Shade

G1
~~~~~
The least favorite pup of her mother's first litter, Shade was chased from her home as soon as she was weaned. She survived alone until adulthood, when she met Tala and formed her pack. Her unpredictable moods and tendency to lash out means that her pack fears her, but she is a capable and strong leader, nonetheless. Over time, she's grown increasingly paranoid, her mate being the only wolf she still truly trusts.

[01-23-22] Fall, Year 1
Shade's obsession begins.
SpoilerHm. 'Verdigris.' The scroll says that it changes the color of my nose and skin, but how? That shouldn't be possible. Even so, it calls to me. To change myself, my very being, seems so tempting. Rot has tried to talk me out of it, worried I may change too much, but what does he know? Not what I know. I know that much, at least. He was raised in a pack, cushy and comfortable until he chose to make his own way. I had to raise myself, and in my time as a pup in the wilderness, I learned one thing: that everything changes. It's the only part of the world that stays the same. If change is so natural, how could it hurt to change myself? It's only a small piece of me, after all. I will use the scroll, and I will change. For better or for worse, only the future can tell.[03-03-22] Winter, Year 2
Shade succumbs to the allure of the Change.
SpoilerIt's been nearly a quarter moon since I changed my fur. The very base of my being, which defines who I am, has been altered. I see now. I understand. The Change is a holy thing, it must be obeyed. Until it changes, at least. Until then, I will change, too, and my pack shall be a vessel for the Change. As such, our home should reflect this. My scouts to the south told me of a land suitable to my needs. I, myself, have ventured there, and found it very much to my liking. The swamps contain the opposite powers of life and death, more so than any other land I have seen. Not only this, but the swamplands are home to all different kinds of life and death. It is perfect. It will be perfect still, even when it changes. My children protest, and they say the rest of the pack is against it as well, but I must not falter. I shall lead them to the swamps, and there we will thrive.[04-07-22] Spring, Year 3
Actions have consequences.
SpoilerThose traitors. Rot has told me everything, may he ever Change for the better. I've cared for them for so long, given my everything to guide this pack, and they repay me with a rebellion? No, I will not stand for this. They will not be forgiven, and I will no longer be lenient in the face of their disobedience. It's for the best, a great Change rippling through the pack, we will start anew. Almost anew, Prince Dove must stay, of course. I refuse to imagine the hassle it would be to replace him. And my love, my sweet Rot. He will always be by my side. His loyalty has been tested many times, and always he's been faithful to me, and to the Change. He sides with me over the pack, those ungrateful whelps. How dare they, the swamplands may have been a failure, but no one was hurt. I led them to a better home in the end, did I not? They claim that I make rash decisions, but when those decisions go awry, I am the one who keeps them safe. I am the one that fixes everything. Rash choices shouldn't matter. I am their leader; they should obey no matter what! They simply don't believe in the Change, that is the problem. They do not trust me, they aren't loyal, because they don't understand. Yes, that's it. I must calm myself. If I harm them, I will truly have failed in my place as a leader. I will not harm them, but they cannot stay here. I must be rid of them, even my own children, but I will not hurt them. There are many other packs in these lands, they'll surely be taken care of. I must step carefully; they want me gone now and I must convince them otherwise if I am to enact this plan. There is just one more thing I must do, one last test. My dear Rot, I hope you do stay loyal...[06-11-22] Winter, Year 3
A test of loyalty.
SpoilerHe did it. O Great Change, I am ever grateful. My-only-mine, my love, he stayed true. I took my time planning everything out, making sure no one knew. I've begun cleansing the pack. When I first sent Pine away, Rot protested. He claimed I was being too harsh. I had hoped I wouldn't need to force his paw, but alas. I acquired a different scroll, similar to the ones that changed me. This one was different, it wasn't a set change like mine, it was fully random. A true Change. I ordered him to use it, to Change himself, to put aside all those previous hesitations and protests. And he did. He did it, and he proved himself loyal. To the Change, to the pack, to me. I will keep him by my side, always and forever. When we are fully rid of the nonbelievers, we will stay together. He's even helped me acquire new packmates, a small group of unwanted adolescents. Together, we shall renew this stagnant pack.[06-28-22] Fall, Year 4
Resuming business as usual.
