So it ever was. So will it always be. Such is the nature of evil.
This is why he has come to Eden in his hour of need. Instinct drove him to the company of his King because Eden could sort through all problems. He could clearly sooth the burr that has become the mind of Underidge and delve into the very issues themselves. Merely speaking the words in the presence of the silver wolf was enough to give him a little clarity, although one could say Underidge has never had much clarity to begin with. If you so desire, he states, and those silver eyes stare hard into Eden's as if gauging the worth of the words. If Eden said that it could be done then it simply could be done. Much as Underidge trusts implicitly the guidance of the Shade - or the majority of the time - he finds that Eden is much the same.
His attention is riveting and grounding. Underidge stares at him, the movement of his lower jaw the only visible sign for the moment of his agitation as he grinds and chews. Who? Who who who.. the question makes something spiral up within him, a guarded hiss let loose as his ears pin back in a rabid manner.
"Them..... her family. Atlas." At first it is the only name he recalls, the fur on his spine rising at the memory of that wolf. Then he remembers her mutterings.
"Achilles. Vega.. Emu?" The names are said on a breath, almost missed if Eden wasn't paying attention for Underidge was straining his memory. To label all of his targets.
When he mentions thwarting them suddenly the beast's gaze snaps to attention.
"If they are dead, they cannot come."
His voice is flat. Monotone. Decided, despite the way Eden pushes his shoulder into him, despite the fact that Underidge was unthinkingly declaring a war.
The sudden sound of brush parting snaps his attention and he devolves before Eden once more into that panicked, frenzied state, a snarl ripping from his muzzle moments before Blackthorne pokes through. The boy is no longer a pup - he is growing into a tall, robust beast, and his standing is one of immense pride. Arrogant. He does not look ashamed for his eavesdropping, the smirk coiling up his maw suddenly no longer a thing to tolerate. In a swift move Underidge lunges at his son and the two begin a frenzy of snarls and bites, Blackthorne swift and just as savage of Underidge. Fur flies and they are deaf, for a few moments, to any trying to stop them.
"Thorne," a musical voice states pleadingly and a silver head pokes from the bushes now as Natiya crawls out. She does not once rise from the ground, letting her belly scrape across it in a form of deference to all the males in the clearing. Suddenly Thorne drops back from the savagery of his father and Underidge comes to a still, sides heaving and eyes wild. Where Thorne could send him into a frenzy, Natiya could calm him, although he preferred the company of Umbra to any of them. She... she was the epitome of her mother and a greater thing then them all combined.
Blackthorne's ears were pulled back, the silver cowlick between them standing up along with fur from their fight, and his glower shifts now indignantly to Eden. He offers no surrender or acquiescence to him, unlike Natiya.
"Why do you humor him? He is crazy. And he failed." The note in his voice is one of sick humor, digging the dagger deeper into the mental state of Underidge. He had overheard - so... his mate was dead. Good. That is what Umbra deserved, the vain bitch.
"But I didn't." He is callous, turning suddenly from Underidge, his courage perhaps the only saving point for it was fallacy to turn his back on such a wild creature as his father in this moment. Natiya made a soothing whimper as her father flinched as if to attack once more before snapping his rage filled eyes to Eden. Now the King has seen what the Thorn of Glorall had kept hidden - his whelps.
"He didn't kill Aranck but I killed the daughter of the beast. A life for a life." He knew Zuelika had been the daughter of Aranck simply because he had questioned Zharko after the attack and found out the details - no need to tell them it hadn't been PLANNED. Just good fortune. A wicked smirk curls his lips as he steps towards Eden.
"What do I get in reward?"
UNDERIDGE
EIGHT - MALE - NO HEART - STARSHADE'S SOUL
OF GLORALL - ENDERLY X BANSHEE - KILL COUNT (IIII)