Osprey | Recon Sergeant | Idle and waiting

Cool evening air twisted between tall trees as a long-legged young canine paced silently in the clearing before the huge land-locked vessel that was the home of the Pariah Canis. In the early hours of that morning, Croa, Alpha of the Feral Canis, had barged into their home to summon Osprey's uncle to a meeting in the city with leaders of the other districts. The majority of Croa's reasoning for why had been lost on Osprey, as well as the rest of the Pariah Canis, but Nich had clearly decided it was worth going, and had taken Osprey's mom with him.

Dark, heavy-looking clouds had appeared on the horizon as the hours ticked on, and as the storm seemed to brew, so too did Osprey's uncertainty. Something had happened, and the sky seemed to reflect the situation the city found herself in, though the clouds had yet to unleash their torrent upon the land. Knowing something needed to be done, but not knowing what, the young, ruffled-looking mutt quickened their pacing. It was a habit they'd picked up when it was the early hours of the morning, and their insomnia was acting up, invasive thoughts eating away at Osprey's very mind, reminding them of the war they had been born into, and how it had stolen so much from them. Their mother, Prim. Their twin, Morgan. And their other sibling, Jay. Not to mention the many other dogs that had disappeared over the last few months.

Anger twisted like a knife in Osprey's gut, thoughts so overwhelming that they almost didn't hear when the brush not far off rustled. Alarm shot through they grey and cream colored canine as they spun around, hackles defensively hiking up as Osprey bared fangs at the intruders. Their expression immediately faltered as Nich and Robin emerged from the underbrush into the edge of the clearing, though the expression their leader and uncle carried did little to alleviate Osprey's own anxiety. A rock seemed to settle in their gut, and they waited in silence, bracing for bad news.


Nich | General of the Pariah Canis

The meeting hadn't gone at all how the young General had expected. The discord between all four leaders was clear, and the only thing uniting them was their hatred (or perhaps for some just general dislike) of the Chancellor of the Domestic Canis. But could that mere hatred bind them to do the thing which they needed to do? Nich wasn't convinced. And so this uncertainty weighed at his heart, his exhaustion from fighting, day after day, scrounging for food, wary of assault even in their own territory... the tole of this war was plain to see.

The heavy clouds overhead threatened rain, and Nich felt like it was only fitting. A figurative storm was brewing in Lakeside, reaching a breaking point, and it seemed the sky was willing to oblige.

Finally, Nich and Robin reached the edge of the clearing where the ship they called home stood. As they emerged from the brush, sudden movement and an almost-growl pulled him up short, and he turned to see Osprey, no longer the small, long-legged pup they once were, now lean and tall, obviously startled by their appearance.

"Easy, little Soldier," Nich murmured, his voice back to his usual calm as opposed to how much he'd risen it during the meeting. "Stand down, it's just your mom and I."


Osprey | Recon Sergeant

Ire ruffled Osprey's pelt further, but no longer did they look nearly so terrifyingly aggressive. They re-adjusted their posture, straightening and standing upright and flicking a perked ear. "How'd the meeting go?" they inquired, eager to move past these familiar pleasantries.

"Surely Croa didn't summon you for a pleasant little outing to have breakfast together," Osprey continued, scoffing at the thought. The Pariah could barely feed all their members, so the thought of her mother and uncle going out for brunch was certainly laughable. They still couldn't understand how the other districts could sit idly by and watch their suffering impassively! Fury flashed momentarily in Osprey's pale gold and icy blue eyes, but it was there and gone almost instantly, leaving the impression of maybe never having been there at all.


Nich | General of the Pariah Canis

Nich was painfully aware of how fast Osprey had needed to grow up. The young canine already had a set of deep cuts along their neck from a fight with a domestic that their sister Blue, who'd taken up the position as medic for the district, had needed to tend to. Where a happy, playful, carefree pup should have stood, instead Nich saw a haggard, wary individual, seasoned beyond their meager year. His own tired blue eyes softened, even as he shook his head, mustering the strength to chuckle softly. "I'd have preferred a little breakfast get-together," he admitted, smiling for just a moment.

