With The Next Generation(Private/mature/continued)

"Go ahead and eat. There's plenty of meat for both the twins and ryukai." Ryu stated as he tucked his wings back into his back. He leaned back against the trunk of a tall tree and crossed his arms over his chest. Candra was definitely getting stronger. Ryu wondered if this was a good time to bring up what had happened to ryukai. He feared though that doing so would send her back into a state of depression. "Is it good?" he smiled slightly. The animal was huge so Ryu would probably have to carry it back.

Candra had lifted her head and stared at the beast as it charged right for them, but she showed no signs of worry. She knew Ryu was going to stop the buffalo from touched them.She licked her muzzled and looked up at him with perked ears, her tail wagging. "I suppose not... I'm just a trouble magnet" She said with a wolfish grin. She paced around her kill wanting to eat now, but knew she had to bring it back tot the cubs first. "Lets hurry back with it, it smells good" She said

"Good job." Ryu smiled as he landed beside her. What he didn't know, was that one of the females had turned right back around. The buffalo was pissed. The animal began to charge, its speed gaining with every second. Ryu blinked twice. He could feel the vibrations underneath his feet. He turned around just in time to catch sight of the buffalo. The dragon quickly raised a barrier of darkness. The buffalo slammed into it with enough force that nearly caused Ryu to step back. After one attempt tho, the buffalo ran to rejoin the heard. Ryu wasn't worth it. "Geez...never a dull moment around you is there?" Ryu smirked as his good eye shifted back to Candra."

Candra waited, her ears perking as the heard began to split off and run in all different directions. She readied herself as one of them ran straight for her. She crouched low and just as the buffalo came up on her she lunged up locking her jaws against the animals throat, using the weight of her body to make the beast lose it's balance and fall to the ground. With a deadly snarl her jaws crushed the buffalo's throat, making it's body fall completely limp.

Ryu gave her a small nod. He wasn't too worried. He was after all a dragon. A single swipe from one of his claws while in his true form would tear the buffalo apart. However, if he did so there would be little to no meat left for the twins or themselves. Once Candra got into position, Ryu crept as close as he could. Suddenly, his body rushed up from the grasses spooking the herd. The buffalo raced across the the open plain. It didn't take Ryu too long to separate one for the heard and chase him right into Candra's waiting jaws.

Candra stalked her way through the tall grass. If the herd saw her they'd start running instantly. "Yeah, give me two minutes and I'll be on the other side, right in front of you. Watch their horns, those suckers have a lot of strength behind them and can do some damage while charging" Candra said and backed up a few feet before making her way around. She crept up slowly, her bright blue hues finding where Ryu was. She got into position.

Ryu flew just a few feet above the ground. His good eye shifted down towards Candra. Her condition had definitely improved. She looked good. With any luck, she would be strong enough to return to the mortal world within a few days. When they reached the plains, Ryu landed on the ground and took a knee. The tall grasses kept his body hidden from the sight of the buffalo. "You think you can get into position on the other side? I'll chase one right into you."

Candra shook out her fur before nodded and started to run. It felt like it had been so long since she last ran, but she had been given no option other then to lay around and rest. Ryuten and the three wolf gods made sure to remind her often. She started at a trot to get the feel of her body once more. After a few minutes she began to run, her ears perked and her tail held high. She took in deep breaths of the amazingly fresh air, her tail began to wag

"I can understand that. It would be ideal to raise the twins here. However...I dont know...I guess I just cant help but feel that we dont really belong here." Ryu replied softly before standing up to his feet. He looked at Candra with a smile. "Well an elk is just a big dear. Lets journey out to the plains and get a buffelo. I've actually never tasted the meat before. There aren't too many of those creatures in the mountains." Ryu laughed softly. He closed his good eye and extended a pair of dark wings from his back. "Well, shall we go?"

"I can attempt it, but I'll apologize now in case I mess up the hunt" She said with a light smile and looked back up to the sky. "Part of me cant wait to go home... but another part of me kinda wants to stay here... theres no major worries or concerns here" She said as she slowly sat up and ran her hand through her long black hair. "Hm...we could try for buffalo...or elk" She reccomended as she shifted to her wolf form and shook out her fur

"Perhaps." Ryu replied softly as soft blades of grass tickled his skin. He was laying beside Candra. The twins were off somewhere playing with Ryukai. "You seem stronger today. I'm glad." Ryu whispered softly as he shielded his face from the sun's harsh rays with his left arm. Inside, Ryu wondered what the state of the Empire was. How was Sasha doing? Had she escaped Jabberwock's grasp? No...knowing just how brutal Jabberwock was...there was no way he'd allow Sasha to escape. Most likely, he had turned her into some kind of slave by now. Sighing softly, Ryu closed his good eye. In the past few months...or...technically weeks, he had never voiced his inner concerns to Candra. He wanted her to focus on getting better and nothing more. "Hey, do you think you're fit enough to help me catch dinner? The twins are sick of deer and want something else."

