{PRP} Old ties (Blake, Raine, Akemi, Cody, etc)

[Sabra Knight]

What a beautiful morning. The thought blurred in with the lines of the field grass as the wolftaur’s slim figure ran. Her paws lightly hit the ground keeping perfect balance despite the slick dew which coated everything in a gleaming cover under the brilliant sunlight. Like the flowing water in the stream which cut through the meadow Raine’s hair flew behind her, unbound and free of the usual ponytail. It was relaxing to be able to do such things when she woke up. Though as she shot arrows into random targets scattered in the fields it became a way of letting out the frustration which had been building up inside of her. She had worked so hard to keep it away from showing last night, but now that she had some alone time the feelings were being reflected in every sharp movement she made.

After all this time…why did they find her now?

The thought sent another arrow flying perfectly into a bull’s-eye. The pack which she had distanced herself from after choosing to leave as a teen was finally trying to drag her back into its fold. She had argued for a whole day with the messenger, showing them that she belonged to another pack even hadn’t worked, but they refused to budge. Her paw nearly slipped as the next point came across her thoughts again. Her father was sickly. Raine cursed softly as she missed the target for once. Even though she had always fought with him the wolf was still her father. She still cared about him since blood was important; she was raised to treasure family. That was why she had adopted the pack so easily once they had stumbled into her so long ago. Speaking of the pack Raine had already talked to Akemi about the craziness which had occurred two days ago with the messenger. Her friend
had wanted to go straight there and beat up the whole pack though. That was the one thought that made her laugh softly before sinking down in the grass. What was she going to do? Nina was grown now and Raine’s presence as a mother to raise her was no longer needed…she was her mother yes, but the girl was an adult now. She was older and free to make her own decisions. But the thought of leaving Blake behind to go back to that place made her chest hurt. How was it that she had become so close with him in just a few short years?

Placing her face in her hands she groaned. Oh how was she going to bring this up to Blake? She didn’t even have the nerve to bring up this mess to him let alone leave him…the wolftaur sighed, “What am I going to do?” She had to go if her father was truly that bad off she would have to at least see him once before finally parting ways. Just sneaking off like she had as a teen was not the way to have him remember her. She could barely remember his face herself. Raine sighed. There really was no escaping this now. She had to go.

 

[Cornetified]

“Do you have everything you need? Remember, that cellar isn’t going to fix itself, so no spending on anything other than what is absolutely necessary.” Blake looked at his daughter sternly, though his lips twitched while trying to hide a smirk.
Nina sighed and playfully rolled her eyes. “Well, gee, dad. I think I left my brain in bed this morning. I don’t even remember us having a cellar!”
Snorting, Blake pulled his daughter close and kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry. You’re pretty enough to not need one, so I hear.” Laughing as the youth blushed, he waved her off as she headed on her trip to the market.

That had been this morning.

Not expecting Nina back until well into the evening, Blake had stuck around the house to work on chores. He got the cellar cleared out to be ready for the repairs, did the breakfast dishes, swept, fed the chickens, and did a few touch-up jobs. As the evening wore on, he noticed that Raine hadn’t returned yet either. Raine... Now that had been unexpected. He could still remember asking her to stay and help with Nina, who’d been just a child at the time. Raine was strong, skilled, and smart. A great role model for the girl, in his mind. Raine had not disappointed.

Lately, he was coming to realize that his teenage crush was growing into something quite a bit more attached. He had no idea what Raine would say about it though. Would she...? No. No point in dwelling on something that he’d never have the guts to approach. It was so nice having her there. Shaking his head, he went back outside to.. um... to... check the skins drying on the racks! That’s right! As he walked toward the drying skins and furs, he found his gaze wandering around the perimeter. Who was he kidding...? He was outside looking to see if Raine was back yet...
 

[Sabra Knight]

Splashing the cool water across her face Raine rinsed off the grim she had gained from training that morning. Lying on the ground next to her was the ivory bow which she always carried on her back alongside the swan feathered arrows and holder. Her fingers trailed over them both thoughtfully before she stood and swung them back into place. It felt so natural to have them there even after the break she had taken from the pack. She smiled softly thinking of the growing group, yet just the word ‘pack’ sent a chill down her spine. She had been pushing it aside all morning, but it was going to be time to head back and say her goodbyes. The wolftaur sighed before tying her hair back from her face. Alright then. It was best to just go ahead and get this over with before she hesitated even more.

Still even as she came back Raine found herself stumbling as she saw Blake. Why was it that every time lately her heart skipped a bit at seeing him there? Today though it was more of a choking feeling. Raine reached up and rubbed a hand along her neck. Odd how she felt like she was one of the slaves with a heavy collar on just then. Shaking the thought from her mind Raine jogged out towards Blake. Was he just wandering out here? His gaze had been in the distance…she just shook her head, “Hey!” Smiling she forced a carefree wave, “What are you up to?” As she got close to him her steps faltered.

