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 Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 8:03 pm
 Hallie Roll Page: http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7411021&page=7353
Hooray Hallie! Hokay, so.. she's just been rolled to become a seer! Her potential is very high, and so I'm rather excited about that. This is merely a log to keep track of all of her 'becoming a seer' happenings. 8]
[It's short, I know, but I don't know what else to put]
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Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 9:53 pm
Part 1 || The Whispers War.
War! There's a war.
She couldn't forget it. It was the whisper from her dream. Hallie didn't understand if it was just another random dream that she had had, or if it actually meant something. It felt like it meant something, at least. She couldn't get the whispers out of her mind. That had to mean something, right?
Shaking her head, she had decided to do something else to get her mind off of that disturbing whisper. Hunting. That always seemed to work. It demanded her full attention and concentration and so there was no way she could possibly continue thinking about her dream when she was hunting.
Stretching out her limbs, she then shook out her fur and allowed her nose to being twitching. It tested the air, searching for any scent that gave away any sort of prey. Nothing yet. She sighed, and swiveled her head around to check her surroundings. She was alone. Good. She was rather jumpy right now and the last thing she wanted was company. Although, maybe it wouldn't have been all that bad...
War...
"Shut up," she growled, her ears pinning back against her skull. It shut up.
Groaning in frustration, she picked up her paws and began moving away from where she had been resting. Never again would she nap. No, only full-nights of sleep would do for her. Creepy things happened when she only wanted a little rest. Her brain seemed to go haywire. Yeah, maybe that was it. She was only dillusional because she hadn't gotten a proper rest and her mind was mad at her for.
Moving quickly, her nose continuously checking the air, she began panting. She was running hard, although she hadn't realized it. She found out soon enough, however, as her tired legs gave out and she went tumbling visiously head over heels.
Once she landed in a big furry heap on the ground, she groaned and tried to reposition herself. "What the..?"
Hal rose to her paws again, shaking the dirt from her coat. She was completely off this morning. Maybe what she really needed was meat. Growling again, because this was really frustrating her, she moved forward once more. Her nose twitched, and this time she scented prey.
Finally!
Moving in the direction of the smell, the young she-wolf came upon a small warren of rabbits. Delious. The little creatures were plump too, full of their warm winter meat. She crouched down low and moved slowly, making sure not to make any noise.
"What's the difference between a mouse and a rabbit, Hallie?"
"A mouse will feel you before it hears you and a rabbit will hear you before it feels you?"
"That's right."
Oh, she could hear the pride in her mother's voice, even after all this time.
Focusing again, her eyes squinted at the rabbits. They still didn't know she was lurking in the tall grasses, waiting for her opportunity to just snatch one up and crack its back. She relished in the thought, and her tail brushed against the ground. Apparently, however, that was enough to startle the rabbits, or at least get them on high alert.
Hal scolded herself. After all that training with her mother and she makes a stupid mistake like this? Shutting her eyes, she counted to three then opened them again. The rabbits were still there, some eating, but most standing up with their little noses twitching. The wolf sank down to her belly, more careful this time not to make any noises. Those damn rabbits had such excellent hearing that it was almost ridiculous.
She waited again, her eyes intent on the rabbits. She would wait for her opportunity. She would be patient, just like her mother Jenna had taught her.
"Keep... out..."
The wolf blinked. She swiveled her head around slowly, not wanting to scare off her potential lunch in the process. Had she really heard something? Looking back towards the rabbits, she noticed that they hadn't changed a bit in their behavior. If she had heard that, surely the rabbits would have also? She blinked again.
Figuring it was nothing, she returned to focusing on the rabbits and waiting for her opportunity.
The wind shifted. The rabbits that seemed to be the lookouts froze, their noses being the only part of them that was twitching. Hallie noticed this and she held her breath, hoping that it was something else they had smelt. But it wasn't. At least, she didn't think it was. They looked almost straight in her direction, and she was thankful that her fur blended in so well with the dry grasses.
"Teeth! Teeth! Teeth!" Over and over again, it whispered in her head. But she didn't think it was in her head, because what would it be then? "Evil. Killer."
Hallie couldn't take it anymore. This was all giving her a migraine, and she couldn't stand it any longer. Growling viciously, she rose to her paws, shut her eyes, and shook her head. The rabbits looked at her, for a moment frozen in place. She peeked open an eye and noticed this. Thinking like a predator, she rushed forward and caught the nearest rabbit. It was rather skinny, but still meat. The other rabbits came to their senses and suddenly started hopping about, running into each other then disappearing down ridiculously small holes.
Sighing, she walked away once the last of the rabbits was gone. Well, at least she got something out of it. Not caring that she was still so close to the rabbit warren, she lay straight down and tore into the rabbit she had killed. The meat was juicy and delicious, a nice reward after that headache.
But she heard something now. Crying. Weeping. She stopped, blood on her muzzle, and lifted her head towards the rabbit holes. More crying. Was she imagining it?
Growling, she rose to her paws, picked up the half-eaten carcass, then walked away. She'd find somewhere better to eat her meal.
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Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 11:53 pm
Part 2 || The Dream of Someone Else's Past She was looking into a pool of water. A stream? No, smaller. It was a little creek. A little creek and she saw the face of a small puppy. She couldn't tell who it was. Someone she knew? No.. she felt like it was a long time ago, before she was born. But who..?
"Where ya off t'....?"
The rest faded. She knew this wolf. Not her personally, but the wolf she was in her dream. Who exactly? It was a boy, talking to her. Older. Interesting. He seemed genuinely interested. But where did he come from? Where was she?
A loud boom. The ground shook and she nearly fell over, into the creek. She ran to the male's side as his posture showed that he was all alert and ready to protect. He was courageous, a kindly male. She liked him immediately. Snarls came, and the two wolves flinched. The male jerked forward and was gone, the smaller wolf laying flat on the ground. His sudden disappearance had startled her, and she found herself alone, scared. Lifting herself up, she tucked her tail and ran after him.
She was running after him, although he was far swifter than her. Eventually, though, she wound up in the same place as he, although by now he was lost in the frenzy. And what she saw before her was perhaps the worst sight of her entire life. It would forever be imprinted on her young mind, and she would never be able to sleep peacefully again. This was absolutely horrible, and she couldn't believe she was actually looking at this scene.
Humans. Wolves. Together. But not peacefully, oh no. They were fighting, almost as if war was just declared after years of bitter tension, after years of silent killings. It was as if now, finally, their killings were allowed and they simply couldn't get enough.
But before she could really comprehend the situation, something hit her on the head. She blacked out.
Time seem to fly by as suddenly she was looking a piles and piles of dead wolves. Something told her it was her pack. No, not her pack, the little wolf's pack. She felt completely devastated. Nothing could have prepared her for that sight. One moment it was all action, everything moving, and the next she was in a cemetary with unburied bodies. They were all bloodied and mangled. She whimpered and ran in among the bodies, attempting to find someone who just might be alive. Something told her everything was dead, but she had to search anyways. It was the way of all puppies. They knew, but they still had to check. Maybe something might have changed, maybe she was wrong and there was someone still alive. But she found no one. They were all dead.
Mens' voices sounded in the distance. They were coming closer. The pup didn't think much, she simply turned and ran.
Hallie woke up with a start. She had a major headache, and it reminded her of when she--no, that pup--had been hit in the head by that human, that burly man that she could still see in her mind.
"What the hell?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:44 am
Part 3 || The Dream of Guidance Her head hurt. Again. What was with all of this? Her head was constantly hurting and it never felt like she ever got enough sleep! She was beginning to wonder if maybe she was sick or something. But how could she confirm that for certain? She certainly wasn't knowledgeable with sickenesses and such, and Aziz and Carius would definately be no help at all.
Groaning, she rolled over in the dirt. Another wave of pain hit her head, and it felt like she had just been hit in the temple with the butt of a rifle.
"This is ridiculous."
Rolling back onto her belly, the young wolf shut her eyes tight. Placing her paws over her eyes, she attempted to forget all about the pain. It was rather hard, however, and so she decided to take a nap. It seemed that that was the only way to get rid of her pain, if only for a little while. Rolling onto her side, she sighed and then soothed herself, despite the immense pain in her skull. Sleep was attained almost instantly.
It was dark, quiet, nothing stirred. But wait... there were whispers now. They were inaudible, and she tried to strain her ears in order to just get a clip of what they might be whispering about.
She couldn't move. She noticed that when she tried to go forward to perhaps get closer to the whispers and so hear them better. What was going on? She wasn't binded or chained or anything of the sort, and yet her paws felt heavy. Too heavy for her to move them alone.
"Hello?" she called, hoping someone would tell her what was going on or perhaps release her from this strange prison.
Whispers, all over the place. She couldn't distinguish them.
A light shone through the darkness, breaking everything else away. Hal couldn't do anything but stare into it, her body still motionless it seemed.
"What are you?" she cried, wanting so badly to shake her head but very unable to do so. What was this, this thing that was happening? She didn't like this feeling of being bound to one spot and one spot only. What if this was a trick, a trap? She'd tear anyone to shreds who dared to touch her.
"Be still, young one," a voice sounded, seemingly from all over. Hallie obeyed. She stopped trying to move.
"Very good," it soothed, the light coming closer. As it did, it began to take on a certain form. She noticed as she watched it that it appeared to look slightly like a wolf. Even closer now, it was a wolf! But who? It didn't look like any wolf she knew, or any wolf anyone would know. Yet she felt familiar towards it.
"Who--" she was about to ask, but the light being cut her off.
"That does not matter, child. There are more important things to worry about at the moment." Hallie shut her trap, not daring to defy this... whatever it was. But no matter what or who it was, she felt she should respect it and listen. Something important was about to be revealed to her, she realized. It was a random realization, and one that came with quite a shock.
The light was silent. Then it spoke. "You are already strong. It is amazing how quickly your powers have developed." The being chuckled. It was a funny sound, as one wouldn't think such a magnificent creature would laugh like that. It was too casual. But it was real. Real enough anyways.
"You have extraordinary powers that you have yet to discover," it explained. "And you must learn to control these powers. If you don't, there is not telling what will happen. Unthinkable dangers. You could cause the death of countless creatures, as well as the death of yourself. Your road to discovering the true nature of your powers will be long and very painful, but it will not be without reward. Go to the sea in the far east, and look for a small, silver wolf. A silver wolf, remember. She will guide you on the path that you must travel. Once you have found her, everything will being to unfold and make sense. You will learn exactly what is going on. Now, hurry! There is not a lot of time left for you, before your powers begin to take over."
The voice faded, the light soon in turn. In just a matter of seconds, she was alone again, in the dark.
The young wolf awoke with a start. A silver wolf. She needed to find a silver wolf.
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 7:02 pm
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 7:04 pm
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:35 pm
Part 6 || Pain No More Hallie's skull was plagued with yet another headache. It wasn't as horrible as the ones she had had before she had encountered Amélie, but they were still bothersome nontheless. She decided that they had to go. Immediately. The silver wolf had mentioned that she could control them, she could hush the noises if she wanted to. But how exactly?
Padding along, the fledgeling seer sought out a private location, quite and secluded. If she was to try this, she needed a place where she would be safe and where she could work with no distractions. Moving about the forest, she came to a small clearing. It was quiet, with not much movement in the concerns of creatures. Her head swiveled as she did a quick once-over of the place. It appeared relatively safe and secure. She would just have to keep her senes sharp in case anything happened upon her and decided she'd make a tastey treat.
Once she felt that she was safe enough in this place, she first sat down. She did another once-over of the place. Still nothing. She sank down to her belly and placed her head upon her paws. She felt she was most comfortable like that and could concentrate to her fullest like that.
Sighing, she attempted to push everything from her mind. Her sister Cassidy--oh how she was so happy she had found her!--the silver wolf who had found her on the beach, the visions she had had, the dreams...
War.
Everything. She pushed it all from her mind. She cleared it completely so that it seemed only her own heartbeat was audible. Perfect. She pulled herself into her own mind, shutting out the rest of the world. The wind disappeared, and she heard nothing but the echo of her own thoughts. It was strange and very eerie, but she endured it. She wanted to get rid of these headaches, and she was willing to try almost anything in order for them to be gone.
Once she felt she was securely fastened on her own mind and thoughts, she began to search. The first task on hand was to find the source of the noises, to figure out where they were rooted and to somehow figure out a way to make them stop or disappear altogether. Drifting further into the depths of her own mind, she found random things; memories, ponderings, ideas, philosophies. But none of them she cared about now. She wasn't looking for them. She was looking for the noises. Focusing deeper, she attempted to get rid of all other thoughts and to focus on the sound that hurt her head so much. But it was difficult, since she wasn't listening with her ears anymore. She had never done this before, and so she was rather clumsy with it all.
Eventually, however, she managed to find a good 'trail' created by the noises. She was still clumsy however, and so strayed from that trail sometimes, setting her back about ten minutes before she found it again and continued following.
After what seemed like an eternity--which was really five hours' time--she felt herself coming closer and closer to the source of the noises. But as she moved forward, she could feel something strange, a weird wavering in her head. It felt strangely lethargic, and she panicked for a moment. Then she realized that the source of the noises was in the subconscious part of her mind, and that was why she began drifting to sleep every time she felt herself enter that place. She hurried back into her consciousness, for she feared what would happen if she fell asleep within her own mind.
Pondering for several minutes, she wondered what to do about this. She figured it made sense, the noises being rooted in the darker parts of her mind. She wasn't able to focus on them while she was awake, and that was why it had been so difficult for her to hush them up. She had to bring them into the lighter parts of her mind, the parts of her mind that she could read easily while she was awake. She had decided. But, Hal wondered, could she really move them around in her mind? There was only one way to find out.
Bracing herself, she entered the unconscious part of her mind, making sure to keep herself alert. She couldn't let herself drift and fall asleep. There was no telling what consequences would await.
Acting quickly, she touched the noises. They shook and responded, almost wrapping around her. She flinched, not sure whether this was good or bad. No matter, however, she seemed to have a firm enough hold on them like that. Moving slowly back, she brought them into the conscious part of her mind, perhaps in just the nick of time. She was suddenly brought back into the real world. Her head ached, but not because of the noises. They were gone, although she could still hear them whisper.
Without actually going back into her mind, she isolated them, keeping them away from her thoughts. She also set up a weak barrier, though a barrier nonetheless. It helped to get rid of the whispers, and she felt herself relax for once.
Opening her eyes, she peered around. There was no light; it was nighttime. It had taken her all day, from the early morning until now, in order to do that simple thing. It was discouraging slightly, telling her she had a long way to go with her powers. But at least the headaches would be gone for now. That much, at least, she was grateful for.