"Sadly, there was no food involved. Something of a much more distasteful subject came up, which we had to... discuss," the three-legged dog continued, hoping to leave things a little more vague. He didn't wish to darken the young pup's soul with the realization that it was possible their former leader, a dog Osprey had never met but still, had potentially been murdered by the current Domestic Canis leader.


Osprey | Recon Sergeant

"Distasteful?" Osprey echoed, confused by Nich's unclear wording. It frustrated them to no end that he constantly tried to shield them and their sister from what was going on. For god's sake, Blue was assaulted by a Domestic not long ago. A Domestic Canis had attacked a sightless dog, their sister! Nich would never know, and would never understand, but... the filth that had attacked Blue would likely think twice before making that same mistake again....

|Lakeside Paws| Nich Medallion by FrostFrameArt

Nich | General of the Pariah Canis

Osprey was much too perceptive for their own good, Nich thought, staring back at the young canine looking up at him, their eyes reaching his, seeking something more than the fragmented bits and pieces he would, on the rare occasion, share with them. The three-legged dog gave a soft sigh. "Something came to light. A darkness in the past before you were born. The Chancellor of the Domestic Canis seems to have done something terrible, and this deed seems to have shaken several of the other district leaders. They want to declare war on the Domestic Canis, Alpha Croa, Pharoah Mallow, and Lord Kubo," Nich explained, trying to give Osprey the summary it seemed they so desperately needed, but leaving it as brief as he could.


Osprey | Recon Sergeant

For a moment, surprise was all that the ruffled young canine felt. The other factions were seeking to declare war on the Domestic Canis? NOW of all times. They couldn't comprehend what utter atrocity must have come to light to bring the other factions to their senses, and Osprey repeated the sentiment aloud. "Oh NOW they want to declare war! Hah! After everything the Pariah Canis have suffered at the claws of the Domestic Canis? NOW the other districts want to pitch in?" Osprey scoffed, perhaps a little too vehemently.

Realizing too late their own instinctive response, Osprey tried to reign themselves in a bit, and took a breath as they collected themselves to present a more resigned, calm front. "How did you respond?"


Nich | General of the Pariah Canis

"I..." Nich began, uncertain of what to say. Osprey's reaction to his words had been much too similar to his initial disgust with the other districts for his liking. He could sense the underlying anger radiating off the cream and grey canine as they spoke, and guilt gripped his gut at the realization. He couldn't poison his young nephew with the anger and resentment he felt towards the other districts, nor did he feel encouraging this war was in any way something healthy for Osprey to hear. So when he continued, he did so with the utmost caution and care in his wording. "I think that it is the quickest way to end this conflict. I have no love for war, ever, and if things were different we wouldn't ever fight with the Domestics. However, the Chancellor has pushed us time and time again, and so I am deeply grateful that the other districts have decided to take up this fight and stand with us to end things once and for all."


Osprey | Recon Sergeant

As Nich spoke, explaining his opinions on the war that had taken so very many that Osprey cared for dearly, loved and missed, and how he wished that they weren't fighting the canines that had caused- and served those that had caused -so much misery and heartache for the young canine, the only thing they wanted to do was scream... Osprey wanted to scream and shout at Nich, demand how he could be so disinclined to fight the vile, self-righteous creatures that looked at them with so much hatred and disgust for simply existing!

Fury rose up and gripped Osprey's chest, crushing them in a fist so tightly clenched that for a moment they couldn't even breath.

Time itself seemed to stop, as the ruffled young canine stood there, pale gold and ice blue eyes meeting softer liquid blue ones, but despite everything, as the spell was broken Osprey's expression merely softened to something close to utterly impassive. Something heavy seemed to settle in their gaze, nights of sleeplessness weighing down their eyes, softening them slightly and they sighed. "I only hope that your trust in them is well-placed... General..." Osprey murmured, before dipping their head to both Nich and their mother and turning to leave.