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 Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 6:57 pm
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Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 6:59 pm
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Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 7:16 pm
Why are they all so ugly? dbz2004
Flit wandered around well outside of the safety of his packlands. His son, Mavis, had gone off wandering again. Despite his son being almost nearing adulthood, Flit was very concerned about Mavis. The blue adolescent's sanity wasn't very stable at all and Flit knew it. Mavis got it from his mother, Eisig'Flammen. He hadn't seen his mate or other son in quite some time, but he knew that his mate and second son were alright. It was Mavis who he was more concerned for right at the moment.
Flit hadn't noticed that he had wandered far away from Phib's lands until it was too late. He glanced up to see where he was and found that the land looked too unfamiliar. A little wary of his surrounding, Flit raised his head and tail slightly, just in case some lone wolf came wandering by him. Despite him not knowing where he was going, he let a fake facade cover up his little blunder, hoping that he would fool the other wolves into thinking he knew where he was going.
Stopping after only walking for a few more moments, he scratched at the dirt gently with one of his forepaws and sniffed the ground. The faint scent of his son told Flit that Mavis had been here, but a long time ago. Annoyed by Mavis' decision to leave the packlands, he pinned his ears back and glanced around nervously, wondering if any other wolves were out and about.
Kealdrana Sasaiuni Noyama stretched and let out a yawn, her bright eyes flicking about the area to see what was about. Her red fur had become matted from laying on her left side. Napping near trees may have been safe, but it sure left your back sore! Letting out a puppy groan she heaved onto her stomach, small feet scratching against the earth for some footing. With a half hearted attempt she managed to get onto her feet to survey her area. She hadn't picked the best spot, but she'd been too tired to really care where she'd taken a respite.
She herself had been coming from Phib's land as well. Having just had an encounter with the sea a few days ago, she was hot to get home and tell about her adventures. If she could find her way home, that is. She chewed on her tongue thoughtfully, little undersized ears flicking about for danger she couldn't prevent if she had wanted to.
A small scent came to her nose. It wasn't one she had noticed before. The reason was probably because she wasn't very close to home. A strange grin lawled across her face and in a flash she was bounding ungracefully through the bushes towards whatever wolf she'd caught in the wind. She never had been very wary of danger. So far it hadn't put her in immediate danger, but only time would tell.
As usual, she failed to watch where she was going. Not to mention her distracted mind caught sight of a stick which she had to destroy. Nearly twice her length - it was a formiddable opponent. Not one she couldn't conquer, just difficult. Letting out a growl she pounced at it, snapping it between her teeth. When it didn't break, she dragged it, making her way towards two very furry looking trees. They were very close together, so she decided to go through them, but the stick got jammed. Her ears flicked back in annoyance, and she thrust forwards again, only to realize when motion occured above her that it wasn't a tree at all, but a wolf. She dropped the stick in horror and stumbled over her paws onto the waiting earth. dbz2004
Flit backed up a few steps when he saw something pink and grey zoom by him. Pinning his ears back a little bit more against his skull, he crouched down slightly, hoping it wasn't another male wolf attacking him. It took him a few moments to realize that it wasn't a male wolf, but a pup. He canted his head to one side and gazed at the pup that had ran under his belly with a curious gaze on his face. He hadn't seen another pup since his two sons were that age, but he recognized the pup instantly.
Slowly backing up so that the pup had some room to get up, he lowered his muzzle down towards the young femme and sniffed her fur curiously. The pup didn't smell familiar to him, nor did she look familiar. She wondered where her parents were. Lifting his head up slightly, he gazed around the area with alert eyes to make sure that the pup was alone.
Confirming that no other wolf was around, he lowered his head down towards the pup again and nudged her gently. "You alright?" he asked Noyama in a calm voice. He didn't want to scare the pup away, yet at the same time it didn't feel right being near another wolf's offspring. Slowly, he tucked his tail between his legs and nudged the pup again. "This isn't a very safe place for a pup like you to be around. There might be lone wolves looking to kill off defenseless pups like yourself," he told her, a slight hint of sterness in his voice. Instantly, he mentally kicked himself for telling an unfamiliar pup what to do. It was just instinct to take care of a pup, whether or not the pup was his own.
Kealdrana Sasaiuni Noy shook her head, apparently missing every single word that Flit had said. "Wha?" she asked the stick as it rolled away to some safe place. Squishing her eyes together, sticking out her tongue, and baring her teeth, Noy attempted to make the ugliest and most horrific face possilbe towards the fleeing object. She succeeded in looking like a creature awestruck in the image of some deity. "Blech!" she shouted at it. "You were a worhtless stick anyway!" She pounced towards it and back again, resounding to make its death eventually.
It was only then she remembered there was another wolf present. Her brows quirked in completely random directions and she eyed the wolf with vehemence. What was it doing in her way?
"Well, hello," she sarcastically noted. She had missed most of his speech, but she noted that he told her exactly what she should do. "I have parents for that, you know," she told him sternly, settling down on her haunches to lick bemusedly at her paws.
"Wait," she pondered, finally regaining that brilliant mind of hers. "You're a lone wolf. How do I know you aren't going to kill me?" dbz2004
Flit thumped his tail against his hindquarters as he watched the tiny pup play fight with a stick. He was a little annoyed that she was paying more attention to a stick than him, yet at the same time a little relieved. If she hadn't caught him wandering around, he would be away from this area by now, still looking for his son. Letting the worry of his son wash over him, he sat down on his haunches and waited for the tiny pup to notice him.
Before he knew it, he noticed the pup noticing him and he raised an ear slightly to hear what the pup had to say. Her first comment made him question why he was still here. It was apparant that the femme was very wise for her young age and didn't like being scowlded by unfamiliar wolves. She seemed like Mavis, only he hated being scowlded by anyone. The thought of his son soon flooded his mind, only to be shoved back again.
Sighing, he shook his head slightly at her last comment and he thumped his tail on the ground. "I am no loner. I have a pack of my own. Besides, I would never harm a little one. I have one of my own, but he has currently ran off without a word to his own father." He closed his eyes briefly before opening them to stare at the young pup. "Why have you come so far away from your parents? They are sure to be missing you quite a bit. I know I miss my own son." He hated seeing pups running around on their own, especially when they looked younger than Mavis.
Kealdrana Sasaiuni Noyama couldn’t care less what he was. She found his head to big for the rest of his body. It was mostly entitled to the fact his skull was far closer to her than the rest of his body, but she ignored the perspective and concentrated on making him look bad in her brain. She had to do this, or she might forget that she was pink! She had only met one other pink wolf and there wasn’t even enough on that little bugger to highlight the ugly blue sky. This one seemed to have a strange pinkish throat, but it looked more to her like he’d had his throat ripped out and now the blood permanately stained that area. How gruesome. Perhaps she’d tear at his esophagus and fix the problem for him.
Then he might bite her. That didn’t sound to fun. She chewed on her tongue while pondering what to do, finding that she’d ignored half of what he’d said yet again. Whoops. That wasn’t to kind of her. Then again, why did she want to be kind? What hospitality did he extend to her.
Did he offer her food, love, care, friendship? Nope. Just like everybody else. Where are your parents? How the hell should she know? She lost them quite a long time ago, and she’d further take up homage with a feline than be stuck with the likes of her kind. Oh how she hated wolves. But they provided her with food, so they weren’t that bad. Hmm. . . to many pros and cons. When would life get simple? They’d promised her simplicity!
“Er. . . parents.” Her tail twitched uncertainly, debating whether or not she should lie. “Yeah, they were eaten,” she decided upon. “By oversized crawling maggots!” She said the last bit with such drama that her eyes grew twice their normal size and her rear end wiggled. She pounced the dirt in front of him. “They are now one with that!” As if to finish off her display the earth broke and sent muddy clods all about. Her tail wouldn’t stop wagging. What joy this was! dbz2004
Flit lifted his head away from the pup as he stared around the area, half listening to what the pup had said. It seemed a little sad that she had no parents at all, yet at the same time he could see a similarity between them. He had never known his own parents when he was growing up and he had to learn the hard way to survive on his own.
Despite his brief pity towards the pup, he actually wanted to help raise her. It was her personality that put a damper in that idea of his. She seemed like a little rascal and a hard pup to raise on his own, despite him raising Mavis on his own. His own son always ran off to find his long lost mother, who was supposidly in the same pack as him and Mavis. Flit didn't tell Mavis that, though. He wanted his son to find his mother on his own without any advice. Sooner or later, Mavis would have to face reality and stop the nonsence he had pited against himself.
Turning his attention back to the pup, he canted his head to one side as he watched the pup's tail wag back and forth. She seemed like she was having fun playing in the sand. Slowly, he nudged the pup again and flicked his ears slightly. "Have you a pack to go home to?" he asked her curiously. "If not, maybe I can take you in and help raise you." He wondered if he made the right decision in asking her if he would like to raise her. So many 'what if' questions wandered in his mind. Maybe, if this pup came to live with him, Mavis would come back. Flit often wondered what it would be like to raise a female pup on his own.
Kealdrana Sasaiuni Noyama almost feinted. Come live with someone else! After she’d spent so much time trying to get away from a pack. Her body lurched, and she nearly vomited. Then she realized how stupid she must seem, overreacting they called it. A small “Hmph,” came from her little mouth, but it wasn’t directed at Flit.
“No,” she managed to speak, regaining some form of hospitality. “Thank you for the kind offer, sir, but I’ve actually got a er. . .” What would you call it? A feline was hardly a family, but she thought of him as that. It was a bid odd that a cougar should protect her, but it meant she hadn’t needed to go home and find her parents and for some odd reason she was grateful for that. Besides, it hadn’t eaten her yet, and what wolf would want to mess with such a robust animal?
“I have an arrangement.” Her head bobbed up and down wisely, but she felt that she was letting him down in some way. “You seem distraught over some invaluable manner. What is it, pray tell?” She wagged her tail a bit and attempted to look serious, though it was an expression she rarely touched upon. dbz2004
Flit nodded his head slightly as the tiny pup said no to his offer. He hadn't really expected her to say yes to his offer, but at the same time he wasn't expecting a no. He was hoping she might think about his offer for a while. With that off of his chest, he slowly started to move away after her last comment faded away from his thoughts. 'Other arrangements,' he pondered to himself. 'I wonder what she meant.'
He took one step away from her when he heard her question. Slowly turning around to face her, he canted his head to one side, wondering how she saw through his facade. No one had known about his sadness until now. He watched her tail wag again, his face expressionless. Her question made him a little uneasy about the meeting, but he decided to stay a little longer. This kept him occupied until he could go out and look for his son some more.
"Nothing, really. It's just my son. He has gone missing, but I'm sure he will be fine," he told the femme in a soft tone of voice. He didn't want Noyama to worry about his problems. It was his own fault he had let his son wander around in the state he currently resides in. This tiny pup couldn't possible know the dangers of having two personalities.
Kealdrana Sasaiuni Flit couldn’t have been more right. Noyama had not a clue what fates befell others. It seemed to her that if she was okay, then the rest of the world should be too. For now innocence kept her voice happy and high, the world would capture her spirits soon enough. She kept her tail wagging, making it go a little bit faster to help to keep his spirits up.
“I’m sure he will be fine,” she agreed with the elder. For a second the thought about giving her name, but then reconsidered. It probably wasn’t wise at this point. A wolf with a temperament so paranoial might let things slip. That could get her into some trouble. Escpecially if her parents found out. The thoughts made her shudder.
“Unless he’s blue,” she added with a flick of her ear. “If he’s that color, he’s destined for death.” Anything that was that pigment deserved to die anyway. Stupid oceanic mutts. She decided it was a definitive enough response and it ended everything quite nicely. Without even leaving a good day she turned tail and left, picking up her lovely stick on a most graceful exit. dbz2004
Flit nodded his head and her comment. Maybe Mavis was going to be alright. His spirits lifted slightly at her comment before her next one had them crashing down. "Blue means death?" he asked her before she started to wander away. Not sure of what to do, he stood there, watching the femme leave with her stick.
There was no way his son was going to die. Blue coats didn't mean death, at least not to Flit. His was green and danger didn't befall him at all. Shaking his head, he put her last comment in the back of his mind for him to forget later on down the road. Slowly, he turned his body around and started to wander back in the direction he thought his packlands were. Despite what the tiny femme told him, he wasn't sure if his son was going to be alright. He just wished that Mavis would return home safely.
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Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:23 pm
Loneliness Isn't so Bad Noyama 
So plain.
It was a thought that had plauged her since her younger days, and something she thought of once again as she stared down at the waters of the river. Her legs shook as she lowered her head and took a few, almost desperate gulps.
Less and less she was able to move before she was thirsty again. She supposed it was yet another downside of old age, and she certainly fit into the 'old' category.
At one time, she remembered, plain as though it may be, her completely black fur had shined. Now, much of it had fallen out, and what of that had grown back had come in as a dull grey, particularly around her eyes, legs and on her tail.
But the brown eyes still glimmered with life, not at all reflecting the aged body. There was also a sorrow in them, as there would be with anyone who's mate had passed very recently. But her son... She had to find him now.
Because she had to talk to him, and mostly... She didn't want to be alone.
Not strong enough.
Not young enough.
Not good enough.
Aiko frowned lightly. Her paws shuffled back and she turned, causing some of her bones to crack in the process. Drawing a deep breath which each movement, she took many heavy steps forward.
This place was large and hard to navigate... Kealdrana Sasaiuni He’d followed the river out, far and beyond the packlands of the red. Disgust and pain is all he had left behind there. The story finally told and his soul relinquished from the horros he had committed. What would he do now without his other side, that piece of him he’d carried with him always. His ears flicked about as if in constant worry. They weren’t searching for another wolf, but for that small, yet powerful voice that was always there in the back of his mind, but not today. Never again.
His eyes flicked downwards for the first time. He’d told himself he wouldn’t look, but instead of despairing over the wounds he’d created on himself Kiros found a trinket was gone. “s**t!” he snapped aloud, growling at himself as he searched in vain for the medicine bag. Where the heck had he stuck it! With horror he realized it had to have been lost somewhere in the packlands. He hadn’t stopped all night for rest, so the mud took it. He cast a worried glance behind him, as if expecting the red to come darting out of the bushes to make his doom. No threats came.