Maybe just a few more moments before she had to say that word, her goodbye.

It wasn’t like she was going to leave forever. Still Raine couldn’t help the fear that clutched at her insides. Even a hunt didn’t make her feel this nervous. She closed her eyes for a brief second to push the thought aside. She had to keep it together. Especially with Akemi on her way here and with Blake standing in front of her. The last thing she wanted was for him to worry.

 

[Cornetified]

Blake’s ears perked at the call, flinching slightly from surprise. “Raine!” Brushing off how absurdly relieved he was that she’d come home, he smiled and gestured idly to the skins. “I was just checking on those. I think they’ll be ready to take inside soon.” Wondering if he’d been caught being silly, he cleared his throat and made himself relax. “How was your morning? You were gone longer than usual.” He looked up at the sun and chuckled. “Any longer and I would have had to send out a search party,” he teased, though his own brow was knit slightly. Maybe today... While Nina was gone... Could he? Dare he?

He pointed to the little house next. “You hungry yet? I could fix us something to eat.” He was avoiding his inner stress, and wondering if Raine had something going on. It wasn’t obvious, but something subtle in her expression was... off.
 

[Sabra Knight]

“Sorry did I surprise you?” Raine couldn’t help but to tease Blake as she brushed past him to look at the hanging skins. He was right. They were about ready to take inside soon. She nearly reached out to touch one before pulling back. She really was good at pushing back the inevitable. The thought made her smile wistfully before blinking at his question. Her morning? That would be a bit to tell. So Raine just shrugged, “I decided it was good weather to train in. Nothing too unusual.” She reached back and trailed a finger over one of the arrow feathers. “I may have shoot more than usual though so it took longer to retrieve them all.”

She paused quietly before finally laughing at his comment, “Oh yes. I could see you doing that.” Her chest tightened. Another reason she couldn’t just leave. That would be troublesome for Blake. Still her gaze flickered towards the ground. What exactly should she tell him? ‘Hey, I’ll be back after going to the home that I ran away from years ago?’ That didn’t seem like the best thing to say. His question about food made her nod quickly. “I can do that be- I mean that sounds good.” She stumbled over her words with a flush, “I’m so hungry I guess I can’t speak straight.” Raine chuckled softly before nudging Blake, “Let’s head on in then.”

Maybe by then Akemi would be here and she could just sneak in the fact that she was leaving while they were eating. Or maybe after…no she would have to tell him. Just maybe after food…or at least when they were nearly done. Maybe not even today, she didn’t have to leave today. Akemi could just wait another day. But her father couldn’t. The thought made Raine sigh quietly under her breath before heading inside.

 

[Cornetified]

Blake pressed his lips slightly the more Raine seemed to fumble with what she tried to do. Was she getting sick? “Don’t worry. I can get it ready.” He did a little skip to get ahead of Raine and pulled the door open for her. “After all, if that’s how hungry you are, who knows what you’ll end up throwing together! Could end up making something like... potatoes with apple sauce instead of gravy!” He chuckled and shook his head. “So, what are you feeling? Sandwich? Eggs? Chicken? ...Potatoes?”

He walked into the kitchen and looked around. They didn’t have much at the moment... He should have sent Nina with a little extra to bring more food home. Their garden was less than flourishing this year for some reason, even with Nina’s help. There’d been a small bug infestation in the garden, rendering most of the food useless for anything other than the compost pile. He would starve before letting his girls hunger though. At least the chickens were well as always. They’d had plenty of bugs to eat....
 

[Sabra Knight]

Raine just shook her head with a soft laugh, “Who knows? I’ve heard such weird combinations could be good for a body.” She crossed her arms against the churning feeling that still lingered in her stomach despite the laughter. It was a haunting feeling really. But she was going to enjoy this for as long as she could, “Anything you make will be fine by me Blake.” The wolftaur smiled, “Though something warm preferably.”

As she glanced around the kitchen she frowned slightly. Well at least this way she wouldn’t be cutting into thir food supplies. Her hand played with a stray strand of hair as she glanced thoughtfully around. She should have went on more hunts instead of staying behind so much. Even though Riker and Akemi randomly stopped in with food while the twins would have gifts she had heard things were hard on them this fall as well. It didn’t help that their best archer was gone for such a while. She bit the inside of her cheek. Would it be the same way back home? How had they been faring all these years? Probably fine considering their lifestyles. Her nose wrinkled at the memory of the slaves she had helped out while leaving. Really the reason she had fled in the first place was because she was against her father’s traditional views. Lately the thoughts just kept going through her mind and her distraction was obvious. Catching herself once again Raine shook out of her daze. Her eyes flickered back up again to find Blake and the wolftaur flushed lightly, “Do you need any help or anything?”

