His body was an empty shell lately, his head clouded with thoughts that denied his emptiness.
His mind, was dwelling on thoughts that he had become inadequate for his life.. Somehow he just wasnt living it right..
Was he even really alive? He wasnt quite sure..and nothing had happened in his life to prove whether this was a dream, or reality..
How he hoped to wake from his shadows, in a field of sun.
His eyes were dark, head lowered as he padded through the forest, his tail rather low. He was not an angry wolf.. Far from it.. But he had grown into an insecure, nervous shadow.. He had grown into a poor excuse for a wolf..
---
Krigger half ran, half pranced through the empty forest. Her tail wagged behind her, curled almost over her back like a husky's, though she was far from dominant. She was just too happy for her own good.
She slowed, lowering her nose to the ground. She had the scent of the hare just a little bit ago... Where did it get to? She walked around in circles like a hound who had lost the scent. Her tan and blue pelt shone healthily in the heat of the May sun.
Her head jerked up as she caught something a little bit different than a hare. Another wolf? Around here? "Helloooo?" she called out, never thinking before she reacted.
---
His ears caught her voice. A soft ringing sound that made him almost smile, before the smile was wiped away, and curiosity set in.
He followed the sound, nose scenting the earth for the smell..
She sounded friendly.. Perhaps he would not need to hide from her..
"Hello?" He muttered uncertainly.
He wasnt one to be overly social.. He just wasnt really a friend kind of wolf. He was a miserable soul, and most did not want to be around him..
He had the brief thought of turning back, and leaving her be.. But the thought was fleeting
---
Krigger's ears pricked forwards, nerves taking over her heartbeat and making it race. So there -was- another wolf out there... She breathed in. A male... She didn't know any males outside of Daddy and Sway...and Possum. A grin rose on her face at the thought of silly Possum.
"Who's there?" she barked out, a little more on edge. She took a few steps forwards. She caught sight of the brilliant blue of his coat and paused. He was so...beautiful... "Um... Hi..." She cracked a sheepish grin. "Sorry if I'm bothering you. Have you seen a hare come this way?"
---
He looked around him, just to make sure it was indeed he she was talking to. He cocked his head, and then shook it, with a sigh.
"No I have not. Im sorry to be of no help to you."
He replied with a sharp nod.
What a shame he was always messing things up.. He was a rather intelligent wolf.. But he just was never given half a chance.
"You arent bothering me. If you like, Ill be out of your way."
---
Krigger's tail wiggled slightly as she stared at him. He...seemed to be in a hurry, for some reason. As if he was put out she was talking to him. "No worries... Looks like I'm not gonna eat anytime soon," she chuckled, looking around to make sure. Nope, no rabbit. "You...You don't have to go," she said a little shyly. "Maybe you could tell me your name? I'm Kriggertarpok, but everyone just calls me Krigger."
---
Oh so she had asked him to stay. His ears perked, and his face took a genuined surprised expression.. But it fell as he remembered he must not befriend her.. He needed to be alone, to really keep himself from being harmed.
"O-Okay. If you wish, I will stay." He did not look her in the eyes, but he stared at the earth, plopping his butt against the earth.
His ears went back, but he did gaze up at her once after he was seating.
"Im Raven... Raven-Blue."
---
Raven-Blue. She gave a little squeak. "I love it!" she gushed, prancing forwards to do a circle around him. She noted his flattened ears, as if the poor thing was nervous or uncertain. She pushed her muzzle into his ruff rather rudely and breathed in, smelling on him other wolves, though they were faint. "You have a pack?" she asked, stepping back and sitting down before him.
---
He seemed to be taken aback by her throwing her nose into his neck ruff.. But he willed himself to stay in that spot.. Not to move and run from her touch.
When he realized she was just sniffing him, he relaxed, with a nod.
"Yes, Im part of Agua Azul.. Technically.. "
What did he do for the pack anyway?
---
Agua Azul... It was familiar. She thought about it over and over, then decided rather hesitantly that that was Possum's pack. She nodded to herself.
"I'm part of Broken Shore," she said with a genuine smile, tail beating the ground, kicking up dust. "Raven...would you...wanna help me find something to eat? I set off from home for a little adventure and...well...I'm not the best huntress." She looked down at her paws.
---
If only she knew that he was not skilled in hunting. He preferred to daydream his days away.. Wonder what alternate realities could exist and what it would be like if he had been born useful for something.
Just as his mother, he was useless. His father was a proud seer, but his mother belonged in an asylum. He loved her, but she had not done a world of good on his confidence.
"I..We could try. But you are almost gauranteed to go hungry if you are wanting to hunt with me."
He said, but now he was looking at her a little more directly.
---
Krigger giggled to herself. He looked strong enough, even though he was probably only a little older than herself at ten months. Sure she knew the basics of hunting, but she hadn't practised enough to be great at it.
"I don't mind," she said with a smile. "It will be fun anyway. Besides, two wolves could get more done than just one wolf! C'mon, Raven-Blue!" She was on her feet, dancing away then, hoping he'd follow.
---
He shuddered at his name and looked at her pleading.
"You can call me Raven."
He said, nodding a bit, but standing to take a place by her side..
Though he felt the true desire to stand behind her.. away from her.
"If you dont mind..I mean."
He said, a little smile touching his maw.
He did not smile often.. Most of the time a sad pitiful look grazed his features. He was destined to be sad...
Wasn't he?
---
She looked at him, into his eyes and froze for a moment. She saw the agony deep within the depths of his soul, the mourning, the sadness. Things that she had never felt before and suddenly if felt as if she'd met him by destiny.