Finally he turned, shaking his head in aggravation and wondering when he’d become so naïve. Life played foul tricks on the unwary. It got away with its fare share on him. He took little note of his surroundings, shoving his mind into the emo world he’d created for himself. It wasn’t so bad, no commentary presenting itself over every leaf, but it was also lonely. He found himself thinking more and more about other wolves, how nice it would be to have a companion. He supposed it wasn’t so bad to be a loner when you could talk to yourself. Those days were long gone.
Then came the prospect of hope. A strange scent fell to his nose, but it was something. A wolf, at least. He couldn’t care if it was hostile or a loving mother with pups, he just needed to hear a voice. Any would do.
“Hello!” he called, rushing forward to the canid with the wits of a mere child. His brain had been severely befuddled by the incident. At times Xan would have called that brave, but for now it was mere stupidity. Lilly Ghardian (*Noyama*) When Falla had been alive, Aiko had carried herself with at least some dignity. After all, he was a very forceful wolf, which is what made him a suitable alpha. And why no one had dared argue when he sent their son away...
But now that he was gone, she held her ears back and tail down by nature. The flattened even more when an unfamiliar voice (of course it was, she didn't know anyone here) was yelling at her.
When the male approached (too quick for her liking), he didn't seem like someone ready to maul her. While she was weak, she was also a friendly wolf by nature. Always had been.
"Hello," she greeted gently, straining her eyes to see all his markings. They were pretty.Kealdrana Sasaiuni Someone might have taken his brains out and splattered them all about. He simply couldn’t collect his thoughts. His tail swung lightly about, but still held some distinct dignity. She seemed strange, but Kiros hadn’t been around too many old wolves. He had not the thought process at the moment to match two and two together. So he automatically thought the worst.
“Your coat looks battered!” he exclaimed, pointing out the obvious. “Have you been in a fight?”
He looked resolutely concerned, his eyes pooring over her flesh for any kind of wound. He almost went into a frenzy wondering what he should do . . .
CRACK!
Kiros flicked his head up just in time to see a tree give him a gift. It struck him sharply in the nose, causing him to yelp and stumble backwards. The world did not love him. “Ouch!” he pointed out again, as if the curdling exclamation of pain wasn’t enough. His eyes began to water, but it resulted only in laughter.
“Did you see that?” he barked histerically towards the other, who apparently was his new best friend. “Here I am, minding my own business and SMACK!” His tone grew suddenly serious. “I could have been killed.” Apparently the prospect of him dying was to comical a matter to keep quiet because he fell upon his right side in a series of fits. His body squirmed with pleasure, if you could call laughter that, and he fought to keep breathing through his episode. “I’m sorry!” he babbled. “Its just to silly!” He secretly wondered why he felt so giddy - Perhaps gaining your sanity made you nuts. Noyama Unlike most--maybe even all of the wolves in these woods--Aiko hadn't had any experience with the labeled 'insane'. She just looked at those types of wolves as odd, and to her, they weren't any more of a threat than any other wolf.
She watched the male with an odd fasination until the branch came down, at which she startled back, eyes wide in alarm.
Just a branch...
Still, her form shook slightly from the scare. She hadn't bothered to answer any questions, because he asked them to quickly for her to do so. He spoke so rapidly...
"Dear, you should settle down," she advised finally. Kealdrana Sasaiuni “Yes, that,” he agreed, still barely choking out words between barks. His body starting quiaking then, instead of simply twitching, a sign that he might perhaps be settling if only a little. A few quick gasps and it was over. He launched himself back onto his feet and gave a little shake to rid his body of unwanted objects.
“So. . .” he began, suddenly feeling a bit object. “What brings you out and about?” His eyes glanced over her fur once more, a puzzled look on his face. He still couldn’t find any marks, blood, or otherwise. Perhaps she was simply shedding. Kiros didn’t look to proper himself during shedding season. Was it that season already?
He snapped back to the current situation. He must not get distracted, he had to learn how to be on his own now. This strange murderous combination of bloodlust and fear. Even that was exciting. It was even funny, he might have to laugh at that. Kiros checked himself – laugh later. Noyama "I'm just old, dear," she finally answered, paired with a hesitant but warm smile that were so common with her. Speaking of her age didn't bother her. Everyone got old, and unfortunately, everyone died.
Although she was terrified of life, ironicly, the thought of death didn't shake her at all. It was just something that happened...
"My fur is greying because I'm old." Kealdrana Sasaiuni Her answer hit him like a lightning bolt and he stepped back a little bit. He recognized it now, not because he'd seen it, but because of a song his mother used to sing to him at night before he went to bed. It was a sad song, but it had a bit of humor in it.
"On the bright side," he told her. "You have your own song!" He grinned sheepishly, feeling rather bad for having made her say such a thing, and feeling worse because he had not realized it right off that bat.
He quickly added, "But age doesn't seem to affect your beaming tenderocity." He hoped he hadn't come across to much of an idiot not to redeem himself. "Do you ever want to end it early? Die before age takes you?" He looked about, waiting for demons to seep out of the trees and take him for speaking such a manner. Noyama What an odd youth...
"My own song...?" she repeated, half to herself, her voice in wonder. There was a song about her? But how could this wolf know of a song about her if she'd never met him before?
Aiko wasn't stupid. In fact, she was rather intelligent. But conversations like this were hard for her to keep up with.
She was so busy pondered over the claim of having a song, the question startled her more than it normally would've. How...blunt this wolf was. "Goodness no," she answered. "When time comes for, it will come, but I have things to do still. I must find my son here." Kealdrana Sasaiuni Kiros nodded. He opened his mouth to sing it, but she interjected with an answer. It was his fault for asking so many questions. Her answer surprised him the most. Looking for a son, parents seemed to lose their children more these days. It didn’t help that people like him killed their own sisters, but hey, what can one do?
He had no purpose in this life, no things to do, but he didn’t want to end his life, either. It made sense that she should stay and fix things, he wondered what exactly she needed to do, but it wasn’t his business to ask.
“I hope you find your son,” he muttered, his eyes flicking to the water. “Perhaps I’ll meet you again and sing you the song.” He wagged his tail with more heart than he’d felt. Here was someone he didn’t know, and as far as she knew he was completely normal. Except for that laughing fit, but he’d like to think that such things were best left ignored.
“I hope I did not come as a bother. I should probably let you go; it seems you have a long way left to go on your quest.” Noyama "Thank you." The female bowed her head. She hoped to find him, too... And unknown to Kiros, she hadn't ever 'lost' Kaho. It was Falla. Falla chased him away.
Seer weren't welcomed by him.
"Perhaps we will," she agreed, bidding him farewell with an added, sincere 'take care', and then going on her way.
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:28 pm
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:42 pm
Forever a Slave to You Kealdrana Sasaiuni Pad, pad, pad. “Where are we going again?” The voice came from a young wolf, just beginning the age of her teens. She possessed a vibrant coat of the most beautiful complexion. A dark grey underbody was capped strikingly by a veil of pink and black. Her expression appeared sad, with dark tears running down her body. However, Noyama was far from sad, in fact she could be presumed the happiest wolf on earth. She was, unfortunately, a slight bit annoyed, especially with the cat that was leading her no where.
“Places,” the cat answered. Over the last few months living under the felines jurisdiction, Noyama had learned a great deal of the language, but like all wolves, couldn’t speak it. Of course, the cougar had a better understanding of what she was saying than she ever would him, so most of what he mumbled was lost with the wind.
Today should have been like any ordinary day, but it wasn’t – for the very fact it was day. They normally only traveled at night, and the light bothered Noyama. She felt unsafe in her heart, but not on the outside. She knew not much would mess with a feline, but it was her who they were most wary about anyway. Everyone would be afraid of her eventually and they’d see why pink was such a big color. Then she’d kill all the ugly wolves in the world.
“I know that!” she sarcastically retorted. “But where exactly.” She received nothing but silence in return. “Ugh!” That was it, she refused to go any further, falling on her side – and producing a loud cloud of dust – she stubbornly planted herself to the earth. The cat turned to look at her, his face showing no expression as always. “That’s not good for your coat, you know,” he told her. She glared at him, but still declined the invitation to get up and continue following him. They went through this drill all the time it seemed. Argue. Be stubborn. Leave. Come back. Continue. Life was such a drag. Until they met wolves. Then it was exciting. The thought brought chuckles into her mind. How funny the adults were! Ronove  He was getting really tired of this. This meandering throughout an unfamiliar land... and he was begining to get the feeling that he'd know his way around before he met anyone important. Anyone who could do anything, or help him (whether they knew it or not).
His paws tred silently on the moist, decaying bed of leaves; he loved the time before winter, once the leaves had fallen and sunken into the mud. Everything was soft and muffled. Snow was bad; it left tracks... but now! Now was excellent.
Dakeyras picked up the pace to a slow, steady lope. He'd been following that female's directions for the past two days, and had found nothing. Not that he had anything else to go on.
A breeze whipped by his face, and he hesitated. The scent was a familiar one; cougar. But this time, it was accompanied by a different wolf. Interesting. Kealdrana Sasaiuni Noyama’s ears swiveled on her skull, searching for something of interest. Ten minutes swept by, then twenty, thirty minutes later the pair was still staring at one another to see who would go first. That’s when she caught the scent. The wind was swirling about, gently, but enough to keep the smells intermingling from all over. As much as Noy was stubborn, she was far more inquisitive about matters. Her body jerked to an upright position.
The cat thought he’d won, his smell wasn’t as acute, but as he watched her poised and on point he began to realize that wasn’t the case at all. Noyama stood with her ears perked towards the direction of the strange scent and without giving it a second thought she dashed out after it. She wanted to see what strange things were venturing in and out of her packlands (even though they were the freelands), and that strange thing just so happened to be the invading wolf.
“Yisoka!” she barked, urging the cougar to follow her. She didn’t hear anything, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t coming.
The crash of brush announced her arrival at the scene, her feet digging into the dirt to stop her fast moving body. Her eyes glanced over the male, he was scary, but pretty. At least there was no blue on him, except for his eyes. They were blue. How nasty. Oh well. Noyama turned to look behind her, and sure enough, the cougar was standing there, he had followed, as she assumed he would. “Hallo!” she greeted merrily to the wolf, her tail wagging to and fro. Ronove Apparently the other wolf had already caught his scent; her arrival was announced by the lound snapping and crashing of brush. He was slightly startlyed by the lack of stealth, but one look at her and he understood.
A... puppy?
Instantly the black lone reverted to his only way of getting information. Ears flattened and tail tucked, he lowered his body and wagged his tail slightly at her approach. Omegas had a better time of it; ignored, kicked around, they were never noticed.
"... hullo, young lady." Dak kept his blue eyes focused on the ground, studying the other wolf's paws. Pink, and black... like Tanya...
A second pair of paws appeared behind hers, silent and huge. Sand colored. Dak winced inwardly; he hated dealing with cougars. Especially this one. But he dropped the facade and focused on the large cat behind the female.
"You again." Kealdrana Sasaiuni Noyama furrowed her brows at the strange wolf. He must have been an omega. No worries, she could be nice to them, they were often treated so brutally. She wondered why any wolf would abuse another so harshly, unless they were blue. That was unforgiveable.
“I’m. . .” she began, attempting to give her name, but the others voice changed so suddenly.
You again.
Again?
She turned her head back to look at the cougar, a strange set of emotions had crossed the cat’s face. “You know each other!?” Her mouth stood halfway agape, eyes flicking from feline to canid and back again. This was all too weird. She didn’t think other wolves even liked to think about cats, let alone be acquainted.
Then she got angry with the feline. “How many wolves do you know?” The cougar flicked his gaze to her. “A few.” That was helpful, she remarked to herself dryly. He always was so very much so. “Are you two friends, or?”
Ronove "Raising puppies now, cat?" The black wolf's smile was more bared teeth than anything. His posture had changed completely; now he stood rigid, muscles tight and ready for attack or flight.
He remembered the last time they'd met. Maybe he was traveling in circles. Either way, he didn't think this meeting was going to be very helpful. He turned to the pink and black youth.
"You follow this... this thing?" His muzzle twisted into a grimace of disgust. Kealdrana Sasaiuni Noyama felt the anger rising up in the air all around her from both wolf and cat. Her own fur bristled and a slight rumble came from the back of her throat. She didn’t want a fight to start and certainly not to be in the middle of it.
“Its sort of raising me,” the cougar responded with a slight chuckle.
Did the other call Yisoka a thing!?
“He’s not a thing!” Noyama snapped, her eyes fixed upon the male wolf. So much for Omega status. “Noy,” the feline called to silence her. She bit her tongue, but the growl still cursed through her throat.
“What right do you have to accuse him!? None!” Noyama was absolutely sure that she was right in this matter. She had found nothing but kindness in the cat, despite how dark and hard to find it was. Ronove For a moment the lone was silent. She was defending this cat? He'd seen nothing worth defending in him, or any of his kind. And he knew for a fact that they didn't especially need defending.
"Listen, kiddo, it's your life. You want to screw it up? Go right ahead." Dak shrugged his shoulders. It wasn't his problem. In fact, it really had nothing to do with him. At all.
He just needed to find a pack to settle into. Originally, that had been the easy part of the plan. Apparently this required reevaluation. The black wolf cast an emotionless glance over the cougar.
"Have fun, cat."
He started to turn away. It was only another wolf, and a female at that. A puppy. What did he care? Just another female...
... a female that looks especially like Tanya...
Ugh. Keep. Walking. Kealdrana Sasaiuni It took Noyama a moment to gather herself together, but something told her she couldn't let this male escape. Not in a hundred years. She saw so few wolves, and she needed their company, desperately. "W. . .WAIT!" she shouted after the other, bounding off after him.
She took a worried glance back. The cougar had stayed. It was good that he had, or he might cause problems. She needed to talk to this other. There was something about him that was so intriguing. Mainly his hate for Yisoka. Speaking like he was a group and not an individual.
"Why do you hate him?" she whispered, coming up alongside the other wolf and keeping match perfectly. Noyama was a normal sized wolf, and rather plump. Not fat, but she had some meat on her bones, more so than a normal wolf, showing she was well fed. Ronove For a moment Dak considered just ignoring her. Maybe she would go away if he did. Or he could run; she wouldn't be able to keep up with him then, would she? But that would be... well, a rather stupid of him.
