Daddy Knows Best ( Tag: Benjamin Nekishu )

Having crossed over into the Kostos Pack territory, Maylin was a little more on edge then she would be if she were roaming the unclaimed territories. She meant no one any harm or disrespect by trespassing on the land as a Loner, but when her father called she came even if it meant breaking the rules a little.

Her fur shone in the sun as a gentle breeze blew. The season was changing, the air cooler, the ground was crisper. The land around her was changing as were the colors. She loved this time of year and missed the days when she was small enough to roll around in the leaves that fell from the tree's.

She had no idea what her father had wanted to talk to her about. She could make many guesses. Her recent time away, her mother returning, there was plenty to discuss but she was glad she would have her father alone. The opportunity to share a private moment had not yet presented itself so when he reached out, she jumped at the chance.

She approached the falls and her head moved from side to side looking, searching for any others. Satisfied she was alone, she moved to the pool of water and her pink tongue reached in to drink. Then lifting her head and shaking the excess water from her whiskers. She glanced around once more staying vigilant and she hoped that her father would arrive soon. She was excited to him no matter what he had to say.

Footsteps drew her attention to the figure of her father who emerged from his hiding spot. She beamed as her father greeted her with the familiar pet name that only he used. " Daddy! " she replied butting heads with him and going as far as to lick his nose playfully.

" I missed you too. " she replied happy to be home at last but her mind still drew her to the thought of Mikayla out there somewhere, all alone. It made her all the more appreciative of the fact she had her Dad all these years. Cayden and Mikayla weren't that lucky.

Maylin lay on her underbelly, her ears off to the side as she relaxed, no longer concerned about the pack of the lands they were on now. She always felt safe when she was with her father. " I'm good. I went everywhere or at least it feels that way. " Maylin had been to so many places that she couldn't possibly remember the names of them all.

She had never stopped anywhere long enough to make friends or really get to know anyone. The most she had done was ask friendlier wolves if they knew another called Mikayla. It was a lonely existence but Maylin was content in her own company.

" I couldn't find Mikayla but when I came home.. Mum... " suddenly she felt very awkward talking to her father about this. " Well she found me. " she smiled hoping she hadn't dampened his spirits by bringing her up. She didn't know where his father stood in relation to her Mother.

" Did, did you see her? " she asked obviously looking for the information she lacked. She tried her best to refrain from using her abilities to pry into her father's emotions. She respected him to much to do that to him and always gave him the benefit that he would be honest with her regardless of what she was capable of.

" You and Cayden seem to be getting along. He seems happier. " she said happy that her brother had settled here in their home. She made a mental note to catch up with him also but her father was and always would be her first priority. " How have you been? "

Her fathers emotions and conscious choice to avoid the topic of the other females in their did not go unnoticed by Maylin. She was of course eager to know her father's and mother's plan to find their last pup. She was certain they would do something, her father had come back for her. Her mother had searched for her and her siblings and she doubted that she would give up there. But rather then spoil this precious time together by pestering him about it, she respected his decision and dropped the subject.

She followed her father's gaze into the water as he spoke about her brother. She had seen the results of this tutorage for herself. Cayden seemed more at peace and that thick layer of anger and resentment had dissipated. But what shocked her more than her brother's turn around was her father's revelation. " A girlfriend? " she repeated, her eyes widened and she smiled, happy for her brother. " Oh maybe I will have some pups to spoil soon. " she chuckled at the thought. Maylin had always wanted a big family, nieces and nephews would be the perfect addition and new start for their growing family.

Her father's response to himself, as always, was short. Even if something was bothering him he would do his best to hide it. It was considerable more difficult with her however although she did her best not to pry. Which was difficult as she was naturally curious and concerned about her father's well being. His blank expression did raise questions however. " Whats wrong Daddy? " Just as he called her May, she often referred to her father as Daddy, but chose to use only when in private or alone. Otherwise it was Dad. She found the idea of referring to either parent by their first name strange and impersonal.

Her ears flattened slightly as she began to worry about the reason her father has asked her to come. " Has something happened? " she asked once again choosing to respect her father rather then pry. She could've felt his every emotion but often without context it was difficult to decipher why someone felt the way they did. She could only hope that all was well and he was just distracted with everything that had gone on lately. She hated to think with what seeing their mother was doing to him, another reason she was choosing to stay clear of his emotional state for now.