Rolling onto her side, she let out a great breath. Her body felt extremely depleted of any and all energy. She needed a rest. Closing her eyes, she fell to sleep almost immediately. And the greatest part of it all was that she didn't have a headache anymore.
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:37 pm
Part 7 || Am I Crazy? Power... power...
The words echoed in her mind. Power. Amélie had mentioned that she had great power and great strength. That frightening black wolf had mentioned it. Was that true? It had to be. Why else would she say it? Hal had sensed her mind, and she was an honest sort. So she really had power. Well, what other thing was there to do other than for her to try out her powers and test her limits?
Her mind now at ease after her encounter with Ame, she attempted to focus her mind on whatever creatures were hanging about. Presently, there were rabbits. She didn't like them really, ever since her first encounter with them before she had really discovered her powers. She had heard them cry for that rabbit she had killed and eaten, and she wouldn't ever forget it. That sorrow.. it had been real. She shook her head, not wanting to think about that.
Padding quietly towards the rabbits, she wondered how she would convince them to be her lab rat. By force? Could she really do that? But she wasn't sure she really wanted to force them to do something they probably didn't want to do. She knew that she wouldn't want anyone forcing her to do anything against her will.
As she approached the rabbit warren--a different warren, however, than the one she had taken a rabbit from--she could smell their fear already. But they were all frozen. She attempted to get into their minds. It took a while, however, for she was fairly new at this. Luckily, the rabbits had been too frozen in place with fear for them to have gone anywhere. They simply stared at her, transfixed, their noses twitching.
"Uhm.." she began, hesitant. She felt strange, talking to creatures that were often times her food. "I'm sorry if I startled you." The rabbits jumped, the sound of the wolf's voice breaking their trance. Afraid they would run away before she got a chance to really test her powers on them, she jumped over them and blocked their holes. They still seemed frozen, however, and it seemed her blocking their dens wasn't quite necessary.
"Please, just let me try something on one of you? I promise it won't hurt, and if you let me do this, I'll leave your group alone. Forever," she added quickly. But prey were stupid creatures, she knew. Would she be able to speak with them?
She waited for an answer, her tail flicking nervously. This still didn't feel right. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting on her part, one rabbit moved forward, its nose twitching endlessly.
"Are... is you honest?"
Hallie almost couldn't believe it. This wasn't normal was it? At least not for a wolf that wasn't a seer. This was definately not normal. She had never spoken with rabbits before, she couldn't. But now... wow. Even though their words were broken up slightly (she was still new to this all), she could still understand them!
"Y-yes," she stammered, rather unsure of herself at this point. "I'm not hungry anyways."
"That's never stopped any of you before," one of the rabbits piped up boldly, though its voice cracked. The wolf pressed her ears back against her skull. "I'm... sorry if you have lost any of your own to a wolf," she began to apologize, though she didn't know what for. It was almost as if she were being blamed and punished for all of their miseries. But it seemed to work with the rabbits. It helped them, being statured above her in a way.
The rabbit who had first addressed her spoke up again. "So what is it you be wanting?"
Hal flicked her gaze over towards the first rabbit. She remembered again why she had come to them in the first place. "Oh, yes.. I want to try something on one of you, or a few. If... if I could?" she asked, feeling rather low at the moment.
The rabbits looked at one another. Since when did wolves come asking them for favors? They whispered to one another, as if that would keep her from listening to them.
"Should?"
"It rather dangerous."
"I think just to talk us then eat us!" a bitter voice sounded.
"I don't trust. Dangerous. Dangerous. We our holes."
The wolf whined, and the rabbits turned to look at her.
"If want to try, must promise protection! Forever!" the first rabbit declared, and the rest of them behind him raised their voices up in a clamor. They kept on shouting 'foreverforever!'
Hal shook her head, not believing this. "I.. I can't!" she cried, rising to her paws. "It's impossible! I can't keep predators away. Bears, other wolves!" She scoffed, finding their demand a little too demanding. All she wanted to do was work her way into their heads and mindspeak! "I'll just find other creatures," she growled. The rabbits glowered at her. She bared her fangs and snarled, and that seemed to get them fearful again. Maybe that had just been it. They had gotten too cocky over her and she had merely needed to put them in their place.
"Let me test this on you and I'll leave you alone! Otherwise your my next meal," she threatened. The rabbits shivered in their coats. She grinned, power seeping into her mind. But she shook her head. The power didn't feel right, it felt too strange and too evil. She let it be for now.
"Now, which one of you is first?"
They stayed motionless. She groaned. "If you don't choose I'll choose for you," she growled, her patience wearing thin with them. A rabbit was pushed forward. Instantly, Hallie locked eyes and forced herself into its head. It was easier this time than any other time because she had learned from Amélie that she could control her powers. She was strong enough to keep control, to hold herself above her abilities. But enough with that--
"What is your name?"
Nothing. She checked herself. She felt only her own thoughts, her own brain waves. Nothing from the rabbit. She growled, scolding herself for not even being able to hold a connection properly. Had she or hadn't she mastered that yet? Probably not. She was, after all, merely starting out.
Focusing again, she channeled herself and felt her mind enter that of the rabbit's. Slow thoughts. Prey animals really were stupid.
"What is your name? she asked slowly.
"Thylayli. Means fur head." Hallie hadn't asked for that, but okay. It just meant that this rabbit was at least a little bit willing to help, if it gave her extra information.
"Nice to meet you, Thylayli," she said politely. "My name is Hallie."
"Hallie," the rabbit repeated.
"Good, that's very good," she said, encouraging the rabbit.
"What you doing here? Rabbits... not talking usually to teeth." Teeth? It must have meant wolves. That was the only thing she could think of, being as she was a wolf and it was talking to her.
"I am special," she explained. The rabbit merely wiggled its nose. She sighed. "Do you have anything interesting you want to share with me?" she asked, attempting to get a little more from her little test subject.
"Does expecting today. Lots of kits." Kits, that must be their babies. But she wasn't interested in that. She wanted to try something else, other than mindspeaking. She seemed to have that down well enough. Besides, prey animals were simply too stupid to hold a proper conversation with. They talked funny.
"Well, Thylayli," she began. "I'm going to try something new. I just need to you stay still. I might ask you some questions." No comment from the rabbit. She took a deep breath and set to work on what it was she wanted to do. Focusing her mind, she searched around in Thylayli's, hoping to find some sort of information. As she wandered around his mind, she found random bits of information she hadn't learned by talking to him.
He had five brothers, four sisters. Not all were his age. His father was dead, taken by a wolf. It had caused him great grief. But he was over it now. Rabbit grieving time seemed rather short. Their lives were short, and so they had to move on as quickly as possible. She frowned. It was sad.
Pulling away from Thylayli, she separated their minds. She could still feel his grief, even if he himself couldn't any longer.
"Thank you," she whispered, before rising to her paws and wandering away. The sadness was too much. It was like she had lost her own father.
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 6:42 pm
Part 8 || Another Seer Tamiko-chan Well, she didn't have headaches anymore. At least not that often. She had learned to control those, at least. As for the rest of her powers.. well, she still wasn't quite so sure about them. She didn't know exactly what they were and so she had no idea on how to go about practicing them.
Sighing, she shook her head and continued on her walk.
"Why so down?"
Oh god. He was still here. Well, she had known that anyways, she could sense his little flicker of a brain. But a part of her had silently hoped that if she ignored him maybe he would just disappear. She seriously didn't think she could stand him at the moment, not with everything else she had to deal with.
He was silent for a minute, but he couldn't stand not hearing his own voice for more than that. "You know you can tell me."
"Can I?" she asked, her voice bitter. Those many, many sleepless nights were finally getting to her. Darius felt the sting, and frowned slightly. He wanted to show his softer side to her, because he felt she really needed it at the moment, but she just seemed so closed up that he figured it wouldn't do much good.
Hal could sense the sad thoughts in his brain. She couldn't tell exactly what they were about--she wasn't that skilled yet--but she knew they were sad.
Sighing again, she just made up something. "I'm just tired. Don't worry about it." Darius nodded, not even noticing that that was probably the nicest tone she had ever spoken to him with.
Moving onward, she attempted to locate her grandfather and that b***h Aziz with her mind. Nothing. She really needed to work on that. Furekatsu Anjiru Meskeet too had been getting headaches as of late. For exactly the same reason as Hallie. Infact, because of Hallie.
Mostly her unrest was rooted from the fact that there was a rising seer so near by. It was unnerving to no end, despite the fact that Hallie would possibly never cause her trouble.
Still, it didn't hurt to take a look. And so she'd set out rather early this morning and barely followed along with her new point of interest before deciding there was no harm in taking a closer look.
From her perch atop a hill of rocks she left her mind prod into the wolf with the potential seer. It never hurt to learn about someone's company. Tamiko-chan "Where in the hell.." she murmured, wondering where Aziz and Carius could have gone off to. Surely not that far? The last time she had checked, they were residing in Meskeet's lands. These were Meskeet's lands, right? Oh, she couldn't tell anymore. Her head hurt, but this time just from too much thinking.
Darius opened his mouth, as if to say something, but Hallie silenced him with her tail before he could even get one sound out. She really didn't know why he was following her.
As Meskeet prodded into the mind of Darius, Hal immediately noticed, although Dar was completely clueless. The female only knew this because she had kept herself firmly rooted into his mind, just because she felt she needed more practice with connections and such. But once the brown seer had entered his mind, the younger wolf had been instantly booted out. She hadn't willingly withdrew, and so she knew someone else must have done something.
Continuing as if nothing was wrong, Hallie attempted to weasle her way back into the mind of her 'friend'. It was hard, however, since she was only beginning to learn her powers and Meskeet had far more experience than she.
"Who are we looking for again?" the male asked, still completely clueless. The words broke her concentration, and she growled in frustration as she was thrown out of his head once more.
"Aziz and Carius."
"And they look like..?
"Old people," she growled, wanting to get back into his mind as soon as possible. Focusing again, she worked her way back in. Now to find out who was poking around... but could she do that? Could she really identify who it was? She could barely do anything with her powers yet! Nonetheless, she was determined to try. Furekatsu Anjiru Meskeet relinquished her hold on Darius' mind as soon as she felt Hallie want back in. It was no matter to her who the female wished to claim. Atleast not when it came to the fool flirt.
For a few moments she didn't disturb anything beside them. Then she took root in a rather easy captive.
The blue crow cawed loudly and lit down on a branch. Watching the two wolves crookedly it made an odd screeching sound and flew over Darius with a flurry of wings and unkind claws aimed at his ears.
The bird flew upwards once more before the either of them could get a chance at his wings.
One beady eye measured them up as he flew in a small circle above their heads.
Look at the fledgling seer my pet. Tamiko-chan The other presence left Darius' mind, that much she had been able to figure out. Stopping, she thought she sensed that presence move around, though it was outside of the boy's head. She wondered. The basic whole of her powers was a huge mystery to her yet, and hse wasn't sure if she was just hallucinating or if she had actually sensed something.
A moment later a crow flew viciously low, seemingly targeting Darius. She growled, though not in a protective way. She really couldn't care less about him at the moment. What bothered her the most was the fact that someone was watching them and toying with them, and she was the only one who knew. It felt like a burden.
The male fell backwards when the bird had swooped down. Sheesh, even creatures of a different species were trying to get at him. Well, he couldn't blame them. He was just so damn handsome!
Idiot... Hallie thought to herself, having picked up on his conceited thoughts.
Leaving his mind, the 'fledgling seer' attempted to get a hold on the crow. "Leave us alone!" she called, throwing her seer powers in there so, hopefully, the crow could understand her.
Darius gave her a funny look. Hallie ignored him. Furekatsu Anjiru Meskeet sneered. She didn't have to be wrapped around Darius' mind to hear his vanity. She doubted Io would pursue the wolf in that manner, Io was a boy after all.
The crow fluttered his wings and lit down on a high branch holding one foot out then clutching it to the branch.
Beak open he shrieked at the female and flared his wings. Meskeet grinned and lay her head on her paws. She was far from in view, but if Hallie felt truly our going she could be found.
Io pressed his wings to his sides and lowered his head to the wolves. Again he took flight but this time simply circled above them placidly and dove to peck at Darius before changing route from his branch to swoop away through a shadowed path. Tamiko-chan Darius shrieked, although it wasn't some high girly shriek. He was far too masculine to ever do that. This bird was really getting on his nerves. How dare it try and touch him! He'd show that fowl a thing or two.
"You damn bird!" he growled, glaring at it. As it flew off, he jerked forward and ran after it, determined to pluck its wings off. He really didn't like it when creatures dared to touch him without his permission. Only beautiful female wolves could do that!
Hallie groaned. This, she did not need. "Darius, get your a** back here!" she called, her paws moving. Her tail flew out behind her as she followed the male. Her mind tried to get a grip on the bird. There was something odd about it, she had seen it in the gleam of its eyes. No normal bird would have swooped down so dangerously low towards a wolf's deadly jaws without anyone having some sort of influence over it.
"Darius, leave it alone!" She really didn't need this.
Stopping, the flirtatious wolf growled then turned back towards his friend. "I was right on it! Why did you want me to stop?"
"Leave it alone," she repeated. Darius gave her a funny look.
"You're acting strange, you know that? Whatever, I'm going now." He'd find someone else to go hit on. It was obvious that she wasn't in the mood, not even to fight with him about how obnoxious he was. Something was bothering her, and he didn't want to deal with it.
"Fine, go!" she yelled, as he turned and walked quickly away, away from Meskeet's lands. She snorted. It would be less stressful with him gone. He was too much of a nuisance.
Now, to focus on whoever had had their control over that crow. Closing her eyes, she sat down then sank to her belly. She calmed herself down, allowing her mind to clear. Once she felt she was concentrating deep enough, she let her mind wander. She was hesitant at first, having little experience with any of this. But as the quiet forest around her assured her confidence, she allowed herself to go further.
Now... where was that wolf? Furekatsu Anjiru The flew back, but not to Meskeet. Instead he hoped onto a rock a few feet from the girl youth. Noisily he stayed to watch her.
Meskeet grinned with her eyes closed. It was quiet here, it was always quiet in her woods. Which was far better music to her ears than anything else.
What would you like to know today, Hallie? She called smoothly as the crow finally silenced itself. Shall I read your future? Make Darius dance for your eyes alone, perhaps?
Do mind the bird, would you. He's more crooked than you'd think. It'd be dreadfully to have him shadow Darius for a time. The seer didn't bother to rush her words, they slid like silk through the air.
