Sour Grapes

Myranda was in no mood to speak to Joss as they returned with a nice pile of fish and even a small deer. She had felt a little bad killing the small thing, but its mother was nearby and had been dead for a while.

At this point, both she and Metas agreed that they couldn't wait much longer to attack Silas, because the manner of the doe's death had been the draining of blood from the neck. The terrible bastard was now letting the Vampires hunt on their grounds, too - and had anyone actually knew that inside the mountain, they'd revolt.

There was only one thing their clan hated more than their tired traditions - and that, was Vampires. First he was feeding their kind to the brood, and now they were letting them hunt? Unacceptable. As he relayed the information, the company grew grim and quiet.

"...Well...you're technically the actual alpha, Metas. Why don't we sit out there and take them out when they come back to eat our food? You can make it clear you're the real leader, and drive them out I am sure," Veltar offered from Jess's side as they sat in a circle to eat and talk.

"He's right," Jyriah said with a half-full mouth of food. "You're the real king. Let's make it known to your enemies. It would really mess up Silas' authority, and we could save more victims of his work. That would only add to our following," he continued with ease.

"Wow, big brother...I'm impressed" Myranda replied with a light surprise, and raised eyebrows.

"I am more than just good looks, you know" he replied with a prideful smile that she could tell wasn't at its usual height of his usual jovial spirit. It probably wouldn't be for a long time, and neither would her own.

"Ah, good to know. We'll keep that in mind when there is a beauty contest in war," she shot back with a failed attempt at getting to her playful voice. It just wasn't possible with Syrana gone.

"You could do a dance battle, too" Joss offered up as trying to lighten the tension between he and Myranda, but she didn't even give him a glance. She iced him out rather easily, and it made him both uneasy, and upset. It wasn't just because she was his Luna in technicality, but it was also because he genuinely liked her and having her as a pack-sister.

Part of her thought she was being too harsh (and maybe she was) - but he had no idea how much that night had taken a toll on her, and how horrible it was to have to live in that moment over and over again -- and just before her sister died, too.

Myranda had already decided she'd get over it eventually, but not right now. It was too fresh right now.

"You and I can patrol with Lara and Ajax, then" Metas suggested and looked over to Myranda, who was pretty deep into a roasted leg from the venison they had caught. Since she didn't acknowledge him, he let out a soft laugh and spoke her name gently, which drew her attention.

"Hmmm" she hummed with a full mouth.

"You and I - patrol with Lara and Ajax - yes?" he repeated with a grin.

"Oh, haha. I thought you were talking to Jyriah" she answered with a chuckle.

"Last I checked you were my Luna. I need you by my side so they know we're a force to be reckoned with. Besides, I love Jyriah's company and all - but you're the court now, and I'd rather enjoy you at my side. No offense, brother" Metas said in good nature.

"No problem. I'd rather stay here to be honest. I'm tired; cranky, and tired." Jyriah replied truthfully.

"You said tired twice," Myranda replied to her brother with a bit of a flat expression.

"..and that is because I am double tired. I should have said it three times to be honest," Jyriah shot back and gave her a gentle grin.

Myranda rolled her eyes, but it was more sisterly than mocking. He had every right to be exhausted, and she wasn't going to judge him for it. She herself was very out of energy, but Metas had just asked her to confront some Vampires.

How did her Alpha have such endless energy?

"Once we patrol, we can return home and finally sleep. From now on, let's go and find as many survivors as we can and keep them in our company. We can heal them with you and Veltar's skills, and we can amass a small army while we're at it," Ajax suggested with raised eyebrows.

'Ah, damn. I was going to suggest that...' Joss said to himself, but didn't bother to lift his head or add any suggestions. He didn't feel as though he were in the same place as he was the other night with Metas.

The Alpha could tell, and as a good leader he made sure to pull in Joss, who he felt was the best suited for advice. Ajax was a great scout, and he had some good ideas -- but Joss was a mastermind.

"What do you think, Joss? You're the smart one of the group. Any suggestions?" Metas asked as he pointedly looked to the silver-haired mortal.

The orange-eyed handsome male looked up to Metas and lifted his lips into a small curve, "always my Alpha. If you'd truly like to hear it..."

"Please, speak. Your thoughts are invaluable," the king returned warmly.

"If we're to bring survivors here, we should be prepared to sleep outside. The sick and injured should be able to rest in warmth and safety...speaking of... how is my sister?" Joss asked and looked over to Veltar and Jess who were sitting /very/ close. A little too close for his comfort.

"Thanks to Veltar, I'm feeling like new" Jess answered with a bright smile. Too bright. Something was up between the two of them, and he wasn't sure how to feel.

Syrana had just died not 48 hours ago - and Veltar was getting too comfortable with his twin for his taste. Did he have no shame?

"That's great. Thank you so much for taking care of Syri. I hope she wasn't too much trouble," Myranda chimed in and looked to the female with a smile. She was actually feeling the exact opposite of Joss. She knew her sister too well, and if there was a choice in the afterlife, she would choose his happiness above all.

Jess must have been Veltar's moon mate, and she was confident that Syrana had blessed it so. That was always like the late wofl - bringing happiness to everyone she could, even if she were to gain nothing from it. The thought made her eyes tear up and she wiped them away with the back of her hand.

"Not even close to trouble. She is an absolute angel. I hope she still wants to hang out with me when this is over. I know I'm not related to her - but we've grown close" Jess replied warmly, and with nostalgia laced in each word.

"I'm sure she will. As far as I'm concerned, you're her honorary aunt. She'll need someone like you in her life - and I'm glad you're apart of it," Myranda said steadily, but she wanted to cry. Goddess, did she want to cry...but she'd save that when she could be alone with Metas. He would kiss her tears away, and she'd be able to move on with lots of time.

"You're sweet to say, but I don't want to feel like Jessie is going to take Syrana's place," Joss inserted gently, which offered him a glare from Myranda, and surprised look from Jyriah who shook his head 'no' to stop his mate from putting his foot in his mouth.

"No one could ever - ever - ever - take her place, do you hear me? Your sister is fantastic, but she's not Syrana. She'll never be Syrana, and you shouldn't compare or contrast her to Syrana, do you understand?" Myranda snapped at Joss and threw the bone she had been working on to the ground in anger.

"I didn't mean it like that, my Luna..." Joss started with an apologetic tone.

"I don't care. I don't want to hear your reasoning - but I do want you to know, that if there was anyone, /anyone/ who Syrana would have trusted with her daughter, I just know Jessie would be that person had they known one another. Just... don't mention my sister again. Not right now. Not for a while," Myranda replied with tears she couldn't hold back.

"Myri, lay off. He's just trying to be supportive of us. He didn't mean any harm," Jyriah piped in and put his hand over Joss' in comfort.

"Mandy...please," Metas started softly and reached out to touch her shoulder, but she jerked away.

"No. Not now. Just...give me some time to myself, please" she requested softly, but also with a sturdiness that mean she was also being serious. She just wanted some space.

"Alright," Metas replied and nodded at her steadily. "You know how to call for me," he finished softly and reached out to touch her, but withdrew his hand since she was clearly on edge, and he could feel that she didn't want to be touched.

"Thank you," Myranda replied firmly, but he knew she meant it.

"Myranda...come on," Jyriah called out halfheartedly (because he knew it wouldn't matter to his stubborn baby sister).

"Bya!" she blurted out in sound and flipped her hand up into the air and over her shoulder to shoo him off.

Jess and Veltar just sat there in a stunned, awkward silence as all eyes seemed to turn to them in natural curiosity.