She would be the one to cheer him up!
"I don't mind, Raven," she grinned, dropping into a play bow and darting to the side. She liked the way he smiled.
---
She looked into his eyes, and his heart leapt from his chest. He wanted to look away, but it took all his power to keep her gaze on her.
He felt her feelings change.. She knew.. Didnt she?
No matter.. after all, what did she really know?
He was a pitiful wolf.. He knew that as well..
"Good." He said wtih a nod, watching her play, not really knowing how to play.
"What..are you doing?"
He asked, cocking his head and blinking a bit, truly curious.
---
What was he? Incapable of play? She tilted her own head to the side with a grunt-whine. "I'm...playing," she said slowly. "You know. Where you tussle? Don't you know how to tussle? Surely you have siblings..." Or at least surely his packmates played with him... Or was he just a loner? "C'mon, Raven. Follow me. And for gods' sakes! Dance a little bit!"
---
"Tussle? Is it anything like fighting?" He asked. He knew how to fight.. That was something that had been forced into him.. He had had to keep himself safe from the ones who would pick on him.. He still didnt have the best reputation for the most wolf friendly behavior.
"I.. Dont dance, surely no wolf really does."
He snorted a bit, but stood, and followed her, tail wagging.
What was this she was doing? And why did it intrigue him so?
---
"Well yeah. But not a real fight. A play fight. Like, snapping at each others ears and faces, but not drawing blood. Get it?" She jumped forwards, rump in the air, snapping at his muzzle but being several inches off so that her jaws clicked shut on air. Her tail wagged wildly as she pranced back.
"No dancing? I dance," she grinned slyly. "You can't say I don't dance!" She did a little jig for him, prancing in place.
---
He couldnt help but chuckle at her. She was so carefree.. How could he be like that? How could he be so meaningful to someone, that he could get such a lovely attitude?
Though the male knew it was something he would have to learn on his own.. He still wished there was a quick fix to make his life better..
"I guess I cant, can I? You dance lovely."
He smiled, once more, before trying to look away.
The beating in his chest threatened to beat straight through.. But he tried to calm himself, taking deep breaths.. He could not see her as a friend..
He could NOT.. She was worth something to someone.. He was not.
"I get it." He nodded, snapping his own jaws, inches from her face, before feeling badly about it, and drawing back.
---
She stared at him, panting now but grinning anyway. She did a circle around him, beaming. "Thank you. I do dance lovely!" She gave a small squeak, eyes never lingering from his. What a strange feeling... She had set out looking for her soulmate -- even if Daddy said she'd never find one -- and found such a strange wolf instead. Surely such a sad wolf wasn't her soulmate... Was he? Was it possible? She'd always thought of herself beside a proud and happy boy. Raven was so...lifeless... Not that that was a bad thing. It just threw her for a loop.
Her ears fell back as he snapped in her face, jaws clicking shut and resounding in her ears. She looked surprised. At his crestfallen gaze, she giggled. "Exactly like that. Now. Add in a pounce before you do it."
---
He almost felt guilty for allowing himself to have such antics with her. .Surely she deserved a friend that was.. more happy.. More full of life and future.. His future most certainly held a sad bitter death after a long struggle..
It was rather valiant in a darker way.
"A..pounce?"
He asked, his blue fur blowing a bit as a gust of wind blew through the trees.
"I dont wanna hurt ya though.. You havent done anything to me."
He smiled.
---
His smile warmed her heart. So she was helping! That was two smiles! How many more to go until Raven-Blue smiled all the time? She wondered if she should follow him home. She'd decide later.
"A pounce, yes. You won't hurt me, silly! A -play- pounce," she specified, sitting down. "Okay? Watch me." She took a few steps back, crouched down, then pounced him, digging her teeth into his shoulder very softly but enough for him to feel it. She bounced back with a giddy laugh. This was so fun! She'd never had a real friend before. Possum was so much older, he was more like a babysitter.
---
He chuckled, seeming to brighten up a bit, while trying to dodge her, and came back to pull lightly at her tail.
He wagged his own tail, lifting his own rump in the air without even realizing.
"Did..I do that right?"
He asked. He had never had a friend before..Well, not other than Tada! who was just as depressing himself.
But, he had never felt so open.. Maybe she was his future..
---
He fell to the side, grasping her tail and tugging gently. She spun around to greet him with a soft snap of her own. Pausing and grinning wider than ever before, she danced around him. "You did it!" she barked happily. And he was smiling! How many smiles was that? "Now. How about that hunt?"
---
He paused, looking a but unsure..
"Are you.. entirely sure you wanna hunt with me?
He was giving her one more chance. One more opportunity to opt out..
"But I did?" He asked, looking at his feet, then wagging his tail.
"Ive never played before."
He said with a chuckle..
"Thats probably pathetic.."
---
Her eyes widened. He'd never played? But... What about his brothers and sisters? He had to have at least one! She had one, Siora, and they were best friends. They'd played since they could see and hear!
"It's not pathetic," she assured him, stepping closer. "It's not your fault. Maybe I was sent here to teach you something." She mused aloud, tilting her head to one side and looking at the sky for several minutes before nodding.
"Yes. Let's go hunting. We'll be bad together and maybe, maybe we'll get lucky!" Such was her nature, always a high-hoper.
---
Raven sighed, though he was deeply feeling he should turn, and leave her to her hunting, he followed blindly..
He couldnt help it.. Something about her drew him to her, and she made his heart beat rather wildly.
"Yes.. Lets go hunting."
He said, smiling a little once more, and trotting into the forest of trees with her.