Io took root in a higher branch. Such bothersome creatures, these wolves. Tamiko-chan Hallie felt the bird come back, and she also heard it. The damn bird was so loud. She hated the things for all of the cries and screeches they just insisted on yelling out. It always sounded like some dead creature crying out with all its might in order to get heard. It was disgusting. But her focus wouldn't be wasted on the feathered creature. She wanted to know who this wolf was.
As the voice of Meskeet (though she didn't know it was her) floated through her head, she did her best to secure the connection and to follow it back. The crow was silent, she noted mentally, randomly.
"I don't need to know my future," she said smoothly back. "I just want to know what you were doing inside of Darius' head." Not that she cared anyways. So what if his mind was ruined by a seer? It would serve him right, getting around as he did. "There's nothing interesting in there."
Her words to the other, more experienced seer, however, were rather quiet and dull. She hadn't gotten the mindspeaking part down yet, and she was fumbling with it. She still needed more practice.
At the mention of the bird, she poked open an eye to peer at it. Stupid bird. She absently rooted herself in its mind, hoping her thin connection with it would help her to better keep track of it. If not, well... there was always its noisy calls that would alert her to any movement from it. Furekatsu Anjiru Unhappily the crow shrieked and bowed its head. Meskeet wasn't entirely pleased with Hallie attempting to get even a weak hold over his mind. As if blind the bird started upwards and flew in awkward, noisy circles until it disappeared and could no longer be heard.
"You're a seer." she answered pertly. "You tell me."
Still, she hated to be kept waiting by a slow youth. So much to do, too much to be bothered by explaining her interests. His was, after all, not directly from around here.
The South Seaside Pack, she'd never heard of them before. Yet it never hurt to know about as many packs as you could.
"Why so protective if there's nothing there?" Tamiko-chan Hallie grumbled to herself as the bird flew awkwardly away. She was glad to be rid of it, even only for a little while. Feathers couldn't be trusted, especially when they were crows. Dirty scoundrels, they were.
She went slightly rigid as Meskeet mentioned that she was a seer, and told her to tell her why she was in the male's head. But she was merely training to be a seer and wasn't actually one yet. But she wasn't about to admit to this wolf that she wasn't very good at any of this. Yet, she thought, if this wolf was a seer too then couldn't she figure that out on her own if she wanted? Damn.
"I make it a habit not to invade other's personal space, and by that I mean their minds," she growled low.
When asked why she was so protective, she paused for a moment. It was true, there was nothing there, right? She had no feelings for the male, none whatsoever. So why did she feel she had to defend him?
"I may not like him but I'm not heartless," she retorted. Furekatsu Anjiru Meskeet hummed to herself in her own head. Youth spent so much time and energy puzzling over the smallest details. Well, this one would calm down with more experience. She supposed.
"Heartless has little to do with anything. But who am I to judge you and what you choose to do?"
Shrugging she began to lose interest.
"Does Darius himself know about your new abilities?" Tamiko-chan "Think what you want," the lighter female commented. She huffed to herself, wondering why she had even bothered to try and explain herself to the other anyways. It's not like she really cared what others thought about her.
But at the question of whether or not Darius knew of her powers, the wolf growled defensively. She herself was still trying to get used to the idea that she was some 'gifted' wolf, and she didn't feel it necessary to go about telling everyone of her new abilities. Especially Darius. If she knew him well enough, then she knew that he'd go babbling it to anyone he came into contact with, probably used for his own advantages with the fact that he was 'in with a powerful wolf'.
"He doesn't need to know," she rumbled. "His mind need not worry about petty things like that that don't concern him in the first place." Like Meskeet.
There was also the reasons from before and her own fear of rejection that had kept her silent about her newfound and ever-growing powers. There were stories of shamans and seers being slaughtered because they were different. She had witnessed these in her dreams.
"What do you care anyways? His and my connection has no meaning to you."
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:23 pm
Part 9 || Another Seer? Tamiko-chan Hallie rose up from a rather long nap. She had spent the early morning hours and most of the afternoon ones sleeping. But it was all for the better, she felt completely revitalized. All of this seer business had made her ridiculously tired. If she wasn't taming her powers, then she was sleeping. Not that it mattered anyways. She had no one to care for but herself and so it wasn't much of a burden to anyone.
Shaking out her fur, she stretched out her limbs then stood still, her head swiveling around. Auds perked forward as she listened, attempting to locate any other creatures if there were some out there. Nothing. She figured she could have tried to sense other creatures with her seer powers, but she was too tired for such a thing. Besides, she could hardly do that when she really wanted to. She still needed much practice if she was to ever become a real seer.
Sighing, she moved away from the spot she had been resting in. Her stomach gurgled and she supposed she should fill it before she collapsed from hunger. Seer business was too demanding at times.
The cool evening air refreshing her and completely waking her up, Hal wiggled her body then began at a brisk trot. What would be on the menu this time? RonsoStryder Jaylin was up to no good- well, not really in her eyes. The early morning was a perfect time where she could slip away from good ol' dad and try to figure out what exactly was happening to her.
Why was she having these wierd dreams? And what did they mean? If that wasn't wierd, what about being able to read the unconcious thought and all of the voices in her head. Now this was certainly something she couldn't tell Cellen. Either he might take a hypothesis to the extreme or he might find it as a funny joke and "play along" with her. But she didn't need people to mockingly believe her. Jaylin needed someone who knew what she was going through and someoen she could share her secret with.
Aimbling down a worn deer trail as she weaved farther and father away from the packlands, the small brown female glanced back and forth as her tapered, crimson hair swayed before her eyes.
"Someone's gotta know what's wrong with me," she assured herself as her curly tail swaggered behind her. "Maybe they can help."
Wrinkling her small muzzle as her ears swivled back, the small puppy began to run faster, hoping that wherever she was running to that she could find someone, anyone to help her out. Tamiko-chan Similar to Jaylin, Hal hadn't planned on telling anyone. Not even her grandfather and his hideous fiend of a follower knew about her little secret. Only other seers knew, and that was mostly because they could detect the power in her head. She didn't really like it, but she supposed it was only fair. What seer could really be called a seer if it was unable to detect other seers?
She shook her head again, trying to clear it. There was a minor ache in her head, but she pushed it aside easily. That had become the first thing she had 'mastered'. But that was probably only because she had wanted the pain gone so much. Nonetheless, she was getting better at all of this, she thought.
As she ambled along, there was a slight static in her head. It was minor, but it bothered her all the same. Frowning slightly, she turned. As she stood there, her keen ears picked up the sound of tiny paws hitting the ground at an incredible rate. Something... someone was running towards her. But it was small. Remaining still, almost set in place, she watched the bushes in front of her.
Meanwhile, her mind wavered and attempted to figure this out. She wasn't so good at reading other minds just yet, but she was working on it. And it was obvious that she was still developing her skills, for she picked up on nothing besides one word:
Secret. RonsoStryder More pain?
Jaylin clenched her jaws and wrinkled her muzzle. A small frown curled upon her lips as he continued to make haste and run faster and father away from the packlands. There was no one she could tell and the burden of hiding such a secret was begining to weigh upon her. For such a small pup, it was a bit difficult to even feel herself the same as anyone and it was in a way where she didn't feel she was "normal" which- really she was anything but normal now. If only she understood what exactly was happening to her.
The pains continued to bombard her head, irritating and making it easy for her to lose focus. But an odd sensation seemed to p***k at her senses, a feeling as if she wasn't alone.
Glancing behind her, the small female panted as a mixture of adrenaline and fear began to swell through her wolfish veins. Unaware as she found herself sidetracked, Jaylin stumbled into the confines of a bush and tumbled out.
"Ow!" She yipped at she rolled onto her side and sprawled out before something furry and- wait. Shaking her head as her tapered hair swayed before her eyes, Jaylin found herself to be at the feet of another wolf.
Sheepishly smiling, Jaylin tried to stagger back onto her feet.
"S-sorry." Tamiko-chan Hallie's mind hurt as the female pup's did. She hadn't quite learned how to block out other's feelings from her head quite yet, and she regretted not learning about that sooner. Flinching slightly, she shut her eyes and pressed her ears back against her skull. She wanted the pain gone. Now. Growling slightly, she managed to get the pain down to a dull throb. It was an improvement, at least.
One eye poked open, soon followed by its twin, as she heard someone stumble in front of her and say some exclamation of pain. Peering down, she looked straight into the face of a small, female puppy.
"Oh, don't stop on my account," she grinned. It wasn't a vicious grin, or anything of the sort. It was just a simple grin. "You seemed to have such great momentum." Shaking her fur, her tail twitched as she looked at Jaylin. Feeling now was as good a time as any to practice her powers, she attempted to get into the other's head. But there was something blocking her. Confused, she withdrew herself, giving the pup a strange look. She probably could have gotten in if she really tried, but she didn't quite know that.
"Who are you?" she asked, her tone becoming more serious. RonsoStryder Dizzy and disoriented, Jaylin blinked several times before her sight regained a clear focus. Slightly trembling as new sensations and feelings seemed to wash over her, the brown pup swivled her ears back as the pain still was present but at least it was not as intense.
"You would too if you felt alone," she softly whispered, her small body becoming tired and fatigued though she really wasn't sure why. She always was brimming with energy but now she felt as if she could use a nice nap. She wasn't trying to sound so pesimestic, Jaylin just didn't know what to do.
An odd sensation, a feeling of something prodding about her mind, felt heavy within her mind and she shook her head. What? This certainly was strange.
Jaylin knitted her brows together and gave a puzzled look.
"I'm Jaylin. Who are you?" Tamiko-chan Hallie blinked down at the small pup, wondering where on earth she had come from. It was strange, her being out here. She had thought that this was completely deserted territory and that there were no other wolves living in the area. She had wanted peace and quiet, and instead she had gotten a little puppy? And what was worse, she felt static in her head. It was annoying, and she had no clue on how to get rid of it.
"Alone?" she echoed. "Well that's silly. You're not alone. I'm here. Duh." What an odd thing to say, that she was alone. But maybe she meant before they had run into each other? Was this another orphan pup? Gosh, she hoped not. She didn't want to be stuck taking care of a puppy and dealing with her powers. It was too much.
More static in her head. She shook it, grumbling and mumbling random sayings to herself. She closed her eyes and focused, shutting down the static for a good minute at least.
As silence befell her mind again, she sighed and opened her eyes again. Peering down at Jaylin, Hal gave her quite the strange look. She wanted to know what this little wolf was doing here. And why she was hearing static in her head.
"I'm Hallie," she replied absently, still trying to piece things together. RonsoStryder Jaylin swayed her curly, feathered tail behind her as she peered up to the older wolfess. It was comforting being with someone else besides her family but the same pains in her head and these odd sensations seemed to wash over her with a more intense persistance.
"I know I'm not alone now," she sighed, eyes rolling slightly. "It's just- well, have you ever had a secret you couldn't tell anyone. I mean, if you told someone you wouldn't know what they'd think of you..."
Biting her lower lip as she shook her head, tossing her tapered, crimson locks in front of her hair, Jay frowned.
"Never mind. It sounds dumb, doesn't it? Trying to hide something from your own family because you're scared and don't know what to tell them." She could feel herself pouring herself out to this complete stranger but somehow it felt good. Besides, the only person who knew of what was happening to her was Reno, Cellen's brother, who just so happened to be a Shaman- well, a Shaman in training. Maybe she could trust her?
She'd have to wait and see.
Stumbling up to her paws, the small puppy staggered a few steps then fell onto her haunches. This was all too confusing and her head was still hurting.
"Hallie," she repeated with a smile. "You have a pretty name. Nice to meet you." Tamiko-chan The adolescent's eyes widened slightly as she listened to the problems of the small female. She felt herself, surprisingly, connecting to her. Their problems, they sounded almost one in the same, at least generally. She still wasn't sure what the exact problem was that Jaylin was facing.
Sinking down to her belly, she flicked her tail and crossed her paws. Her ears were perked forward slightly as she listened to the pup. For once, she found her interest caught and snared. She seemed genuinely interested in what this little wolf had to say. Though the real reason why she felt that way was still unclear to her.
"Yes, actually," she whispered, staring off into nothing. "I believe we've got a bit of the same problem."
War.
She shook her head, focusing on Jaylin again. War. She had no idea why she continued to think about that word. She was wondering if it had any sort of importance in her life. But, unable to answer that question at the moment, she kept her attention on other things.
"Nono, it's not dumb at all," she assured the pup, wondering to herself why she was being so nice. Normally she didn't care for puppies.
As her name was complimented, she blinked down at the other. She didn't see what was particularly special about her own name, but if Jay was so sure in her opinion then who was she to say otherwise? RonsoStryder Jaylin blinked as she drew closer to Hallie, a curious expression drawn upon her maw. "Really, so you have the same problems too?"
Rethinking and still pending if she should expell everything that she's gone through to Hallie, Jaylin really didn't see a downside. Sure the other wolfess could think her crazy and insane but, like other wolves, she could also be more acceptive to the nature of such a gift and a destiny at hand to someone so young of age.
Of course, Hallie also could be-
The same.
Jay nearly jumped as the voice resurfaced again within her thoughts and the same sensations were getting stronger. Could it be? Even just talking to Hallie made the small female feel a sort of connection between them and even a likeness.
Well, it didn't hurt to go out on a limb.
"Can you keep a secret," Jaylin whispered as she glanced around making sure that no other wolves or creatures were looking. "I'm a Seer." Tamiko-chan Hallie nodded, her tail flicking again. She wanted so much to just go into Jaylin's head and find out already what it was that was bothering her, this problem of hers. But it was a good thing she was sensible and sensitive. She figured she wouldn't want someone snooping around in her head without her knowing, and so she figured the pup wouldn't want it either. Thus, she kept her proddings in her own mind.
Power. War.
Why did those words keep popping into her head? She wondered, thinking of different possibilities. The power part must have come from that talk she had had with the silver wolf and with that black wolf that had come to her in a dream. Perhaps? She couldn't be certain about the war part, however. It was a total mystery...
As Jaylin seemed keen on revealing her secret now, the older female's ears perked slightly as she leaned in. Was the secret really so great that she was nervous about saying it even here, where it was obvious they were alone?
The secret was spoken. Hal's eyes went wide. So, there were others out there like her, then, and not just that silver wolf she had been told to meet. She had thought that, maybe, since Amélie had been specifically pointed out for her to meet, that she was the only other seer. But now she realized that she was wrong.
"Are you now?" she whispered, a slight smile coming upon her maw. "Well, the truth is..." she said, though drifting off mid-way.
