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 Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 7:09 pm
 Roshan could hardly believe his good fortune.
Not only had he evaded death, he had been rescued and sent to live...here. How had he managed that? How had he manage to move from slavery to disgrace to a peaceable pack, where no one asked him questions? It was more than he deserved, surely.
His insides writhed with guilt.
Had it not been for his actions, he would still be a slave.
...If not for his actions, his pack would still be alive.
Gut twisted with misery, he turned his attentions back toward the pup, trying to focus his attention on matters at hand. He had taken the pup away from the core of the territory, wandering among the meadows and wildflowers, allowing her to enjoy the warm air. Nakine was small, weak. If she had not been so fortunate as to find her way to this pack, she may not have survived at all.
Roshan smiled as the pup crouched among the grass, rump wriggling as she crept forward, chasing a grasshopper. She was not his daughter, but he loved her all the same. Her own father tried as best he could to tend to the pups, but Roshan was a firm believer that it took a pack to raise a pup, and he did his part.
He glanced up, thinking he heard something rustling nearby, but saw nothing. Shrugging, he returned his attention to the pup, trying to chase unhappy thoughts from his mind. Nakine felt the grass tickle at her belly. It was damp, and it made her smile, but she contained her desire to laugh. She couldn't afford to laugh; it might scare away the grasshopper.
Creeping forward, the small pup attempted to sneak upon the insect. It jumped, and she chased after it, hurrying forward to try and get it before it escaped her grasp.
Her chase led her toward a small copse of trees, and she skidded to a halt, ears sweeping forward. She had heard someone, she could swear it.
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 7:36 pm
 Celt wondered far from the place he calls home and her padded up to a place he believe to be peaceful, a place where he can think.
His sister, Tahlly went over to her usual spot. Yet he noticed something was wrong in her behavior, that she was always deep in thought. But that was no surpise to him.
They were all thinking the same thing. A missing piece of the family. They both felt it and even the little sister pup, Oak felt it even more.
He looked behind him and saw that Oak was lagging behind, so he stopped.
He felt her pain of lost and this family of his was no exception, it's what brought them together. She was bright and she knows what had happen, they couldn't hide it from her.
He wish he can do something but he doesn't know what. He is not use to this family thing and he is afraid that his pass sins will creep up behind him and make him do something he will regret and he doesn't want that.
This family is all he has. He has to protect it. Oak trudge behind her big brother, Celt. But the sorrow was too hard to bare. Everytime she thought about it, her heart would threaten to break and tears threaten to over flow.
"Papa," was the thought that came to mind.
Her mama left her with Celt for awhile. She loved her mama and hated to be away. But she knew mama wanted to be alone for awhile and cry, just like she does sometimes.
Oak's thoughts came to a halt as a cricket stop on her paw.
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 7:49 pm
Nakine's eyes brightened as her ears pricked forward. Another puppy! She heard another puppy! It had to be, the way the tiny footfalls landed on the grass. Excited, and completely ignoring any potential threat, the little spotted pup darted forward to greet the strangers.
Roshan jolted, rising to his paws. "Nakine! Wait!" He yelped, but she paid him no heed. He growled in frustration. Where he came from, pups minded their elders. Well, anyway, the slave pups did.
But there were no slaves, here.
Such a strange concept.
Well, anyway. He followed after her, scrambling to beat her to her destination. He couldn't bear the thought of something happening to another wolf under his care, not after...everything that had happened. "Hello?" He called, catching the scent of another wolf.
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:07 pm
Celt heard the the yell of another wolf and decided to fall back.
"Oak." Was all he said as he tried to stear the pup away from the voice.
But Oak stood still and just padded forward.
Celt then sighed and sat and kept Oak within his eye sight, his paws twitching, readying themselves to sprint when need to.
Celt knew there was some unknown wolf, wolves to be correct but Oak sense no danger and he decided to let her be, but that doesn't mean it is totally safe.
Better to expect the unexpected.
Celt then got up and partially hid himself in the bush. Ready.
Oak walked forward until she stopped.
She she padded forward and greet the pup she heard? Or should she hide?
For all Oak knew, she just wanted to be left alone and cry.
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:58 pm
Nakine had never known any reason to fear. Every wolf she had ever met had been kind to her. If one thing had been taught to her by her journey to the Realm of Light pack, it was: strangers are kind! strangers are family!
So she thought nothing of it as she bounded forward into the presence of the kilted wolf and the little pup. Her tail wagged in excitement. A playmate! A friend!
