02-17-2021, 03:55 AM
"ENOUGH."
Aurum's stern and rage-filled voice echoed out through the town, causing several of the smaller members in the crowd to jump. The tigress had drawn himself up, a stern expression on his face as he glared down at those responsible – Kiira, Atbash, and Atticus. He had already been ready to roll his eyes when the boy had started his long-winded speech about how The Pitt didn't deserve punishment. But now? When they were all just arguing like children? He had no interest in listening, especially not to someone who acted like a spoiled little kit.
He decided to address Kiira first, his ears flattened as his gaze bore holes into her. He snarled, eyes narrowing as he spoke, "Frankly, Kiira, I don't see why you have any right to speak on the matter. As Atbash said, you were there for what The Pitt has done to us. You have seen that they haven't changed at all. Instead, they will just continue to blame the one person who did it all. And yet, a new one person keeps popping up every damn day. You know why? Because The Pitt isn't a group of innocents. It's a disease. A disease driven by nothing but malice, that fosters a culture that leads to these damn incidents. So, no, it isn't ever just one person, because if it was, we wouldn't be having this conversation for the seven thousandth time, now would we?" He then took a step forward, his tone even more harsh as he continued, "Maybe you would see the pattern more clearly if you hadn't disappeared. If you hadn't just left the face of the earth over and over again whenever the slightest inconvenience struck you. You have no right to come to this meeting and bitch, when you weren't even there to help when Elsweyr got back." He had no patience for Kiira right now, especially considering she hadn't been around for weeks, even before her sickness. She could barely be considered a Tangler anymore, at this rate.
Turning to Atbash, Aurum's voice was still displeased as he spoke, although his tone had softened slightly, "Atbash... I firmly believe that you did all you could for your group, and I'm glad to hear you speak up, but this isn't worth it. Arguing like children is not something that we should be doing in any meeting, regardless of circumstances." He then added, his firey glare temporarily focused on Atticus before returning to Atbash, "And I know you were speaking sarcastically, but I will make it clear here and now – The Coalition will never be allowed neutrality or an alliance with Tanglewood as long as I'm alive. They took over our territory. They killed Vigenere. They have not changed at all, and no returning of someone they captured will mend those wounds. You may be willing to tuck your tail between your legs and let others step all over you, Atticus, but I am not." He was really losing his patience now, his tail lashing behind him and heat raising in his throat. He was so tired of this stupid circular argument, especially from someone who wasn't even a part of Tanglewood.
Stepping down from the slab he had been on just a moment ago, Aurum moved forward so he was face to face with Atticus, glaring down at the other. The tiger's words were ice cold as he began, "And you. You know what you are to me? You're a guest within Tanglewood. You are not my nephew, nor are you my family in any way, shape, or form. You stopped being that the moment that you became ready to toss aside injuries inflicted upon those that had once helped you. In fact, if I didn't know that Moth would be upset to see you go, I would've tossed you back to the wolves within The Pitt the moment that you were patched up. So don't try to get sympathy points with me, brat." He shook his head, his voice deepening into a further snarl, "And The Pitt was not just declared an enemy. The Pitt has and always will be an enemy of Tanglewood. You act as if they've somehow miraculously changed, yet their very leader right now is someone who was around for Jervis's reign, and did nothing about it. Gael did nothing but sit and watch as leaders came and went, and didn't give a single shit about what The Pitt did to other groups, and he still doesn't. He would've left us all to die at the hands of The Coalition if Roxanne hadn't made a deal with him, and that is unforgivable." So easily they forgot how The Pitt had left them to die, taking on the mindset that as long as they were safe, everyone else could die. That was not the mindset of a changed group, or a kind leader. It was the mindset of a selfish landscape that deserved no mercy from Tanglewood.
He tired of this. Had already tired of it. So, his words were curt and sharp as he finished, nothing but contempt in his gaze as he looked at Atticus, "Twist my words all that you want, but I never said that I wanted a war. In fact, I actively said that I was taking a patrol to go talk to them. All I did was rightfully state that they were still an enemy, and that we no longer had to uphold a truce that they broke. If you have a problem with that, then leave. Go back to The Pitt. You clearly care about them more than you care for any of us, or any of the people that have been hurt by them." The tiger then turned, tail flicking behind him as he moved off towards his home. He rumbled, head lifting just enough so that the crowd could hear him, "Now, this meeting is dismissed. I have no interest in hearing any more of these useless arguments, and I'm especially not interested in whatever little selfish speech Atticus is no doubt thinking up already." He left no room for argument, slipping up the stairs of his home and shutting the door behind him. After a moment, the click of a lock being turned could be heard.
