So sorry for the late update you guys:( life always gets in the way of these things. Anyway, over 3,500 views! thank you all so much for your support of this little idea! Please bear with me as I get this out, I think it'll probably be about 40 chapters. This feels a bit like a filler to me, but it's nessecary to build Finn and Jay's relationship with their cousins. Enjoy!
All seven jackals were seated at the table to eat breakfast. Finn absently picked at his food, eyes staring into the plate.
Nia looked at her son with concern. "Aren't you hungry Finn?" She asked gently.
He glanced over at her. Truthfully he wasn't, but he took a few bites, for her sake.
"My sons will show you and Jay the way things are done here." Said Taja. "If you're going to stay you must work with the rest of us."
Jay nodded, "yes ma'am." He was grateful for the hospitality that had been shown to his family.
Taja smiled and patted his head, he was such a good boy. Unlike Finn. She could tell he was trouble.
Finn trudged along behind his brother and cousins. He angrily scuffed the dirt with his boot. Life sucked. And he hated it. Why was the world so cruel? What had he done to deserve the despair that was his life?
Jay didn't notice how depressed his brother seemed. He was getting to know his cousins. The two boys were very easy going, and good company.
Lance clapped him on the shoulder, laughing at a joke Pierce told. Despite their easygoing attitude, they were definitely not ones to tangle with.
"So?" Jay asked, "your mother is alpha?" Pierce nodded. "What happened to your father?" He asked hesitantly.
Lance sighed and ran a hand through his short spiked mane, "dunno. Never met the man."
"Mother never took a mate," Pierce said, "father was just a fling."
"Not to mention he flat out refused," Lance growled, folding his arms as he did so.
Pierce patted Lance on the shoulder in a reassuring gesture. "Come on, let us go. We are on patrol duty today. We have to scout the perimeter."
"So Tempest is your mate?" Pierce asked Jay while climbing up a tree to get a better view.
Jay nodded as a few fruits were tossed to him. "She is."
"No pups?" Asked Lance. Jay visibly tensed. The other male's expression softened, "sorry." He landed to the ground with a thud, "she can't get pregnant?"
Jay nodded as his gaze fell to the jungle floor. "We lost the one we did manage to have during our journey here."
Pierce set his hand on his cousin's arm, "we are sorry to hear that. Your mate is a very strong woman, we enjoy her company. I hope soon she will bear you pups." Jay flashed him a small smile.
Finn shoved past the other males, "can we stop talking about this?" His voice had a growl to it.
"Calm down Finn," Jay said quietly. His hand reached for his brother.
Finn whirled around to face Jay. His mane was loose and his eyes wild. "Calm down?" He yelled clenching his fists. He turned his back and scoffed, "you sicken me." Then he trudged ahead.
The other three males looked at each other. "Is he always like this?" Lance asked once Finn was out of earshot.
Jay sighed, "he didn't used to be." A heavy sigh fell from his lips and he ran a hand through his Mohawk. "Don't hold it against him. He's had a rough life."
Lance raised a brow, "and you haven't?"
"Well yeah. Finn's just never learned to adapt. I just wish he would, then maybe he'd be happy."
A heavy silence fell over the four males as they walked around their territory. "Don't you have any excitement around here?" Finn asked kicking a rock.
"Not usually," Pierce said, "things are generally pretty quiet."
"Do you even know how to kill?" Finn asked with scorn.
"We do," replied the jackal in the beret while jumping down from the rock he was on, "but only if absolutely necessary." Pierce glanced over at Finn, "have you?" Finn seemed like the type of man who'd enjoy it.
Finn shrugged and suddenly became very interested in the jungle floor. He didn't trust these jackals. The only reason he was still here was because he knew he wouldn't last long in the wilderness. Not until he got his strength up. As soon as he did he was leaving.
"You didn't answer the question," Lance frowned while folding his arms across his chest.
"I don't have to explain myself to the likes of you," Finn snarled. He pulled his lips back, showing Lance his teeth in a sign of aggression.
Lance pulled two knives out from the wrists of his gloves. He didn't want to fight Finn, he knew he would probably lose, but if he had to, so be it. "Are you sure you want to fight me?" He asked while showing his teeth slightly.
Finn lowered his stance. When Lance turned his back, Finn jumped him. A yelp escaped him as they tumbled through the dirt. Finn snarled and bit down on his shoulder.
Lance howled in pain as Finn's teeth sunk into his muscle. Blood filled Finn's mouth and he bit down harder. "Get him off!" Lance shouted as he struggled under Finn's weight.
He swiped at his face and Finn pulled back, taking a good chunk of his shoulder with him.
Lance shouted in pain and Finn grinned. Blood dripped from his teeth. Finally, someone besides him would suffer.
Lance turned onto his back. He had to get him off. Jay and Pierce were too stunned to react. The only bad thing about that position was that now Finn tried to go for his throat.
Finn lunged, eyes blazing and teeth snapping. He wanted to kill Lance. Feel him tear between his teeth.
"Pierce!" Lance screamed, "get him off!" He had his forearm against Finn's throat, pushing him back. Finn's teeth snapped together, still trying to bite Lance's neck.
Pierce shook his head and ran over. He swung his foot back and nailed Finn in the stomach. Sending the male sprawling in the dirt.
Finn yelped as he tumbled and a cracking sound was heard on impact. As Finn struggled to get up Lance got to his feet. He clutched his shoulder as the blood flowed freely down his arm.
Pierce folded his arms across his chest while looking down at Finn. "Now. We are not going to have any more trouble."
Finn nodded while clutching his stomach and coughing slightly. He sent a harsh glare at his cousins.
"Come on," said Pierce, "let us get your shoulder taken care of."
"Ahh!" Lance shouted while Tempest cleaned his shoulder. He clenched his teeth and closed his eyes. A groan escaped his lips at the sting from the antiseptic.
"I'm not sure I understand, Finn attacked you?" She asked with confusion while wrapping a bandage around his shoulder. "That doesn't seem like something he'd do."
Jay sighed while scratching his neck. "They asked if he's killed before." Tempest sucked in a breath.
"What?" Lance asked, "he started the conversation in that direction."
Jay sighed and rubbed his mane. "Finn has killed. Twice." Pierce and Lance looked at each other. "One was our mother's mate. He deserved it though, he was abusive, gave Finn his scar. The second," he paused and swallowed thickly, "was our son."
"And you are ok with that?" Pierce asked incredulously. His gold eyes were wide. If that was done here they would've killed the one who took the life of a pup.
"We asked him to," Jay said with a thick voice. "He was born during our journey here. He suffered so much," his voice became choked, "and he was dying. So Finn ended his pain." A few tears dripped down his muzzle, "we miss him. Finn took it harder than I thought he would." Jay drew a shuddering breath, "if I had known how hard he was going to take it, I never would've asked."
"I am truly sorry to hear that." Pierce said. His voice was full of sadness. All four of the jackals bowed their heads in a moment of silence and mourning for the lost pup.
"We will not say a word to mother about Finn." Added Pierce, "she already doesn't like him."
"Thank you," Jay said with a sniffle, "thank you."