed when he heard both Ryu and Estelle were doing good. He hoped he'd helped Ryu open his eyes to the rest of the world. Hexasol wasn't all about the Tempest and the Iris. There were other cats and dogs out there living in harmony. He twitched his tail, wondering whether it would be too obnoxious to ask to meet Ryu. He probably didn't want to see another cat again. Perhaps one day, Denim would meet with him. He sighed wistfully. Ryu probably didn't want to have anything to do with him now. Fair enough. Denim shrugged the thoughts away, and once again Brooke spoke.
She was... thanking him. Denim enjoyed listening to her forced words come from her lips. She almost looked pained at saying it. He let out a low chuckle and jumped onto one of the old coffee shop tables. Feeling relaxed in Brooke's presence, he slumped onto the table, dangling his two front paws over the edge. Amusement sparkled in his eyes as she offered him a favour one day. That could come in useful. As much as Denim wanted to accept the favour, he began to shake his head before he even thought about it. "You're not indebted to me, Brooke. I didn't do this to gain something." He smiled warmly at her, wondering how she may take that.
There was a pregnant pause whilst the both of them didn't speak. He finally decided to ask a question that had been bubbling up inside of him, "Why are you not angry at the world, Brooke? My mother ruined your life. It's almost as though you don't want to fight anymore. Why are you still a leader?" Denim cocked his head curiously. He couldn't believe he'd even dared to ask Brooke that. It was none of his business. Besides, he knew nothing of her. Still, Denim rested his head on his paws and just watched the black canine expectantly.
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Post by Pluton Leader Smiff on Mar 1, 2013 4:24:57 GMT
Brooke wasn't sure what to expect after she had thanked and offered him a debt of gratitude, but she supposed she wasn't entirely surprised by his reaction. Declining it was a relief on her part - she didn't really want to have to explain to her pack her reasoning for wanting to help a feline. In any case, she wasn't going to let the lion know she was grateful for not accepting her offer. Still, she felt as though he deserved some kind of reward for his actions, but perhaps that was her now tired mind giving into the pressure of the world around her.
"I was never under the impression that you were trying to gain anything," she responded, clearly less amused than Denim, but at finally beginning to feel at ease. It felt strange, to be talking on normal terms with not only a cat, but with the son of Florence. Then again, he had turned out nothing like her, just as her own daughter had strayed from her ways. She silently wondered if she had done the right thing by declining Panja's offer for peace, but then reminded herself that so long as Iris existed, she would have to be firm.
His question caught her off guard. For a moment she stared at him incredulously. She wondered how he had come to the conclusion that she wasn't angry anymore. After all, she had ultimately decided to continue the war. Her. Not Panja. Still, she found it curious that he had asked her this question, of all creatures. Brooke had quite literally torn this lion's mother apart limb by limb. "Make no mistake, Denim, I am still burning with fury for the things your mother did to me. Perhaps I don't think that felines are inherently evil anymore, but as long as creatures like Florence still exist - ones that will want to kill my pack... it's my duty to protect them."
She paused for a moment, closing her eyes as memories of the war passed through her mind, a pained look on her face, "For a long time, your mother's demise was the sole reason for my existence. When I finally succeeded in killing her, I realized that by letting my feelings cloud my judgement, I had failed Tempest. Leading is no blessing, Denim. If I had to live my life over, I would have never taken the position. But I knew what I was signing up for when I accepted the offer to become General. I knew I would have to sacrifice my soul for responsibility. My mistake was that I was foolish enough to think that war could not shake me."
Brooke reopened her eyes after that, giving him a hard stare, "But as long as I'm still here, as weak and old as I've become, there will be no room for selfishness. My pack needs me. I foresaw a change in Iris's leadership. If the next leader had been you, I might have accepted the peace treaty - but I'm no fool. I thought about Kira, and your brother Alexander, and the scores of other cats and dogs that would take advantage of such a notion. Prejudice dies hard. It took five years of constant fighting for me to realize how destructive this has all been. But until your mother's influence... and probably my own as well... has completely vanished... well..." She trailed off and shook her head, solemn, "Peace is not achievable. Until it is, my pack comes first."
She was silent for a long while after that, exhausted. There wasn't a soul she had been able to tell of these revelations because it would mean she would have to resign as leader. Hell, not even Bane had been told of her adversity towards the war. Yet Denim's simple questions had brought it spilling out of her like a fountain. Still staring into the eyes of her sworn enemy, she sighed and let out an uncharacteristic, almost wistful smile, "You remind me of my daughter. There is something terribly ironic about you two. The son of Florence and the daughter of Brooke promoting peace between the species."