A wide smile shone from Maylin's face as she was amused by her father's lack of enthausiam regarding her brother's possible future off spring. She looked forward to the idea. Being an aunt seemed like such fun. Playing with the pups in fresh grass, bringing them to the streams and playing with them by the water. She was practically giddy at the thought of helping them learn how to hunt.

There was a part of her that knew her father would make an amazing grandfather even if he doubted it. He was a great Dad so she had no reason to believe he could be any other way. But as conversation turned to her Mother, her smile was hindered. Her father was obviously very conflicted about the matter and she understood why. Her whole life he was pushing down his anger, his resentment toward her mother. But with her gifts it was almost impossible for him to conceal the truth.

Her father tried to explain and it was difficult for him. He was not the most open of men when it came to his emotions but she appreciated that he was being honest with her. She didn't need her abilities to know the pain her father was in despite having never experienced it herself.

She moved closer to her father crawling on her belly till she was next to her fathers face. She nuzzled him to comfort him as he spoke of what their mother had done to their family. She honestly could not understand her mother's motives but she hardly knew her and she was too young to remember much of that time. She only hoped that if she was granted the opportunity to know her mother more that she would eventually understand.

" You have us in common. Me, Cayden and Mikayla is still out there somewhere. Maybe that's where you can start, maybe that's where we all start, trying to find Mikayla. " she wasn't sure bringing up his missing child was the best way to cheer him up but he was looking for a common link and they were all worried about Mikayla. What worried Maylin the most was that Mikayla was alone out there somewhere and she probably didn't even know they were looking for her.

" Tell me happier news. " she nudged him not wanting their time alone to be spent with negative thoughts and emotions. " What did you do while I was away? You must of been bored silly. " she chuckled giving him a smile and making sure that her emerald eyes shone brighter than usual for him. She took her father's happiness very seriously almost like it was her personal duty given how her father had raised her single handedly. She owed him everything and all she wanted for him was happiness, it's all she wanted for any of her family. Happiness.

One advantage to her abilities meant that her father could speak to her in more ways then one. Even in his silence they were communicating although she knew he disliked it. He had no secrets with her and people's emotions were deeply personal. Most felt like she was invading but that was never her intention and often felt guilty when people were offended. Thankfully her father never felt that way and accepted the fact he couldn't hide it with her so he embraced her.

Her father's emotions regarding her Mother no the hand were not something she wanted to delve into. They had a long and complicated history full of raw emotions. She was still trying to figure out her own emotions regarding her mother. His emotions could cloud hers and she thought that unfair toward her mother. The sigh told her everything she needed to know. This was difficult for him but she loved him for trying.

Maylin like her father thought she had heard something but the conversation regarding her missing sister distracted her. Her relaxed turned worrisome. Her body curled and her ears were now high on her head as she was concerned for Mikayla's safety. " Someone took Mikayla? " she let that news sink in as she tried to digest it. Before she thought that Mikayla was alone. She never considered that she was out there with others.

" Do you.. do you think she's safe? I mean they could of looked after her right? She could be part of a pack and happy. " Maylin wasn't sure who she was trying to convince. Her father or herself. She dare not think of the alternative. That she was taken and abused or worse hunters had gotten her. In her own whirlwind of complex emotions she almost missed on the strange foreign emotions she was picking up on.

" Do you feel that? " she asked her father as she looked out into the distance, scanning for something or someone. She rose off her belly and stood near her father ignoring her own concern for her family and focussing on the new ones. " There's someone here....  " she muttered and then smelled the air. " I can feel him and smell him. " She was defensive as she had no way of knowing who this stranger was. Not only that but she was disappointed. The first real opportunity she had alone with her father and it was now going to be interrupted by another. The stranger was to far away to decide whether he meant them any harm or not she only hoped it was a curious wolf and that this day wouldn't end in bloodshed.

Her father reacted as expected, stepping forward to face the expectant threat and protect her by standing at her side. He was fierce and at times like this she was happy to be his family and not an enemy. She only hoped that no blood would be shed today. Intentions and emotions were not the only thing she felt.

Oddly, her father defended the pack lands. She was unaware of her father's current stance within the pack as when she left the lands some time ago they were loners. But she dare not question her father now. It could've been a ploy to protect them. They were on pack lands, a place she felt she was trespassing. If they were lucky the intruder of their private moment wasn't a member of the pack and knew no better.