"I am too," she said, speaking with her mind to Jaylin. It had taken her a moment to get into the pup's head--it seemed there was a bit of a natural barrier around every seer's mind--but once she had gotten through that, it had been relatively easy. Perhaps it was because Jay was barely starting out and so didn't know much? There was no telling... RonsoStryder The ears of the younger wolf flattened slightly against her skull as she stood there, uncertain and afraid. But peering up into the eyes of the older wolfess and listening as she whispered with a smile trailing across her maw made her feel not so afraid or worried.
"Truth is what?" She questioned with a hushed voice as her curly tail swagged with zest.
"I am too."
The serene blue eyes of the small puppy widened as her jaw dropped in awe. Another seer just like herself? Hallie was much older than Jay and she must of had experience in being able to speak with her mind. But this was exciting! Another Seer! Another wolf who knew exactly what she was going through!
"Really!?" The pup exclaimed as she jumped up on all fours and began running around Hallie. Exhilarated and no doubt curious, Jay sat again in front of the Seer.
"How long have you been a 'you know what'?" She softly questioned as she tilted her head. "And what about the voices, visions and the weird feelings?" Tamiko-chan Hallie nearly fell over sideways as the pup seemed absolutely thrilled by the fact that she was a seer as well. Obviously that had cheered her up, for she no longer found herself alone in the world. There were others like her. Which was a bit how the older female was feeling. It was a bit of a burden, having powers like these that could possibly outcast you from all of wolf society.
Laughing slightly, she tried to place her paw over Jaylin gently to pin her down and keep her from bouncing around so much. Where did puppies get all of their energy from? Even as a pup, Hal had never been that jumpy.
As the questions began to spill from the younger female, the adolescent settled down and become serious again.
"Well, to be honest, I haven't been one for that long. It took me a long time to figure it out, too. It wasn't so obvious," she added on quickly, as if defending herself before accusations fell. She didn't want anyone to think that she was weak or dumb in any way. Because she wasn't.
"Voices? Well, mine were mostly just noises. But I've got a handle on them now, I think," she stated, poking the part of her brain where she kept the noises inside of a barrier. It was still weak, though. She'd have to work on that. And I haven't had visions so much as... weird dreams. Random things that don't make sense keep popping into my head, and I can't forget them." She paused.
War. She shook her head again.
"And the only weird feelings I've had, actually, are when you ran into me here," she admitted. Well, that was the only weird feeling she had actually remembered. "I think it's because you are a.. you know. And I can sense it... I guess." RonsoStryder A broad grin set upon her small maw as Hallie tried to contain what energy the small pup was unconciously exherting. Such bursts of energy came so naturally and most of the time it was a result of roughhousing with her dad and her brother, Valen.
Jay's ears perked upwards as the adolescent settled down for a question and answer session, keeping a serious approach to the countless questions Jaylin was bound to ask.
"Me too," the puppy nodded as her cerulean eyes were wide and full of a lively, estatic nature. "I never could hear the voices but it was the strange feelings that grew into nightmares and those strange dreams."
"Yeah, there are all these voices in my head and sometimes they get louder. I can hear them, they speak to me and it's- it's as if sometimes they are watching me and know what I'm doing," she remarked as it felt so weird to reflect on what exactly had happened so far. "I know I don't understand it as well as you but- I just wish that I knew what they wanted or what I'm suppose to do."
Jaylin tilted her head to the side, perplexed and curious. "Weird dreams? Like dreams that don't make sense?"
As her tail thumped upon the ground, Jay blinked. "Where do you think the other Seers are? Will we meet them?" Tamiko-chan Hallie crossed her paws and shifted her weight slightly, becoming comfortable. She could tell that this might be a long talk, them discussing their powers and the possibilities that lay ahead of them, and she was eager to see what came out of it. It wasn't every day, after all, that she got to talk freely about these things.
Nodding, she settled her head down upon her crossed paws as she listened to Jaylin.
"Well, a silver wolf that I know told me that I can control the noises if I wanted. They always used to make my head ache and hurt, but now I can control the noise and make it go away. Maybe you could too? Though, I'll warn you, it was rather hard.." She had spent an entire day just locating where the noises had been coming from in her mind. She had managed to get them to go away, but it still wasn't perfect. Her barrier was weak. She'd need to fix it.
As the subject came to dreams, she thought for a moment. The dreams she had completely didn't make sense, and she wasn't sure if she'd be able to explain them now.
"Yeah, weird dreams. Like... I had a dream that I was this wolf and I... I think it was a real wolf and I think it was that wolf's past. But, I'm not sure. I could be wrong." It was, after all, just a hunch. But it was a seer power-backed hunch. Didn't that make it better?
"And another dream I had was about war. I don't know why, but I can't get it out of my head. I keep thinking of war, war, war... I think it means something, but I can't piece it together." She frowned, unhappy with her lack of confidence in herself and her powers. Everything had become so complicated with them.
"Other seers?" she repeated. "Well... there was one around here, I know. I don't know of any others, though, besides you of course." She smiled, nosing Jayling playfully. "I'm sure we'll meet more in time though." RonsoStryder "I hope I can," Jaylin nodded as she bit her lower lip, brows knitting in thought as to how she could accomplish this someday. "They make my head hurt but sometimes I can make them go away or can talk to them but- well, sometimes it doesn't work."
Her small maw gaped open as Hallie explained her weird dream. She blinked, "You had a dream that you were another wolf? Neat! I haven't had anything special, just seeing stuff from a different perspective and some really hazy stuff...it just doesn't make sense and it's in every dream."
Jaylin understanding of what powers were laid before her, if she could control them, were mesmorizing and amazing!
Hallie seemed to have so much insight and already seemed well on her way to being a Seer. As for Jay, she was only a pup and had much learning and experiences ahead of her.
Padding up towards Hallie, Jaylin layed down beside her and placed her head next to her paws. "You'll piece it together," she yipped with a positive and bright outlook. "My Uncle is training to be a Shaman and he says that things that don't make sense at first will eventually become clear to the untrained eye or when time is right. Maybe you still have to understand it further?"
The small pup giggled and wuffed low as her feathered, curly tail thumped merrily upon the ground. "I want to meet them. I want to know their secrets and learn how to be a Seer. I don't want to waste the gift I've been given," she nodded, hoping and wishing that she could be half the seer that Hallie was already becoming.
"Are you part of Phibs pack too?" Tamiko-chan Hallie nodded in agreement with the smaller female. The noises had hurt her head, so much so that she couldn't bear it some days. The only reason they were gone now was because she had become so fed up with the pain that she wanted it gone then and there. She hoped that things didn't have to get completely horrible for Jaylin in order for her to chase them away. She didn't want that for the other.
"Yeah, and it was rather sad," she said quietly, remembering perfectly what had happened in her dream. She couldn't imagine actually going through that. Just seeing it in a dream was painful enough. "I think that dream was the only one that was really clear to me and that I actually remember. Maybe as you get better at all of this and you learn to control your powers, then your dreams will become clearer and make more sense. At least, I'm hoping that will happen with me," she laughed, her tail swishing behind her. Everything was so cloudy and hazy now, she wished it'd clear up soon. Really soon.
Encouraged by Jay, the adolescent smiled and wagged her tail back and forth. She liked this pup. "I'm sure you'll piece everything together. Hey, we always have each other, right? We can help one another," she suggested, the thought of having another seer to turn to for help comforting. Even if Jaylin was only a pup and Hal an adolescent, the two girls still seemed one in the same.
When she mentioned her uncle training to become a shaman, she began to wonder how many 'gifted' wolves were in this pup's family. A shaman and a seer so closely related? It couldn't be just a coincidence...
"Wow, your uncle is going to be a shaman?" she asked, seemingly genuinely amazed. She wanted to meet this uncle, suddenly. She wanted to know all about him and what it was like to be a shaman. Was it harder than being a seer? She couldn't imagine. But, she supposed, she could always just prod into his mind and find out for herself, yet she didn't feel so much like doing that. Feeling herself so close to Jaylin already, she didn't want to barge in on her mind or any of her family's now. It was strange, her logic on where to use her powers and where not to.
"Oh, I'm sure I have much to understand. I'm not so good, really. I think my powers are just strong and that's why I seem so far along." She sighed. Power. Strength. That black wolf had mentioned power and Amélie had mentioned her power as well. She only hoped she could control that power.
At the question of whether or not she was in Phib's pack, Hallie stopped for a moment and thought. "Well, I'm not really. I'm just visiting with my sister," she explained, not wanting to think that she was tied down to one pack so early. She still had much life to live. RonsoStryder Jaylin scooted her head to rest upon the paws of the adolescent as a warm smile trailed across her maw. "Yeah! We'll always be there for one another. And it won't be hard to find you, right Hallie? I just call out to you with my mind?" The small pup loved the idea of having another seer to turn to when she wasn't exactly sure what to do or needed guidance. Of course Jaylin wasn't perfect and a buddy system was something she could thrive off of.
The thought of Reno and herself being the only ones from the family who have been given such a gift only made her smile wider.
Reno was one of the sweetest wolves she had ever met and, although he was a little slow, his intelligence and outlook surpassed anyone elses. Even when she first met him, Jaylin could decipher that there was something mysterious yet magical about him.
"Reno's training and he's the only one besides you who knows about my secret. He's still livin' with our family until he feels he's ready to continue his journey." She nodded her head as she curled her feathered tail around her body. "You should meet him, Hallie. He's really nice."
She tilted her head to the side slightly, ears flickering as she shifted her right paw on top of Hallies. "You know so much more than I do," she commented with a humble tone, "I want to be just like you, Hallie." Someone strong, driven by free will and by their own heart; that's what Jaylin wanted to become.
"Who's your sister? Maybe I know her." A sudden idea flashed into her mind which caused her to perk up her head higher and peer into the adolescents eyes. "If you come with me back to the packlands you can see your sister and meet Reno! Wanna go?" Tamiko-chan Hallie perked considerably, really like the idea of having another seer always there for her. And she liked hanging with Jaylin. Even if she had only met the pup here and now, she felt attached to her as if they were sisters. "Right!" she urged. "I'll always keep my mind open for you, I'll alwayas be listening for your calls." Her tail flicked excitedly. She never really had any friends in these lands. Since leaving her parents, she had only ever really gotten along with Jenna. But she had disappeared and after that she had become rather lonesome. It was nice having someone to talk to again.
Still interested about the shaman bit, she attempted to prod further without seeming too nosy. "Is it hard for him?" she asked curiously. "I've never met a shaman before." That was probably why they interested her so much. "I think I'd very much like to meet him," she said, nodding her head slightly. Not only would he be a shaman, but he'd be related to Jaylin. Now that she felt attached to the other female, she couldn't help but feel excited to meet her family, those that were actually related to her.
As Jay said that she wanted to be just like Hal, she frowned slightly. She might have been anything that the pup had said, but it really wasn't all that great to be her. "Oh, but I'm just so boring!" she laughed, nipping playfully at the other's ears. "I think you'd be better off being yourself."
"My sister is Cassidy," she told her friend happily. She absolutely loved her sister, and it pleased her so much that she had finally found her. Hallie had been sent out here to find Cassidy, and that's exactly what she had done. She felt so proud. Wiggling a bit to get comfortable, the adolescent's ears perked at the suggestion that they go see her sister and Reno.
"Oh, I think I'd like that," she said, her tail wagging again. "But, maybe we could see Reno first? I told my sister I'd be out most of the day, and I think she's spending some time with her puppies. I wouldn't want to bother her.." she trailed off. The fact that she wanted to meet a shaman, a real live shaman, was only a little bit of the reason she wanted to see Reno first. RonsoStryder She couldn't keep from smiling and the thrill of having a best friend who also bore the same secret seemed too good to be true. To Jaylin, Hallie was like her older sister and it felt unbelieveable to talk to another and to now have someone she could seek out if she felt lonesome.
"Well," Jaylin began, knitting her brows as she gathered her thoughts, "Reno says that it's hard but he has what some call a "Spirit Guide" or a Shaman whose passed on to guide him and help him control and learn his powers. He says her name is Caylith." She giggled and pawed at Hallie, "He always likes to meet other wolves and maybe he could give you some insight. I mean- just talkin' to him makes me feel better."
Jaylin frowned slightly and shook her head. "Boring? No your not! You're becoming a seer and you're so much fun!"She didn't get it. Why was Hallie saying she was boring? No, Jaylin couldn't see it. To Jaylin, Hallie was upbeat, compassionate and full of insight.
"Cassidy, hmm. Well- I haven't met her but if she's your sister than she's got to be really nice." Nodding her head at the thought of meeting Hallies sister, Jaylin's maw widened into a broad grin. "Really? Yeah! Reno will be happy to meet you especially that you're my friend and you're a seer as well." She was excited to show Reno her new friend and to also speak to Reno once again. Reno was gifted just as they were and he had spoken of wanting to meet other wolves who had been blessed with sacred gifts and powers.
Rolling over, Jaylin leapt onto all fours as her tail cut through the air in a fast, estatic sway. "Come on, Hallie! Let's go meet Reno! And I want to meet Cassidy!" Tamiko-chan The adolescent, for the first time in a long long while, felt herself completely happy. Nothing could ever bring her down. She had fulfilled her mission and found her sister. She had found new powers and was learning to control them, to become stronger. She had made new friends and was on her way to make another one. She didn't feel alone, and she felt aboslutely wonderful. It made her sad to think that she would have to go back to her grandfather Carius and that b***h Aziz again. But that didn't matter now. She could think about them later.
As talk of Reno began again, her ears perked slightly as she became interested again. She didn't know why, but she was just absolutely intrigued by shamans. They were so different from seers, power-wise.
"A spirit guide?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly. She had never heard about them, but it sounded like they'd be a good thing to have around. An old shaman or seer there to help you out and show you how to control your powers? What more could a fledgeling seer/shaman ask for? That was probably the ultimate help. All she had were some crazy dreams and a dead relative talking to her about power, power, power.
Laughing again, she nosed Jaylin. "Well, I'm not that exciting. I think others have better lives than me." The only part of her life that was really exciting was her grandfather and his... woman... and they were a bad exciting. "I think you'd be happier being you than me," she explained, shaking out her fur. "There are lots of.. complicated.. things in my life that I'm sure you wouldn't want to deal with." But, enough about that.
"Oh, Cassidy really is nice. I'm so happy I've found her," she said excitedly, her bum wiggling with her wagging tail. "I can't believe I went so long without seeing or talking to her." It had seemed almost surreal.
As Jayling leapt to her paws, Hal laughed and rose to her paws as well, though slower than the small seer. "Alright, I'm coming," she called, stretching out her limbs then padded up to the pup. "Lead the way!"