So instead he slowed his stride and waited for her, eyes fixed on the path ahead of him. His height wasn't as great as some, but his legs were lanky and his strides long. It was a ground-eating stride that should have carried him to a pack by now.
"Why do I hate him, kid?" He barked out a short, bitter laugh. "For the same reasons as any wolf should; his kind are unreliable, self-serving, poor excuses for living creatures." Dak ignored the fact that much of that could apply to him.
"I know them, I've worked with them." He glanced at the pup beside him. "And any wolf smelling of cougar will be regarded with suspision." Regardless whether they're puppies or not.
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Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:26 am
All I Ever Need is. . . Noyama 
Unlike that time, she deemed her suspicions as just being paranoid. Even though he'd been dead for a while, it wasn't all that strange she dreamed about Phantom. Evil 'overlords', if you will, weren't so easily forgotten.
But something had been so off about him...
It was during pondering for that Ran had seen it: The pink butterfly. Eyes wide, she called to it, "Tahara?", and then watched as it just flew away.
It was like old times, in that bittersweet way. Without thinking, she hurried to all fours and rushed after the fluttering creature. The chase lasted for some time, and ended when Ran was forced to stop.
The butterfly had led her to a cliff's edge, and she certainly couldn't continue the chase. Turning back, she shuddered, then walked. Her dissapointment was only over-ruled by the eerie feeling this area had.
This was so close to where the Ghost had died. Kealdrana Sasaiuni There was something stirring in her body. It had grown and grown until she had to leave the packlands, again. There was nothing she could do about it, surely the blue wolf would understand. There was a sudden need to go to this place, as frightful as it was, she needed it. Everything about the area she was in now seemed to have an aura of something mystical. As if an event had occurred here she needed to know about. Kara had found herself snooping, searching every nook and cranny of this area for things. She didn’t know what she wished to find, but everything in her body told her to keep looking. She needed to find whatever it was.
The yelp that interrupted her thoughts left her body quivering. She’d never been more afraid in her life. It told her something – there was another wolf here. She didn’t know who it was, or why it, too, came to this strange calling, perhaps it was only her that felt the need to venture here. Taking a deep breath she swallowed the thick lump in her throat, her tail held high, muscles tense.
She had little mind to go investigate the noise, but something stirred nearby. It wasn’t to far away, just to the other side. Something flickered, catching her eye. It looked distinctly pink. Kara would have waved it away as nothing, except for another movement caught her. There was no mistaking such a small body. Ran.
She jumped just then, she didn’t know why. It wasn’t out of fear, and she supposed it was shock, though she couldn’t see why Ran would seem so shocking. Nothing in the kind wolf had ever seemed menacing, certainly not now. She knew what the butterfly was now, Tahara. Something in her heart lurched, for it reminded her of Kaho. She wondered how he was now, he seemed so distraught, perhaps she’d ask Ran how he was, but when she tried to call no words came to her voice. She swallowed the grit in her throat and tried again.
“Ra. .. Ran!” It seemed so eerie in this place. As if she didn’t belong. Kaho said not to, so she wouldn’t, but she only wished she knew what not to do. . . Noyama Ran!
..Ran?
The shaman turned her head. Who was calling for her? More than that, why did they stutter? Uncertainty was something she knew well, but aimed towards her, it was different. There had never been anything about her to make someone stumble before.
She was unthreatening, open, easy to figure out. There were no secrets in the Butterfly Shaman's world.
Her tail wagged upon locating the female, and her voice called happily, "Kara!" How it'd been, Ran didn't know. Her sense of time was boarderline non-exsistant. All she knew was the sun went up, went down, and did it all over again.
Her pace increased until she was in front of her friend. "Kara, you're far away from your home," she observed. This was close to the Black Forest. Close to her home.
But, from what she knew, Kara's pack was far away... Kealdrana Sasaiuni Kara wagged her tail in joy as Ran came bounding towards her. It didn’t matter how eerie this place was, with Ran here, she could stay in a place like this forever. “Ran,” she repeated, more strongly now that the other had approached. It wasn’t so hard to talk now that the other was actually, physically standing in front of her. She felt blessed, truly endighted.
The others words made her flinch. Jori. She’d probably be worried, but she had to come. “Yeah,” she started. “But I’ve been worried.” She gave one of her strange, typical Kara grins. “There’s something about this place. . .” she stopped to turn her gaze to the surroundings. “It’s not right.”
She hoped she wouldn’t alarm Ran, perhaps she was just simply going mad and this was just like any other neck of the woods. She wasn’t sure where Ran lived, but she didn’t think they’d travel to far from their packs. Unless things had changed, which they often did. Noyama Alarmed? No. Ran didn't even look the slightly bit phased. Even she realized, in saying this place was creepy, Kara had done nothing more than point out the obvious, tell her something she already knew. Knew very, very well.
There had always been that wonder she had since Phantom had died. If Tahara came back, couldn't his spirit, too? But if he would've, he'd have done so by now. The fact he didn't unnerved her, but she wasn't about to complain they were lacking in the vengeful spirits department.
"It's darker here than most places, so it seems scarier than it is," Ran offered. It was no more dangerous here than anywhere. "Silly Kara is worried for no reason." Kealdrana Sasaiuni Kara shook her head at Ran. Normally the Shaman understood. “That’s not what I’m worried for.” Her body tensed as if some invisible object was threatening to eat away at her flesh.
“I’m worried about you and Kaho.” She sighed, collecting her thoughts. There were all these funny things that kept popping into her head she could say, but she wouldn’t. She’d promised Kaho. “I heard about Phantom’s death and Kaho didn’t seem well when I last talked to him. I hadn’t seen you in so long. . . I worried for your health.”
It was so true, everyday she was worried. It made her feel sick to know that the both of them were faring so badly, she only thought Ran must have been worse than Kaho – which was of course untrue.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you ever need anyone to talk to, turn to, I’m here. Don’t fret to call. Even Shamans need help sometimes.” Kara regretted the words after she had spoken them, but there was nothing she could do to take them back now. Noyama It didn't surprise Ran. "Ran knew what you meant," the shaman told her. "And, Kara is still silly to worry about Ran. Raja is a good alpha and she takes care of everyone. Ran, too." It was only her second pack, but it was so much different than her first.
Reicher had paid her no mind, and Sashta had been nothing but annoyed with every fiber of her offsprings being. Of course, Mama had changed now, but even so, she accepted with only minor guilt she loved this pack a whole lot more.
Raja took it upon herself to make sure everyone was eating enough--save for Voodoo, who she said could 'go and die for all I care'.
At the mention of Kaho, she frowned slightly. "Kaho left yesterday. Kaho is upset, but Ran doesn't know why." Kealdrana Sasaiuni It was so like Ran, to look at the bright side of everything. She wondered if it hurt to be so happy all the time. “It’s good to hear you’re well.” Raja, the name wrung in her ears. She recognized it, but she couldn’t quite place it. That’s right! She’d met her one time, determined to sniff out Kaho for whatever reason. She smiled, remembering the moment. Raja definitely had her vote over Phantom anyday. Perhaps she just liked a woman’s touch.
At the mention of Kaho she gritted her teeth. Her worst suspicions were confirmed, he had turned crazier than she had. She wanted to go find him, not that moment, but she wanted to. However, she knew she shouldn’t, Kaho didn’t want to be found. She might run into him by chance someday, maybe he’d be normal by then and he’d crack some joke or pick up line as he always did.
“I’m afraid I can’t stay long.” Her tail drooped low, spirits dropping as she realized it was nearly time for her to go. It was such a long journey home. “Is there anything you want to tell me?” She didn’t know what she was hoping for, maybe that Ran would ask her to come live under Raja with her. She honestly wouldn’t mind. She’d tell Jori to take over the pack, she’d make a good alpha, then she could stay in these dark woods where her heart felt complete. Noyama "Tell you?" echoed the young female, even younger in mindset. If Kara was implying something, she hadn't caught on. She did, however, wrack her brain, trying to think of what she could be referring to.
Kaho had left. Phantom was dead, she already knew that. So..
"Not that Ran can remember," she answered in a way that seemed more like a question. There wasn't anything, was there? ...No. "Yes, Kara is busy with Kara's pack, right?" Her tail wagged again. Alpha was an interesting rank! Ran admired them, even ones like Mama who didn't hold the title anymore.
"Kara shouldn't worry," Ran repeated. "But if Kara wants to talk to Ran, Kara can just come and see her over there." She turned just slightly, nodding toward the packlands. "Ran's pack is over there. In the Black Forest. It's dark, but Ran likes it." Kealdrana Sasaiuni Kara held in her disappointment. Not in Ran, but of herself for getting her spirits up. “Very busy,” she answered, putting fake joy into her voice. She did love her pack, dearly, and her packlands, but she’d take up on Ran’s offer often and probably be constantly away.
“I’m afraid Kara is going to worry no matter what,” she said with a laugh – teasing on Ran’s third person speech a bit. It had been so long since she’d done that (the laughing), and if felt good. Perhaps she’d find time to do it again. “But I will definitely come visit you in your packlands, your Alpha permitting.” While she had no guilt tramping all over the place when Phantom was about, she’d rather respect the new leader’s wishes, as she seemed like she was good enough. For Ran at least. If she was good enough for Ran, she was good enough for Kara.
It was time for her to leave. “I have to go now Ran.” Her voice was heavy, but she did have responsibility. She turned to leave, then stopped. “Ran. . . I. . .” she stopped and decided not to say the words lingering on her tongue. Stupid idea.
“It was wonderful talking to you. I’m glad I have such a good friend.” Her tail wagged quite quickly now. “Take care of Kaho for me if you see him, and yourself, too. I’ll see you soon.” With that she turned and walked away, hoping she’d done the right thing. She knew in her heart she had, no matter how much her mind ached for her to stay forever.
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:18 pm
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:21 pm
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:23 pm
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:50 pm
Reunion Kealdrana Sasaiuni Smack!
A pair of pink ears flicked to a just as pink furred ******** STOP!”
The cougar grinned at her malevolently as he whacked her in the face once more with his tail. He received a cold glare from the previously snoring figure that lay basking in the mornings sun. She was quite the touchy fellow, though it was all play between the two of them. The two least trustworthy animals that there ever were, sauntering about the world to cause trouble.
An unlikely pair, the two of them. Cougar and pink wolf. Of course, pink wolves were perhaps the most beautiful and brainy of any creature on earth. Even above the marvelous cougars, though Noy was careful not to push the opinion on Yisoka.
“Rise up, sleepy,” Yisoka teased, giving her a tap on the head before rising himself. His reddish coat rained dirt down upon her pristine fur, and he wettened it with his tongue to give her brown smears down her side.
“WHAT THE HELL YISOKA!!!!” Noyama growled and leapt at his neck. The cougar fell back over laughing, in a screeching, scary kind of way. The wolves teeth were hardly a threat to him and she wasn’t biting very hard – his thick coat made sure of it. None the less, the pink princess shook her head side to side vigorously. Noyama’s grip slipped and she felt the ground hit her head as she rolled over backwards.
Once. Twice. Three times over. The earth dug sharply into her skin, but she was able to stick up a nose victoriously, showing a patch of ochre red fur that had once belonged to the cougar. “Planning to build a nest,” he cooed, shaking himself as he sauntered over to a scratching post. Noyama looked at him with a face of fake fury and deliberately spit his hair on the ground, stomping her small paws all about it.
“Would you two cut it out!” came a growl from a less than happy wolf in the near premises. He possessed a mostly dark coat, punctuated by glowing blue designs weaving their way down his back and legs. He was known more commonly as Kiros, and his mood was fowl. After his night with Jori Kara had found him and waged a brutal battle on him. The result was never seeing the blue wolf again, even though he longed to, and he couldn’t discern why. On top of that, he couldn’t stand a lick of cougar, or at least most of it, and the yips and growls coming from both creatures unnerved him. Ronove  Leaves dug at her fur, branches caught and scraped on her sore body. The earth and air were cold this morning and they left a stining numbness in her muscles that didn't seem to want to melt, even after traveling a fair distance. Not to mention the absolute exhaustion... the blue female's legs felt like leaden blocks. Every step was an effort...
But it was alright. It would all be alright.
Her breath misted the air in front of her and hung like spun wool for a brief moment before dissapating. Sunlight poured down from between the thick tree branches, dappling the path before her.
Somehow none of the pain bothered her. Because the cause of her suffering was more than worth it. Exhaustion may have numbed her body, but not her mind or her heart. The world was bright, sparkling, alive. A joy more profound than any she had known filled her today.
She slowed her pace a little to make up for tiny legs, watching carefully as her pups toddled forwards. They would never know pain as she had known it, never know the loneliness she had felt. She wouldn't make the same mistake as her parents had. A fierce love consumed her then. A determination to survive for them, to protect them no matter the cost...
Jori wagged her tail and nudged the two forwards. Alone with them, and she could forget Kara's hurt expression... forget her own torn emotions. Life might never be the same, but she wouldn't give them up for the world.
* * *
Ah, there!
Sade readied himself, ears pricked and muscles tense. He was hidden, deep in the loam, prey helpless before him and -
A soft nudge on his backside and he was propelled forwards. The grasshopper, startled by this sudden movement, lept away in a flurry of wings and legs. And it had looked so good too! He was hungry!
"Awww, Mommma..."
He cast a baleful glance up at the blue gamma but obediently trotted forwards to catch up to his sister. He keep his orange eyes focused on the world around him, taking in everything in his sights with an unending curiosity.
And, just in case, he kept an eye out for another tasty snack along the way... Kealdrana Sasaiuni Noyama snapped a look at Kiros. It wasn’t a very kind glance, and it was one that hold him he better shut his trap and behave. The teen rolled her eyes and mumbled beneath her breath. “Damn blue wolves. . .” Her good fun mood was spoiled, and she stomped off in a huff, refusing to speak to the either of them. In past years she would have lectured to them about her figure, smarts, and need for respect, but she was on the brink of adulthood and she didn’t feel like wasting that much energy explaining the obvious to the male’s pathetic eyes.
