In Dire Straits

In the days since his arrival, Cancer had taken note of many things.

One. It was damp.

So damp, in fact, that he found himself hocking spit from his throat most mornings as the humidity and morning dew seeped in to his system. Honestly, it was becoming rather a rough start to living this whole 'pack life'. Honestly, what crazy fools thought building a home in a damp, mucky swamp like forest was a good idea? Well, it seemed to be less swamp and more dense, sticky forest. Either way, it was not on his top 'Things I Love About Alteron' list. He did, however, find that this deep, dark, dense forest was quieter than anything he'd seen before and honestly that was some of the best relief his brain could stand.

Two. It was...big.

He'd spent the first few days wandering around the edge and border of the pack lands in a hope that he could scout the entire border. That turned in to too much of a chore and so he found himself turning back and heading back to the moat from which he'd arrived. Cancer hadn't fully grasped the scale of Alteron's lands, but as he strode back on his steps he found himself marveling at just how large the pack seemed to be. Yet this marvel turned in to his third and final note:

He was lost.

It shouldn't have been much of a surprise all things considered. He'd let his head guide him one way, and tried to let his smarts guide him back. However hard he tried though, Cancer found himself spinning in circles (though to his point they were becoming larger and larger circles as he went) and the inability to find and follow the sun (also didn't really exist in this damp hell scape) made traipsing this landscape only that much harder.

He found himself trudging through the dense forest on this particular morning with his head held high, ears perked and on a swivel as he made his way about. He was hoping to find something, anything that resembled a 'familiar' sign. Even with his reluctance of knowing where he was, Cancer strode with a confidence that deep down he knew he lacked. Perhaps it was a mental ruse for himself; walking with a purpose made him feel less anxious and more comfortable about 'controlling the situation'.

The boy sighed softly to himself as he walked; irritation beginning to wane on his mind. Where in the hell was he anyway? How had he not seen any landmarks that symbolized any resemblance of 'this is where I should be going'. Yet as he wandered, he couldn't help but find the faintest whiff of flowers. Cancer paused, taking in the scent of the flowers, his mind pausing momentarily from its constant listing of future complaints that he would bring up with someone (anyone).

He wasn't sure what compelled him, but Cancer found his nose carrying him in the direction of the flowers; the scent of roses luring him in like a moth to light. It was always a subtle smell- subtly was always his favorite policy, and roses seemed to be a good indicator of what exactly that meant. They were beautiful and dangerous; bright red flowers hiding the truth behind the plant itself. The boy hummed softly as he stopped abruptly as the fading scent of flowers left his nose. Wherever they were, wherever they had gone-the trail ended here. Cancer gave a short huff as he sat down and scratched his ear. This was new territory- but it wasn't old territory either. Perhaps he was finally making progress.

The landscape of Alteron had changed a fair amount in his absence, but Sabre was intelligent and his memory was sharp. The fog did add some difficulty though, he'd been away long enough that he was still rediscovering the map in his head. Rewriting the pieces that extreme weather and events had altered, not daring to venture yet where they had all resided. Yet, his inner compass took over as he wove through the chilling mist. Familiar areas popping up and sending memories burning through him, causing his stomach to jolt into acidic knots.

Sabre moved through twists, and turns with icy fingers of fear clawing up his spine. A sweet thorny scent hammering into his sinuses, fur standing on his shoulders suddenly. Yet he cautiously followed, each step and movement calculated, lips twitching as he rounded into the area. A ghost of past generations moving toward the wreck of thorns, blood red roses peeking from the leaves and mess. His stomach flared, as another came to inspect the area.

He leapt back, teeth flashing as he lowered himself in a defensive stance. Cancer approached, the smaller male didn't alter himself despite the familiarity of him. There was too much, too many memories that set him on edge. "Leave me. I-I'm go-going." Shuddered out as Sabre moved away from Cancer, swerving into a trot toward the ancient log that as a child they'd all avoided due to Vargspar and the horrible stories about him.

Yet as he approached another ghost sprung into sight, his blood turned cold. Stopping short, sitting bolt upright. Sabre's ears pinned backward as he attempted to scoot backward despite his previous momentum, mud causing messy traction. When finally he came to a stop he tried with all he could to move away, mind whirling and lips pulled back in a snarl. The sound he didn't realize he was making was horrific, strangled screeches that resembled a screaming child. His inner child who had to come across the dead bodies of his siblings.

"N-n-no. R-r-rapier... you... you d-d-ied." He tucked toward the ground once his back hit the roses, immobilized by sheer panic with nowhere to go.

"Leave me. I-I'm go-going."

The undeniable stuttering voice of someone he absolutely knew came in to his ears and Cancer couldn't help but whip his head around to see the face of Sabre, and the body of Sabre contorted and instantly in a submissive pose. The brute snorted and stood back up, turning to face this 'acquaintance' of his.

"Well now where am I sup-" he began but was instantly cut off as the already terrified boy tried to about face but was suddenly struck with more fear; if that was even possible.

"N-n-no. R-r-rapier... you... you d-d-ied."

Rapier? No clue.

Intrigue instantly found itself coursing through his system as he watched another descend from a perch just above them (and yeah, he felt really stupid for not looking up first) and the scent of roses hanging heavy in the air. Green eyes widened- this was the scent he was following! Cancer watched as the monochrome lady give this sorry excuse of a child a look, her words cutting through the tension that was building in the air between them.

"You're right, my dear. Rapier is dead... though I have been called that name before. Do I really resemble my grandmother so much? Well, enough to make you tremble. [...] So you knew her too? Now I'm curious."

He had found himself in some sort of family drama, and to be frank, he didn't much care for it. He was deeply intrigued by whoever this Rapier was, and whoever this lady in front of him was, but for the other kid he really couldn't have cared less if he was seeing ghosts or the Lord Almighty.

It wasn't until she stopped in her tracks and abruptly turned to Cancer and rubbed against him that he found himself instantly back at attention to the situation at hand. Cancer would have been lying if he said there wasn't an instant chill that ran up his spine; an electric shock of energy that had his full attention on her as she spoke to the other.


"And... you are?"

'Lost.' That's what he wanted to say. 'I'm lost, don't know where I am. Keep running in to this chuckle fuck and am now subsequently stuck in the middle of some petty ass drama that I really don't care about but clearly tongue twister over here is, and you're here and boy am I rambling in my own head?'

Cancer unconsciously stood even more at attention though, offering a small toothy smile in her direction.

"Name's Cancer."

He dipped his head in a chivalrous manner.

"Pleasure to meet you."