 

[Cornetified]

With a little smirk and a shrug, Blake started sifting through the pantries. He had no intention of making something that out of the ordinary. "Something warm. Got it." Making up his mind, he pulled out a big, half-empty sack of rice, a jar of broth, and the chicken. He set the rice over the fire to cook, and cut up the chicken into spoonable chunks.

The silence drew out, and he looked over to Raine right before she looked up. A blush? So cute against her skin tone... "No, I've got this. Thanks. We'll need a shopping day soon though. How about we do a hunting and gathering day tomorrow? See what we can chase down or find to sell at the market. I'm sure the berries are back by now on those bushes by the river. Those went well last year."
 

[Sabra Knight]

“Mmmhmm.” Raine nodded before turning away to try to hide the blush on her face. She really needed to focus here and not be completely lost in another world. “Fine then, I’ll at least set the table.” Reaching up into the cabinets for plates Raine began to set them on the table. Her grip loosened at the comment about tomorrow and a cup clattered against the tabletop lightly before she snapped her wrist out to catch the spinning cup.

She hated the idea of leaving now. Swallowing Raine looked over at Blake, “We can see. You might have to go without me, but I do have some things for you to try selling.” She smiled warmly. There were a bunch of trinkets that she had been holding onto for a while now, but if it helped then it was definitely better than them gaining dust. Plus with where she was heading soon…she could get back more of the same items. The only reason she had held onto them for so long was because of the memories of that place. But there was no need for that now.
 

[Cornetified]

Blake was startled by the clattering cup, and paused what he was doing to stare. Slowly, his brow knit, and he tossed the chicken into the broth to cook before walking closer to his friend. "Hey, Raine. Are you okay? You seem... distant." He'd grown so accustomed to Raine's presence, the idea of her being gone... No, that wasn't what she'd meant. Maybe she was just planning a visit to the old pack. Just a little, short visit...?
 

[Sabra Knight]

Distant. Hah, not as distant as she was going to be. Raine peeked up towards Blake and tried to nod, but froze. She really couldn’t lie to him. Swallowing the wolftaur set down the last cup carefully on the table before crossing her arms, “Blake…I – I’ve had a wonderful time living here with you and Nina.” Her voice was soft and her gaze preferred to linger on the floorboards rather than risking looking up towards the male who she had been finding dearer to her by the day, “But…you know there’s a certain time when I’m not needed here anymore which works…because I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but…I have to leave.” There she had said it. Rubbing her hands along her arms for warmth Raine looked up at Blake curious. Was he going to be angry at her or just accepting of it?

But it was true, she had been here to help raise Nina…there wasn’t any other reasons. Right?

Away from the house a lone wolftaur trudged through familiar forest trails. A scarf was wrapped around her neck and satchels dangled from her back. Every so often the sun would flicker in through the leaves in certain places and leather straps would gleam with the silver of hidden knives. Akemi was playing with a knife while she walked even. The end was sharp and she kept touching a finger to it lightly before tossing it up and down like an expert. How much time should she give Raine? Akemi just shook her head. Chances were it would take the female a year to say her goodbyes if she just left her alone. But no they had to get moving.
 

[Cornetified]

Blake's ears pinned back. That didn't sound good. His brow knit slowly, trying to absorb what Raine was saying. Not needed? She had to... leave? He was so utterly confused. This had come out of nowhere. He shook his head to clear his muddled thoughts. "Well, you can do as you wish, I guess..." His gaze slid off to the side, trying to hide how deep his disappointment was. "You... have to go though? You said you don't know how long... does that mean you might be coming back?"
 

[Sabra Knight]

“Oh trust me this is not what I wish.” Whispered Raine quietly to herself before swallowing at his question. Did she have to go? That was the question she had been pondering for the past couple of days, but if even her pack agreed to the idea then…well it wasn’t really avoidable. Frowning Raine nodded her answer towards both of his questions, “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone though. Hopefully not long but…” She trailed off and looked down at her clasped hands and at the laced fingers there which were supporting each other to keep steady. What would she do if she was asked to stay for a while? If her father was really sickly, but didn’t recover? She couldn’t just leave his side; she was his daughter after all.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a pounding on the door, “Oh!” Jumping the wolftaur’s ears twitched backwards as she forced her paws to move towards the door. Was it her already? Sighing Raine reached out and tentatively opened the door to reveal the rust pelted wolftaur.