She didn’t understand why Yisoka let him hang around. In fact, it might even be considered a bit of jealously on her part, but she’d never admit to it. Granted, Kiros wasn’t completely blue, but he did have a fair amount decorating his body. But his eyes! They were the demons of the world themselves. The creatures that howled in the winds during the storms, keeping her up at night. When she looked at them, she saw her failures, and the death of her sister, vivid in her eyes. She could still see the light dancing patterns across her fur.
That was all the recollection she had of the event, and that was all she wished to remember. She had been so very young when it happened, and she thought now it was perhaps a story she made up just to show she sacrificed something in the world. Her teeth gritted together a bit, and she stumbled lightly on a stick. Pick up your head.
She lifted it high and let out a blood curdling scream.
“THEY’RE TAKING OVER THE WORLD!!!!”
The cougar’s ears snapped forward, his muscles tensing, ears flashing with anger. A hoarse growl came from deep within his esophagus, and he shot an eye towards Kiros. “If you lead her here,” he voiced. Far below him, looking up in disdain, Kiros’ double-colored eyes washed over in fear. A whimper escaped his throat. Kara wouldn’t come, besides she didn’t even know the pink wolf, why would she?
A hard lump formed in his throat, followed by the prickle of fear as his fur raised on the nape of his neck. If Kara was enraged, and Noy started babbling. Oh no. The fear grew wider and folded into a pure look of terror. No, no, no. She wouldn’t. Kara was no murderer. But she was female.
“You caused it,” the cougar began again, his claws flexing. The white bone dug into the bark, emitting a loud screech as he pulled slowly backwards. “Go fix it.”
The lone nodded, unable to speak. What he feared most was the cougar’s calmness about the whole event. He didn’t seem angry, happy, perturbed. There was absolutely nothing. Kiros, of course, did not know exactly what the cat had said. He hadn’t ever been adept at the language, but he caught go, and fix. A snarl from the cat caused him to jump and dart off through the trees.
Pavati had her nose stuck in a hole. She wasn’t sure what was there, but it smelled different and interesting. Besides that, her feet were sore, her ears were sore, and her tongue hurt. That may have been from all the salty rocks she had been stopping to groom, but it didn’t much matter to her. Her weary body tensed as she heard her brother yip in protest. Alarmed, she jerked her head up, mound of dirt and all.
The brown substance made her nose feel strange. She wrinkled it, but the tingling continued. A small wail of agitation escaped her throat before she began sneezing and rubbing it vigorously against her leg. She was well behind mother and brother when she heard a slight crashing in the trees. Finding nothing better to do she sat down, titling her head to the left as she watched the foliage ruffle in strange patterns.
A few moments later a blur of pink and grey shot out from the vibrating green. Pavati gave a shriek of half delight and half shock, slinking back to get away from the scary figure streaking by. No sooner had she finished her panic than the teen wolf had stopped to gawk at the other. She saw it open its maw as if to say something like mother and brother often did, but it seemed to catch sight of something. Pavati turned her head around to see just what it was, but all she could make out was mother and brother.
That’s when the blood curdling scream struck her ears. Ronove Jori padded along silently, content to listen to the sounds of the forest around her. The wind through the trees, the rustle of her tired feet against a carpet of dry leaves, and louder, clumsier movements from her babies. Sade trotted contently at her side, happily stumbling his way through the undergrowth. Pavati was easy to spot, a little ways off, nose stuck in the ground. Poor girl, her blue coat would be a dead givaway in the winter. At least Sade had his father's 'natural' colors...
"Keep up, Pavati." The blue called back, tail wagging slowly. Jori hated to drag them all this way, but she didn't know what else to do... she had to see him, and she wouldn't dare leave them behind.
A faint rustling in the undergrowth caught her attention, and she flicked an ear back. It was growing louder, heading straight towards them. Fear swelled in her heart, although her common sense told her it was nothing more than a deer. Heart in her throat, she turned just in time to see a grey-pink form shoot out in front of Pavati.
Pavati shrieked, and that was all she needed to hear. With a speed that suprised even herself she snatched up Sade and sprinted back, skidding to a halt in front of her daughter.
"Pavati, get behind me." Her voice was soft, so as not to fighten her pups. "Sade, take care of your sister."
Teeth bared, tail up, the small blue looked the stranger in the eyes and dared her to make a move.
* * *
Sade tripped across a small branch and went down in a blur of scrambling legs. Not that he minded much, of course. He layed sprawled for a moment on the ground, small tongue lolling, then tottered back to his feet. Dirt clung to his fur and partially covered the green patterns that wove their way across his back.
It felt nice, and cool on his hot body.
With a sigh of happiness the pup flopped down on the side of the path. Momma wasn't paying attention anyways, she was staring at Pav'ti. Sade grinned happily and wagged his short tail. She wouldn't notice now when he rolled in the muck...
Rustling nearby distracted the pup, and he stared intently at the moving tree. He didn't know they moved! How peculiar, this part of the forest was. This warrented further investigation for certain. However, he'd barely started forwards on his own paws when his mother snatched him up.
He gave a indignant squeak of suprise, legs flailing uselessly. "Putmedowndowndowndown-"
Oof. He glanced up and immediatly shrank back from the strange wolf that stood in front of them. He huddled against his sister, trying to keep her back with his body. Kealdrana Sasaiuni Pavati was perfectly content to be shoved out of the way by mother. She didn’t like the way this stranger yowled about nothing. What was taking over the world? She shook her head, and strained her neck to get a better view of the ranting youth. Granted, she was much taller and older than she, but it didn’t seem so much.
A small grumble came from above and she cringed as she looked up. There, dangling above her head was her strange and crazy brother. His name was bug eater, for that’s what he did all the time. “Hush B.E.,” she said quietly, her head tilting to the side so she could just see the newcomers grey feet through Jori’s legs.
The pink thing didn’t appear to be phased much by the blue wolf, in fact she went right on ranting about this, that and another. Someone must have not told her about fear. Her parents would have to have been very bad ones. She barked roughly at the newcomer, just as her brother was dropped near her head. Her small blue legs pedaled backwards to avoid being squished, but it was no use, brother had blocked her view of the incident, all she could hear was yelling coupled with the stained hide of bug eater.
“I swear!” Pavati could hear the teen yap. “You blue wolves multiply in SWARMS! Worse than rabbits!”
No doubt Noyama would have been in for a severe beating from Jori had the bush not start to vibrate again. Pavati could not see it, but she could hear those leaves quivering and her tail began to thump in extreme excitement. She couldn’t wait to see what new exciting things popped through the bush. With mother here protecting her, it was most definitely safe.
None other than Kiros the ‘oh so valiant’ came bursting through the bushes. His mouth literally dropped when he saw Jori. It probably would have fallen right off her body weren’t blocking the two smaller figures behind her.
“Pink wolf,” he spoke softly. He didn’t yet know her name. He never cared to ask, nor, he assumed, did she car to give it.
“Blue wolf!” she snapped in return, whipping her body around in a flurry. “You’ve brought more of your kind here! And when you all die in 2 years I don’t want to pick up after your smelly bodies!” She stuck up her nose and trotted a little way away to sit down and watch. While she hated them, she had never seen two blue wolves together before, and the thought was intriguing. Ronove Sade squished his sister back further, partly to hide her from the loud pink stranger, and partly as punishment for calling him B.E.. Not that he particularily minded, of course. It was a good title, proving him to be a good hunter. But he couldn't let his sister think that! It would take all the fun out of it.
"Shh, Pav'ti. This is all your fault." He peered around Momma's blue legs, just enough to catch a glimpse of grey paws and pink fur. "If you'da stayed with me n' momma, that pink thing wouldn't have tried to eat you." Because surely that's what she was going to do. Not anymore though! Momma would protect them. But he was kind of confused. The youth kept yelling nonsense about blue wolves and... and what was wrong with that? Sade was shamed that he didn't have any blue! Everyone in his family had blue on them (well, maybe not his father, but Sade didn't know him) and they were pretty! In fact, if it was up to him, it would be pink that was strange.
Yes, pink was the ugly, bad color! Blue was special and perfect. Someday Sade would turn blue, when he had proved himself to his family. But for now he would be grey, and he would protect them.
The bushes next to them began to shake and twitch again, as though trying to rip free of the earth. Sade stared at them, ready to pounce on whatever emerged, tiny body crouched--
A startled cry came from his throat instead and he stumbled backwards. A huge wolf! Bigger than Momma! He wanted to hide, but he couldn't. Pav'ti wagged her tail behind him, and he grimaced. Couldn't she see that this was serious? Mustering up his courage, the small pup tottered up next to his mother and lent her his support. His small tail was raised in defiance as he barked furiously at these intruders.
Jori was slightly taken aback. She had expected an attack, an attempt on her pup's lives, something... but not this. This kid was complaining about blue wolves? A shiver of apprehension made its way down her spine but she supressed it. A deep breath to regain her composure, to consider her options.
But... what was wrong with blue? Nothing! A silent snarl crossed her muzzle. Nothing was wrong with it! It was beautiful, and it was natural. It was the color of the sky and the water, of flowers in the woods. And Jori certainly wouldn't let her daughter be influenced by a stupid pink imbecile. At least Leu had a somewhat understandable reason for his hatred of colors. This was ridiculous, and she wouldn't let it bother her!
"Something wrong with us, puppy?" She sneered, her lip lifting up to reveal bright white teeth. "I can make sure you don't see another --"
Kiros stepped onto the path, expression slightly abashed, and her words just dried up. For a moment all she could feel was a flash of cool, weakening relief. But that emotion was quickly lost in a jumble of thoughts and feelings. Suddenly she was desperate to get away. No confrontation, no questions asked. For so long she'd thought of what could be, what might be, but now that she was staring him in the face all her hopes fled. Jori's ears flattened in what might have been despair. She opened her mouth to tell him off, to yell at him, to plead with him - anything to get him to leave before he saw Sade and Pavati.
"Kiros, I --"
A brush of soft fuzz against her leg was the only warning she had. Before she could stop him. Sade had tottered forwards on unsteady legs, in clear view of both Kiros and the pink teen. Kealdrana Sasaiuni Pavati sneezed as her brother’s soft fur warmed her side. He kept pushing her back, and she found it more than a bit rude. A small puppy scowl came across her face, but that was the extent of her protest. Her ears perked up at the sound of his sweet voice – coupled with his sweet cinnamon smell. Yes, this was family. She wasn’t sure what was her fault, but she kept her head tilted to show she was very interested in what her brethren had to say.
Oh. That’s what was wrong. She thumped her tail lightly on the ground and shoved her muzzle towards her bug eater, delivering a sharp lick onto his nose. He was a good little brother, and he would always be there to protect her when times got rough. For now she was more than content to let him do it. The thought made her end beat a little faster on the forest loam. She barely heard the pink’s rants she was so absorbed in her family’s presence. She wouldn’t have understood it, besides, she had no knowledge of colors. To her, everything was the same eerie shade, and she relied mostly on smell. For this purpose she often walked with her eyes closed, trying to discover what it was like to be a blind wolf. Smell and sound were two components she desperately tried to strengthen, for she felt them the most important tools in life.
When Sade moved it was all the motivation that Pavati needed. Her eyes shut to the world, ears trained alert, and nose snuffling about to try and pick up on every single detail. She saw images through her nose, smells bringing vivid images and memories to her mind. It made her body shudder with glee, and a bit with fear, but it also told her to move forwards. Her tail flicking from side to side, she trudged forwards to join brother. The male newcomer that arrived smelled strange. It was a mixed smell of pain, love, and indecision, but mostly it screamed betrayal. She gave a small sniff towards mother, much of the same qualities. There was something vaguely familiar about it as well. It felt like he was half of her, that his scents collided with hers in several aspects.
Curious she curled her tail under her body submissively and slunk forwards. Her head was low, but titled up to get a view of this oddly smelling wolf. Her eyes were still closed, and she knew to halt only by the tickling off fur against her whiskers. Again with the wagging of tail. It was only then that she opened her eyes to gaze at the figure. Her mind saw an explosion of colors, blues, reds, blacks, whites, greys, there were just too many. Consequently her jaw dropped and he didn’t think to close it. “Half of me,” she said to it, and licked the tall wolf’s paw, for that was the only thing she could reach.
Kiros glared vehemently at the priss of a pink creature. What she said was nonsense; he certainly didn’t plan on dying anytime soon. His irritated emotions, however, were overridden by the sight of Jori. His raised fur had flattened into their normal position, and his ears flicked from forwards to aft, tail dropping slowly in submissive shock.
He hadn’t expected to see her here, ever. In fact, he assumed after Kara cast him out, chasing and biting at his heels in her fury of fire, that Jori would have forgotten about him. It hurt him more than anything to see her come here, but his heart still fluttered with joy at the sight of her. It wasn’t right, if Kara found out, she would be furious with Jori, he had to send her back, and quickly, before the red alpha discovered the blue’s absence.
He opened his mouth to speak, but a sudden light barking interrupted the beginning of his sentence. His eyes widened at the sight of the pup and he could feel a lump start to form in his throat. Kiros tried desperately to swallow it, and say something, but there was nothing but the cottonmouth taste from running to ‘save’ the pink wolf. He blinked twice, not wishing to admit that it was in fact a son of his that now defied him. But there was no mistaking those markings – they were far too much his to be anything else.
“Jori,” was all he could manage to say before a second pup came flaunting about its mother. If his eyes could have widened anymore, they would have. He remained on the edge of shock and anger, but there was something else beneath those two emotions, and it was growing stronger.
When the pup licked his paws it came pumping through his blood like a sweet rush. His whole body seemed to melt beneath the tongue of that vibrant blue coat. His tail raised a little and moved slightly to the side. As he rose to look Jori in the eyes it had risen to back level and was swinging wildly.
“Oh, Jori!” he announced gleefully, jumping up to show his excitement. He was careful not to squish his daughter in the process. “We have children!” The statement was simply to much for him, he bounded over to his ‘mate’, traveling in a circle around her. She looked a bit warn, but still more beautiful than ever, and their son and daughter, so brave! The playful energy in his system grew, and he gave Jori a light n** before doing a few more loops around her. Ronove With a squeak Sade scrambled backwards and out of the way of the approaching wolf. His heart beat fast against his ribs as he made a mad dash towards his sister. She was always getting into trouble! And he was certain, somehow, that someday he wouldn't be there to protect her. Although he didn't understand death, he understood pain. Sade nuzzled her clumsily. Her whiskers tickled his nose and he sneezed violently, rocking himself back on his haunches.
