Later that night, a snowstorm whips up. Having settled the Sneasels down to sleep, Asher stands at the entrance to the cave, looking over them fondly. Biton is curled protectively around Glint, while Martin stretches out, taking up more space then you'd think possible looking at him, one leg draped over Morana. The Absol smiles, turns to the outside and sniffs the air once, then braces himself and sets out into the storm, head lowered against the wind.

The journey doesn't take long; Asher knows exactly where to go and when to get there, and arrives just in time as the sparks from claws hitting just the right stones fly into the night sky. He stands there, just out of sight of the slim black forms gathered in a circle around a large tree, waiting.

He doesn't wait long. Soon enough, a voice calls softly, "Who's there?"

Smiling to himself at the recognized voice, Asher growls, "I'm insulted you don't recognize me yet. Perhaps I should drop by more often."

"Asher?" the voices answers quickly. A large, battle-scarred Weavile emerges from the snow, squinting at the Absol. His eyes widen as he recognizes him. "You old devil," he growls affectionately, moving over to rub Asher's horn in a friendly, familiar fashion. "You have some nerve showing your face here."

"I'm hardly showing myself," Asher says, sniffing the Weavile's head crest. "But I didn't come to catch up on old times, Titan," he says, his voice immediately becoming grave. "I need to speak to them."

Titan draws back, visibly wavering. "That... Uh, no. You can't do that. They still blame you for Berach and Jasna, you know."

Asher sighs, lowering his head. "If I could persuade them... But no. The deaths of your sister and her mate weigh heavily on my conscience, but they are not the reason I've come to you tonight. It's on behalf of their children. See, I--"

"The kids are still with you?" Titan asks, the disbelief plain in his voice. "But Ulrah--"

"Even if Ulrah came to my home, I don't believe the children would go with her," Asher says fondly. "But that is beside the point. Do you remember Slider?"

Titan winces. "Your brother? You--Come on." He motions for Asher to follow and leads him towards the circle of Weavile, who are murmuring about all manner of news. The large Weavile clears his throat, and in one fluent motion, the seven Weavile spin to look at him, and take in the Absol behind him.

At once, the largest there besides Titan, a female, rushes towards Asher, claws out.

"Murderer!" she screeches, lurching for him, who stands watching her gravely. Titan grabs her, pulling her close to prevent her from attacking the Absol.

"Ulrah! Stop!" he begs. "You can continue your grudge later, Asher has news! About the children!"

At this, the female immediately stops struggling, and Titan releases her. In a flash, she is directly in front of Asher's face, claws resting lightly on the underside of his throat.

"One day, those children will be out of your clutches, devilcat," she snarls. "But for now... What have you to say?"

Asher meets her eyes, then looks to the other Weavile. "My esteemed friends--" he begins, but is cut off by an elderly male.

"We aren't your friends, pariah!" he snaps. "Get to the point!"

Asher dips his head, eyes lowered. "Very well. I trust you remember my... you remember Slider?"

At this, the Weavile turn to each other and break into everything from panicked muttering to outraged babble. Titan steps forward and clears his throat.

"Hey! Shut up!" he snaps. The Weavile glare at him, then turn back to Asher. The elder nods to him.

"Continue. What of him?"

"I believe he has returned to our north."

Even more noise breaks out at this. Ulrah digs her claws a little deeper into Asher's throat, her eyes flashing.

"If you put those children into danger because of your fellow hellspawn..." she hisses. Asher meets her eyes but doesn't reply.

Once Titan finishes yelling at the Weavile enough for them to calm down, Asher continues.

"This is only a suspicion, however; my boys saw in the woods this afternoon--"

"Your boys?" a burly female jeers. "You dare lay claim to the children of Berach and Jasna?"

"Biton and Martin would not object, I am sure," Asher says mildly, eliciting a snarl from Ulrah. "But regardless; the two spotted what I believe to be Slider. He did not make contact, simply rushed by them."

The Weavile babble among themselves some more, this time more subdued and urgent. The elder steps forward, one paw raised.

"We will discuss; if necessary, word will be spread to the other Councils, and perhaps the Northern Tribe will discuss further at the next meeting between them--"

"I appreciate it; all species are affected by this, if true--"

"I was not finished, barghest," the elder snaps. "If you are lying to us, we will hunt you down. And do not get too attached to those children; their parents were honored members of this Council, and their children belong with their kin." Ulrah hisses her approval, while Titan shifts his weight awkwardly.