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Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:44 am
Part 9 Continued || Seer and a Shaman RonsoStryder Jaylin laughed as she bounced from paw to paw, her tail wagged continuously as she began to run small circles around Hallie. "We'll see Reno and Cassidy! And maybe you can meet my Dad, mom and brother!" Stumbling forwards a few steps, the small pup looked back toward Hallie.
"We just follow this path down to the ocean," she commented as she waited, then circled around the adolescent and padded beside her. "It's the easiest route."
Prancing somewhat but keeping a lively step, Jaylin grinned as she was all too excited to show Reno and her family her new friend. She never was too social with anyone- well, besides her brother, Valen but now everything was looking up and for the better. The path didn't take too long to trail along but before the ocean even came into view, a familiar scent seemed to waft heavily within the air. Her ears perked upwards as a broad smile stretched across her maw.
"Reno?" She called out, cerulean orbs dancing with excitement as they darted left to right. Looking back towards Hallie, the small pup sat down on her haunches. "I think Reno's here. He always talks about meditating in silence and he usually leaves in the morning."
"Reno? Where are you?"
From the shadows just to the right where the brush drew thick, a shadowed figure stirred upon the ground. "Jaylin? Is that you?"
"Yes! Come on out, Reno! I want you to meet my friend, Hallie."
"Reno is coming," he replied with a soft chuckle. With no haste and slight poise, the young adult emerged from the depthsof the shadows. He was somewhat conservative at times but, most of the time, he was pleased and anxious to meet a new friend, especially one that was acquainted with a family member.
Just like Jaylin, Reno had the same earthy brown pelt. Like Cellen and Jaylin, the strange marking of a wing spread far across his back. It was definately different yet, from experience and realization, his marking played a vital role in healing and restoring those who would seek his help. His crimson face displayed interest and joy while his white ears swiveled forward.
Stepping out and sitting upon his haunches with a warm smile, the young adult leaned down and nuzzled her. "Reno is happy to see Jaylin," he commented with a soft wuff. Looking up towards Hallie, he lowered his head in respect.
"And who might you be?" Tamiko-chan Hallie anxiously followed her new friend down the path she had spoken about. The ocean. She hadn't visited it since the first time she had stumbled upon these lands, when her headaches were still paining her head. No, she hadn't been there since she had met with the silver wolfess she had been told to seek out. It would be strange going back there again.
"Alright," she mumbled, following the smaller wolf down to the ocean. She was nervous, but at the same time excited. It would be nice to meet new wolves. It would be a good change from what she normally did, which was spend her time with her grandfather and that black female Aziz. She was surprised she wasn't crazy and old by now, after spending so much time with them. But, in a way, she was thankful. She'd like to get old when it was her time, and no earlier.
As they came to the beach, she paused and looked around. It seemed so quiet and serene... it calmed her and she showed it by letting out a cool breath. Sitting herself down, she stayed close to Jaylin and curled her tail around her slim frame.
Her ears perked as the pup began calling for her uncle. Hallie opened her mind and heard Reno coming in her head before she could really hear him with her ears. Her tail wagged slightly. She was getting better at all of this, slowly. As he came into view, she blinked and remained silent and still for a moment. He looked a lot like Jay in a way, but also different.
Letting herself flow, she opened her mind a bit more and tried to seep into his, just to get his mind signature memorized at least. She wasn't planning on doing any prodding of any kind. But as soon as she felt herself slipping into his mind, she felt an immense pain inside of her head, and it was so sharp that she pulled out of his head dangerously fast. Flinching, she nearly fell over as the pain overwhelmed her mind then slowly settled.
What was that?
"I-I'm Hallie," she mumbled, the shock from the pain still deeply rooted. She was scared now. That had never happened before when she had tried to read someone's mind.. RonsoStryder The attempt of the seer trying to see within his mind did not go unnoticed. Reno didn't mind at all yet some had said there was a boundary between the Seer and Shaman. Though some of their powers were much alike, their minds were so vastly different.
"She is a Seer," Caylith silently spoke within the mind of the Shaman. "Powerful and still learning. But it is difficult to enter the mind of a Shaman and many times there are boundaries that cannot be crossed only if you let them."
Jaylin he been caught off guard as she watched Hallie stumble and nearly fall over. She knitted her brows and ran towards her friends side. "Hallie!" She yipped, frightened and uncertain of what just happened. "Are you okay?" Glancing over towards Reno with a slight frown, Jay looked into his eyes and watched him nod his head, smiling in assurance that all was well.
"Hallie," he repeated with a soft, soothing voice, "a pleasure. Reno thinks that it is wonderful that Jaylin has a friend, especially one that shares the same gift. Tell Reno, how long have you been on your journey?" His forepaws stretched outwards, a yawn escaping from his maw. He had been meditating and thinking quietly since daybreak and a treat as to have company was more than welcomed. Looking upon the Seer, the young Shaman sensed something- it was hard to describe but there was a weighted feeling, confusion that seemed to encircle the young Seer.
"What can Reno do for you? Reno senses- senses confusion. How can Reno help?" Tamiko-chan Hallie recovered herself, though she was still stumbling somewhat. That had been a hard blow to her mind, and she was still trying to understand it all. She'd have to be more careful from now on, she supposed. Who knew what other consequences could come of her acting foolishly and without much care in her thoughts.
Sitting back up, she shook her head and groaned slightly. She'd have to kill herself if that happened again. Something like that should not have happened.
Feeling better now, she blinked and watched Reno. Yet as Jaylin came over, crying out her concerns, Hal smiled weakly and wagged her tail. "I'm fine. It was just... I don't know what it was, actually," she admitted. It was then that she looked towards the shaman in training. It was almost as if she was asking him for the answers to all of this. But how could he know? She shook her head, not quite knowing what to believe anymore. After that... she was rather shaken.
"Journey?" she echoed, blinking again. But then she seemed to realize exactly what they were talking about and she added on quickly, "Ohoh. Yes, my journey. Oh, I don't know. For a while now. I've nearly lost track of how long."
As Reno mentioned something about her being confused, she sighed and lowered her head slightly. It seemed that her secret was out. She had tried so hard to be strong through all of this, to not show any weaknesses, to show to everyone that she could handle this and that she could do this on her own. But the truth of the matter was that she was terrified. Terrified of her powers and of the possibilities and opportunities that lay before her. It all felt horrible, with no benefits or rewards.
"I-I'm just... unsure," she hesitated, not sure whether or not she should be saying this. She had always been strong, hiding her weaknesses for her own sake. This was a strange thing, speaking her true feelings. "I don't think I can do this." RonsoStryder Jaylin smiled warmly as she nuzzled her and gave a simple nod of her head. Something had happened but, from what she could tell, Reno knew all to well and wasn't one to shame or react to such a thing. The young Shaman was calm, collected and, most of all, compassionate and to be meeting with another gifted wolf whose course was directed towards that of a Seer was a blessed opportunity.
Reno chuckled softly, nodding his head as his serene orcher orbs leveled with those of the wolfess. "Reno knows the feeling," he admitted with a smile. "But every day is a new experience, every day is a new day to live and learn from mistakes. Time is short but we must make the best of what we have been alotted."
For a wolf who was somewhat slower than others, his intellect made up for his lack of understanding and slow speech. While on his journey, the young adult had gained confidence and his once jostled speech became smoother and he never did shirk from others. Sure there were times where he felt slightly uncomfortable but, in his logic, he had to face his fears and learn how to recieve others and embrace those who came his way. Watching Hallies expressions, Reno's ears fell back as he tilted his head concerned and standing as an outlet for the wolfess. He could feel the weight and burden around her and he was more than willing to open up and listen.
He knitted his brows as his tail thumped behind him. "Hallie is unsure? Why?" pursing his lips, the young Shaman smiled warmly. "Hallie has come so far, farther than others who have walked the same path seeking the same knowledge of the Seers. Reno can sense it, Reno can see great potential."
He didn't understand why she was lacking confidence and belief in herself? Looking at her, Reno could decipher that there was more to the eye and more to Hallie that she had yet to discover for herself.
"Don't stop; Don't stop searching, don't cease and give in. To give up now would be throwing away a sacred gift and a destiny that those before us have blessed you with. Reno needs you to believe in yourself and have faith. Doubting yourself won't get you anywhere." Tamiko-chan Hallie sighed and sank down to her belly, laying very close to the female pup. It might have seemed strange, but she took great comfort in the fact that Jaylin was there. They had a certain connection with one another, she could feel it in her bones. She had never had a connection like that with anyone, and so she attached herself to it and wasn't about ready to let go any time soon.
As she listened to the shaman, she found herself relaxing. She didn't know what it was, but something about the way he spoke so calmly and the way that he spoke so sincerely about life made her feel better.
Whatever it was that other wolves thought about him, Hal most likely wasn't getting the same idea. She held a great respect for him. He seemed so knowledgeable, kind, and caring that it was almost impossible to dislike him or think badly about him. She was glad Jay had brought her to meet him. She felt that she could get a lot out of this encounter by simply listening to what he had to say.
When he asked her why she was unsure, she went slightly rigid. Should she tell him exactly why she was having these feelings? Never before in her life had she ever confided in anyone like this, and it was almost too uncomfortable and strange for her to even think about it. But she had to do this, for her own sake. It was bad to keep one's feelings bottled up inside, right? At least, that's what she had heard. Flicking her ears nervously, she attempted to bring her thoughts into some sort of understandable order.
War...
She whined slightly. "I'm not sure I can control my powers. I've been told so many times that I am so powerful and I have so much strength, but I'm wondering how much of that power and strength is actually me and how much is this seer business." She sighed again. Again, Reno made her feel better, but also worse. He seemed to believe so much in her, despite only meeting her this day. Why couldn't she believe so strongly in herself? She felt almost ashamed. "I am just... not sure I'm fit for any of this."
As he mentioned that doubting herself wouldn't do her any good, she nodded her head slightly. She knew that, but it was hard to believe in herself. She wasn't doing too hot with her powers, despite what it all appeared to be like.
She was just... confused. RonsoStryder The young female nestled closer to Hallie, resting her head upon the adolescents forepaws as her curly tail wrapped around her body. For once, Jaylin found a connection between herself and another wolf, a wolf who held the same secret as she did and a dear friend who she could feel safe and have fun with. It was a new experience yet every moment was cherished. Jaylin felt as if their bond would last them a lifetime and she knew that if she ever ran into trouble that she'd have a friend she could come to.
"Reno has had the same problems," he commented as he sat upon his haunches, white, tattered ears perking forwards as his crimsom face softened with a sweet smile. "At first, Reno couldn't control his powers and his body began to tremble uncontrollabley. Reno was scared because he couldn't hide it- his powers were too obvious and other could distinguish that he was- well, "different". The power and strength we are given comes from our hearts, it comes from ourselves and from our efforts in trying to understand what we have been given. Those of the past who walked before us influence us, guide us, but they leave it up to the individual to make the choice: To find destiny or forsake everything."
Why was Hallie being so hard on herself? It just didn't make sense but, truthfully, at first Reno had the same problem.
"At first, Reno thought that he wasn't fit to heal others. All Reno's life, he had been tormented and bruised by others even when he had not done anything to wrong or offend another. But we have been given a rare ability to heal and direct others. Those before us wouldn't give us such an opportunity if they didn't think that we were capable or strong enough to become a safehaven and a link between wolves and spirits."
His orcher orbs drifted upwards towards the sky, watching the cirrus clouds whisp through the endless sea of blue as a tranquil smile curled upon his maw. It still seemed as if he was trapped within a surreal dream yet the young Shaman had come to recognize that both Seers and Shamans had a purpose: To help others.
Settling his gaze back towards both Hallie and Jaylin, he shifted his right forepaw and pointed at Hallie.
"Seers and Shamans are called to heal others and to establish a view and deeper understanding to those who are confused, hurt and suffering. Hallie must continue on her journey, look past the darkness and the trials and press onwards. Hallie is not just learning to adapt and recognize her potential, Hallie is becoming someone who will help others through adversity and through their own darkness."
"The road isn't easy," he remarked with a nod, "but it will help others on their own pathway in life." Tamiko-chan Hallie sighed. Why did everything have to be so complicated? At first, when she had been a puppy, she had believed her training from her mother had been the hardest thing in the world. But now, that was nothing compared to all of this seer business. It was far more tiring and a lot more confusing than the lessons she had been taught by her mother. At least with her mother she had had someone to help her along. But with this... it didn't seem like there was anyone that could really guide her.
As Reno admitted to have had the same problems, her ears perked slightly. Shamans and seers were different in their own rights, but their journeys were almost the same, right? Or, at least, they were very similar. Perhaps she could come to Reno for help when she was stuck? But she didn't want to impose on him..
"I'm too afraid to tell... others... that I am what I am," she said softly, referring to the non-gifted wolves as 'others'. It probably wasn't a good thing. "I'm afraid they will reject me and I will never get through this."
Reno continued to speak, and the adolescent found herself following through the same problems as the shaman. He had doubted himself, thought that he was unable to do all of this. It mirrored her own feelings exactly. It was too scary, almost. "But the wolves before us could make mistakes, couldn't they?" she asked tentatively, obviously unsure of whether her gift had been an accident or not. She felt as if it had been.
He spoke of helping others, and she shook her head, growling slightly. She rose to her paws and moved away slightly, her back half-turned to the other two wolves.
"How am I to help others if I can't even help myself?" she mumbled. RonsoStryder The young Shaman quirked a brow, head tilted slightly as he pursed his lips. "Every wolf who has recieved these gifts has held fear and every wolf fears rejection," he commented with a simple nod of his head. "But why would one hide such a marvelous gift? Why hide an ability to save a life?"
He was trying to help persuade Hallie to look on the positive side and help clear her thoughts from negativity and doubt. Though it was tough, Reno wasn't about to give up.
"Nonsense. Any wolf can endure this but only if they trust in themselves which is the main ingredient to success and is the last ingredient Hallie is missing."
It seemed sudden when the young Seer shifted onto her paws and moved away, turning her back away from them. Reno's white, tattered ears fell against his skull as his scarred muzzle wrinkled in mild frustration. Was Hallie even taking to heart everything he was saying? It didn't appear so.
"Hallie must help herself first before Hallie can help anyone," Reno commented as he rose up to his paws and padded behind her. "If Hallie cannot have confidence, faith and trust in her own self than you will never be fit to help another. What good is it to offer help if Hallie can't even be true to Hallies self without an ounce of doubt or fear. Just live! Forget fear, forget worries and sorrow and seize Hallie's destiny before the opportunity to harness Hallies powers are no more."
He wasn't trying to be harsh but there seemed to be no other way which Reno could get through to her. He had faith in her and could see the greatness that awaited her but why the wolfess eyes were shrouded to such a destiny boggled his mind.