The the realm of gods it felt like months had past, when really they were half way through their second week of being in the realm of the gods. Candra was on her feet again, and able to take human form for a couple hours at a time. Her strength was rebulding itself all over again since the crash. She laid back and stretched her arms out about her head and let out a soft sigh. "I can see why the gods say they dont pay much attention to time...it all just blends together here" She said

"Right." Ryu stated before whispering a very soft 'thank you'. At the very least, he wouldn't have to worry about the safety of the twins. He could simply relax and allow Candra to heal. As Ryu sat by his small fire, he watched as the flames danced. Every now and then, his eyes shifted back over to Candra just to make sure she was doing ok.,

Hati walked up to Ryuten and dropped something from his mouth infront of Ryu. "Father has told my brother and I to return to hearding before the chariots that pull the moon and sun realize we are not chasing them. But if you need me for anything, blow that whistle and I'll come" Hati said. Skoll nudged the kids before walking into the black mist and vanishing, Hati following after. Fenrir looked upon the family with his red hues before taking his leave as well

Ryu blinked yet again. He looked back at his son, but only for a very short moment. Naturally, Ryu wouldn't mention a word to Candra while she was sick. However...once her condition improved...Ryu saw no reason why he shouldn't talk to her. At the very least, Ryu wanted to know what had happened that caused Candra to rethink her decision to end Ryukai's life. Perhaps though, it didn't matter. He was alive after all. Sighing softly, Ryu watched as Candra drank. With the twins full, Ryu started a small fire and began to cook some meat for himself.

Once done eating Kasumi ran over to Ryuaki and nuzzled against him. Despite what Hati had said about Ryukai wanting to break, to vanish from the world, he seemed to hide his feelings perfectly when his little siblings were around. Little Kei rolled onto his back and fell asleep under the sun. After eating the rest Ryuten gave her Candra winced as she shifted her body and lapped up some of the water. "Dont mention a word to her...she doesnt need to know, you know" Ryukai's voice came to Ryuten's head, Ryu's violet hues focused on his father before focusing back to Kasumi

"Good girl." Ryu whispered softly. He walked back to the kill to give Candra a chance to eat as much as she could. Meanwhile, his good eye shifted back towards the twins. It looked like they were happily eating until they were full. Ryu looked around. It seemed that Ryukai had no interest in eating just yet, not that he expected him to. Sighing softly, Ryu turned his gaze back towards Candra and ran his free hand between her ears. "You really need to get better. There's...allot we need to discuss." he whispered and gently pressed his lips against her forehead before turning to wash his hands in the stream.

Fenrir's red hues focused on Ryuten as soon as he neared himself and Candra. He slowly got up and walked over to the kill taking a small chunk for himself and let Candra an Ryuten be. Candra's ears perked and her eyes barely opened, her hues trying to focus on the meant but kept shifting every which way. She slowly lifted her head and licked at the raw meat before taking a small chunk into her jaws and gulped it down without chewing. Wolves of course didnt have cheeks, so chewinf wasnt really needed. She ate all he offered and licked his hand and whimpered lightly, her tail lightly wagged

Ryu blinked twice. He hadn't really expected both Kei and Kasumi to tear into the carcass. He let out a small chuckle as he bent down and cut out a few nice chunks of meat for Candra. He already knew how she ate, especially when in her wolf form. Once he was finished, he brought the bloody chunks over towards her. He let her get a whiff of the meat before cutting the chunks into small pieces to make them easier for her eat and swallow. "Candra...you can hear me right? Do you think you can eat a little for me?"

"Of course" Hati said with a nod of his head and started to walk again, allowing Ryu to hunt for his family. Upon returning Hati chuckled having a good idea how the pups would want their meat. Kasumi and Kei were both on Skoll's belly when their ears perked at the mention of food. Both cubs sprinted for the kill and tore at the carcass with their claws and fangs, eating the meat as it was while in their beast form. "You should try to feed some to Candra so er body can gain back some energy" Hati said. Fenrir still laid beside Candra, his head held up but his eyes closed, as if he too were resting

"Perhaps..." Ryu replied softly before pushing himself away from the tree trunk. "Enough talk. Show me these herds so I can feed the twins. I dont want to keep them hungry for too long." Ryu stated. Once they had found some prey, Ryu killed the animal quickly. He wasn't really sure how the twins ate. When Raia was young, Yuki and him cooked her food before giving it to her. Never did she...or Ryu eat their meat raw. Sighing softly, Ryu carried the dead animal back towards the stream and dropped it just a few feet in front of the oak tree that Candra was resting under. "So, how do you guys like your meat?" Ryu smiled as he formed a slender shadow like blade within his right hand.