Asher dips his head, eyes flashing. Too late, you old weasel, he thinks dryly, then turns away. "I thank you for your time," he tosses over his shoulder as he starts the trek back to the cave. Titan hurriedly excuses himself and rushes after the Absol, catching up easily.

"Asher, you don't have to take that from them," he says, resting a paw on his shoulder.

"I will not anger the Weavile Council so long as they wrong me only in thoughts and words," Asher says calmly.

Titan says. "You know I don't--"

"I do. Thank you, Titan; you are as valuable a friend as your sister. If you ever tire of being used as muscle for the circle of weasels, you are welcome with the children and I. They are always pleased to see their dear uncle," he purrs.

"If only their dear auntie Ulrah was as pleasant," Titan replied dryly, then pats Asher's shoulder. "Thanks. I need to get back; say hi to the kids for me."

"Of course. Take care, Titan," the Absol says, nudging his friend's shoulder.

"You too, harbinger," Titan replies teasingly. He runs back towards the circle, and Asher continues to the cave.

As he enters, he nearly trips over Glint, sitting in the middle of the cave, watching the entrance with wide eyes.

"Asher!" she crows happily, grabbing at his horn. "You were gone!"

"I had business to attend to, little one," he purrs, nudging her back in the direction of her sleeping place. "Now back to sleep with you. Tomorrow I'll take you all to see an old friend of mine."

"Okey dokes! Love you, Asher!" Glint pipes out cheerfully, hugging his leg. She scurries back over to Biton and curl's up beside him. Asher smiles fondly at the sleeping Sneasels.

"And I love you as well," he says softly, then stretches out by the entrance of the cave, alert eyes scouring the storm for any signs of movement as he listens to the breathing of the children.

Asher

It was afternoon when Titan came with the news.

Asher had made sure the Sneasels would be inside for the day, and while Morana and Biton had been frustrated at being kept from their daily walk, he would rather they fume at him for a while than be gored by Slider on their way to a friend.

While the Absol tried to shake these thoughts from his head, the familiar form of the burly Weavile appeared from the nearby woods. Getting to his feet slowly so as not to disturb the children, Asher waits impatiently for Titan, who, as if sensing this, hurries towards him, obviously trying to suppress a grim look.

Shooing Morana away almost unconsciously, Asher doesn't bother listening to Titan's brief greetings before leading him a bit away.

"Slider's caught," Titan says without preamble. "Plume died helping bring him in. He, uh…" the burly Weavile glances away. "Keras put out a demand for you. I figured, better me than some of them."

Asher nods slowly. "Very well; and have the Council gathered, or do we need to summon them?"

Titan shakes his head. "Nope; they've been together all morning, since that devil was caught and guarded." He lets a small smile cross his face. "My boy's on duty, even."

"I am sure Shard will do an honorable job," Asher says, dipping his head. "Very well then; shall we go?"

Before Titan can reply, Asher walks over towards the Sneasels, who are huddled in a circle.

"I have to go," he says. "Stay here. Titan will come to check on you later."

Brushing off Morana's protests, Asher beckons for Titan to come and begins the walk towards the Council's meeting place. The two walk in silence, Titan resting his paw on his friend's shoulder comfortingly. When they finally reach the great tree, the Weavile lets it drop; Asher notices, but says nothing.

"So you've come, barghest," the elder says, chin raised arrogantly. Asher meets his eyes, then looks away.

"I have been informed that my…" he pauses. "That Slider has been apprehended," he says, forming each word carefully.

"And he told us everything!" exclaims that shrill voice--and Asher is not remotely surprised to see Ulrah leap at him. He listens to her accusations calmly, carefully to hide his confusion. He looks up past her, once again meeting the elder's eyes, and this time not flinching from the anger there.

"May I speak with him?" he asks, keeping the venom from his voice with an effort.

"You will have plenty of time to speak with your fellow spawn, barghest. Until morning, when we end this threat to the north once and for all."

So. There would be no pleasant surprises. Asher bows his head in acceptance. He feels a stirring at his side as Titan prepares to speak out in his defense, when an altogether unpleasant surprise appears in the form of Morana.

Asher reels as the young Sneasel begins yelling at the Council, barely taking in a word said in the shock of her appearance.

"They should not be here," he finally manages to get out in reply to Ulrah's distantly heard accusation.

Morana immediately starts yelling again, and her brothers step out from behind their hiding place as well.

So at least the baby won't be dragged into this, he thinks, grateful for this small respite.

"Morana," he finally says, blocking out the outrage of the Council. "Go home. If you ever loved me, leave me here."

