Shiro learned this in an interesting way.
He had just recently spooked me away from my research on the roof of the den and was in the middle of a lecture about being on our toes. Very relevant considering the recent mess with the Judges bothering us. The teacher soon became the student when Max, a new pup, startled Shiro off the roof and two storeys down to the rocks below.
Dude's a hardy man. Big deal.
I didn't know he had metal plating until that point; I was worried the Alpha might be dead!
He was a good sport about it though, and eventually walked off the damage. Adjusting to another Alpha while Ayr was away is new to me. Last time Shiro was in charge, it was something of a forced takeover while Ayr was missing. This time, Ayr had truly left his brother in charge. That was enough for me not to question it, but I'd be lying if I said I harbored no hangups about it at all. I'm ashamed to say I DO hold grunges, even after the problem's been dealt with; it's hard to bow to the same leader that once broke several of your ribs and left you almost dead.
In fairness though, I got beat up because I was disrespectful to him being an Elder at the time. I recently learned that I may have to bring the hammer down on some family members myself. I'm not the only one who questions Shiro; there are others. Once this reached Raven's ears however, things became...troublesome.
She threatened to kill anyone
who thought or tried to harm her father Shiro.
Raven's always been defensive of her adopted father, ever since she was young. But this was inexcusable. We are a family, and death threats over one's opinion are not welcome. Angela preached non violence against family, as did Ayr, so I intended to make sure she learned this as well.
After a long talk and a few poorly chosen words from her, I got mad and showed a side I'm embarrassed of. I injected my former daughter with a pain inducing serum originally meant for subjects in Ashagi that refused to comply. An unwritten rule of mine was never to use such things against family but Raven made me so mad with her words that I couldn't keep my senses. She insulted me for being Beta and talking ill of her father, and blamed everyone else for the events leading up to the Pack's current tension.
I did eventually give the girl the remedy for it, but I did not stay to see if her fractures and muscles ever recovered from that. For a while, I did question whether I'd been too harsh with her, but it dawned on me that if someone didn't put her in check, it would continue.
In other family news, my immune system's broken down. I assume it's due to the pregnancy but it's worse than the first time. I actually got sick from an infected wound.
Mitka and Kayko were able to help, but the fact it happened shocked me. For my body to degrade to the point of infection was a serious cause for concern. If I could get something as simple as an infection, it meant my white blood cells were not doing their job or had somehow weakened to the level of normal humans. I've since set up an appointment on Saturday to met with Dr. Junes and see if she notices anything out of the ordinary.
...aren't you forgetting something?
What?
Oh really now...it's not worth mentioning?
Or are you still scared of her to mention it?
Scared of whom?
Oh I don't know...
your newly constructed wife perhaps.
The one that's been walking about in her new body
for some time now.
Why would I be afraid of her?
You're lying to yourself, idiot.
I am not. Don't mistake uncertainty for fear. It's weird for me to see someone who has died twice now walking about as though nothing happened. We've been through this already; I have hangups about that.
yeah, yeah.
Convenient cover story.
At least you are trying to decipher what's left.
She seems to remember enough of the important parts...I know this is difficult for her and I'm going to support her either way.
But that's not enough for you, is it?
The Adagio we fell in love with got her head blow off.
Became the clone you married and now bear young for.
And now, she's a brain in a metal shell.
Still walking and talking like our wife.
Still loving like our wife.
Remind me again what the hang up was...
Why am I explaining myself to you exactly?
Because if you can't tell me,
you sure as hell can't define it to someone else.
Why do Adagio's restorations bother us so much?
Most don't have the chance to hug their loved one once they pass.
We've done it twice now,
each time deepening our relationship.
But it always starts with you acting like she's the damn plague!
What's wrong?
Did Temp not slap you hard enough to get it?!
No, that slap was plenty.
Support my wife who fears death, and show her that her family's still here is what I told. A fine piece of advice I intend to honor. However...
...ooh, now I get it.
It's all here in our head.
You feel uneasy because it's unfair.
Why should you be happy your wife is alive when your murdered parents still rest in the ground?
Stop it.
It's an insult to them.
All that tech and not once did you think to bring them back.
Not even to try.
But Adagio's different.
Do whatever must be done so the family can stay together.
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