He managed a glare at Pavati, but it was somewhat ruined by the twitching of his nose.
"Stupid sister! He could have eaten you." But his tone was more worried than angry. Sade's ears flickered in confusion as he watched the other adult, choosing to stand rather than sit. His tail drooped slightly, posture uncertain.
This newcomer was blue too, and even Sade could recognize the markings on his back as his own.
He... was happy? Jori managed to keep her jaw from dropping, but couldn't keep the shock from registering on her features. The small blue had been so sure he would leave, be disgusted, act like... well, like her father had with her and her siblings.
But he was glad... she mulled the thought over in her head, taking time to understand it's implications. They could raise Sade and Pavati together. She wouldn't have to be alone in this! Jori raised her green eyes to meet Kiros' and gave a slightly wry grin.
"Really? I hadn't noticed." The response was weak at best, but it was out before she could stop it.
Although she had to admit, she'd been a bit suprised when she'd begun to show signs of being pregnant. After all, it had only been one night... She sat back on her haunches, keeping a watchful eye on the two pups. Kiros might have had the energy to bound in circles, but these past few weeks had been more than trying for her.
She would, however, try for a nuzzle once he settled down. Her tail began to beat a steady pattern on the forest floor, increasing slowly in time with her thoughts. A family! It could be just what she'd never had before...
"The blue girl is Pavati, and the grey boy is Sade."
And poor Sade was looking a little nonplussed at the moment. Jori pulled herself to her feet and padded tiredly over to her pups.
"It's alright." She nuzzled them affectionately, then turned back to Kiros. "This is your father." Kealdrana Sasaiuni All the joy that Kiros had felt was quickly washed away from his face. It wasn't Noy, mumbling about how corny this was, or Yisoka, who could just be barely heard in the bushes. It was a memory of his past, and how it would always come back to haunt him. He smiled lightly, but that was all he could manage, for the sickening feeling in his throat wouldn't let him do elsewise.
"Jori," he whispered, suddenly unable to look at the pups. "I can't support you and two pups." Two lone wolves couln't take care of two rambonxious and hungry animals. Plus, he had a past weighted on his shoulders, that would fover bring him down. He feared for the children's safety in the world he currently lived in. He still had things to do for Meskeet afterall. Besides that, there was the cougar, which the pups should learn to fear, not find companionship with. Noyama wouldn't treat them well, and everyone knew that she wouldn't hesitate to kill Pavati if Noyama deemed she'd lived too long.
No, Jori needed a good, solid pack. One with members in it already that would protect her at all costs. A loyal pack. That pack was Kara's. He knew that wolf well, to well sometimes. He knew she'd take Jori back, even with pups. It was Kiros she despised, with more passion than any creature he had ever known. The prospect of having pups to raise would probably overjoy the alpha - and Jori had done so well there. She seemed so confident in their midst, unlike the shyness she felt here.
"I'll take you back in the morning after you've rested." He shook his head and sight bitterly. He didn't want to leave them, seem like he was abandonning them, but there was little choice in the matter. It was the for the good of his offspring and Jori as well. Kiros just had to remember that he wasn't abandoning them, simply giving them a better life. Perhaps he could visit. . .
"How touching," came a sharp laughter from behind them. It came from Kara, looking a little more sadistic than she knew Kiros would have liked. Her maw was pulled back into one of her typical un-wolflike grins, tail held high. Behind her a cougar flicked its tail absently, lying on the soft forest loam.
"She was looking for you, Kiros," the cat said. "I figured I'd help." Kiros didn't register the growls, but Noyama was there, and she translated in a hurry. This was all very interesting for her. "You blue wolves always get your just deserts," she chuckled loudly, rising and trotting over to Pavati. "Wonder what little blue-face here would do if I snapped her neck?" Noyama gave a hard stare towards Jori, daring her to stop her.
"Don't touch her Noy." Kara's voice was stern and demanding. Noyama smirked, but made no further attempt at the pup. "Jori," she spoke, her eyes alight with fire. Forgiveness was not in the red's nature. She lived by the rules of kill, or be killed. She could never forgive Jori for 'betraying' her, but she also knew that love was love. Jori should have had a little self control, but the pups had no knowledge of their parents lives. They could be pardonned.
Growling at Jori she slunk forwards and locked her jaws around the scruff of Pavati's neck, lifting her off the ground. "Noyama, Sade." The pink wolf cocked an eyebrow, it was clear that the red didn't trust her with the almost all blue pup.
"Come here green thing," she said, wrinkling her nose and motioning to her side. She had no want to put a filthy youth into her mouth.
"Jori, I suggest you follow," Kara spat, and turned tail, Pavati not even trying to resist the 'kidnapping.'
Pavati could smell the fear in poor 'Half of Me'. She wagged her tail at him as she passed, her body dangling far from the ground. He would be okay, she told him with her eyes. They were safe with Thinks Like Fire. Besides, Bug Eater would protect them, so it would all be okay. Mother was coming with, and dad would stay here, and do what he needed to do. He could take care of mother and son later.
"Kara!" the voice caused Pavati to try turn to see what he was doing. The giant red head above her swiveled. The pup couldn't make out any emotion in Burns like Fire, but she could feel the tensing of muscles beneath her, which must have meant anger.
"Speak," the red growled, still holding Pavati sharply in her mouth.
"They are my brood." It was true, Pavati thought, father needed to raise them under his influence. She didn't want to lose 'Half of Me', and she hoped the red would pardon.
"A month, stay far, far away. Then, perhaps, I'll forgive you." The world blurred again as the red turned her head back and made forward progress. Ronove The smile on her lips dissolved as quickly as it had come - and her hopes of a family went with them. Jori stared hard at Kiros, searching for any signs of deception. Was he just saying this to get out of raising Pavati and Sade? But he looked as dejected as she felt. And she had to admit, it would be a hard life for her two children... for all of them. An unfair one. They deserved more.
"Maybe... maybe you won't have to leave!" Jori leaned forward eagerly. "From the packlands. Maybe..."
Jori looked away, down at Sade and Parvati. So beautiful... but their genetics would never lie. With marking like theirs, no one would have to ask who the parents were. Kara hadn't.
"Maybe Kara will forgive you." The words were barely audible. Jori knew that wouldn't happen, but she had to cling to something. Besides...
Forgive him? You mean forgive both of you. The small blue winced away from the truth and buried her nose in her daughters soft pelt. Love washed through her, but it was colored with so much sorrow. She couldn't see a way out of this. It was worth it. It was all worth it. She kept telling herself this over and over as she tried to swallow past the lump that kept forming in her throat. But it was so hard. She squeezed her eyes shut, her ears flat against her skull.
Sade squinted up at the larger wolf, still faintly suspicious of foul play. But Momma said it was alright, so he backed off his sister and cautiously went to inspect his father. He sniffed at the dark grey fur and felt a surge of recognition wash over him - it wasn't that he'd smelled this scent before... it was more that it was, well, a part of him. A part of Momma and Pavati.
He wagged his tail, slowly at first, then faster.
But when the grey wolf wouldn't look at him, Sade's tail slowed. He could smell the same fear that Pavati noticed, and he could feel the sadness from both his father and his mother.
Well, maybe they just needed someone to play with! Whenever he was upset, he went and played with Pavati, or ate some bugs. He always felt better after that! Certainly that was it.
With a short, sharp bark Sade nipped at the big grey and tottered away, tail wagging furiously.
Jori managed a faint smile at her son, but couldn't muster anymore than that. It was the familiar, dreaded voice that really drove the nail into the coffin. She spun in suprise, ears flattening as far as they could against her skull. Jori's back was to both Kara and Yisoka, so she'd seen neither of them approaching.
The site of the cougar was unsettling, but the site of her alpha was far worse. The small blue turned slowly, body hovering protectively over her pups. She couldn't meet Kara's eyes, so she stared at her feet. Hopelessness overcame her and she fell silent, unable to find the strength to form words.
It was Noyama's approach that brought her out of her thoughts and back to reality. Jori's eyes snapped up, meeting Noya's own with a gaze that should have been enough to kill. All her anger and frustration seemed to boil up at once, leaving her breathless and out of control. Pavati was helpless near their paws.
"You dare to touch her," Jori snarled, . "You even look at her the wrong way, and you'll be worse off than any blue wolf would ever be!" The last words weren't more than a growl as the small female lunged forwards, snapping her teeth at the teen's neck -
"Jori."
- she froze, ears flattening again. She stared at the ground as Kara shouldered past and snatched her daughter up. Things had gone so wrong so quickly. And all because of one night. A shudder ran through her body. She had betrayed the first wolf to show her any sympathy. Was she any better than the pack she'd come from?
Sade was pressed against her legs, eyes wide as he regarded the pink girl in front of him. Jori hardened her expression and lifted her lip in warning. "Get away." Her voice was soft, daring Noya to come closer. For a moment she was statue still, torn between Kara and Kiros-
Sade seemed to understand that something was wrong. He whimpered beneath her and pressed his fuzzy head into her leg. With a sigh she picked him up and slunk after Kara, tail tucked beneath her body. She couldn't bring herself to look back at Kiros, so she stared forwards.
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Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:18 pm
Reluctant Dismissal Ronove 
It hurt, but she supposed she deserved it. More than deserved it; she'd asked for it. But what was she supposed to do? Things had just... happened. And they kept doing so, spiraling further out of her control.
The small blue female slumped head on paws outside the den that she'd dug a few weeks back. Around her the sun had just begun to rise, but the woods were still a hazy blue-grey. Her fur was puffed up against the chill, tail tucked and wrapped around her nose. Jori gazed out across the frosty meadows, watching impassively as they brightened from silver to blue-green.
She huffed a sigh and looked away.
To be honest, it was probably the stupidest thing she could have ever done. You knew the circumstances, knew the situation all too well. She flicked her ears back and grimaced as her consciousness prodded her mercilessly. It was too true.
But despite all of this, she wouldn't take any of it back. Although they were asleep deep in the back of the den, Jori could feel Pavati and Sade. Just the thought of them filled her with hope. They were all she needed. They were the only thing she wanted out of life.
... right?
Jori curled tighter and stared absently into the cold grey dawn. Kealdrana Sasaiuni  Kara was at much at fault for Jori as to being in love. The only difference was she didn’t show it. As far as she was concerned, only Kaho knew, wherever that b*****d had gone off to now. She found him kind enough, but a bit foolish in his own intentions, and why he ever stood behind Phantom she couldn’t understand. The wolf he had once loved and fought for was dead, and there was no bringing him back, when he finally hit the deck by jumping off that cliff, it was just a soulless body flying from an equally bland rock. Good riddance, she thought. Yet Ran, and Kaho, both insisted on causing trouble in the Black forrest, now more than ever. It seemed they were locked into the world forever. Well she wasn’t going, that’s for sure. She’d stay right here with her misty river and her little group of traitors.
The mist from her exuded sigh wafted out above her, disappearing with the grey of the coming sky. It was such a beautiful place to behold at sunrise. It held mystery and awe at the tip of the tongue, yet you felt safe. The air wasn’t to terribly cold, but the forever running river created a steam which fogged up the valley. You truly had to know where you traveled in the land of the rivers. And Kara knew just where she was going.
Whether or not Jori had gone with Kiros, she still had pups that needed to be cared for. Kara had remembered when they had left in a huff, leaving the battered Kiros behind with a look of disdain on his face. It served him right. He’d committed the worst treachery when he was younger, and everything he dealt with now was deserved. She held this thought and used it as justification for everything she did against him. Had it not been for Jori she would have killed him long ago, but she held a soft spot for the blue wolf, even now. She’d said one month, then she’d let him here to see the pups. By then, she’d hoped to have them wary, and fending for the pack. He wouldn’t be able to cause trouble then. If he did, well, she could always sick ‘Neira on him. Not to mention she was sure Carey wouldn’t mind a bit of sport in chewing out his gut. If he proved himself, perhaps he could even stay for a time, but that was only if. In the mean time, the pups were still on milk, and vulnerable. One of the reasons she’d let Jori stay. There was simply no other option.
Kara rose her nose to the air, taking a sharp wiff, and she found the other’s scent. It was obvious that the blue wasn’t trying to stay completely hidden, but she wanted to avoid confrontation as well. Since the incident the two had spoken little. What was once a bond of loyalty was shattered by awkward silence, and Kara could feel the air pressing down on her everyday she went without pardoning the blue. But she was a wolf of justice and revenge, and she believed that if Jori could commit such an atrocity, then she deserved to feel the wrench in her gut.
Kara had her eating last at meals, and staying back when they went to hunt. Mostly keeping her out of natural joys. Today, however, she had a walk along the packlands planned. It wasn’t often that they ventured on the outskirts, it was dangerous, but thrilling. You had to know every step in order not to fall to your doom. Mostly, Jori would have to trust her for it to work, and the red was anxious to see if it would work. Head and tail held high she trudged towards the curled figure through the thin mist.Ronove Jori blinked and started awake. She'd drifted into sleep for no more than a half hour; the fog was still a silver-blue, the fields untainted with sunlight. But her dreams... she shuddered to remember them and resisted the urge to check on her pups. She could smell them behind her, safe in the dark.
Jori shivered and climbed to her feet. The hard ground had chilled her and left her stiff. How strange that so much could change so quickly. But it had happened to her before, so why should it be any different now? The blue gamma flicked an ear back. Maybe she should go back to sleep. It was the easiest way to forget about everything, even if it was only for a little while...
Movement in the pre-dawn fog caught her eye and she froze. Although these were protected packlands, that didn't mean no predators stalked the woods. A growl formed in her throat as her hackles rose. Jori lifted her nose to the air, searching - a breeze blew past, faint but strong enough to carry her scent with it -
Immediatly her posture changed. The growl died in her chest. Ear wavered nervously, tail tucked unconsciously beneath her body. A weight settled on her chest and she swallowed hard, waiting. Kealdrana Sasaiuni Kara stopped several times on the way to see Jori, trying to determine whether or not she wanted to talk to the soul. It was so hard to confront her, when there were visions of betrayal and death swarming her skull. Didn't Jori know the story? Why wasn't she still disgusted? Kara shook her head to try and get rid of the thoughts, and continued forwards, her blue eyes focused hard on Jori.
