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 Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 11:56 pm
 Draga sighed, feeling a little dejected. She had been at it for so long, or so it felt. In truth, she had been searching for her long-lost sister since their separation, though, she had not had the freedom to pursue her quite so deliberately until quite recently. She had been so close, too! A few months sooner and she would have caught her in her own territory.
Instead, here she was, forced to track her across Telk on whatever journey she was undertaking. How would she stay safe, all alone like that? Unlike Draga, who had spent her life with a wandering lone, her sister had grown up in a pack, used to the comfort and safety of numbers. How would she cope, all by herself? What if something happened to her?
Draga was not pleased.
Of course, the main contributing factor to this displeasure was probably the fact that she had come so close, only to miss her by mere months. Months. If only she had left a little earlier, figured out which mountain they had been separated on a little sooner, found the pack a little quicker. If only. If only.
The snow-flecked femme shook her head in disgust. It did no good to dwell on such things. Would-have-been and could-have-been would do nothing to help her. She had to focus on the future, and finding her sister.
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:22 am
 Sindre was feeling oddly pensive today.
He often found himself falling into deep bouts of thoughtfulness, these days. Something was missing in his life, some deeper purpose, or hidden meaning, or passionate quest. For a long time, he had thought perhaps it was homesickness for the pack he had been born into, but he was no longer sure that was the case. Memories of Sanctity had faded away like old scars.
No, there was something else at work inside his mind. He just didn't know what it was, other than the knowledge that he would know it...when he saw it.
Taking his time to cross the woods his family had settled in, the large-framed wolf padded over the grass with soft footfalls, enjoying the early spring weather.
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:33 am
Draga was hardly aware of where she was headed, at least, until she caught the scent of another wolf in the area. Oh? Who would this be? She had not thought she had stumbled onto any pack-lands, though she could be mistaken. Perhaps another wanderer, then?
She could only hope that, whoever they were, they had news of her sister, and would be kind enough to share it, unlike that last blundering oaf she had encountered. A small scowl crossed her maw at the thought of him, but she shook it off and followed the scent, hoping it would lead to answers.
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:03 am
Sindre caught her scent at roughly the same time as she caught his, and he smiled, lifting his head. Company? He could do with some company. Though he had grown up in relative isolation, Sindre didn't fear other wolves. He had always been treated quite well by strangers.
Shifting his course to intercept her, he paused as she came into his sight, eyes sweeping over her. She was good colors -- and lovely colors, at that. Like fresh-fallen snow.
"Hello," he said, in a soft rumble. He had grown to be a large wolf, broad-chested and tall, and his voice was similarly low and deep. "Are you lost?"
Though he had run into a few visitors in his time, they were rare, and something about her seemed agitated and restless.
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:12 am
Ah. There he was. A large male. Much larger than her, certainly, for though she could not quite be classified as petite, she was certainly dainty. Regardless, this male seemed much friendlier than the last one. A kind soul, perhaps. Well, that would certainly help matters. But, first things first.
"I thank you for your concern, but I am not lost," she replied, then thought back to one of the more pertinent questions she had about this place. "Do you live here? I did not notice any territory boundaries."
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:31 am
His eyes were dark and serious, but a hint of a smile touched his maw. "I do live here, yes, but there is no pack. Only a small family, living here and there as we please."
His family group had been wandering slowly all over Telk for most of his life. Traveling too slowly to be really nomadic, but certainly never staying in one place for long. "My name is Sindre, by the way."
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:38 pm
A small family group? That would explain the lack of strong border markings. Well, it hardly mattered. She had other matters to address.
"I am Draga," she returned, then dove right in. "I was hoping you might be able to help me with something."
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:04 pm
He tilted his head, curious that this wolf would approach a total stranger and ask for assistance. Curious especially because he was willing to help. But what if he hadn't been? Ah, well. No bother trying to guess about the motives of strangers.
"I'll do what I can," he said, with a slight smile, "But I can't make any guarantees until I know the question."
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:01 pm
"That is reasonable," she agreed. Certainly, it was the rational response and she could respect that. Regardless, it was not necessary for him to worry so.
"But I only have a few questions for you," she paused. "Well. Only one, really. I am searching for someone and I would like to know if you have seen her or have any news of her."
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:08 pm
His ears pricked forward, curiously. A strange sense of deja vu fluttered in his gut; this was not the first time he had spoken with a lovely female about the absence of another wolf.
The last time, his quest had been interrupted by his duty to his family -- his fear of leaving their side, of wandering away into the great unknown and being unable to return. Now, he wondered if this opportunity wasn't fated: a second chance, a way for him to discover what it was that felt missing in his heart.
"Who is she?" He asked.
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:29 pm
Could he help? Did he know? The stranger seemed so interested in her question. It was almost as though he unconsciously knew, and only needed an extra push to reveal the answer to her...but no. That was wholly unlikely.
Just once, though. Just once, it would be nice for her wild hopes to be true. Just once, she would like for her dreams to be answered, made real. That was all it would take. One time. Somehow, though, she doubted that now was that time, and it would be foolish to get all worked up over something so unlikely. Look where it had gotten her last time. Looking like an overly-emotional fool in front of a complete stranger.
What a blow to her pride that had been. No. For now, she would remain calm and act like a rational, civilized wolf.
With that in mind, Draga spoke as neutrally as she could, hoping that her desperation did not leak into her voice. "My sister. Her name is Senka, and I am told she is now a traveling storyteller."
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:56 am
His brow furrowed. "I...it doesn't seem familiar," he said, shaking his head. He thought back, considering the wolves he had seen -- an admittedly short list -- and decided that no one matched the description. "I'm sorry. Has she been missing for long?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:33 pm
"...I see."
Draga tried not to let her disappointment show. She had known that the chances were slim. In all the world, how often would she run into someone whom her sister had met? Someone who would remember her, even if they had? It still stung, even with her logic tempering her.
"We have not seen each other since we were pups. Little more than newborns, really."
What was the point? This stranger did not know her sister. He had no news of her. Why bother continuing their acquaintance?
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 10:49 pm
His brow furrowed. If they had been separated for so long, why bother searching now? What could have motivated it? It didn't make much sense, but at the same time it resonated with him in a way. He knew how it felt to search for something with no hope of finding it.
Only in his case, he didn't know what he was searching for.
"I'm sorry," he said, in his gentle rumble. His ears flicked back. "....I know the area, here, pretty well. We've wandered through much of the territories here. I could...accompany you...part way. Two wolves could cover more ground, ask more strangers....?"
Why was he offering to help? Was it only because he wanted a quest, a cause to champion?
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:01 pm
Draga blinked, taken aback. No one had ever offered to help before. Not like this. True, she might not have been on her quest for very long, but it was still a shock. Not even Manuel, who had saved her and cared for her until she could thrive on her own, had offered to come with her. Neither had she asked, but it had never occurred to her. Now, this complete stranger wanted to help?
"...why?" she blurted, unable to comprehend this turn of events. "Why would you offer such a thing?"
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