She panted slightly with the exertion. She was weak, especially her lungs which were underdeveloped from being born premature. But she tried not to let it get her down. "Hello!" She panted, tail waving. Her eyes went from the pup up to the adult. "Who are you? And what is that you're wearing? And why are you wearing that?"
Roshan broke through behind her. He blinked, looking between Nakine and the strangers, and smiled in a slightly embarrassed way. "Sorry," he said, and nudged Nakine's haunch. "Nakine, hush. Give them a moment to talk."
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:20 am
Celt chuckled a little and smiled, even though for a little bit. He turned towards the pup, his warm green eyes staring at her,
"It is a kilt, playful one. It helps me keep warm when the days turn into night and when the warm weather turns cold."
He then turn towards the orange wolf with white vine markings. "My name is Celt. Given to me by the people who live far way in a land called Scotland. This," he indicated to the pup near him. "is Oak."
Oak didn't move or say anything.
Celt sighed and turn towards the other two. "Forgive Oak, for I dragged her out here, hoping it was in her best interest to get out." He nuzzled the little one before continuing. "But it seems that my attempts to make her smile isn't working."
Oak turned to look up at Celt as he stared right back at her.
She knew her brother was trying his best to make her happy and she knew that she was being rude.
But the ache of lossing her father and not knowing where he is hurt her.
But then, her father would be dissappointed to see that she wasn't herself. That she wasn't the pup he raised to be.
Putting on a smile, even though it didn't reach her ears, she turned towards the out-of-breath pup and the orange adult male.
"My name is Oak. I apologized for not introducing myself, that was rude of me."
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:52 pm
"It's okay," Nakine said, creeping forward cautiously to sniff at Oak, tail wagging eagerly behind. She looked up at Celt, taking a big breath to try and stop panting. "I've never seen one before," she said, still thoroughly entranced by his kilt. "Why don't all wolves have one?"
Roshan laughed, smiling down fondly at Oak. Roshan loved pups. "Well, it's my pleasure, Oak," he said, formally. He dipped his head at her and then looked up, amused that Nakine was so absorbed in the wolf's attire. "My name is Roshan, and this Nakine."
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Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:17 am
Celt smiled at the young pup. She reminded him of Oak when her....father was around.
Celt then looked at Oak staring at the Pup, but I guess that was then and this was now.
Even now, Celt can see that the little pup, called Nakine, was starting to have an affect on Oak since he can see the small smile upon her face.
He turned to Nakine. "It's because not all wolves come from the same place where I've come from, playful one. Up further north, the winters are harsh and this kilt keeps me warm."
Celt turned to the male wolf, called Roshan, and pause. There was something about him.....
"A pleasure to meet you. We were on our way to the meadow? Care to join us?"
Celt didn't wait for an answer. He and Oak simply moved onward.
Oak padded along Nakine. She reminded her so much about herself when he...papa was around.
But Nakine never knew the pain of losing someone so close to her.
And Oak hope she never did. No wolf should suffer from all that pain of losing their whole world.
And even Oak doesn't know where her papa is, she still have her mama and she loved her mama very much.
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Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:58 pm
Nakine was fortunate, in a way. Her mother had abandoned her, certainly, but the wound had occurred when she was young, and she had already nearly forgotten about mother. Honestly, she had never cared much for her to begin with: she knew that her mother didn't want her, had never wanted her, and she had understood from some basic instinct that she should never become too close to anyone lest they disappear the same.
All the same, she was a happy wolf. Surprisingly happy, considering her poor health and near-orphanhood. "Oak is a funny name," she said, nipping at the pup's shoulder. "Is it because you look like you have leaves on your back? Are they oak leaves? Will you grow up to be big like an oak tree?"
Roshan rolled his eyes at Nakine's incessant questions, but his smile was soft. He followed after the other wolf, pleased at his polite manner. Roshan had run into a lot of wolves who were very brusque, since his time away from the beaches of Kapu'Moana.
Granted, he felt he deserved much worse. In his mind, he deserved to be hung from a tree and left to die by crows. Or worse. "We don't get many visitors this far out," he said, finally. "Are you and Little Oak the only travelers?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 6:56 pm
Celt turned to look at the male then focus on padding forward again.
"In a way, yes. We travel alot, looking for a pack that will accept, not one, but all of us. We may not be related to each other in anyway, but we are a family. When we cannot all join, we simply move on."