She could just make out a growl through the heavy mist, but she didn't bother to stop, if Jori wished to challenge her, they could have a fight here and now. Kara was sure she would win, for Jori had nothing to fight for. Except those pups. Yes, what was she to do about the two of them? She could smell them at the back of the cave, no doubt warming each other with their furry bodies. They weren't bound to the ties that Kiros and Jori were, but they were still born of ill intentions. Had she been truly cold, she might have killed them, but they didn't deserve the fate given them, and they could still redeem themselves.
"Jori," she spoke alloud, coming to greet the other with that same cold indifference she gave to so many wolves. She wasn't sure what to say with the other, but she knew she had to say something. Kara secretly wondered what was going on in the other's mind, and the minds of the pups. At more humorous times she might have cracked some sort of joke about the young one eating his sister, but she couldn't break the silence that held them today. The walk suddenly seemed like a bad idea, but she had come here with a purpose. Only thing was, she didn't know what to do with the pups.
"We're going to see Kiros," she decided upon. It seemed like such a bad idea, but where could the harm in it be. It had been a week, and the children at least needed to know their father didn't abandon him, though they wouldn't get any alone time. She'd be watching the culprit. If he made a move, he was a dead wolf. Ronove "Kiros?" The blue female tensed at the mention of his name. "Why?"
Not that she was unhappy at such a proclimation. Rather, just the opposite. But it was Kara who was offering this trip. What reason did the lanky red have to visit one she hated?
Certainly not for Jori's sake. Her green eyes darted up to meet Kara's own icy gaze, then glanced down quickly. The apha hadn't forgiven him, or her; that much was certain. Kara's manner warned Jori away from such foolish notions. Well, sometimes it was best not to question good luck.
"Ah, I mean..." Jori backed towards the den. "I'll get them. Pavati and Sade." She amended quietly and stooped to enter the den. Inside it was warm, filled with the remnants of her own body heat mingled with that of her pups. It smelled comforting and she almost wished she could just...
"Sade." She nuzzled the green-patterend back gently. "Pavati, wake up." The mess of grass and fur stirred, then sorted itself out into two pups. Sade blinked up at her sleepily and yawned. His tiny tail thumped on the ground and he whined happily.
"We're going to see your father." She nosed her blue daughter and urged them out into the pre-dawn chill. Kealdrana Sasaiuni Kara snorted at Jori, she figured the other would be overjoyed, but if Jori regretted her descision that much, so be it. They didn't have to go. Kara shrugged and was about to turn and leave Jori standing there when the blue seemed to change her mind. That was more like it. Perhaps she had just been shocked by the strangeness of Kara's descision.
Kara nodded and waited for Jori to fetch the pups. They were such pretty, innocent souls, and they always made her smile when she saw them. In time, perhaps in their teens, they would no doubt become intolerable, or so she'd heard. That was still many days away, and for now they were to go see their own blood.
Kara said nothing as Jori brought the two pups. Instead, she turned around and made her way back through the mist, walking calmly, as though nothing in the world were wrong. The silence seemed to stretch for ages as she traveled, and finally, she had to say something for fear of losing what little sanity she had left.
"Why?" she asked, turning her head back to look at the trio walking just as quietly behind her. The pups appeared to be a slight bit chilly, but other than that unphased. Still, Kara was agitated, and she wanted answers. Ronove For a long moment Jori didn't answer. After all, what did it matter why she'd done what she had? It was over. Proof scampered at her feet and licked dirt on the side of the trail.
"Sade, stop it."
Her voice sounded dull even to her and was lost in the dense mist. But Although Sade might not have heard, he seemed to decide dirt wasn't as good as it looked. He shook his tongue off with a look of great disgust and took off running, barely managing to avoid getting tangled in Kara's legs.
She watched Pavati next to her and wondered how long it would take. How long before they committed an act that would change their lives? They were young now, sure, but give them time... "Did you never committ an act you regretted?" Jori couldn't keep the bitterness out of her voice, although she tried. Kealdrana Sasaiuni Kara watched Sade as he caused trouble. Such funny youth. Jori didn't seem to terribly impressed. Then again, dirt probably wasn't the best thing to eat, at any time of day. She stopped walking as he darted under her legs, worried she would trip herself. She never did have the balance of a physically perfect wolf, but she hid it well.
Pavati was as less impressed with Sade than her mother. "Bug Eater, don't be so foolish," she muttered, flicking her paws left and right to try and rid them of the awful dew that was sticking to her fur. She looked up to Jori when her mother spoke, it was a strange sound that she didn't often hear from the adult. She wondered if they got like this when they were sad. She didn't, or so she hoped. It was a nasty sound.
Kara stopped, turned, and stared at Jori. Time began to teeter, waiting for her to make a move, distrupt the silence, but she refused. Thoughts of Ran danced in her head. How dissapointed Kaho would be. For that matter, anyone that could read her thoughts. How disgusting she was.
"All the time, Jori," she said, looking away with saddened eyes. Could she really blame her? Wasn't she more at fault than the other? She'd like to think not, but her heart told her otherwise.
"Come, I don't know where he is, and the pups can't go too far," she kept her eyes down, head low, and her tail was not heald so high as before. Ronove The response wasn't the one Jori had expected and it startled her. She'd expected self-righteous anger, hatred towards the one who had betrayed her... but not sorrow. She huffed, uncertain, irritation boiling up out of place and unavoidable.
"I wouldn't change anything, you know!" She blurted, coming to a defiant stop. "But I wasn't asking for me." Jori looked her alpha in the eye for the first time in a long time. But the contact only lasted for a second, then she looked away; her voice sank and she seemed to wilt, the anger dissapearing as soon as it came. "I was asking for him."
The last bit was little more than a whisper. "I was hoping..."
The past was the past. Nothing could change it. They all knew it, and yet everyone seemed determined to be ruled by it, herself included. Why couldn't they move on? Jori shivered slightly and watched Sade as he pounced through the tall grasses on the pathside.
"... that you might forgive." Jori spoke more to herself than anyone. Kealdrana Sasaiuni Kara's heart was far too low to even try and meet Jori's anger. It was natural, to want to fight for something you loved. Heck, she'd fight for Ran tell the end of time, but at the same moment, there was a deep resentment for the shaman. Perhaps it was that she didn't understand, or did, and couldn't bring herself to tell Kara she needed to stop and turn. Even Kaho wouldn't give her a definate answer.
She shook her head, trying to chase away the thoughts, but it only resulted in a choking sound. Why couldn't she forgive? Why not? He was raising a family.
"Don't judge me, Jori," she whispered, for in that moment her eyes flashed.
They were at the edge of the river, its power raging and dragging her soul down with it. Before she knew it, she was falling, down towards that waiting water. And in that moment she closed her eyes and uttered three small words,
Rest my soul
Before the rush of water flew around her ears. There was no surviving the current, not at this hour and this time. Whether she had jumped, or fell, she decided she'd never know, but she didn't bother to try and struggle for air, just let the river carry her where it will.
She heard the yell, "KARA!"
It was the first time the small blue wolf had ever spoken her true name, and it would forever be the last. Ronove Anger shivered through her. "I wasn't judging. I was asking you --"
Jori paused and stared hard at the alpha. "...Kara?"
The blue started to take a step forwards, concern almost palpable. But then she hesitated and drew back, eyes growing blank and dark. The edge behind Kara seemed to draw nearer... surely Kara herself was aware of it. Surely she knew the river raged below...
She kept her mouth shut and hated herself for it. She watched, silent, as Kara stepped backwards and slipped... She met the lanky red's eyes, expecting shock and fear. Instead she found only what could be regret, or relief. Jori blanched. Her legs shook with a mixed desire to lunge forwards, to dive in and rescue her, to do something! ... and the knowledge that life would be a little easier if she just let this happen. It's better this way... better if she's gone. Pavati and Sade can grow up with a father. It's better.
So she told herself. The shaking in her limbs was due to weariness, not sorrow. Not shame. Frozen on the edge Jori stood silently as the current swept her best friend away.
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Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:22 pm
Speaking of Oceans RonsoStryder  Where was it?
Sora wrinkled his muzzle in mild frustration as his ears fell back, a slight huff emitting from his maw as he sat down upon his haunches. He was still new to the woods and navigation never was the same since he was separated from Riku. His tail thumped behind him while his cerulean orbs glanced around in all directions. This certainly was not the place where the ocean met the coastline. There was nothing but trees, trees and more trees. Where was the open coastline? Where was the smell of the salt that could pierce ones very nostrils? The surf? The sand?
Stifling a low whine that yearned to solace into a howl, the young adult furrowed his brows. "Okay, okay," he breathed with a more sense of composure as he began drawing a pathway in the sand with his claw. "I started at the begining of the woods, took a right like the kid said, followed the river and-"
Shaking his head and closing his eyes, Sora sighed, "I'm lost again."
Shifting his oddly patterened paws foreward, the young wolf slinked onto his stomach. His necklace softly clinked and jostled upon his neck but he didn't mind it much. All his mind could think about was how to get to his destination.
"Does anyone know where the ocean is?" He yelled, hoping that someone, something or anything was out there or could help him in his dilema. Flopping his paws over his eyes, Sora closed his eyes and awaited for any response.Kealdrana Sasaiuni Sora would have had to travel a very long way to have come where he was now. For this was Kara's packlands - far, far from any sea. How the lone became this lost, well, Pavati would have to ask it, but she didn't even know what an ocean was, so she was completely lost.
Not that it much mattered anyway, the small creature of Jori's brood was off exploring their territory, sniffing up things to do. She wasn't a trouble maker, and she stayed exactly where mother told her to, which was the case now, as well. She had no idea another wolf could find their way in this extremely well hidden place, but then again, not everyone had followed the river in here. It wasn't a nice journey in, or out, of the Packlands. You had to know exactly where to go, or the going was treacherous. Clifftops, raging waters, it made it almost impossible to leave or to come, but obviously not completely, for there was a new smell wafting not too far away.
Whether or not Pavati felt it threatening, it was often hard to tell. She was such a quiet pup, only speaking when necessary, and keeping most of her thoughts to herself. Only the seers knew what was going on in her mind, but she'd never met one for them to know. One thing was for sure, though, Pavati felt it her duty to go and investigate the situation. No doubt mother would want to know, as well as Thinks like Fire. It was quite boring round abouts, who could it hurt to say hello?
She trundled her way over to the wolf, who appeared to be talking to himself. Pavati hadn't met many, but she couldn't imagine it to be a very healthy practice. It was lost, apparently, from how it was wailing.
"Blue wolf doesn't even know what an ocean is," Pavati told him, using blue wolf as the name for herself. She was very blue, and in time she'd grow out of using anything but I, or we, but for now, in puphood, she sounded rather young with her speaking. "Why is Hairy Head looking for it?" Hairy Head was of course referring to Sora, for Pavati had no name for the wolf. RonsoStryder What was this? Footsteps? Just as his ears perked upwards, alert and certain that someone had heard his cry, a gentle and innocent voice broke through the silence. Withdrawling his paws from atop his eyes, Sora found himself looking into the emerald orbs of a young pup- a female pup to be correct. A warm, friendly smile drew across his maw as he could only hope that she could help him at least decifer how far away he was or where exactly he was for that matter.
"Hey there!" He greeted as his tail thumped merrily upon the ground. Since his travels he hadn't come upon many wolves and, perhaps, that beared testament as to how far off track he really was but he never did acknowledge that as a sign. "The ocean is like a big lake that surrounds part of the land. Do you know where the water touches the land?"
He'd hoped that perhaps an older wolf might have found him wallowing and could have easily directed him but this seemed like his only chance and the only person who was avaliable for assistance. For now, he have to settle with trying to speak in a manner so he wouldn't confuse the poor pup. But he was a type of wolf who adored puppies and hopefully some sort of magnatism could help he and the pup understand one another.
"I'm Sora," he smiled with a gesture towards himself with his paw. "Do you know where I am?" Somewhat forgetting his manners, the young wolf grinned and tilted his head slightly to the side, his necklace sliding in the same direction. "And who might you be?" Kealdrana Sasaiuni Pavati nodded as he began to explain the ocean to her, and she fed every little bit of it to her brain. She could catch bits and pieces, trying to make a vision out of it, but there wasn't much to could get ahold of. She had never seen such a large body of water, and so to imagine it was quite hard on her small, young brain. "We have lakes," Pavati said allowed, to try and help her and him at the same time. "Some surround all of the land. Big." She stretched out her whole body to try and show him. "Big." But that was all she knew. Her mother had never told her of the ocean, but perhaps Thinks Like Fire would no.
"Blue wolf is called, Pavati, by mother. . . " she was about to tell him what brother called her, but she held back, thinking that was a special thing that only her sibling could say to her. "Blue Wolf will call you Hairy Head. Sora is hard to say." That wasn't a lie, she had trouble with s's, and so she tried to avoid them at all costs.
"You are in River country," she beamed. She knew just where they were. Thinks Like Fire called it the beautiful middle of no where. It was called Safety to her. It was, most definately river country. "Did you get lost in the fog, many of us get lost in the fog." It was more appropriately, mist from the warm water's of the river and ground, but Pavati did not know this.
"But Thinks Like Fire knows places. She could tell you." Pavati wagged her tail with pride. RonsoStryder "Yes," he nodded as his voice was soothing and calm, a friendly smile still settled upon his maw. "Big like lakes but surrounds part of the land." He was getting somewhere but he could tell that the young female really had no idea what the ocean was like.
"Really, really, big."
When she spoke her name, Sora nodded. "Pavati, nice to meet you." It wasn't until he was deemed the name of 'Hairy Head' that the young adult chuckled softly.
He had only met a few wolves who haid hair atop their heads and ever since he could remember he always stuck out from the crowd because of the tapered spikes that graced atop his head. "Hairy Head, sounds good to me," he grinned.
As the young pup continued to answer his questions, Sora glanced about. This was River country? He certainly didn't remember the old wolf telling him that he'd cross through any River country. Furrowing his brows as he tried to recount and recollect his steps, Sora nodded. "I got lost in the fog. It's hard to see around here," he replied as his confusion was moreso starting to make some bit of sense. From where the path diverged, Sora must have taken the wrong route which had cost him to set himself back and off course. Somehow he had winded up far, far away from his destination.