SpoilerThe pack is thriving. Just as expected, of course. Winter will be upon us soon; we have more than enough food to last us, as well as more hunting parties to bring in food. We've been running short on toys for the young ones, but since my new litter has been born, I can search the land more easily. I chose to bear pups from a male with my furs, but unfortunately none of the pups share it. Rot has taken to them well, considering the male was not from our pack. He's taken a liking to one pup in particular, which I have named Decay, in honor of him. Only a few days old, and she's already so eager to run. Perhaps I'll let her leave once she's grown. Storm and Minnow have been mated, as have Algae and Dark. They are both expecting in a moon cycle or so, and Minnow is very excited to have an apprentice. He is an excellent herbalist; he reads signs of the Change without assistance now, and is quite skilled in healing and herbalism, though he is still impatient. Storm's Soul must be stronger before she can bear any pups worthy of the Herbalist title. Dove is the only remnant of our old pack remaining. He is no longer our Prince, however. A young male, Luno, is set to replace him once he matures. Dove is beginning to age and has requested to be mated to Historian Smudge. I will allow it, if only to keep them both placated. Other than this, things have been relatively quiet. I am content, and so is the pack, and we shall remain so until that Changes.[07-12-22] Summer, Year 4
Developments among the pups.
SpoilerThey mock me. They all mock me. It's not my fault that their pups had no place. And now that Decay has gone missing, they mock me. Of course, it hurts to lose a pup that you slaved away to grow and give life to, but that must not stop us! I've always continued my duties without complaint when my pups were killed or disappeared or taken. They should do the same. Not only this, but they've been angry at me! Take it up with the sitters who were meant to be watching your pups, not me. Even Rot seems downcast, though I know that's because of our own poor Decay. Oh, I hope she's safe. They mock me for worrying because I "condemned their pups to death," but it's their own fault. They chose their own mates, well aware of the possible outcomes and the consequences. Only one of the pack's pups is worthy to stay, little Tide. If any of them dare rebel like the others did, their pups won't be the only ones to suffer. I can feel them all turning on me, I hear them whispering...[7-23-22] Spring, Year 5
Face-off.
SpoilerI... am at a loss. I don't know what to do. Well, really, I do know what to do, but I am far too afraid of what this means. It's springtime, I should have been on my guard, it happened far too quickly. A bear- this is why I always warn my hunters every single day, why didn't I think of it? I was alone and then all of a sudden it was all over me. I... I panicked. I froze, I couldn't run. It struck me across the face, and I fell and felt a snap in one of my hind legs. I fell into the river- the fast one to the north, not the one near home- and I couldn't get myself to the surface, I could barely move my leg. I woke up on the banks with Rot's hunting party around me. They were afraid, but there was something else too. They whispered, giving each other those glances. They wanted me to die in there. They want me gone. They all do, they all want me dead. Except my sweet love, my Rot. He was so fearful; he wouldn't leave my side for weeks. I nearly died. I am mortal, I will not be here for much longer. A year or two, I think. And I still don't have an heir. Fiodar is capable but... I want my own blood to lead. My pack hates me, they want me gone and dead, but I swear that my blood will persist. My descendants will lead to them to glory or ruin, I don't care which, so long as they lead. Now, I must decide who will father these pups. I have only three litters left before I am too old to bear any more. Rot, of course, I will give him the last. Our own Prince should get one as well. And the other, I think another outsider will do well. Yes, it is decided. I will die one day, but until then I shall lead, and after I pass- after I am sent through the last great Change of my life- my blood shall lead. They will never be rid of me, I swear it.[8/23/22] Spring, Year 6
Cataclysm & cryptids.
Spoileryo yo yo s money in the house[11/21/22] Winter, Year 7