She let out something of a laugh, but it was far from joyful. She had not seen her daughter in years. Not since she had banished her for releasing the cubs of Florence and Panja, "I hear you and Natiri are friends. I trust you're taking care of her well." she started. Clegane had not been happy about that turn of events, she recalled. Though, at that point, Brooke had made it clear that anyone that didn't wish to stay in Tempest shouldn't. It would avoid more treasonous actions like those of her daughter. "If... you find my Addia - by chance..." She trailed off. She wasn't even sure what she wanted anymore. To see her, to not see her? What was she going to tell Denim? Keep her safe? Tell her to come home? Brooke didn't even know if she was still alive. |
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Post by Picasso on Mar 4, 2013 13:22:51 GMT
Okay, so Denim had got it wrong. Brooke was still consumed by burning hatred for the Iris Pride, but he supposed she just didn't show it as much as his mother did. When Denim thought of hate and anger, he didn't once think of suppressed emotions threatening to bubble up to the surface. Denim almost hated himself for agreeing with Brooke, and understanding her point of view. But it was true. Brooke was constantly threatened by the Iris Pride, and therefore she must protect her dogs at all costs. She'd already lost so many, but she hadn't given up fighting just yet. As Denim studied Brooke, he suddenly noticed a large bulge on her stomach. In the weather they were having, it couldn't possibly be from excess food. Puppies. Brooke was pregnant again. Denim wanted to congratulate her, ask her whether she was excited, but Denim knew all too well what had happened to her last litter. To lose puppies in such a gruesome, awful way made his blood rush with anger. Florence had had no right. Florence had deserved for her own litter to be killed. Denim, Alex, Neb and Orbit all should have been slaughtered in the same, horrid way.
"I can imagine you are somewhat an inspiration to others in the Tempest. You've lived through so much, but you're still fighting. It's admirable." His thoughts strayed to a night Denim had once been told of. Denim couldn't remember if it had been Panja or Florence telling him, but he could clearly remember being deeply saddened about what had happened. Florence had been pregnant. Not with him, but the previous litter. She had gone into labour in the middle of the city, completely alone. Brooke and another canine had found her. Nearly killed her. They had killed one of the newborn cubs instantly. As Denim gazed up at the canine before him, he realised he had to remember that she was still a murderer of his family. It was likely the cub would have turned out like Kira, but there was some hope that he or she could have been a good, decent lion. And it had been slaughtered in cold blood.
"I suppose when father offered the peace treaty, I was just desperate for you to accept. But you're right, Alex and Kira would start yet another war, create another Pride, and it'll all start over again." Denim wanted to shake them, demand why they were so obsessed with the war, but he wouldn't get through to them. Their minds had been set a long time ago, and nothing would persuade them otherwise. It angered Denim, but there was simply nothing he could do. They were going to be stuck in this endless war until everyone ends up killing each other. He shivered at the morbid thought. One day, they'll all just be corpses littering the streets. Rat food.
At the mention of Brooke's daughter, Denim looked up. He knew nothing about Brooke's previous litter. He had assumed they'd died of sickness or war. He didn't even realise they were still alive. Surprise flickered onto his face at the fact that she was apparently so similar to him. Really? He wanted to meet her. Perhaps it would give Natiri someone else to talk to. Iri had been acting strangely recently. She'd been getting more and more distant and less and less interested in him and Take. Denim was racking his brains, wondering what it was that he'd done, but he'd come up with nothing. His stomach churned uneasily at the thought of Natiri being angry or upset with him for some reason. "I didn't realise you had a daughter..." Denim began, "I knew you had a litter, but I... I assumed they were all gone now. I would be happy to meet her." Denim smiled awkwardly, before seeing the worry and sadness on Brooke's face. She must have left similar to like when Denim left. However, instead of no one caring with Denim's departure, Brooke actually missed her.
"Perhaps one day she'll want to see you again," Denim suggested, before Brooke mentioned Natiri. How did she know? Clegane, perhaps. He wasn't pleased about their friendship. "She's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I'd give my life to protect her." Denim replied truthfully. A thought suddenly occurred to Denim, back when they'd rescued Ryu and Estelle.
"That Akita. I'm sorry for her loss. I delivered her back to the Tempest Pack for a proper goodbye." Denim couldn't believe he'd forgotten that poor Akita who had perished trying to save two poor dogs. Too many deaths.
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