"Don't give up. Giving up now means that Hallie forfits everything and Reno doesn't want to see Hallie submit to her own dark thoughts." Tamiko-chan "Why hide it? Because I've heard the stories," she said quietly. "We are hated, feared sometimes. We do not like what is different." It was a cold, sad truth, a truth she would rather not know. Why did the world have to be that way, so hateful and discriminating? But of course without all of that the world would be an easy place to live in, and nothing could ever be easy. She sighed.
Hallie kept her back to the other wolves, not actually taking his words seriously. Her own doubts and fears clouded her judgement, and there was no one in her mind to tell her otherwise. She allowed for her darker thoughts to take over and shut everything else out, and that included Reno's advice. She had had doubts and fears before--even before the powers--but with this new gift those doubts and fears had come to life and had only grown stronger since before.
Yet, as the shaman spoke sternly with her and commented rather harshly that she had to get over herself before she could begin to help others, she found herself slowly drifting away from her earlier attitude. Sometimes that was what it took with the female: cold, tough words to slap her in the face and make her come to her senses. It wasn't something she did on purpose, it just happened.
Folding her ears back in slight embarassment, she remained quiet at first. She did not take shame well, and shame was exactly what she was feeling at the moment. She was shameful that she had let herself become so bitter, and towards a wolf who was only trying to help her.
"I'm sorry," she finally mumbled. "I wasn't being fair." Sighing, she moved herself about so that she was facing Jaylin and the male again.
"It's just too much to handle, sometimes." RonsoStryder "Does Hallie think Reno is blind to this? Reno knows we are hated, some of us even before we are given such great powers!" His brows knitted closely as his tail hung limp behind him. He glanced aside towards Jaylin who was standing in between his two forelegs, looking towards the older wolfess with a sad expression upon her face and her curly tail wrapped around her small body.
She knew only a minute detail of what these powers required from each individual but why did Hallie have to be so scared? Jaylin's ears fell against her head as she stayed between Reno's legs hoping that the present situation would get better. She didn't like the small tension between them and certainly did not like to see Hallie upset.
Leveling his vision back towards Hallie, Reno intook a deep breath.
"We may be hated, ridiculed and despised, but we hold the keys to what destiny befalls us. If wolves cannot see our purpose then they should not have access to such great works and arts."
The young Shaman fell silent as he watched the younger wolfess dismantle her wall around her and come to reason of thoughts and agreement. Reno had no intention of making her shameful or embarassed but he needed to get through to her. He'd rather let himself fall victim to his own darkness of thoughts than see another waste away and lose sight of the potential and greatness that was at hand. Seers and Shamans were an asset to any pack and though there were so few, each one carried their own wisdom, knowledge and were precious.
"Hallie has nothing to be sorry for," Reno assured as he padded closer to her, Jaylin trailing alongside him. "Reno just doesn't want to see a friend or a friend of Jaylins' fall by their own destruction."
Slowly padding towards the older wolfess, Jaylin wuffed softly and nuzzled against her. "We're a team: You, me and Reno. We don't want to see you fall and you should know that we'll be there to help you and talk to you," the young pup chimed in.
"Yes," Reno replied with a nod of his head. "The burden may weigh great but with great power comes great responsability. We must adhere to the tasks we are given."
"Think of it like a buddy system," Jaylin yipped as she sat on her haunches next to Hallie. "Just like you can find me, you can always find Reno and seek his advice. He's really smart." Tamiko-chan Hallie's anger flared up momentarily as the shaman threw words back in her face. But it wasn't exactly that he was being mean or vicious, but rathar that she was taking this far too personally. Her doubts about her own future were giving way to unnecessary feelings.
He's only trying to help. He's only trying to help. She told herself this over and over again, closing her eyes for a few moments. She counted to three then opened them again, feeling somewhat better. She shouldn't be getting mad at Reno, she realized, she should have been getting mad at herself. She was acting like such a fool!
"No, no," she started. "I do have something to be sorry about. I shouldn't have acted like that." She sighed again, lowering her head and softly nuzzled Jaylin. How could she have acted that way in front of her little friend? It wasn't right. The pup was at no fault and didn't deserve to see such horrible behavior. The adolescent was ashamed again. Some role model she was.
"A team?" she echoed, blinking at them both. She had never really been a 'team' wolf, since her mother had taught her all about how to survive on her own and depend solely upon herself. So the idea of being in a team was rather awkward. Nonetheless, she figured this team would be beneficial to herself. They shared the same powers and burdens as her, and so had the capacity to share and understand her problems.
Smiling, she nuzzled Jaylin again and flopped down playfully, placing her forepaws on either side of the pup. "I'm glad I have friends like you two."
But then something struck her, and she lifted her head suddenly, glancing at Reno. "I know I can find Jaylin any time, but what about you?" she wondered aloud. "The last time I tried to..." she trailed off, lowering her gaze. What had happened, exactly? RonsoStryder It seemed impossible for the young Shaman to ever hold a grudge and be bitter against a friend. He could sense that Hallie was battling personal issues and perhaps a touchy subject as well but he was a wolf who always seemed to yearn to assist others in their times of needs and do whatever he could to help them along their way.
"Sometimes instincts and reactions come without realizing," Reno remarked with a warm smile. "Reno holds nothing against Hallie, nor could he ever."
Jaylin smiled wide and big as she giggled softly and nestled closer to Hallie. It was nice seeing that the wolfess was regaining herself and seemed much happier. She didn't like seeing anyone sad, especially a friend for that matter.
At the same moment, both Reno and Jaylin looked towards each other and laughed. Of course a team! In their minds, there was no better way than creating a bond and a small group where they could help one another face problems, give advice and try to figure out the best solution to sticky situations. Jaylin nodded and perked up as Hallie placed her forepaws upon her.
"And we're both glad that we can be your friends too, Hal," the puppy grinned as she pawed at the wolfess's face.
A small grin slid upon the Shamans maw as he drew closer towars both Hallie and Jaylin. "To prod Renos mind and found it didn't work?" He finished with a small chuckle. "Reno can vaugely hear thoughts though not as well as Seers. But Reno can open his mind to Hallie and, of course, there are always those listening and alerting Reno. If Hallie knows who to speak to, they can tell Reno."
He was a bit vauge in his details as such information was barely even making sense to him. But he did have connections where some creatures were his very eyes and ears within the woods and kept him in check with those in the woods. Reno had his very own system which he could find those who were seeking him or even let those who were seeking him find him. Tamiko-chan Hal was most grateful to the fact that Reno couldn't hold grudges, especially against friends. She'd greatly regret her actions if it meant that she'd lose a friend that she only met that very day. And what a shame that would be. She wouldn't have been able to live with the fact that she had driven away one of her first friends because of her foolish actions.
Flicking her ears, she giggled slightly and pushed her nose against the smaller female's shoulder. Her tail swayed quickly behind her as she nipped at Jaylin playfully.
As the two family members laughed, she folded her ears back slightly and tilted her head. What was so funny? Peering at Jay, she realized that it was because they didn't see the concept of teamwork to be so strange and unusual as she did. They had obviously lived life differently than she, and that was why they thought it amusing that she found the term of a team so awkward.
"Heh, sorry," she laughed slightly. "I've just never worked in a team before. It's just.. how I was brought up, I guess."
Reno slid closer and knew exactly what she was talking about. Narrowing her eyes in a sort of playful suspicion, she wagged her tail again and shifted her weight. "Who do I speak to then?" she asked. She didn't want to prod into his mind to find out, because she was afraid that what had happened before would happen again. And the adolescent didn't want to endure that all over again.
Feeling a bit dumb at being unable to figure this out, she lowered her head slightly and glanced at Jaylin. Did she know what her uncle was talking about? RonsoStryder Jaylin shook her head. "No need to be sorry, Hallie," Jaylin grinned as she dug her nose into the pelt of the older female. "Everyone works in their own way but, sometimes, we like making a team so we can help each other. It's nice because if something happens to any of us, we'll be there for one another."
When Reno began speaking of means as to how Hallie could get in contact with him, her face drew a blank as she tilted her head slightly and gave a puzzling look. What was her uncle speaking about?
Was he hiding something from her?
She hoped not.
Or else she'd have some investigating to do.
Slinking forwards in a slight stretch as he too displayed a willy and playful side, Reno gave a grin as his tail thumped behind him in a lively manner. His lips pursed slightly, ocher orbs drifting up towards the sky as if they were awaiting something.
But nothing appeared.
Shrugging his shoulders, he chuckled softly as he looked back towars Hallie. "
Well- it's still Reno's secret but Hallie will know. For now, they will find you and speak to you first before Hallie finds Reno again. But, if you find trouble, speak to Reno with your mind and emotions. Reno is good at detecting sorrow and emotions from Reno's closest friends." Tamiko-chan Hallie nodded slightly at her young friend. "I've just never worked in a team before," she admitted, glancing between the two other wolves. "My mother had always taught me to depend on myself." It was probably why she had doubted herself so. She didn't seem to have gotten anywhere with her powers, and so she had thought that she couldn't do it. But, she supposed, she had just given up too soon.
Noticing that Jaylin didn't quite understand what her uncle had been talking about either, the adolescent cocked an eye at him. What was he talking about? She wanted to know, but she wasn't about to try and get into hid mind again.
As Reno stretched and began to slink forward, Hal wagged her tail and sort of pounced towards him, her playful side coming out. This was one of the first times that she had ever really been able to do that. As a pup, she had had to focus on surviving and finding her sister, and she didn't have any time for playing. But now, after she had found her sister and it was easier to survive, she could finally relax and play a game or two with her friends.
Letting her tongue fall out of her mouth in a rather silly manner, she lifted her right paw and pawed at the air around Reno's head.
Yet, as he mentioned about how 'they' would find her, she stopped momentarily and glanced into his eyes, as if searching for an answer in them. The only thing that came to mind when he mentioned that was either other wolves or some smaller, less significant creatures. Squirrels? Birds? She couldn't be certain, so she tried to ignore it.
"Fair enough," she said, settling for not knowing the entire truth just yet.
Rising to her paws to completely stand up, she shook out her fur then gave a great yawn. She was rather tired from all of the happenings, and her attempt to get into Reno's mind had fairly drained her energy. RonsoStryder The young wolfess nodded, listening carefully to what Hallie spoke of. She understood completely and, many times, Cellen had told her the stories of he and Reno's childhood. Their mother had abandoned them at several months and were left to fend for themselves. Survival became a crucial aspect if either of them sought to live to see another day. It was a brutal fight, but they survived.
As Hallie brought out her playful side, Reno chuckled softly and pawed at her. It seemed rare to have an opportunity to relax and play around but whenever an opporutiny presented itself it made everything sweeter.
"Think of of powerful predators whose boundaries have no limit," he hinted as a shriek sounded from the skies above. Above, a harpy eagle circled around them and began to descend.
Instinctively, Reno looked upwards as a smirk curled upon his maw.
"Hallie and Jaylin," he continued as he settled his vision upon them again, "call upon the eagles and the hawks when there is trouble or if Hallie and Jaylin needs something. The hawks and eagles will tell Reno."
The harpy eagle swept down and perched gracefully upon a withered branch, eyes peering at the Shaman and the two wolfess's with curiosity. With little effort, the eagle glided from its perch and settled upon the shoulder blade of the Shaman.
"They are friends." Tamiko-chan Settling back down again, Hallie nuzzled Jaylin as her tail swayed gently back and forth behind her. Life seemed so much better now, compared to her life before as a puppy. She had been alone then, with no one to help her along when she was feeling lonely or insignificant. But now she had countless wolves to turn to. There was, ultimately, her sister. Then there was Reno and Jaylin, the two wolves who shared her pain of being gifted. Not as important was Darius, then following him Carius and Aziz. It was a nice change from before.
Her ears twitching, she heard a shrill cry coming from above her, in the sky. Glancing at Reno, she then moved her nose upwards to get a better look. Powerful predators who have no boundaries, no limits. She narrowed her eyes slightly, attempting to get a better look.
As the eagle flew down and came closer to the wolves, the adolescent took a step backwards. Birds like those could easily take a good chunk off from a wolf if it so pleased. Yet as it landed upon the shoulder of the male, her head tilted slightly.
Friends? It wasn't often that predators--especially from different species--banded together to form teams, friendships. It was strange, and she wasn't quite sure she could believe it.
Opening up her mind, her gaze never leaving the bird, she graced the very outskirts of the great eagle's mind. She felt wings spread, she saw the ground beneath her from the view of the eagle's eyes. She pulled out. Birds and wolves, helping each other. She didn't quite understand it, but if it would help her to contact Reno when she needed to, she supposed she wouldn't question it further.
"Will do." RonsoStryder The mind of the great Spirit Guide, Sorenth, was very much open and nor did he mind the wolfess prod the outskirts and limits of his own thoughts and sensations. Curiously, the harpy eagle tilted his head as a small smile slid across his beak.
"Two seers?" He mindspoke into the thoughts of the Shaman. "The small one is your brothers child but what of the other?"
"A dear friend," Reno warmly smiled, sweet thought and highly thinking overtaking his thoughts as he glanced to the side and slightly upwards to level his eyes with his companion.
Sorenth shifted his wings and nodded his head. He understood the powers and aspects of Shamans and Seers clearly and even could surpass the knowledge of those who were gifted. He was, in fact, a Spirit Guide but although there was no ghostly aspect to him; Sorenth was tangible and authentic yet had an intelligence that was bold and deeper than others of his kind.
"I see."
Alongside Hallie, Jaylin couldn't help but yawn and try to keep her eyes from closing. Her eyelids were growing so heavy and the meeting between Seers and Shamans was exciting yet drained her energy. "Hallie I'm sleepy," she yawned again. "Do you want to head back to the packlands?" Tamiko-chan Hallie eyed the bird, though she tried not to appear as if she were challenging the great beast. She knew very well the damage she could receive from such a creature, and she was determined to never have to be in a situation where she had to worry about that. But for now, she was still wary. And it was obvious that she didn't trust the bird. Not yet at least.
If she had wanted to, the fledgeling seer might have been able to hear the mental conversation between bird and wolf, but she had resigned herself to keeping out of others' heads for now. She would wait until she was fully rested before she tried anything again, lest she hurt herself or even someone else.
As Jaylin yawned and voiced that she wanted to rest, the adolescent tore her attention away from the eagle and rested it instead upon her small friend. Licking the top of the female's head, she spoke quietly. "Yes, let's go back and maybe get some rest."