"Kei is a little spit fire... I wouldnt worry about him. And Kasumi had her own little ways, now doesnt she" Hati said simply. "Neither of them were brought into the world having everyone around them hating them. With Candra queen of wolves, the wolves naturally accepted the halflings unlike before when the king of wolves lead them with the laws of taboo against halflings. Neither felt responsible for their mother, since they never had to see her suffer like Ryukai had to. Yes, she may have been growing week and sick, but they knew it wasnt their fault, but the tress and thoughts of you abandoning her and her children once again. Ryukai...is a young man you may never be able to reach...I dont reccomend trying...when he comes to you, then you can reach out to him, but other wise I'd let him be" Hati said

"My father..." Ryu sighed softly. To say that he had little patience for failure was a vast understatement. "Well...lets just say he's old school and leave it at that." Ryu sighed softly. He listened very careful to what Hati had to say and perhaps for the first time...actually took in the god's words rather then brushing to the side. "Thats the problem. I've always been able to move forward. I've never had a problem doing so. Whether its leaving Candra, joining the war, or getting back with her...I've always been able to move forward. Its the repercussions that come afterward that scare me. I..." He began, but then suddenly paused and shifted his gaze back towards the way they came. "I dont want to fuck up Kei's life. Kasumi isn't mine...but I love her just as much as I love Raia. I want those two to lead happy lives. I'd die if they ended up like Ryukai." Ryu whispered softly before letting out a small huff. Maybe he simply wasn't meant to be a father. Sure, Raia had turned out ok, but that was most likely thanks to Yuki's natural parenting

Hati didnt give Ryu looks of judgment but simply listened. The dragon needed to vent and be heard, and Hati was a very patient and trustworthy wolf. "From what I understand, halflings are forbiddin on the earth realm, correct?" Hati inquired. "In the realm of gods...we car not who mates with who...everything must change and evolve at some point." He said as he looked to the pale sky. "I can imagine growing up in a realm where you are seen as a outcast....unwanted by either thing of which you are.... can be hard on a child...its what children go through at such young ages, thats whats makes them who they are when they get older. Your impatience....I'm going to take a guess you father had little patience for failure?" Hati questioned, not in a prying manner, but a genuine question. "It's not your fault...you are who you are, but not everthing in life can go as you want it. While some live in luxury....others must suffer their entire lives, and sometimes never even get to where they were heading..." Hati said. "The gods dont play with the mortal realms hearts, nor do we control anything that goes on. I dont know when it came about how mortals though gods lead their lives, but the gods, live in their own worlds with their own troubles...we were never meant to guide and teach...we are gods because we are not equals to you...because we are the first in existance.... so desendant of the serpents bloonline...dont give up on yourself...serpents always find a way to move forward" He said

"Everything is so fucked up..." Ryu sighed as he leaned up against a tall tree and crossed his arms over his chest. "I use to think that at some point...Ryukai and I would be able to come to terms with our relationship. I use to think that it would just take a while...but sooner or later...I'd have a relationship similar to the one I have with my daughter, Raia." Ryu whispered. "Oh...she's not by Candra. She's...well...the daughter of my childhood love, a full bred dragon." Ryu stated. He didn't care if Hati judged him or not. It wouldn't change anything and Ryu had never once regretted Raia being born. He loved her and would do anything to ensure her happiness. "You know...when I was fighting in the war...I took a few days leave to check on my daughter and her mother. Raia...she asked me how Ryukai was. She then told me that he had actually given himself an operation to insure that he could not impregnate a female...even if he were to mate. When she told me this...I honestly didn't believe her. She pleaded for me to talk to him...but I just brushed it to the side. I figured that the war should come first since...Candra and I...weren't exactly seeing eye to eye. Actually...maybe its better to say that I became impatient. I was sick of waiting...and so sick of smelling the scent of that dog on her..." Ryu groaned as his hands slowly slid down his face. "God...I dont know what to do. I've been banished from my family, told I have to forsake my people, my own daughter...h-how did it all come to this?"