Word Count: 1033
.:. Find Your Calling .:.
The grass rustled softly in the morning breeze. Asha took a breath of the fresh air that moved through the grasslands. The sun was just rising, and the weather had not yet gotten hot for the day. The morning breeze was always a nice star to the day. She shook out her fur and looked out into the distance. The edges of the Colony.
She was finally old enough to begin to leave the colony on her own. The colony was small, but it still had rules. It was growing and changing day by day. She was ready, though. She wanted to travel beyond the lands and learn new things from all sorts of new teachers. There were not many in the colony yet, the smallness working against it in that way. She would have to leave. Only for a short while. It was the only way.
She just needed to tell the leader - their Matron - what she was going to do. And her friends, of course, not that she had very many at this point. That was going to change, though. Perhaps she could inspire wary travellers to come back to the Nil’nocere while she was on her journey. It would make her proud to know that she made a difference on her trip.
Asha looked away from the edges of the colony’s lands, in search of one of the other Apprentices.
Gyali, a ma’duwi that had joined recently. The wolf did not know what she wanted to do, yet in terms of her career. Asha could respect that, though she had known what she wanted to do since she was born. She was born into this little colony though - the sole cub of her mother, and an absent father. She’d grown up with a sense of purpose, after her mother passed in an attack. She vowed to protect the colony at all costs.
But Gyali was different. She’d stumbled across the colony, searching for a place to bring an abandoned ma’ome cub called Chozi.
Asha gave a small huff, trying to focus her eyes better. Her hearing was a bit poor, but she could see quite well. She just needed to find her friend. She scanned the rustling grass, pushing past that movement to search for her friend’s distinct color.
There!
A distinct red and navy colored coat appeared through the fronds. Asha crouched, tail swishing once before she fell completely silent. She crept closer, and closer until she could --Gyali popped up from the grass, tackling Asha to the ground. “I got you!” She declared proudly. “I saw you coming!” The wolf crowed in victory, suddenly up and prancing around Asha in delight. The leopard sat stunned for a moment, unable to process what just happened.
Gyali nudged her friend after a moment, knocking Asha out of her stupor. The both laughed, falling helplessly against one another in the mayhem of what just happened. Asha shook her head, and then her coat. “Okay, okay, you got me this time,” She conceded. She flopped into the grass next to Gyali, who followed soon after. “I’ve been looking for you all morning, you know.”
Gyali tilted her head in confusion before blinking owlishly at her friend. “Why’s that?” She asked, pushing Asha over so she could snuggle into the soft fur. It wasn’t cold, but Asha could be so soft sometimes!
“I’m leaving.”
The statement was abrupt, alarming.
Gyali hopped up, knocking the wind out of Asha momentarily. “Leaving?” She practically screeched. “What do you mean, you’re leaving?!” The wolf was loud, almost hysterical. Asha tackled her back to the ground, growling out a shush! Gyali hiccuped once in response, breathing ragged.
“Not forever, Gyali!” She growled out. “I’m leaving for Journeyman training. I’ll be back, soon. Hopefully soon.” She still had Gyali pinned, preventing the wolf from moving, though her friend was squirming quite a bit to break the hold. The wolf was whining piteously, overcome with emotion.
After a moment the squirming died down into nothing, and the whines tapered off into small, hitched breaths.
“I don’t want you to go,” Gyali sighed, defeated. Asha was her first and only friend in the colony. She would be alone again. Chozi had found a friend and caretaker, leaving Gyali to her own devices. She didn’t know what she wanted to do, what career path to take. Maybe she could become a guard, like Asha wanted to be but. That wasn’t right for her. She came here so she could be protected - so that Chozi could be protected.
Now she would be alone again.
Asha pressed her forehead to Gyali’s briefly. “It’s not forever,” She repeated. “I’ll be back before you know it. Gyali…” Asha sighed, pulling back and finally letting Gyali have her freedom to move once again. “Gyali, I know what I have to do. I need to protect this colony with everything I have. I would be devastated if something happened on my watch.” Gyali gave another small whine but pulled herself up. She tried to keep her ears from hanging in sadness, but it was difficult.
“I know,” She sighed, bumping softly against her friend’s side. “When are you leaving?”
Asha gave Gyali a small smile, nudging her back. “Not for a few days at least. I need to prepare before I leave.” The leopard gave a pause, tilting her head a bit towards her friend. “You’re the first I’ve told. I still need to speak with the Matron, before I leave.”
Gyali gave a small nod. At least she would have her friend for a few more days. It wasn’t much, but she hoped it would be enough. She was still sad, but Asha would return, she could feel it in her bones. “I hope I will have made up my mind, by the time you get back,” She sighed. She would try her hardest to make it so. Asha gave her a fond smile, nodding.
“I believe you will, you just need some time to find your calling, Gyali. I believe in you.”
Gyali gave a small smile, nodding. She could do it. If Asha believed in her, she could do anything.