"Thinks Like Fire?" He replied as his ears perked up. "They can help me get to the ocean?" Countless thoughts were bombarding his every train of thought, the idea of finding the pack he was instructed to find help from made him beam an unbearable smile.
"Can you take me to them?" Kealdrana Sasaiuni Pavati was confused as to why the other liked to repeat things. She got in on the first go, what she wasn't getting was exactly what it looked like. It didn't help to tell her the same thing over and over again, but she guessed the other couldn't help it. He told her he got lost in the fog. That was definately what she'd been thinking. It was the only thing that made sense. A feeling of stress washed over her, and she felt she needed to sit down. The ground was comforting beneath her weary body, she'd been adventuring a lot today.
She approved of him taking after her name. It was a good name, as were all her names, very fitting. It didn't make sense to be named some random slur of sounds, she could tell nothing of that. Heck, she couldn't even distinguish colors at her age, so every descriptive word given to her she soaked up like a giant blue 'ocean' spunge.
She nodded at him. That was the red ones name. "Yes." Pavati knew Kara could take him there, whether she wanted to or not was a different story. The red wolf tended to be a bit testy.
"I . . . can try," she whispered. "Blue Wolf doesn't know much about this place yet. Thinks Like Fire might be worried you are to steal Blue Wolf away. Best keep close, so she know's Pavati is not harmed by you." With that, she turned and stuck her nose to the ground, trying to sniff her way back to mother's cave. Even if mother was not there, Thinks Like Fire was babysitting them. Snoozing, last time she had checked, but that was okay, because she'd be back before Thinks Like Fire was ever awake, she hoped. RonsoStryder Sometimes describng things to puppies wasn't the easiest and Sora could decipher that he was repeatedly confusing poor Pavati. He had a hard time perfecting or going about how to word and make things easy for a younger audience to understand and this certainly was something he had to overcome.
His cerulean orbs became more brillant as he smiled from ear to ear, his tail wagging back and forth in an estatic motion. Perhaps this Thinks Like Fire could direct him to where he needed to go or, better yet, could lead him on the right path and out of the River country. Sora would be closer to meeting the one some call the Punk wolf and also to finding Riku as well.
"Okay," he nodded with attentiveness, noting the details and how to present himself once both he and Pavati had returned to where the older wolfess resided. Staggering upwards onto all fours, Sora stood there watching as the small female pup began re-tracing where the scents resided that would lead her in the direction of home once again. Standing as his mind continued to revel in the idea of the ocean and his lost friend, Riku, Sora could only fear that the nagging thought at the back of his mind wouldn't actually come true.
He knew he was in a different place and most likely packlands since small pups were lurking about but if he was thought a threat then-
"Let's just hope no ones out for blood," he whispered softly to himself, coaxing his worries that all would be well and the sooner he knew where to go and leave the better. Kealdrana Sasaiuni Pavati had no idea what Hairy Head meant by being out for blood, she'd never encountered such violence as a pup. All she knew was what mother and Kara told her. The two were often bickering amongst themselves so often they hardly had time to explain anything to brother or she, and therefore she was left in the dark. Consequently, she teneded to be as observant as possible, soaking up all the information necessary for a pup to grow strong and healthy. By no means was she alone, or unloved, however. The two woman were often giving her more love than she could take, but for now, the situation between the two of them was far too complex for her to understand, so she just ignored what didn't seem potent.
It wasn't very far to Kara, Pavati found. She hadn't wondered nearly the distance she thought, and the friendly, strong smell of Thinks Like Fire wafted up her nasal passage. She resisted the urge to bark a welcoming, if the fire wolf was tired and resting it would not be good to disturb her.
However, to Pavati's luck, she was not. Instead, the red had her nose stuck in the river, sneezing now and then. It looked to the blue wolf like Thinks Like Fire was trying to drown herself my snuffing up liquid. It was a strange thing to do, stick your nose in water. "T.L.K.?" she questioned, staying right next to Sora's side so as not to alarm the red.
Kara flicked her head up from what she was doing, cleary not enthralled with Pavati coming up behind her like that. Kara had always told the young wolf she was quiet, but the blue wolf had no idea what the red wolf had meant by it, so she had simply wagged her tail. "Who's that?" Kara questioned, snapping her head towards the one called Sora. Pavati was greatful she hadn't yet stood up. Kara was no small wolf. Not very muscled and tough, persay, but when she stood, Pavati was sure her head touched the sky. She'd found no wolf taller in all her years of life, though she had seen a few that were wider.
"Hairy Head," Pavati piped, coming to curl next to Kara. It had been a long day, and she was in need of a nap. She doubted the new wolf would mind. "So literal," the pup heard Kara chuckle.
"What is it you need?" Pavati's warm spot moved, and she released a little snuff of her own. Quite obviously Kara was standing, and Pavati hoped the other wolf wouldn't be too intimidated by her size. RonsoStryder Carefully trodding aside the pup, Sora's mind continued to be in a whirlwind of thoughts. He was optimistic, yes, but at the same time he couldn't help but question how this all was to work out.
For now, he was to trust in the small blue pup, Pavati, hoping that her family would be able to sort out his ordeal and help him be on his way.
Coming closer to where the river snaked through the forest, his cerulean eyes narrowed to where a red wolfess resided with her muzzle dipped into the depths of the river. He stood there, calm and collected as Kara set her gaze upon him and stood at full height. She wasn't as small as most wolfess and certainly held a stature that was somewhat intimidating and startling. But if he wanted to get some help, it would be in his best interest to show respect and chivalry.
"Could you please show me the right direction where I can find the coastline? I got lost in the fog and stumbled off course." A warm smile trailed upon his maw as his tail behind him wagged in a casual manner.
"I'm looking for a pack that lives by the ocean. Do you know of them?" Kealdrana Sasaiuni Pavati opened one eye to look at Sora. He didn’t seem in any state of shock. It was good, but it was also a disappointment. She enjoyed having others gawk at Kara’s size. It made her feel special to be an adopted daughter of the red when others gave such a response. All thoughts aside, a small wag came to her tail. The two seemed to be getting well enough along, and Kara was sure to help him.
Unfortunately, as far as Pavati knew, there was no pack on the ocean. Kara might know, but she had never heard the red speak of it. Though Pavati did notice the red was often out and about. Perhaps she visited this pack by the sea. Maybe they had an alliance against all the evil in the world and someday they’d fight a giant pack battle for justice, her brother leading them. Alas, the small blue wolf became so carried with her own thoughts she drifted into a dream, thinking up imaginary giant lake wolves with very thick locks of head hair.
Kara looked back to the sleeping pile of fluff. Jori was out doing other things, she wasn’t sure where, but it didn’t really matter. She couldn’t leave the two pups here alone while Jori was off. She had an obligation to protect her packlands. She could, however, tell him the direction out, it wouldn’t be too easy to get back in, and he didn’t seem a threat.
She simply gave him a nod and crept forwards a bit to get a good view of exactly where they were. Kara didn’t want to give him a wrong set of directions and make him end up some place far off course. “Out there,” she motioned with her head to a distant rumble and a thick cloud of rising mist. “Is the fast river. It flows all the way down to the edge of the packlands. If you follow it, there’s a small break. You’ll know it by the set of three rocks perfectly aligned from small to tall.” She sat down for a moment. It had been so long since she had traveled to the sea. She had never seen a wolf pack there, however. “From there, follow the setting sun. I wish you luck.” She shook her head, but still gave him a light tail wag, coming back to sit down next to Pavati. He was now officially nonexistent to her. If he had stayed, she might not have cared. RonsoStryder Watching as the red wolfess moved out a bit, Sora followed behind her and set his gaze to where Kara directed. His ears flickered as he listned to her directions, nodding his head as his silver necklace shifted and clinked softly. How he ever managed to stray far away from his set route was beyond his recollection but he'd have to make up for lost time. Though the long journey ahead did not seem like the easy way out, Sora would have to endure whatever would come his way and find his way to his destination once again.
Exhaling a small breath as he nodded his head, concluding and intaking every ounce of guidance that was offered to him, Sora pivoted back to face the one called Thinks Like Fire and the small blue pup, Pavati.
"Thanks for you help, Kara," he smiled as he glanced back tow where the thick clouds of mist were gathering and rising. Sweeping his head towards the right as his spiked locks of brown hair swept away from his eyes, Sora looked towards Pavati and grinned. "And thank you, Pavati."
Slowly turning around, the young wolf began trodding down the small pathway through the thick forests. He didn't know how long it would take him or what exactly he'd find along the way but if it was to guide him to the ocean or even to find his friend, Riku, he'd walk the path for as long as it would guide him.
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Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 11:20 am
Dwelling Kealdrana Sasaiuni The afternoon air was a foreboding one, greys, whites, and blacks swirling to create varius dark cyclones. The wind howled in laughter at those that dared to brave its uncanny ways, but a particularily foolish wolf was out moseying. She had never been one to like storm’s, coming from the harsh climate of the desert, but it also meant there was no natural fear of them. What she knew was the flash of light and the sudden torrent of rain. Not these gentle patters of water followed by heavy gusts of the air. To her, it felt more like the sensation of flying than anything else, as the wind threatened to lift her off her feet.
The red wolf was off running again, trying to shake the treachery that Jori had so heavily hammered on her head. That, and thoughts of Ran would drifted through her mind now more than ever. For Kara the combination of these two things was almost too much. She’d even almost gone as far as to tell Jori she was liable for the pack if anything were to happen. These small things had driven her nearer to insanity than she had ever known, and now all she wanted to do was find Kaho. He knew her situation, and she desperately wanted his advice. It could be vague, but she wanted to hear it, or at least become mad with the wolf, because he was so very foolish. Alas, he was no where to be found, as he often wasn’t. He only showed up when she wanted nothing to do with him, and vanished otherwise. Annoying, despicable creature.
Her feet pounded into the earth with each heartbeat. The rivers of her packlands had long folded away behind her, prints washed away with the running mud-rivers of early spring rain. Her pack wouldn’t be worried, however. They were used to the tall, scrawny alpha suddenly disappearing. They knew she’d never abandon them, except Jori. Kara could see the worry in her eyes, and it was all Kiros’ fault. She’d take his life someday, and to hell if anyone would try and stop her. GlacialWolf  The rain had drenched his fur so heavily that Fierj was nearly a brown. He paced heavily against the wind and the rain, searching for something to protect him from the torrent of the storm. Flashing lightning threatened him, and his ears folded back. For now there was no real escape, sapling trees did little to break wind. Leaves and branches battered him, and all the lonely male could thing was that he was lost, and there was nothing to keep him from feeling so. Abandoned. He looped back and forth, staring into the oncoming storm as if searching for the pack who had dissapeared, leaving him behind not so long ago. Perhaps they had abandoned him purposely. Fierj's ears pressed flat against his head and he snarled above the storm, a threatening posture at nothing. The weather was starting to engulf him, and honestly he liked it that way. Difficult to see even his bright colors thruogh it, hard for anyone to see the anger of his position. They probably had abandoned him on purpose, the whole hunting trip had been a ruse. Taken away to a forgien land and left there in the rain, where there was no hope of him tracking the trail of his supposed friends, those he would have even called his family. Smells washed away by torrents of water. His head lowered in the hopelessness of his thoughts. He was nearly battered over by a sudden gust, leaving deep claw marks across the soft earth. Someone had to have ordered it, his problem with authority had become too much he supposed. Though Fierj had little problem doing what was needed, he had a strong dislike for that bossy, authoritative tone. His unrest within the society was the reason, it had to be the reason. Another deep snarl into the storm, and he was so lost within his own thoughtfulness that he didn't even catch the scent of a running figure in the wind, and he should have caught it. As the hunter he should have noticed, and that would be another thing he could question about himself, another thing he had been sure of that could be uprooted. Kealdrana Sasaiuni Kara had little mind for the wolf that was snarling death threats at the sky, for she did have her own problems. At the moment, it was whether or not the river would take her soul back. She desperately clung to life with as much reason as she could muster, yet the raging waters were so simply delightful she couldn’t help but think to throw herself right in. In fact, had there been any source of water anyplace nearby she wouldn’t have hesitated from jumping – which of course was only there for people with death sentences.
None the less, there was still a bit of sanity left in her mind, and there, not too far away was something that promised hope. He may not have been very pretty, drenched in such mud, but to her he was the hero of his time. For he had placed himself right there, where Kaho should have been, and so Kara automatically assumed he could take the place of the butterfly covered wolf.
Pinning her ears back she slunk her way over to the other, tail held high, clearly showing her dominance. She wouldn’t have any games this time, nor any sassy comments. In fact, if they other wolf provoked her she had no problem with delivering a sharp snap to several pressured areas of the body. Other wolves were so detestable. If she had anything left in her stomach, she might have wretched.
“You know,” she growled, sliding past trees in a circle around the brightly mud coated wolf. “It does you little good to bicker at the rain.” Her head was positioned quite high in the air, eyes watching the gamma with a firm indignation. He was interrupting her little rant to herself, her depression, and he wasn’t Kaho. Most certainly he wasn’t Ran. Heck, even if he had been Kiros she would have felt better, but not this mud-slimed, two-toned excuse for what should have been a wolf. GlacialWolf It was the voice that broke his thoughts, as though the female had appeared out of the saplings to startle him directly. He leaped and faced her, taking a firm grip on the ground, and without much thought gave her the full brunt of the glare and anger that was not meant for her. Teeth flashed, and the gamma bristled quite literally from nose to the tip of his tail. It could have been one of his old pack, and then the vicious stare would have been justified. Once this wolf had been confirmed as a complete stranger, his aggressive stance faded. However, Fierj raised his head and tail just enough to show he wasn't a pushover, almost enough to be a challenge. Almost. That was how he was, indecisive. His entire expression and posture gave off the air that he was unsure of how to react. One ear back in friendship, the other forward. Teeth not quite bared. After all, this was not his alpha. Even if she had been, he may have been just as odd looking in his expression. Unsure of what had happened to him. Drenched and pacing in a torrential rain. Fierj was certain that he probably looked rather comical considering the circumstance. It probably wasn't often that a wolf snarled challenges to the thunder. Though he couldn't help but be curious about this female. Her air of supiriority irritated him, but beyond that there was the fact that she too was running through the storm. More than that, she had paused her swift venture to circle him. Strange situation, and Fierj wished he could pause to examine it more closely. He watched the soaked red female with just his eyes, quite firmly rooted to his spot. It would not be good to move until he had settled out of his startled state. He took a deep breath and made a failing attempt to relax. "When the rain carries away hope, sometimes bickering with it is unavoidable. A reaction, perhaps." There, finally the bristles along his back settled. One thing that would do little good was getting injured in a silly battle far from home. Now the only expression that came through was the dissapointment that this was not someone to come back for him, and perhaps he was truly lost to the world. Kealdrana Sasaiuni Kara was more angered by the other wolf’s outburst than he might have presumed, but it had been what she wanted. To have someone else to be ticked off, feel low, and get the brunt of life’s full fist. If he hadn’t reacted in such a violent way she might had smacked him hard in the gut herself, just to prove a point. Life sucked when you were around her. Deal with it. He was however, oddly familiar. There was something about the way he held himself, reacted, kept the confusing signals coming wave after wave. Yes, she saw it now, he was a younger her. Back before she’d taken on the curse of responsibility. Before she’d come across Ran, Kaho. Phantom even. A ping of hatred flared over her heart, and that urge to jump rushed over her again. Flee, anything to get away from those memories.