Movement caught her ears and she looked in the direction of the trees but no distinguishable figure could be made out. Wolf or otherwise. She caught hints of his words but she was more focussed on his emotions. She had to know if he meant them harm, so she could warn her father and give him any advantage she could as well as be my his side.

She stared into the shadows and although nothing appeared there, she could sense him. She felt no ill well, no anger, no urge to savage them but she was unsure whether he could be trusted. One thing she did know was the loneliness he felt, how lost he was. She didn't see how anyone who felt such things would lash out at strangers but should he see them as a threat there was no telling what he may do in his own defence.

" Father.. " she whispered. " Be patient I think he's lost. " A wolf, lost or not should of known better then to stray onto pack lands but who was she to judge. She herself felt as though she was wrongfully trespassing on this land despite it being the place of her birth. But her father had requested her presence and when he called she would come no matter the territory or the dangers.

Maylin believed in her gut that the man truly meant her and her father no harm. But from his behaviour she was starting to doubt even her own abilities. She knew her abilities were not unique to her and she was by no means skilled in her abilities. If she focussed hard enough she could stop herself from intruding on others emotions but it was difficult and it was often easier to just accept it.

However the tension mounted as the stranger continued to exacerbate the situation. She knew her father would hate that smirk, it seemed disrespectful as did the laugh that followed. Despite feeling he meant no harm Maylin didn't trust him. She now stood behind her father. The heckles on her back rising defensively, her head high and tail low. She was not as aggressive as her father but should this stranger continue to provoke them she would stand by her father no matter what his true intentions were.

(( sorry for short post, been in hospital with my little man who is very poorly ))

The colour of the wolf's eyes stood out making it easier to distinguish him from the shadows. He nodded at her cockily and announced himself and had it been under friendlier circumstances she may of laughed. But standing beside her father she remained defensive not showing any sign of enjoyment in his company.

He was smaller than she expected and that made her nervous. In her experience, smaller wolves who were as as confident as him generally had the upper hand another way. Be it in abilities or numbers. But it was hard for her to ignore her own intuition. She felt that he meant no harm but as he vanished she looked around, her suspicions proved true.

He appeared and made a formal introduction. She thought his name was strange but his wink at her seemed more shocking. She was not accustomed to flirtations especially not in front of her father. Any local wolves she assumed were weary of her father and on her travels she was focussed more on her family then romances.

She composed herself and refrained from speaking. Her father had control of the situation. She wondered how he would react to Night as he sat to groom himself. Despite saying he wanted no blood shed he was continuing to disrespect her father. Her father's tone told her everything she need to know about his temperament. It was a tone she remembered all too well from her childhood.

He spoke of familiar scents, the wolves that occupied the territory and it suddenly dawned on Maylin that her father had news of his own that he had yet to tell her. She suspected that her father had found his way back to the pack and she was overjoyed. She had grown up on stories of her father as Alpha and to see him where she felt he belonged excited her. However given their current predicament she would have to share her joy with him later.

Maylin was both confused and amused by this Night's behaviour. She enjoyed his child like nature, his mischievous nature. He seemed older then her but she enjoyed his playful nature. However she found him highly disrespectful toward her father and she wondered if he was playful or just foolish.

But his mood changed again, more serious now. He had locked with her father and spoke very poignantly. He made a somewhat compelling case for himself but she knew such things would not work with her father. He was far more logical then her. She tended to get carried away with the emotions of it all. That's why she relied on her father so much, she was too trusting and as much as the new wolf intrigued her, she would not argue over the matter with her father.

As expected her father reacted physically rather than with more words. He was not a man to repeat himself and Night had already had his fair share of warnings. Maylin stayed rooted in the spot defensively. Her father did not require her assistance as the dominant Alpha. As much as Night had brought this on himself, she didn't wish anyone her father's wrath.

Her father gave the wolf one more warning to leave and she hoped he would take it for his own sake. She knew he meant no harm and she would of hated to see him harmed because he was to stubborn or foolish to obey her father. She wanted to speak up, to ask him to leave but she knew better. If her father was apart of a pack again as she suspected, she could only presume he was fulfilling his obligation to the pack. It was not her place to interfere so she remained silent and in the background. Watching and waiting for the outcome.