Glancing up towards the shaman, she flicked her ears. "Are you coming back with us?" she questioned, her black eyes searching him. RonsoStryder A warm smile slid across the females maw as she nodded her head, rose up onto her paws and began to sleepily trail back towards the packlands.
Reno shook his head with a sweet smile. "No, Jaylin and Hallie should go back without Reno. Reno will stay behind."
Padding father ahead, Jaylin looked back and wagged her tail. "Come on, Hallie." Tamiko-chan Hallie nodded at the shaman, though there was an apparent sadness in her dark eyes. She had grown attached to the shaman, despite only having met him that day. It was perhaps the connection she felt with him. It was like the connection she had with Jaylin, because they were all one in the same in the end.
"Okay, Jay, let's go," she said quietly, nudging the pup on the rump. Following the small pup, she walked almost out of sight of the shaman. But before she left, she stopped and looked back.
"I hope to see you again, Reno," she spoke, before turning back around and disappearing with Jaylin. RonsoStryder Nudged forwards, Jaylin slowly dragged her feet onwards as her body was tired. Even the toughest and most wild of pups needed their share of sleeps and naps and Jay had gone too long without one. Stumbling just before Reno was out of sight, she looked back with hopeful eyes, pleading that Reno wouldn't leave just yet and that he'd return later to the packlands.
"Will you be back later tonight to play and tell stories, Uncle Reno?" She yipped, tired though keeping a soft whine in her voice hoping to sway him into returning again for another day.
Looking towards the two Seers and up to Sorenth, Reno chuckled softly. "Yes, yes," he replied with a nod of his head, "Reno must do some things first but he will return later tonight to see both Jaylin and Hallie." Narrowing his soft, calm orbs towards Hallie, the young Shaman lowered his head respectively.
"We will meet again, Hallie," he spoke as he watched her depart with Jaylin back towards the packlands. "Our destinys have only begun."
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:41 pm
Part 10A || Tracking Where was that damn wolf?
How was she supposed to practice her skills if the wolf who had agreed to help her wasn't there? She growled to herself, wandering around the forests. She had been planning to have Kishia go out and then she would use her mind to find her, and not her normal senses. She supposed she could try and track her now, but she wasn't ready. And she also wasn't in the mood for it. She was tired, upset, and grumpy. Completely the wrong mood to try and track someone, which she knew would take tons and tons of energy. Energy she didn't have.
Grumbling to herself, she swished her tail and stomped about the forest. Kish had promised her--promised her!--that she would help. And where was she now? She wasn't supposed to disappear until Hal had told her to. Damn it.
"Where are you?" she growled low, almost under her breath.
Continuing through the forests, she hopped over a log and quickly moved on. She didn't know what to do; rest or go out and find Kishia. She figured rest was what she needed, but she didn't want anything else than to practice her powers. It bugged her not knowing how to completely control her powers and not knowing her full potential.
Letting her mind drift a little, she went back to the day when she had first met Kishia. She could remember it as if it were just a few minutes before, when in fact it was over a week ago.
"Just another day, just another headache," she grumbled to herself, moving along noisily through the forest. She was in the no-wolf zone between packlands. It wasn't exactly the freelands, but it wasn't claimed land either. It was a mix between the two, a place where she believed no other wolves resided. It was a perfect haven for her, a fledgeling seer. It was a place where she could practice her skills when it pleased her and where she could eat and sleep whenever she wanted. It was wonderful.
And, like all other days in this area, she had planned to spend it alone. No other wolves around to bother her. But it seemed her luck was going to ruin another day for her, as she soon found herself stumbled upon some blue wolf, huddled over something that she couldn't quite get a glimpse of.
Hal blinked. What the...?
"What are you doing?" she had asked, her head tilted to the side in a vague attempt to see whatever it was that the blue wolf was so interested in. Kish turned around, not at all startled.
"Ohm? Spirit of the free! Yay." Her tail swished. "Loving." She licked her chops, in quite a malicious manner. Hal got the impression that, whatever this wolf was doing, it wasn't an act of love.
Keeping her senses on guard, she silently opened her mind and poked around in Kish's. She found that this female wasn't completely mentally sound, and that explained everything in a millisecond. No wonder she talked funny and did strange things like... whatever it was she was doing. Looking malicious...
The adolescent pulled herself back out of the other's brain. It was unstable, and she didn't want to spend too much time prodding around in there.
Giving Kishia a strange look, she backed up a few steps. Thankfully, she wasn't followed. "What is that over there?" she asked, pointing with her nose at the thing that the other had been crouched over just a few minutes before. In response, Kishia craned her neck and glanced back, as if she needed to refresh her memory. The younger female gave her another strange look.
"Spirit of the freeing! Yay," she yipped, her body wiggling a little. "Great fun, fun, fun. Oh yes, no?" She smiled, a not-so-vicious smile but still one that could send chills down spines.
Hallie shook out her fur, attempting to calm herself down. "Uhm... sure," she mumbled, quite uncertain. Opening her mind slowly, she began to prod around in Kishia's mind again. She didn't want to get lost in such a place, but then again she was rather intrigued. How did a wolf get like this, and how could she bear to be so insane?
Prodding around a bit more, Hal suddenly realized that this wolf lived almost completely alone, though she did have some associations with Meskeet in a very, very distant way. She moved past this, finding the whole Meskeet thing irrelevant. She was interested in something else, and that was the fact that Kishia didn't talk to anyone. Or, at least, when she talked to someone, no one believed her or really took her seriously. This gave her a wonderful idea, and she narrowed her eyes mischieviously.
"Hey... I've got something for you. It's... fun, I think. But if you are too busy--" She allowed herself to trail off there, lacing her tone with vague hints. She then pushed herself into the other's mind, determined to sort of.. persuade her to take the bait. Of course, it was more force than bait, in fact it was a bit of mind control (another power she was attempting to pin down). However, her control of that specific power was rather weak, and so she wasn't sure if it had actually worked or not.
No matter, however, Kishia took the bait. She perked up slightly and appeared genuinly interested. The adolescent attempted to contain her excitement.
"Having do what? Interested, oh yah?" Kishia murmured, her tail wagging slightly. Hal smiled, mischieviously.
"Come with me."
That was the thing that astounded her most about her powers. Ever since she had learned of them, she had found that her memory was something beyond extraordinary. She seemed to remember anything and everything that she wanted to. It was simply amazing, and she almost couldn't believe it sometimes.
Shaking her head, she focused herself. She needed to find the blue wolf! She wanted to practice her powers and she had no way of doing that without her damn dummy.
Finally getting frustrated enough, she decided to try and track Kishia with her mind anyways. She hadn't really been prepared for it or anything, but she figured if she really wanted to find that damn wolf then she'd have to resort to anything and everything.
Opening her mind, she suddenly got a flurry of noises and voices flooding her head. She instantly closed her mind and flinched back. She had done that too quickly and too carelessly. She had to be careful before she lost all of the progress she had made so far. And what a nuisance that would be. Sighing, she focused herself again and once more attempted to open up her mind to search for Kishia. This time, she was more careful.
Managing to focus solely on Kishia's mind signature (every wolf she met had a certain pattern in their brain, and she could see that; anyone she met she could easily track, or so she thought), and attempted to follow that signature. Kish's was more of a slight hiss in her mind, and so she did her best to stay on track. When the hiss became louder, she continued forward. When it faded out a bit, she stopped and turned back. It worked surprisingly well, and she eventually found the blue female crowded over a dead body of what looked like it might have been a squirrel. Hal was disgusted, but she ignored it for now.
"You!"
"Being of ready? Oh, yes in the.. ready?" she asked, blinking and tilting her head much like a bird would. She also said it as if she hadn't even been lost for those long hours. It almost seemed as if she was giving Hallie a look that said 'Hey, where have you been all day?'.
The adolescent shook her head. "Let's go then."
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:00 pm
Part 10B || Tracking "Get a move on," the adolescent grumbled, her head held relatively low as she led the blue female around. The idea had been that they would walk around all day until Hallie grew tired enough to take a nap. They'd find some place to stay, then she would take a nap while Kishia ran off to where ever it was that she wanted to run off to. But how was she to lead this wolf if she kept drifting away to sniff every patch of dead ground?
"Just in of losing!" Kish protested, finding this rather stupid. Why did she have to follow this darn wolf if she was just going to be told to go wander away anyways? Such strange ways of thinking, these other wolves had.
Hal shook her head. The only reason she had understood that had been because she was a seer, and even then it was rather difficult. But she had managed to decipher enough to realize what the other wolf was getting at. Kishia was just confused as to why she had to tag along when she was just going to go running off anyways. She sighed.
"Because this is just the way we are doing it, okay?" she growled. She was getting tired now, she could tell. She was very snappish.
The blue wolf realized this and immediately shut herself up. She supposed she should just go along with this and then afterwards she would be able to go back to doing whatever she wanted to. She'd get away from this crazy wench and then go find some squirrels. Then proceed to drown them. Oh, how wonderful that all sounded!
Picking up on the dark thoughts of the other, Hal sniffed in disgust. What a disturbing hobby. Drowning squirrels. And she didn't even eat them after she had killed them. Shaking her head, she closed off her mind to everything else, especially Kishia's thoughts.
It was another hour before the two females finally began to slow down. Well, one of them anyways. The other was bounding along, full of energy. Scoffing at her, Hallie flicked her tail then stopped completely, making the blue wolf stop as well.
"I'm going to sleep here," she said blandly, her patience wearing thin. "You go and do... whatever." Then, without even waiting for a response from Kishia, the adolescent plopped down onto the ground and promptly curled into a ball, covering her nose with her bushy tail. Kish took that as the sign to go. Wiggling her bum, she jumped then sped off in a random direction.
Five hours later, the younger wolf awoke with a start. She did a quick once-over of her surroundings. It was then that she remembered. She had come out here with Kishia, then she had fallen asleep while the blue wolf had gone off... somewhere. She groaned, shifting so that she could get her paws underneath her slender frame. Even after how long she had slept, she still didn't feel refreshed. But, she supposed, it had been long enough. Now she had to go out and find Kishia. Oh boy.
Rising fully to stand on her paws, she glanced around for a moment. Her nose twitched, but she quickly shook her head, stopping herself from using her nose. She wasn't supposed to use her normal senses now. She was going to practice her mind-tracking, and that meant no sniffing and no listening to real sounds.
Sighing, she sat herself down and tried to focus. Hopefully, in time, she would be able to do this without having to completely concentrate. Perhaps one day she would be able to just do whatever she wanted to do and do anything with her mind. But that came later, when she was closer to mastering her skills.
For now, she had to focus and do whatever she had to in order to lock onto Kishia's mind signature and follow it.
Opening her mind, she searched closer to herself, being as that was easiest. But she found nothing aside from normal woodland creatures such as squirrels and birds and rabbits. Sighing, she pushed herself further. It became increasingly difficult the father out she went, but she put on a strong face. She could do this, she knew that she could. Reno and Jaylin, they had both inspired her to achieve greatness. She wouldn't give up so easily anymore.
Static entered her brain and she was forced to pull back, however, before she caused harm to herself. Wincing with one eye open, she tentatively pushed her mind out again. She reached the point she had been at before, and nothing came. No static, nothing. She continued on.
There were more creatures, but none that interested her. There were still rabbits, more birds still, and even some fallow deer that had wandered into her range. But they weren't Kishia. Pushing herself even further, she found herself at her limits for her level of strength. She was fully rested for the most part, but she was still inexperienced. It began to give her a headache, but nevertheless she continued to push herself.
Minutes ticked by, and her progress was becoming slower and harder to achieve. But she was determined. She had to figure this out. But what if she had missed Kishia? No, she wouldn't think about that. She had succeeded in so many things in her life, and she wasn't about to fail this.
Finally static came back into her head. But it was like before, it was a different sort of static, familiar, if one could even call it that. Tuning in on the noise, she took all of her energy and will power in order to figure out what it was that was causing this. Then, finally. She found something! And it was exactly what she had been looking for. Or, rather, it was actually a she. Feeling triumphant, she spoke into the mind of the blue wolf.
"You can go off where ever now, I'm done with you." Hoping it actually got to the other, being as they were such a distance apart and she was so tired already, she pulled herself back into her own mind. She fell over almost immediately. And then, she laughed. She had found Kishia! With her mind! It had taken all of her strength to do so, but she had succeeded. At that moment, she felt as if she could do anything she wanted to.
Because she had won.
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:14 am
Part 11 || Vision and Flight It had been a few moon cycles now since Hallie had really begun her training as a seer, and she was well on her way to becoming a great one. Though she still had a lot to learn about both her powers and herself, she felt that she was making good, steady progress. And that was good enough for her. So long as she wasn't doing nothing and simply sitting about, wasting away, then she was absolutely fine.
Padding along silently, peacefully, she reflected on all that she had trained herself in.
So far, she had dabbed in mind-speaking, locating others with her mind, and, as some uncontrollable aspect, dreaming random things that she believed to make some sort of sense somewhere. The first, mind-speaking, she felt she was rather good at. No longer did she lose connection with others, and she could multitask whilst doing so. The second she felt she could use more work in, being as the action caused her much exhaustion. Nonetheless, she had improved since the first time she had tried it out. And as for the dreams... she was attempting to sort them out. She couldn't just be having them randomly, right? They had to mean something. She was determined to figure out their meaning soon.
Yet, in the meantime, she figured it wouldn't do her any harm to do a little bit of hunting to get some meat into her belly. Lingering back in the forest for a moment, she opened up her mind to take in the mental sounds of her surroundings. But she immediately shut herself up again, scolding herself. She had decided that she wouldn't use her powers for hunting prey or making them come to her. It was cheating, she felt, and quite unfair.
Shaking her head to clear it, she huffed then moved on, focusing her normal five senses. First her sense of touch, which mostly came from the pads on the bottom of her feet. She seemed extremely sensitive to vibrations, and she had relied on that somewhat in order to find big herd game. Nothing, though, came to her this clear morning. Fair enough. She moved on to the next sense.
It was hard picking, but she eventually settled for her sense of vision. She figured if she couldn't find anything with her eyes, then she'd work harder with her other senses to find prey. Her eyes scanned the area as she moved silently along. Nothing still. Well, it was to be expected. Not many predators found meals with their eyes. That was why they were gifted with the senses of hearing and, most importantly, smell. Taste was relatively useless in hunting. It probably only served to make tearing into a dead carcass more pleasant.
Which, having found nothing with her feet, eyes, and definitely not her mouth, she moved on to the most important senses. Pointed ears swiveling and cold nose twitching, she attempted to catch any hint on the wind that would give away the presence of a prey animal. Finding nothing at first, she refused to give up hope. Hunting was a difficult sport, and there was foolishness in expecting a reward straight away. With this planted firmly in her mind, she continued on, refusing to be discouraged.
