Planting the Seed of Doubt

That’s right, little owl…

The wondrous and entranced expression in those wide little eyes, the slight prick of his fur when she turned to him, the tone in his voice. Her words were becoming the shiniest of gold in his desperate little mind. She could practically see the swirl of bright and wishful light beginning to bloom in that small skull. Her plan was working. And it only drove the fierce and wicked red flame within her chest to flourish.

“Any wolf~, ” she repeated once more back to him, a smile crossing her features with only the smallest of sly curves pulling at the corners. “From the smallest hunter to the largest guard.” Her jaw remained slightly open for a split second, originally intending to include another snippet into the facade, but it closed quickly as to cover said hesitation. No. He could not spar with me. He could try, if he truly wanted. But his goal is to become strong, not to die. That would be a rather troublesome inconvenience for us both…

His following statements, in truth, were quite sad in her eyes. Pitiful, even. It was disappointing to think that most places treated their young as helpless and fragile. How were they to learn when they were kept in place, glued to their dens like a fly in a web? Just as such a thought suggested, when they eventually were allowed to roam, they would merely be prey to a hungry spider rather than being the spider themselves, as they should be. The Vertok saw their pups as lambs, but were raising flies instead. Interesting. It explained why the pup who stood before the Alphess was so naive. At least, in this scenario, the spider was willing to compromise.

“How else will you grow stronger if you are forbade from growing?” Vibrant golden eyes shifted only slightly, looking passed the young brute to the mountains beyond. Her orbs narrowed, the tip of her tail switching. Though these revelations irritated her, she would do nothing to stop the ways of that pack. Their own foolishness would one day be their downfall. And said downfall was already taking place right under their noses.

“You and your sisters...you are seen as sheep. Little lambs in a world full of wolves. Perhaps you all will grow, perhaps not, given your...pack placement. In the eyes of your pack, your siblings will stay lambs. As will you. Unless…-” Her gaze fell back on him, her voice ending but in a way that displayed that it would continue momentarily. Very slowly her body began to shift, large paws lifting and moving forward. She made a very slow descent down the small hill she stood upon, openly examining him as she did. She turned just slightly, moving to one side of him. With full purpose and intention, she moved herself with grace and very precise angles, allowing her muscle to push through her pelt. Show him what he could become. Show him what one day he could look like. If…

“-you wish to become a real wolf.” Just as she finished the ending of her statement, she turned to face the same direction as him, standing alongside the pup. She leaned her head down far to match his eye-level, though still stood straight. Her head only slightly tilted, golden eyes looking directly into the younger male’s own brown, a smile pulling at her maw.

“What is your name, little owl?”


"Speaking." Thinking.

Those were the exact words she had wished to hear, ‘like you’. She hadn’t expected to hear them so soon, but he was young, what was she to expect? The boy had his dreams and fantasies, and based on his reaction and response to her words, she was an embodiment of said dreams. She took this as a compliment, a way of showing that her slight flaunting of self-image had worked. 


A single gray and auburn-flecked ear flicked as he spoke his name, golden eyes blinking once. He was so quick to tell his name, which she supposed wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Just a tad careless, which was normal. She smiled innocently enough, but the gears within that twisted mind turned oh so loudly. The femme’s head lifted from its lowered state, her paws padding a few steps forward. Her fluffy tail brushed lightly against his shoulder as she spoke over her own.

“I don’t know~. Speaking your true name can prove to be dangerous when given to just anybody.” Her voice took on a slightly higher, almost teasing tone as those vibrant orbs glanced back at the young brute. A small smile crossed her face, that air of confidence in herself and her intentions still blazing in her chest. She knew what she was doing, and she knew that she did. In a way, she had called him out on his own mistake, though it was yet to be seen if he picked up on it. It was obvious enough, right? Even to a pup? Surely he was that smart.


“Hmmm…..” The gentle and considerate hum vibrated through closed jaws as she took a few slow steps forward, seeming lost in thought. For a minute, she paused, looking to the sky. It wasn’t really late, per say, but as much as she wished to stay longer and play her game, the rats back home couldn’t be left for too long unattended. When she turned again, her gaze narrowed.


“I have to be sure that I can trust you. And sheep are not trustworthy.” The large white canine tilted her head just slightly, the smallest of smirks pulling at her jaws.

“I will make you a deal, Zero. Since you don’t seem bothered by leaving the safety and confinement of your home today, I’m sure it wouldn’t bother you to do it again.” She glanced to the side towards the mountains, a flash of smugness creeping into her gaze. “I will return to this spot in exactly five days, at this same time. If you find yourself brave enough to come here again, only then will I tell you my name, and perhaps more about my pack. But...if you do decide that the warmth of your little lamb sisters is more appealing than adventure...then I suppose we may meet again when you are older.”

With this, Artemis began to turn, padding back up the hill from which she came. She did not take on a brisk pace, for she did want to hear if the pup behind her wished to add anything. Though she faced forward, one ear rotated back towards the little white wolf, waiting for any sign of if she had succeeded.


"Speaking." Thinking.