If the debt I owe your parents has in any small way begun to been paid off...

"But--"

"No buts," he says quickly, leaning down and pressing his muzzle to her head, gently nuzzling her. "Go home."

He gives Titan a grateful look when the Weavile gently pulls her away, only to be yanked away by Ulrah. He turns his eyes from Morana to her brothers as the elder nonchalantly orders them out of his life and into that of the shrieking harpy's.

No matter, though if only they'd gone to Ti--NO! Asher's thoughts are cut off by an all-too-familiar form dropping from a tree.

"So this is the spawn of the two weasels that marred my horn," Slider says, looking over the Sneasels with an almost bored expression. "They're not terribly impressive. Good thing they won't be the ones fighting me, eh?" he asks, swatting away the burly Donovan without even looking. He turns his eyes on Asher, and the two Absol lock eyes.

Asher tenses up almost unconsciously, and Slider grins.

No one will be fighting you come morning... he thinks resolutely. And if my death ensures that, then so be it.

"And you caught my dead brother! I do hope he didn't give you too much trouble."

Asher shivers slightly at the comment; it had been so long since he'd met one of his own, and been called--

"Titan!" the elder snaps, cutting off the Absol's train of thought. "You were in charge of guarding him--what is the meaning of this?"

"I--but--that is, I--" Titan stammers, staring at Slider with just a hint of horror in his eyes.

Of course. Shard--

"Don't give him a hard time, my friend, his guards put up an admirable fight," Slider purrs. "But I'm not here to run, don't you worry; I am entirely repentant and intend to face justice." He made a mockingly serious face that quickly dissolved into a grin once more. "I simply wanted to see my brother. How are you, Asher?"

He stalks forward, and Asher tenses further, lowering his horn slightly.

"Slider," he snaps once he has his voice under control, "What do you want?"

His brother leans in, muzzle nearly brushing his ear, and hisses, "Do you remember, those years ago, when your little weasels took it upon themselves to mar my beautiful horn, and you decided not to interfere? You became dead to the Absol Clans that day, but that's not enough, my dear brother, oh no. I'm taking my revenge on you, and on your little rats. Just you wait, and you'll wish you had kept the Honor. I'm going to turn you on yourself, and on all those that counted you as friends."

Asher draws back, hiding his fear beneath a scornful expression.

"By getting us both executed?" he demands, feeling his hackles rise.

The answering grin sends shivers down his spine.

"Enough!" the elder snaps, slamming his fist into the tree with a ringing thud. "Titan, escort the prisoners back to their holding cave, and guard them personally. Ulrah, take the children and go."

Asher's skin prickles as Titan touches his shoulder, and he closes his eyes, takes a breath, then nods, beginning to walk off with him. Slider amiably falls into step beside him, fur nearly touching.

Hesitating at the edge of the Council's clearing, Asher half-turns and locks eyes with Biton, who appears pale under his dark fur.

"Take care of them," he says, trying to force the words to be comforting.

"Oh, no cause to worry about them," Slider whispers in his ear. "At least, none from me."

Asher turns away from him and continues walking, Titan pressing his paw into his shoulder silently. Head bowed, Asher presses back against it.

The Next Day

Biton paces at the back of the cave, eyes on the ground.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5--OW!

He snarls and rubs his head, scowling as he bumps into the wall. Morana glances up at him, then goes back to staring blankly at the floor.

"This damn cave is too narrow!" Biton snaps. Glint looks up from smashing a rock against a stick and tilts her head.

"What does 'damn' mean?" she asks.

Biton gulps and glances around. "It, uh, it means... new. Because this cave is new to us."

"Okey dokes!" Glint says, then returns to what she was doing. Biton walks over to Morana, still rubbing his head.

"Yeah, that won't backfire at all," Morana says in a low voice, scratching at the floor.

Biton glances over at the baby. "Just don't tell her I swore near Glint. I'm not dealing with her today."

"Too bad, Bitty. Because she's dealing with you," Morana says, eyes flicking towards the entrance to the cave, where Ulrah's form stands, evidently waiting for something.

"I'm back, kids. The Council meeting just dragged on, but I finally got away, and all is well now," she says, beaming and holding her arms out. Biton and Morana look at her stonily, and Martin remains where he sits off to the side, carving small x's into the wall and muttering to himself.

"Where's Asher?" Glint calls from the back of the cave. Ulrah's smile falters.

"Don't you worry about that, sweetie," she says, dropping her arms and entering the cave. "Just think of me as the new Asher, okay?"