Except for Celt, the pack where he was before...it haunts him till this day. The deaths...his past life, all of it.
Celt's expression turned worn and battle weary when they finally reach the meadow.
Oak padded faster towards the center of the clearing and flopped down, enjoying what few happiness she can from the bright morning sun.
The sun....it reminded her of a happy time when her mama, papa and her snuggled together when it rained. Together, they felt like the sun was shining, despite of cold.
Oak then turned towards Nakine. "I love my name. My....papa....MY PAPA gave me that name," she said with a little strength when her voice wavered.
"My papa was not my real papa, but he was my papa all the same."
She sat up and turned to Nakine. "I can't grow like an Oak tree but my papa thought I acted like one. My papa was mean to me and only wanted to chase me away, but when he saw that I don't act like a pup, that I sometimes act like a grown up, he said I was like an Oak tree. They can grow to more then 100 years and they have seen everything."
She lied back down with her head resting on her paws. "Mama and Papa love my name, so I love my name too."
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 10:13 pm
Roshan nodded. He didn't miss the look of weariness in the other wolf's eyes. It was a look he was familiar with. "The wolves here have been kind to me," he said, hesitantly, "But I'm not certain I would call this place home, just yet. it's an odd concept, home."
He smiled. "But I hope you find yours soon, wherever it may be."
Nakine's ears swept forward. "I have a papa," she said, matter-of-factly, "but he didn't name me. Roshan named me. My name means 'Hope', did you know that?"
In truth, Roshan had thought it a fitting name for the first pup born to the last surviving female of Kapu'Moana. Kamiya had thought the name was stupid, but as Marion had been hell-bent on calling her "pollywog" it seemed prudent to name her something reasonable as soon as possible.
"But you won't live to be a hundred," she added. "No wolf does."
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Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 6:18 pm
Oak smiled. "I know I won't. My daddy said I acted like I did, lived 100 I mean."
Oak took a deep breath of fresh air and closed her eyes. "And your name suits you. You have the spirit of Hope."
Celt dazed out for a bit, remembering all of the dark times.
The screams of those who he once called family dying by enemy hands.
Celt...remembering the red haze that feel over him.
The aftermath,...the scars, the taste of blood in his mouth, thousands of enemies made.
"No." Celt opened his eyes, "I don't think I will ever find a home. It's too....dangerous."
He smiled at Celt. "But I sense....a hesitance is you. But I also sense you are happy? Is this true? Do you feel a sense of peace?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:20 pm
Nakine shrugged. She didn't know what to say to that. She thought it might be a compliment, but she wasn't sure. She wriggled her haunches, contemplating the idea of pouncing on the other pup, but decided against it. "Who's your daddy?" She asked, then, since the name kept coming up. "Him?" She nodded at Celt.
Roshan shrugged, taking some time to appreciate the wildflowers that grew all around them. He missed the great sea, the way the lulling tides pounded against the sand so relentlessly, but the woods had their own appeal. "It does not help to wallow in darkness," Roshan said, finally, carefully.
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:12 pm
Oak shook her head. "No. He's not my daddy, silly."
Oak turned her head towards Celt. "He is my big brother... sort of." Oak then turned to Nakine to explain. "We are not related by blood but by soul. We look out for each other. And that is family to us."
Oak closed her eyes to remember the image of her father. "Papa has the tan fur with dark brown fur near his face. Then he has a swirling blue mark near one paw, even though it's small."
Oak opened her eyes, a sad look in them. "That, is my papa."
Celt looked at Roshan. "Ah. But there is a difference between 'wallow' and living."
Celt turn dark with pain, sadness and regret. "Wallow is thinking and in the past."
He turned to look at Oak. "I may have a 'family' but even I can't stay with them for long. Only temporary until we meet again in the distant future."
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:57 pm
Nakine wagged her tail, cocking her head interestedly. "That's funny," she said. "I have a papa, too, but it's not Roshan. He just helps sometimes. With me and my brother." Well, in truth Roshan had been much more of a father to her than Lalita; her real father was much too young and immature to be anyone's papa. "Do you have a brother?"
Roshan nodded, understanding where the other wolf was coming from -- perhaps far too well. "Ghosts of the past should stay there," he agreed. His ears swept forward as Celt spoke. "Are you a wanderer, then?"
He had grown up most of his life in one pack. He had been kidnapped from his original pack at a young age, and hardly remembered it; until very recently, the only thing he knew about his life was the now-dead seaside pack that had once been his home.
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