( out )
Aurum's stern and rage-filled voice echoed out through the town, causing several of the smaller members in the crowd to jump. The tigress had drawn himself up, a stern expression on his face as he glared down at those responsible – Kiira, Atbash, and Atticus. He had already been ready to roll his eyes when the boy had started his long-winded speech about how The Pitt didn't deserve punishment. But now? When they were all just arguing like children? He had no interest in listening, especially not to someone who acted like a spoiled little kit.
He decided to address Kiira first, his ears flattened as his gaze bore holes into her. He snarled, eyes narrowing as he spoke, "Frankly, Kiira, I don't see why you have any right to speak on the matter. As Atbash said, you were there for what The Pitt has done to us. You have seen that they haven't changed at all. Instead, they will just continue to blame the one person who did it all. And yet, a new one person keeps popping up every damn day. You know why? Because The Pitt isn't a group of innocents. It's a disease. A disease driven by nothing but malice, that fosters a culture that leads to these damn incidents. So, no, it isn't ever just one person, because if it was, we wouldn't be having this conversation for the seven thousandth time, now would we?" He then took a step forward, his tone even more harsh as he continued, "Maybe you would see the pattern more clearly if you hadn't disappeared. If you hadn't just left the face of the earth over and over again whenever the slightest inconvenience struck you. You have no right to come to this meeting and bitch, when you weren't even there to help when Elsweyr got back." He had no patience for Kiira right now, especially considering she hadn't been around for weeks, even before her sickness. She could barely be considered a Tangler anymore, at this rate.
Turning to Atbash, Aurum's voice was still displeased as he spoke, although his tone had softened slightly, "Atbash... I firmly believe that you did all you could for your group, and I'm glad to hear you speak up, but this isn't worth it. Arguing like children is not something that we should be doing in any meeting, regardless of circumstances." He then added, his firey glare temporarily focused on Atticus before returning to Atbash, "And I know you were speaking sarcastically, but I will make it clear here and now – The Coalition will never be allowed neutrality or an alliance with Tanglewood as long as I'm alive. They took over our territory. They killed Vigenere. They have not changed at all, and no returning of someone they captured will mend those wounds. You may be willing to tuck your tail between your legs and let others step all over you, Atticus, but I am not." He was really losing his patience now, his tail lashing behind him and heat raising in his throat. He was so tired of this stupid circular argument, especially from someone who wasn't even a part of Tanglewood.
Stepping down from the slab he had been on just a moment ago, Aurum moved forward so he was face to face with Atticus, glaring down at the other. The tiger's words were ice cold as he began, "And you. You know what you are to me? You're a guest within Tanglewood. You are not my nephew, nor are you my family in any way, shape, or form. You stopped being that the moment that you became ready to toss aside injuries inflicted upon those that had once helped you. In fact, if I didn't know that Moth would be upset to see you go, I would've tossed you back to the wolves within The Pitt the moment that you were patched up. So don't try to get sympathy points with me, brat." He shook his head, his voice deepening into a further snarl, "And The Pitt was not just declared an enemy. The Pitt has and always will be an enemy of Tanglewood. You act as if they've somehow miraculously changed, yet their very leader right now is someone who was around for Jervis's reign, and did nothing about it. Gael did nothing but sit and watch as leaders came and went, and didn't give a single shit about what The Pitt did to other groups, and he still doesn't. He would've left us all to die at the hands of The Coalition if Roxanne hadn't made a deal with him, and that is unforgivable." So easily they forgot how The Pitt had left them to die, taking on the mindset that as long as they were safe, everyone else could die. That was not the mindset of a changed group, or a kind leader. It was the mindset of a selfish landscape that deserved no mercy from Tanglewood.
He tired of this. Had already tired of it. So, his words were curt and sharp as he finished, nothing but contempt in his gaze as he looked at Atticus, "Twist my words all that you want, but I never said that I wanted a war. In fact, I actively said that I was taking a patrol to go talk to them. All I did was rightfully state that they were still an enemy, and that we no longer had to uphold a truce that they broke. If you have a problem with that, then leave. Go back to The Pitt. You clearly care about them more than you care for any of us, or any of the people that have been hurt by them." The tiger then turned, tail flicking behind him as he moved off towards his home. He rumbled, head lifting just enough so that the crowd could hear him, "Now, this meeting is dismissed. I have no interest in hearing any more of these useless arguments, and I'm especially not interested in whatever little selfish speech Atticus is no doubt thinking up already." He left no room for argument, slipping up the stairs of his home and shutting the door behind him. After a moment, the click of a lock being turned could be heard.
( out )
— Reggan