"I don't want you to be our damn Asher!" Glint yells, dropping her stick and stone. "I want Asher back!"

Biton tries very, very hard not to laugh. Ulrah's shocked expressions doesn't help any--but the sudden glare she gives him does considerably.

"I'm afraid Asher's busy, sweetie," she finally chokes out. Stepping backwards, she claps loudly. "So! Why don't we do something fun?"

None of the Sneasel reply, and Ulrah's smile falters again.

"Fun? With you, you old hag?" a voice sounds from the entrance to the cave. Biton's head snaps up to see a large Sneasel leaning casually against the side of the entrance.

"Shard," he calls, smiling just a little.

"'Sup, Tonio? I know what we should do," the Sneasel says, stepping into the cave and grinning. Ulrah tenses and turns slowly.

"Hello, Shard," she says tightly. "How's your father? I hope he's okay after the meeting today."

"He's just fine, hagraven," Shard says casually. "I was just coming to tell my cousins the news. And to get them out of the cave." He waves a paw in front of his nose. "I dunno how they can stand it, your stench is just overwhelming."

"Your father's raised you to be such a gentleman, Shard," Ulrah snaps. "But I'm afraid the kids and I were about to take a walk."

"Nope! Going with Shard. What'd you have in mind, cuz?" Biton says quickly, stepping over and putting a hand on Shard's shoulder.

"You don't wanna know what's on my mind, Tonio," Shard says. "But if you wanna know what we're doing, you'll have to follow me. Morri, Marty, you two in?" he asks.

"Not sure if I want to hear what you have to say, Shard," Morana drawls. "But I'll go."

"Shard!" Glint runs over, brushing past Ulrah, and hugs him. "She wants to be our damn Asher!"

Shard picks her up and nuzzles her playfully. "Hiya, baby. Is that so? That's not right at all; this parasite can never be your damn Asher."

Glint nods and glares at Ulrah, pouting.

"Really, I insist you don--" Ulrah starts.

"You comin', Marty?" Shard asks, already on his way out with the three Sneasels.

"No," Martin says quietly, not looking up from his stone. Shard shrugs and leaves the cave, Biton and Morana close beside him and Glint still in his arms. Outside, they break into a run until they reach a nearby copse, and sit beside a snow bank.

"So did the Council get what they wanted?" Biton asks after a long pause.

Shard breaks into a grin. "Nope! The two harbingers got out--Ha! I know you'd like that one, Morri," he says, poking Morana's stomach. "My dad was trying so hard not to start cheering, but the rest of the Council was pissed, let me tell you. I've never seen so many old 'mons angry."

Morana leaps to her feet, punching the air. "He got out! Yes! Thank you, Arceus!"

Biton leans back against the snow pile, a relieved smile creeping over his face. It quickly turns to a frown, however.

"Slider got out too," he says slowly.

"Whossat?" Glint asks, trying to climb the snow bank.

"Don't worry about it, Glint," Biton says.

Shard turns serious. "Yeah. He got out too. Which makes me think--I know you don't wanna hear this, Tonio, but what if your pet devilcat was actually--"

"No," Biton says softly. "Don't say it, Shard. I've thought about it, I really have. It's just not true."

Shard coughs. "... Yeah, okay. Anyway, guys, don't worry about it. My dad's got like six Weaviles on it. They'll track'em down, and then maybe that moron Keras'll let you guys come live with me and my dad like you should be now."

"Oh, I'm not worried," Biton says, getting to his feet. "Asher told me to protect them, and I'll do that."

"Yeah right, like you're gonna beat Slider," Morana says, poking him. "Oh, Biton, save me! Oh, whoops, you died," she teases.

"Oh, shut up," Biton says, rolling his eyes and shoving her.

"Whelp, we got that out of the way," Shard says. "We should probably do something fun before the harpy comes to bring y'all back to that stinkhole."

"Oh, I know what we can do," Biton says, offering Shard his hand. His cousin accepts it and starts to get up... and then is promptly tackled into the snow bank.

The two Sneasel wrestle, growling playfully, snow flying everywhere. Morana hops on top of Biton, and is promptly tackled by Shard, who is then blindsided by Biton. They go on like this for quite some time, Glint giggling gleefully and clapping from a perch on top of a nearby fallen log, as the sun sinks lower in the sky.

"So when do I learn why you kept me alive?" Asher asks, bending his head to sniff at a Pecha berry bush while discreetly clawing deep marks into the roots of the tree beside it.

Slider ambles over and bends to sniff the same bush, then in a flash presses the blade of his horn against Asher's leg, just above the paw. The other Absol freezes up, claws still in the root.