His answer made her snort. He spoke of hope, and reactions. Foolish, childish things. She didn’t want him to learn, though, didn’t want that perfect innocence to be scarred. Not like hers was, everywhere she went. Used to be a happy wolf, she did, until these things started happening. Now she only wanted to kill or be killed. The latter seemed to have more justification at the moment.
“There is no hope to wash away,” she snapped bitterly, turning her head to the sky. Drip. A single memory flooded away as she could feel her body go numb. Drip. Splatter. Splatter. Her muscles twitched slightly, but her mind gave way to only the speaking of the storm. How dreary a day to match the dreary of heart.
“Why don’t you bicker with yourself instead?” She turned her head back to focus on his estranged figure. “It seems you put yourself here, not the weather.” GlacialWolf Fierj moved without telling his muscles to do it, a fluid turn of the head to lock eyes with the red wolf. The stare told volumes, everything welled to the surface for just that very moment. He gave her the lupine smile of apology, and turned back to stare blindly through the trees. That bitterness in her voice, the harsh tone. Perhaps in another time he may have reacted with his usual unruly glance before shuffling away without a word. Strange how things change when one is uprooted. Perhaps she would come to understand, perhaps she already did. Again his thoughts returned to her abrupt appearance before he responded, "There is always hope. It may not be the kind you are looking for, but there is hope.." He trailed off, wondering. He wasn't certain if he wanted to focus on this female, or continue to be drowned in his own thoughts. Letting her take his mental attentions meant he had less time to decide if he hated them all or not, for dissapearing. Fierj reduced his stance and uttered a heavy sigh, knowing that in this case the hope wasn't the kind he was looking for. No use searching, especially now. "I could always bicker with you, since you are inviting it." Inwardly he let himself glimpse a taste of pride at the comment. "And we share the same predicament, don't we? I doubt a wolf such as you could accidentally lose herself in a storm." He turned again, to watch her curiously. No, there probably hadn't been a reason for him to be so startled. Underneath they were all the same, and the harshness of this one could be covering for something else. Few were genuinely mean. Head tilted in mild thought, Fierj spoke again, "Because you are such a wolf who would not accidentally lose herself, what is it that has you here? I'm curious." Kealdrana Sasaiuni Kara watched him, her eyes no longer wide with contempt, but soft with understanding. He wasn’t going through what she had, but no sorrow was the same. Certainly there was something. She hated this depressing talk. Why couldn’t he be a happy wolf? Why was everyone so damn sad? He may have had some sort of optimism in the way he talked about hope, but it was still that of a fool. Poor soul, he didn’t actually think the truth really was that, did he?
“Bicker if you will,” she told him. He could say all the things in the world, but it wouldn’t matter, because he wasn’t like him. She doubted he had her problem. “Lose myself?” She shook her head at the preposterousness of the comment. “You’re right. I chose to come out this way in the middle of the dreaded thing.” There was nothing wrong to admitting something that was clearly your fault. At least she still had honesty to look forwards to in the world.
For a moment she considered not to tell him. It was, in fact, none of his business and by standards she had every right to go off on him for such a comment. They had only just met, and certainly he didn’t want a life story. Yet, telling her flaws was what she had come over with the intention of doing, was it not? Perhaps there was a slight bit to be gained. A sigh escaped her lips. He wasn’t Kaho, but he could do.
“I want to lose myself.” Her eyes contained a tinge of hurt, staring off into some other world, remembering times and places. “If I disappear, I would find it wonderful. To leave all this behind and start anew?” The thoughts brought a bitted laugh deep within her throat. “But that’s always my solution, running, I’m tired of running. So I think perhaps I should swim?” There was a long pause. “You don’t seem stupid enough to be out here in the rain, why?” A question for a question. An answer for an answer. GlacialWolf Fierj did indeed go by his own philosophies. To him there was always hope, just like there was always a choice. Life was branches. The trouble with that was, if you wanted to get to another branch, sometimes you had to cross the ones that were narrow or had thorns. It was the way of the universe, you could decide to change or flee but often the alternative to one's situation was not worth the trek to get there. Still, that didn't mean the hope or the choice was absent. He looked around curiously. "Are we not swimming?" Softly the male chuckled to himself, a bad attempt at lightening the mood. He fully made the turn to look at her, and sat back in a respectful pose. It meant he would have to do some real swimming later, to clean his fur, but that would be alright. For now, hearing a voice was better than being alone. She knew, on some level she understood, though their situations were at this point decidedly opposite. One running, one searching. It made sense, somehow. "I appreciate your compliment." It was a momentary dodge of the question, while he collected his thoughts. How to explain it? Saying everything aloud was difficult. His gaze cast to the ground for the first time in the conversation and he broke his silence, "I am lost. They left me here, and I cannot trace them. That is why its washed away part of my hope." Another pause, and he took a deep breath, "I haven't been able to figure out why yet. I suppose that really doesn't matter." Fierj looked up with a bitter smile, his whole demeanor best described as an odd mixture of hate, dissapointment, and loss. He wasn't sure why he'd told her. A need for communication perhaps. Always a social wolf, despite all the unhappiness in his position in life. Forced this way because of his reluctance and quiet nature despite the underlying fire. "So I would not reccomend dissapearance, my lady, unless you are certain you are prepared for it." Quickly he winced, hoping the statement wouldn't be taken as an advance. It was only meant to be polite, gentlemanly maybe. 'My lady' was not the best thing to call a wolf one had just met. Then again, the whole meeting had thusfar been full of screwups on his part, in posture, language, and a questioning nature. Fierj blamed his situation. Kealdrana Sasaiuni It was funny how others decided things for you. He talked of things that had abandonned him, and she talked about losing those things she'd grown to know. She'd have to talk to Jori, then she could finalize it. From there, the world would decide.
There was something oddly funny about the whole situation. As though what she knew was close at hand was already occuring. It wasn't a nice thought, for most, but at this moment, on the very edge of her insanity it was the most vibrant thing she had ever felt.
"Well," she said, cocking an eyebrow. "I hope we fail to meet again someday." With that, she left, her tail and head swinging low with the retaken position of the lone she was at heart.
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Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 8:52 pm
Near Death Kealdrana Sasaiuni The storms had come and passed, leaving the sweet smell of new life sprouting out of the earth rich on the nose of a certain blue pup. She was out galavanting as young things do, but instead of for fun, she was finding someone. Kara had been gone for days now, and hadn’t brought or otherwise for the pack among the rivers. Pavati had instinctively felt something was off, with all the adult wolves snapping at each other. It was always a sad thing when the red wolf left.
Pavati had decided to come to everyone’s aid, and so had trecked out on her own. She hardly gave mind to think her mother might worry. The only thing that was intent on her mind was to find Thinks Like Fire, and bring her back. Perhaps she would scold the adult for putting them all to worry. A small wag was on her tail as she drug her nose along the dirt, searching for any sign of the alpha.
The events when on for hours, morning fell into afternoon, and midday to evening. There was still no scent at all by the time night fell over the landscape. It was only then did the blue wolf begin to worry. She could see well in the darkness, but she’d never encountered it without her mother before. Pavati found her small mind become distracted, so she stopped for a small rest by the shore of the river. She had needed to drink, besides. Moments later sleep overtook her.
The next morning the blue wolf was out again. Her stomach growled from not having eaten, but still she pressed on. She had to find the red alpha. It was still early when she caught the scent, wafting gently in the wind. Her brows furrowed together, Pavati ran to go after the smell, knowing what lay on the other end. Her tail was swinging heavily now, overjoyed that she had found what she had come for, but as she rounded the riverbend she could do nothing but stop dead in her tracks.
“K. . . Ka. . .” she slunk forward, ears pinned against her head. She was horribly afraid of this changed wolf in front of her.
Water sagged her coat, and it appeared scraggly. The red wolf seemed nothing more than a mere scrap of bones lying half out of the riverbed. The chest heaved slowly, stopping often, and sometimes going through stuttered bursts. What disturbed Pavati most was that where there should have been those wonderful rounded ribs, there was a huge depression. As if her body had been crushed in by a massive rock, and then reformed that way, permanately.
It was too much for the blue wolf. For a moment her senses left her, and she ran, as fast as she could, and it didn’t matter where. Noyama 
Completely, totally pitiful.
"These is where my blood rules and dies?" Dakolin questioned the passing breeze, a chuckle that wasn't amused rising from his throat. The male had a very deep voice, bright, piercing eyes, and carried himself in a way that suggested himself a high ranking.
Really... He should be considered lone now, hm? Had been for a while. Frankly, he enjoyed it more. It was easier to move around without a pack weighing you down.
Which is exactly why when that damned lynx came and told him, he had no trouble coming here. It had taken many long weeks, yes, but oh how it was worth it.
He had to see the corpse of Sky for himself. That twisted, sick b*****d. He always did think he could rule the world. Served him right now, didn't it?
Dakolin grinned and made his way shiftly down the rocky hill. He'd been over-looking the place for nearly an hour, so it seemed about time he actually explore it. No sooner had his paws touched grass then some small force toppled into him.
Being a nicely-sized wolf, Dakolin merely shifted to the left just a tad. His eyes fell to the puppy, and then drew together. "You best watch yourself, pup." Kealdrana Sasaiuni Pavati felt her head smack against something, then she was rolling over herself. It had been a large grey-blue wolf, looking down at her with not unfriendly eyes. Her own were so dilated from fear she hardly noted his presence, simply took a gulp of the sweet mountain air. She could hear him, and his words were soft. They made her feel full of hope again. Perhaps he could fix it. There were legends that told of the ultimate healers.
She turned her small and worthless gaze up to meet his own sharp one. He was definitely intimating for her, but not nearly as much the thought of the corpse lying there. Perhaps just barely hanging on to life. It had been too much for her little mind to comprehend. Wolves should be warm, dry, and touchable, like the creature in front of her.
“I went out looking for her!” Pavati drabbled out. “But she’s dead!” Or at least she was to Pavati, lying there, motionless on that rocky river surface. “I ran into you!” she blatently stated again, her eyes wide with horror. “But your foots not dead.” Her logic made little sense to anyone but her. She thought perhaps that another wolf could have crashed into Kara, knocking her life right out, but feet didn’t suddenly die like that, not that she’d seen.
Perhaps he was a mysterious healer, afterall. Could they heal the dead. “I must find mother,” she said shaking her head, but she couldn’t figure out how to get home, lost in between the males legs, she simply weaved her way in and out of them. Noyama Insane. That was his feelings about this entire place and everything in it. It didn't surprise him the first contact he'd had with another living thing, save for that bird he'd killed and eaten earlier, was with some wailing puppy dashing around his legs.
For just a moment, he wondered if the little runt was any relation to him. Oki had told him of those spawn of his brothers. Four of them.
'Red eyes like yours call for caution,' the lynx had said slyly. 'Unless, of course, you kill them when they're young.'
But this puppy had yellow eyes, and certainly his bloodline wasn't the only one that carried blue fur. If that was the case, he didn't have any interest in this.
His head lowered and his nose roughly knocked Pavati back. "Stop being so loud," he demanded, but in a monotone and eerie voice. "I don't understand a thing you're saying." Not that he was really listening... "Where are your parents?"
Without waiting for an answer, he drew his head back and howled loudly. Kealdrana Sasaiuni Pavati did a flip that would have made any acrobatic drool with envy. The sound of the other wolf’s voice was so overpowering she could do nothing but quiver at his feet. She hadn’t been loud at all, in fact she felt she’d spoken no more than a whisper, but at such a time, who could blame her for not knowing the strength of her own voice.
He mumbled on about things, strange things. How she shouldn’t do this, that he didn’t understand her, and that her parents were no where around. It made her brain go into overdrive, so she simply sat down to watch him howl.
“Scary Eyes should be a little less jumpy,” she told him, quite sure of the fact this was his name. Only those with bright red eyes were worthy of such a title, or more matched it. And he wasn’t very concentrated. Telling her all these things, and asking all these questions, only to release one blood curdling howl. “You’ll hurt Blue Wolf’s ears.” For the time her attention span was far too small, and his little display had taken her mind off the red for a while. Noyama "Dakolin," corrected the male. Nicknames left a foul taste in his mouth. It reminded him of Sky, though he couldn't recall what he had began to address himself as. Something about a ghost...
"I was calling for your parents," he added, sounding a bit annoyed. "I don't have time to deal with...whatever you're going on about." Kealdrana Sasaiuni Well Pavati was yet again reminded of the Red. She shook her head, and looked at the ground. She’d have to tell mother somehow. Her eyes flicked over this uncaring creature. No heart, and no mind. Her parents were in some odd direction that she didn’t know. Especially father, but it was okay now, because father could come back. A small wave of hope came over her. Maybe her caretaker wouldn’t be around, but certainly mother would, and father would, too.
“You just don’t have the heart to listen,” she muttered, and shuffled away. How to tell them? Oh, by the way, Thinks Like Fire is dead or When I was out traveling. . .
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