“Oiy.” Akemi leaned casually in the doorway with her arms crossed, it was rare that she ever came actually out to this place and the wolftaur still found it weird that her pack mate was here in this place. It was so homey…Raine was home that was true, but she was still a part of the pack. Staying in such a place for so long was odd. Akemi shuddered at the thought of staying still for so long; moving every season was more of her style. Following the hunt to keep the thrill was amazing, anything else seemed so boring. Her gaze skimmed over towards Blake. Sometimes she was jealous that such a male could keep her mother figure and best friend away, but at the same time she was glad for Raine. She shook her head at the thought. Falling for someone, what an idea. She smirked it was amusing and foreign at the same time.

Still she felt some regret as she nodded towards the male, “I’m here to pick up Raine whenever she’s ready.” Her nose crinkled as she picked up smells. Was that dinner cooking? Her gaze flickered towards the blue female. Really? Was she going to linger all day here when they were losing precious sunlight? Her heart softened though as she noticed the clenched hands of Raine, “Oh dear.” Biting her bottom lip Akemi came into the house and nudged Raine gently, “If you guys are having lunch mind if I join in? If not that’s okay – I can take care of myself you know.” She flicked a stray strand of hair away before stopping next to Raine and standing there while looking between the two wolves.
 

[Cornetified]

Blake's brow knit tighter. If she didn't wish it, then why...? Hopefully not long? Biting his lip, he took a deep breath and looked back over to her, but his own words were interrupted by the knocking. Who would that be?

His ears tipped back slightly as Akemi entered. Was Akemi part of this? "Hi, Akemi. Long time, no see.." he said softly, wishing that it had been even longer, considering what her arrival seemed to mean. When Raine was ready... He looked over to what was cooking, and frowned. "There's plenty enough for you to eat, Akemi. I'm.. not as hungry as I'd thought I was." Blake had suddenly lost his appetite. Raine was leaving... Today. Chewing on the inside of his lip, he busied himself with checking on the soup. He'd never faced something like this before. He didn't know what to do...

"What should I tell Nina? ..She'll want to know where you went." Right. Because telling Raine that he wanted to know where she was going would be silly... "Couldn't you have told her yourself this morning before she left? She'll be upset that she didn't get to see you off."
 

[Sabra Knight]

Raine just looked hopelessly between the two wolves. She knew how Akemi could be and the wolftaur was thankful, yet saddened by the presence of her friend. Blake’s comment made her tail drop a bit and she had to wrap her arms around herself to keep from moving towards him. All she wanted to do was to hug him and apologize for this sudden decision. A decision that really wasn’t hers to make in the first place and instead had just been thrown at her. “I-“ Raine’s own ears tipped backwards slightly at the question about Nina, “I meant to tell her…” She looked back pleadingly towards Akemi.

“It’s my fault.” The female cut in quietly, “Raine was going to wait another day, but I figured we should leave as soon as possible considering the circumstances.” Her gaze cut over towards the other female. Why was it the more responsible one was holding back now? She sighed quietly before fiddling with a latch of a knife that hugged up against her arm, “Raine…”

Catching Akemi’s drift the blue wolftaur nodded, “I’ll go gather my things while food is cooking.” Her crystal gaze looked up towards Blake apologetically before she disappeared from the room. As soon as she was out of sight the wolftaur paused and leaned against a wall wearily. She really should have been more open about this. It wasn’t her fault that another messenger had arrived pushing her to leave earlier than expected. Burning tears gathered in her eyes and she brushed them away quickly. “I’m a hunter dammit. I don’t cry.” Her chest clutched at the thought as she forced herself to shove traveling items together from the wooden chest that was hers. That she would leave for Blake and Nina…if they wanted the things there. It was also there for the hope that she would return soon.

Akemi pushed herself from the wall as she walked over towards Blake while Raine was gone, “Come on now, put up a braver face than that.” The wolftaur tugged at her ponytail tightening the hold it had on her wild hair, “Raine doesn’t want you worrying about her. But she just learned from a messenger that her father is gravely ill…” Her golden gaze narrowed, “I personally don’t trust it cause that pack up north is usually bad news. There’s a reason Raine left and never mentions it.” Blunt and bold as always she leaned towards Blake, “Making puppy eyes at her won’t work ya know. She needs someone strong to pull her out of that place. I’m goin’ for her own safety, but I won’t be enough to help her if somethin’ major happens. If I were you I wouldn’t hesitate to finish cookin’ grab your stuff and take charge here. You can’t stop her from goin’, but ya can find the gusto to go with her. She’ll protest definitely, but the gal needs someone like you.” Akemi grinned faintly, “I don’t have the capability that you have for her.” All she could do was offer her blades in case of emergency, but when it came to the heart…well that wasn’t her place. It seemed this guy had that part taken.