"You know, Asher dear," Slider says amiably, "blood in the snow would be a much more visible trail for the weasels."

Asher slowly extracts his claws and backs away. Slider straightens up, purring.

"You know, brother dearest, it is very rude of you to try and give us away," he admonishes. "And not at all in anyone's best interests."

"Why do I doubt that you have anyone's best interests but your own in mind?" Asher says dryly, keeping his voice steady.

"Such little faith in your own brother!" Slider says, looking hurt. The expression quickly changes to a one of contempt. "But what should I expect from an Absol that allowed for the disfigurement of not only one of the Clans, but of his own family? Clearly the Honor has no place in the mind of the weasel inhabiting my brother."

"The Honor calls for protecting your friends--" Asher begins, before he is cut off by a horn pressing against his throat, and Slider's low growl, devoid of all the fake friendliness it possessed until now.

"Do not attempt to twist the Honor into condoning your actions, ghast. The lives of a few weasels are nothing to the honor of a Clanmate and brother."

Asher swallows painfully and steps away. Slider does the same and lifts his head to give him a leveled look, before allowing his face to appear friendly again.

"But look at us! These petty squabbles are dividing us! Look here, little Ash--that is what your pet weasel called you, is it not?--I still see you as a brother, not a ghost! And perhaps by assisting me in regaining my honor, you will prove yourself one more to the Clans, and Asher will rise from the dead!" Slider gives a low chuckle at this, and Asher has similar doubts as to the credibility of this claim.

"These 'petty squabbles' have cost lives, before," Asher says softly.

"The lives of insects, to be squashed at the Clans' pleasure," Slider replies, turning as if to go. "The society of weasels has addled your brains, brother. You have been away from civilization too long."

Asher does not reply, but falls into step alongside the other Absol.

"Don't be so solemn! You're about to learn how to assist your dearest brother! When we stop to rest, I will explain all about it!" Slider purrs, as if this should give Asher hope; but the words only bow his head in dejection.

After a short while of traveling, the two Absol climb a tree to rest. Slider stretches himself out on the branch above Asher, forcing him to awkwardly twist around to see.

"Now then, I imagine you'd like to know the details of my evil plot," Slider purrs, then leans in and whispers in a conspiratorial tone, "Here they are: I won't tell you!"

He throws his head back and chuckles to himself, while Asher growls in frustration.

"No, no details, Asher," Slider says pleasantly. "But I will give you the first step: We're going to kill the female in charge of your rats. Or, well, you will. I'll give you some advance warning: the dirty work is all done by you. I'm far too tired from figuring it all out." Slider yawns pointedly.

"You have yet to explain why I shouldn't just kill you now, or hand myself in to the weasels and throw a wrench in your schemes," Asher growls, swinging his horn a little.

Slider laughs. "Well, you are confused, aren't you? Well, let me explain: first of all, that is a ridiculous notion; I would break your horn and force you to come along and watch me do the work all on my lonesome," Slider continues on over Asher's quiet gasp of horror, "second of all, if you really want to throw your life away pointlessly and make me kill the rats myself, just tell me and I'll kill you myself. But if you really cared about the rats you threw your Clan away for, you'd stay and help me."

"Why? So they can live a little longer to see everyone they know killed, and the be killed themselves? Better they die quickly," Asher says bitterly, digging his claws into the branch.

Slider laughs. "Why, Asher! Such little care for their lives. You'd think you'd thrown everything away on a whim! I'll admit you're right on one account: everything and everyone they know will be taken from them, from someone they trusted intimately--that's you, by the way, brother dear--but you're wrong on one account: help me, and they will live. Leave, and they will die."

Asher stays silent for a long moment. And then, "And I can go back to them."

"If they will have you. The Clans most certainly won't," Slider purrs, abandoning the pretense of a possibility of redemption.

"... Very well," Asher says, taking a deep breath. "I am yours to command, Slider."

"Do you swear?" Slider asks, like a child on a playground. "Do you swear on your horn, your heart, and your life?"

"I do," Asher replies, his voice barely audible under the weight of the ancient Absol oath.

"Excellent," Slider purrs. "I hope that when you're alone in the world, with your weasel brats turned against you and no one willing even to offer a shelter from the storms, you'll remember this moment and think 'I knew this would happen. And I swore to make it this way on my horn, heart, and life.'"

"Damn you, Slider," Asher whispers.

"Why, dearest brother..." Slider says, leaning down, "I will keep you company in damnation."