Continuing along, she kept her senses focused, keeping on the look-out for anything. Her stomach rumbled a slight demand for food. She mentally hushed it, not wanting it to scare away any potential food. It wouldn't do itself any good by making itself heard.
For a moment, Hal was tempted to used her seer powers, but she refrained from doing so. The rabbits did not have an ability that gave them a boost over predators, so why should the predators gain even more boost over the prey? She simply didn't feel it right.
Pushing forward, her spirit never discouraged, she continued in her search for some food. Finally, after an hour of searching, she stumbled upon something. Sniffing, she realized that it was actually a warren of rabbits, and they were just waking up from the lack of sound coming from their holes. Feeling rather patient today (although she was very hesitant with rabbits due to earlier experiences, when she had first stumbled upon her powers) she settled herself down and began the long wait. But she was careful to remain silent and downwind so that she would have no chance of being discovered.
About thirty minutes later, which seemed longer than they really were, the adolescent began to see the rabbits come out and begin to feed. Of course, the biggest and bravest came out first, afterwards signaling to the others that it was safe to emerge. This had been the thing that she had been waiting for. That was her signal to close in, for there was soon to be a buffet of rabbits for her to choose from.
As more and more poured out from the holes, she realized that her buffet would soon be disturbed if she did not react quickly. It was only a matter of time before one of their 'scouts' spotted her and they all went bolting back into the ground.
Shifting quietly, she scanned the group with eager eyes. She finally selected a rather plump rabbit, just on the very outskirts of the group. It also seemed slow, probably due to it being overweight. It was perfect prey, and so the wolfess began to stalk forward. Her eyes were locked on her prey, the concentration of a predator shown remarkably in the way that she moved. Never did she stray away from him or look towards another rabbit. He was her prey, he would be her breakfast.
Suddenly a twig snapped, from under her own weight, she knew. But she didn't bother. The rabbits were hurrying and panicking, each scrambling to get back into their holes. This was just the confusion that she needed for her hunt. In this, she knew that her selected prey would be too fat and too slow to get away quickly, and so she could snatch him away and be gone before the rabbits even knew what it was that had scared them. And it was in this confusion that she rushed in, snatched her prey, then rushed out just as she had mapped in her head.
Proud, she lifted her head and marched off with her kill, a nice, juicy and plump rabbit that would make a small breakfast; she could catch more later.
Settling down away from the warren, the wolf set the meat between her paws and immediately tore into it. Meat was always the best when it was completely fresh, eaten not far from the sight of the fell. And it was like this that she ate her meal, her tail wagging in childish delight.
But as the blood rushed over her nose and stained her light fur, she felt a sudden feeling overcome her. She paused slightly, wondering if it was her seer powers sensing another wolf nearby. But a quick scan with all of her senses told her that there was not another of her kind for at least a mile radius. Why, then, did she have this feeling? Her mental question was soon answered as her neck went straight and she became rigid, her pose that like the royal Sphinx.
Pupils disappeared into iris as a sort of cloud surrounded her vision. Moments later, she was seeing something completely horrific.
Her sight dimmed at first, and she was unable to tell if she had done something to herself, if it had become suddenly dark, or if she had perhaps dozed off at her kill. Unable to remember clearly, she resolved to waiting. But soon enough, she realized that, where ever she was, it was not a place she wanted to be.
All around her, she saw the bloodied and dead corpses of wolves. They were all strewn about the land, land she recognized as the land she lived in. But she wondered how she had done such a thing as recognizing this place, as it was so beaten and barren that it was nearly impossible to tell if she were in an actual place on earth or whether she was in hell. Hell seemed to fit what she saw more accurately, and so she resolved to call this place Home Hell. (Why she gave it a name, though, not even she could understand. It wasn't like she wanted to think more about this place or ever visit it again, but she felt it needed a name nonetheless)
"Is... anybody alive?" she called tentatively, as if she felt that speaking out loud would cause some forsaken demon to rise up from the bloodied ground. With such a slaughter before her, though, it was hard to doubt anything.
Who had done this? was the first question to come to mind. Secondly was how. And was it more than one who, for surely not one wolf could do such a piece of work by himself? No, from the look and smell of the bodies, she could see that they had died at relatively the same time. In order for one wolf to do such a thing, she concluded, he would have had to space his killings out accordingly. And, with so many bodies around, it was impossible to think he could have done it in any reasonable amount of time.
Walking through the pile of body upon body, Hal flinched and groaned. She had mixed feelings about this. On one hand, she wanted to move and get as far away from this place as possible. Yet, she did not want to tread upon the dead bodies, and possibly some still-alive ones as well.
Bearing it for her own sake, she moved through the bodies, though her progress was slow and tested. Such a feat seemed impossible. As far as she could see, there was nothing but dead wolf upon dead wolf. Would it ever end? Why couldn't she go back to eating her rabbit? Was this a punishment? She hadn't done anything that a normal wolf wouldn't have done, so why should she be punished? No, this wasn't punishment, she decided. It was something else, though what it was she couldn't quite figure out.
However, as she moved on, she began to see a break in the bodies. They were becoming sparse and not so thrown together. It was amazing to think, but she believed herself to be almost out of Home Hell. Excited by this, she rushed foolishly forward. As she did so, she stumbled through bushes and found herself in an entirely different scene. No longer were the bodies dead. They were fighting now. It was hard to count how many, considering the rate at which they tore at each other's throats. And the difference in sound was immense. No longer was it a quiet, eerie dead-place. No, this was much worse. This was the very definition of slaughter.
There was no telling which wolves belonged to which side. They were all jumbled, mixed, twisted, as they fought wolf after wolf. It was the most horrific thing she had ever witnessed. Moving among them--as she found out that they couldn't see her and she was nearly a ghost with her ability to walk straight through them--she tried to find the center of the fighting, though it was all rather difficult. Everyone was continuously moving, and it was sometimes hard to tell if she had seen one wolf once before or if she had merely been imagining.
Wishing this could have been imagination, and that she could blink and make it all go away, the fledgeling seer continued steadily. It was amazing how much courage she found she had, for she had thought that the scene would have made even the strongest and most derranged, passive wolf to cringe back in terror.
For what seemed like an eternity in this Fighting Hell, Hal trudged through the fighting wolves, her spirits drowned out by the sheer viciousness in which they were all fighting. What were they fighting about that could bring such cruel techniques onto the battlefield?
Shaking her head, she continued forth. After a few more minutes of walking, she left the scene of the war and entered what appeared to be a small clearing. In it, she saw a group of three wolves standing in a line, looking down at something with smug grins on their faces. Curious as ever she could be, she ventured forth. In just a moment, though, she would learn the consequences of her actions.
Peering around the bulky bodies of the three wolves, Hallie looked down at what they were apparently so dangerously pleased about it. And there, she saw her own body, dead and mangled. Her neck was broken and was twisted backwards upon her back. Each of her limbs were splayed out in unnatural positions, giving off the idea that they, too, were broken. And her back was seemingly snapped in two.
Now, she had never seen a full reflection of herself, but she had gotten enough glimpses in rivers and from the eyes of woodland creatures to know that that wolf lying dead was her exact twin. And, since she did not have a twin, it could only be her. And the reaction coming from the she-wolf was only expected. Her jaw dropped immediately, the first sign of shock. And her eyes widened as she took a step closer, as if wondering if maybe a trick was being played. But no. The body remained ever the same, ever the dead wolf of she. It must have been the males, those filthy bastards! She stepped away from them, eyeing them. They looked up, and eerily peered into her eyes.
This surprised her the most, being as she had been but a ghost earlier. But now, it was as if she were real as day and the sunlight that came naturally with it. Their eyes held a certain gleam in them, and she wasn't quite sure she liked that gleam either.
Then, to her horror, they advanced, chanting.
"Death to the seeress. Death to the witch. Our war will be won." Over and over, they repeated.
"No!" she managed to gasp, just as they leapt upon her.
But before any kind of pain could ensue thereafter, sheh found herself back in the peaceful wood, the rabbit lain still between her paws. She jumped up from it, disgusted and horrified, frightened for her life. What had that just been?
Iris and pupil separated to become two again, and she felt she could breathe. But that didn't stop the terror running high in her blood, the terror from her vision. At least, that's what she had thought it to be. It had seemed rather exaggerated and extensive, but she felt almost positive that that's what it had been. A vision. A vision of a place of death, of war, and of her own slaughtering.
Unable to comprehend all that she had seen, she felt only one urge: run. What if those three wolves, her killers, were coming to get her at that moment? What if they already had her scent and were hot on her trail. The blood from the rabbit would only attract them. Suddenly paranoid and insane, she bolted from the area.
The wolf had no idea where she was headed, she only knew she was escaping death.
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:58 pm
Part 12 || A Place Called Paradise The wolfess continued running, ignoring her hunger pains and the sharp stabs in the bottoms of her paws from all of the physical abuse they were going through. Nothing mattered to her now, nothing but her own life. She wanted to get away from these lands and to go some place safe, if there was a place that was safe. The wolves she saw in her vision, they were huge monsters who looked like they could find anything if they really wanted to. And the way they had looked at her with the blood dripping from their fangs...
She shivered as she ran, trying to clear the images from her mind. She wouldn't be able to sleep for a solid week now. That much was for certain. But she wished that she could also make sure that she'd be able to go someplace safe, somewhere she could actually rest and perhaps gather up her thoughts on what to do about this.
If that was indeed a vision, then didn't that mean that it would come true sooner or later? If that was so, then she'd have to figure out a way to prevent her own death.
All of these thoughts (and many more that were a bit more in-depth) passed through her mind as she ran for a full day, never stopping. It was during the next morning when she finally stopped, her paws skidding in the snow. Panting heavily, her breath coming out in visible clouds, she took a quick glance around herself. She didn't recognize this place. That, at least, was comforting. She had been home, around Phib's pack, when she had seen herself lying dead in her vision. At least if she was in this place, she reasoned, those three wolves wouldn't be able to get her.
Even still, she felt she had to continue a little further. Glancing ahead, she noticed that there was a low dip. And at the bottom of this dip was a rather large, overgrown shrub. But even with the bush being so large, she could see that there was an opening behind it. A cave?
Thinking she might have found a suitable hideout, the wolfess eagerly rushed forward. Once she had descended into the dip and came upon the bush, she quickly sniffed it, checking it for any signs of other creatures who might have been occupying this particular place recently. Finding no scents hidden in the leaves, she pushed herself through it. The branches and twigs pulled at her fur uncomfortably, but finally she made it through to the other side. Once there, she shook out her fur and attempted to look around. The light was limited, however, the only source being from the bits getting through the leaves behind her.
Testing the area with her mind, she could see that it was a long tunnel, not a cave. Curious as to what was on the other side, she went investigating. There was a certain eerieness to the place, and she attempted to identify it. Her normal senses could not help her out here, and so she reverted to her seer powers to get some answers. But nothing came, still. Whatever the feeling was, it was probably paranoia.
Walking slowly (as walking in the dark is always rather awkward), it took her about thirty minutes before she began to see another light. But she wondered if she had turned around somewhere. Surely there couldn't be a tunnel so long?
But as she continued forward, she noticed that this light wasn't broken at all by a bush or anything of the sort. It was clear daylight, and it shone warmly onto her coat, which was a nice change from the cool temperature of the tunnel.
Emerging about from the darkness of the tunnel, she squinted her eyes until they adjusted to the immense amount of sunlight. Once they had, she opened them fully and simply couldn't believe the beautiful sight that lay before her:
She was standing atop a rise, just outside of the tunnel entrance. At the bottom of the rise, there was a very short meadow, filled with tall and short grasses. It was warmer here, she mentally noted, and there was not so much snow on the grasses. What was there made the grass sparkle and shine like she never thought grass ever could. And with the sunlight hitting the blades just right, they seemed to sing out their beauty.
Beyond the small meadow, there began a line of trees, fading backwards into a rather lush forest. Hal was just tall enough to see over the very tops of the trees, and they seemed to rush on forever. Ears perked, she also heard the distant but very distinct sound of rushing water, a river. Tail swaying gently behind her, she then glanced to her left then presently to the right. On both sides, there were giant walls of mountain, protecting this sacred place. Then, adding in the natural light from this sun, she got the impression that this place was heaven. Her heaven.
Lifting her nose to the sky, she opened her mouth slightly and let out the most perfect, harmonious howl she had ever done. It rang out over the valley, giving the forest creatures pause in order to listen.
Once her howl was finished, she lowered her head down and took one more look at the valley. Then, with an excited yip, she rushed down the hill and sped straight into the forest.
She was home.
It was several months later now, and in that time she had managed to become quite relaxed. She was able to concentrate now, and actually get a full night's rest. She didn't have to worry about her friends or any duties she might have around a pack. Here, all she had to worry about was herself.
And life here was easy, too. There were lots of herds here, she figured it was probably because before here there had been no real predators in this place. The herds proved for easy hunting, and never was she ever walking around with an empty belly. It was always full and warm with food, making her feel quite refreshed often. She felt efficient, independent, things her mother had always trained her so hard to become. And now she was. Oh, if only mother could see her now.
Thus, she had adjusted well to the valley, and she had even advanced in with her seer powers. She felt she could control them rather well, better than she had ever imagined possible before she had founded this place. She had practiced all of her skills and had made friends among the smaller woodland creatures such as squirrels and birds. It had helped her to not feel so alone, and she felt rather content in the valley.
Still, she missed her friends. They were all miles away, doing whatever. Hallie had had the occasional dream about them, one every week, and they gave her the news that her friends were quite alright, living happily and peacefully. But what the dreams didn't reveal to her was whether or not they missed her or were looking for her. This saddened her, and so she had always gone off and done something else to distract herself.
Now, in the cool beginning of the evening, she was resting near the river that she had distantly heard from the entrance into this place. She found the banks to be rather comfortable, for they were made of sand instead of dirt. Thus, she had often taken naps around this place.
Taking in a slow breath, she rolled onto her side and watched the water from where she lay. She loved this place, there was no doubt about that, but she wished she could live here with her friends. Reno and Jaylin especially, since they understood her more than anyone else she had ever known. And, for that, she felt a certain connection to them. It also helped that they were a shaman and seer themselves, making them, of the same 'kind'.
Sighing, the seeress rose to her paws and shook the sand from her lightly colored fur. Once she could feel no more grains, she padded away from the river and moved away from the forest, soon finding herself at the tunnel in which she had entered the valley what seemed so long ago.
And she just stood there, staring into its long body.
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