Kealdrana Sasaiuni
Kiros was busy sticking his nose in places it didn't belong. Quite literally. For he was gratefully slurping up the water of Kara's packlands. He needed to quench his thirst and it had been the closest water source that he'd known of. Not that he could have actually entered the realm of the red; he'd forgotten the way in. Besides, the wolf had told him to stay far, far away. Out of desperation to see his pups again, Kiros had listened. He had been so thirsty; he didn't think any harm could come from one drink, even if it was so very near.
"Half of Me shouldn't be here."
The voice made him jump and stumble backwards, his ears rotating for the source of the sound. A pair of two sharp blue eyes glared at him from an even brighter body. A sigh of relief washed over his face, or perhaps that was the water flowing over his head?
"Oh Pavati," he shook his head, closing his eyes in humiliation. Wait. What was she doing outside of the packlands! What if she were to be hurt!?
"Half of Me doesn't have to worry," Pavati said, then the pup glanced at the river. "Well maybe, but Blue Wolf doesn't think the river is going to swallow you like Thinks Like Fire would." She gave him a grin and pounced on him, tugging lightly at his ear. One of those rare moments of puphood that she showed on occasion.
"What do you mean?" Unless the river swallowed him? Had she fallen on her head?
"Thinks Like Fire is part of the River now. I found her, in it, all not-moving-like," she wagged her tail slowly, showing her sorrow, but also joy in having the river watch over her. "Mother has been worried, she'll be glad to know."
Kiros frowned. It felt disturbing to not have Pavati fretting over the death of their alpha, but he also knew that the pup showed more brains than most wolves he had come across, even if it wasn't apparent in the way she spoke.
"Lead, then."
So Kiros followed Pavati back into the lands of the wolf that was now a part of the earth in its entirety. There was a sorrow over him, but mostly a joy, that he could finally be with Jori once and for all.
"Half of Me shouldn't be here."
The voice made him jump and stumble backwards, his ears rotating for the source of the sound. A pair of two sharp blue eyes glared at him from an even brighter body. A sigh of relief washed over his face, or perhaps that was the water flowing over his head?
"Oh Pavati," he shook his head, closing his eyes in humiliation. Wait. What was she doing outside of the packlands! What if she were to be hurt!?
"Half of Me doesn't have to worry," Pavati said, then the pup glanced at the river. "Well maybe, but Blue Wolf doesn't think the river is going to swallow you like Thinks Like Fire would." She gave him a grin and pounced on him, tugging lightly at his ear. One of those rare moments of puphood that she showed on occasion.
"What do you mean?" Unless the river swallowed him? Had she fallen on her head?
"Thinks Like Fire is part of the River now. I found her, in it, all not-moving-like," she wagged her tail slowly, showing her sorrow, but also joy in having the river watch over her. "Mother has been worried, she'll be glad to know."
Kiros frowned. It felt disturbing to not have Pavati fretting over the death of their alpha, but he also knew that the pup showed more brains than most wolves he had come across, even if it wasn't apparent in the way she spoke.
"Lead, then."
So Kiros followed Pavati back into the lands of the wolf that was now a part of the earth in its entirety. There was a sorrow over him, but mostly a joy, that he could finally be with Jori once and for all.
Ronove
Jori was more than worried, she was downright despairing. Sure, Kara had tossed herself into the sweeping river current, but that was in the past. Nothing could be done about that. Right now, however, Pavati was missing, and Jori didn't intend to stand idly by while her daughter dissapeared. Sade stumbled along in his mother's wake, ears flat in shame.
His mother glanced back once and gave an exasperated sigh, but nudged her son along lovingly all the same. "It's not your fault, Sade, and we both know it. Pavati likes to take off on her own." Despite any threats or pleading on my part.
Sade didn't look mollified. A whine, high pitched and sorrowful, escaped his muzzle.
Everything had gone to pieces since Kara left. Since she had chosen to leave... Jori wouldn't admit to herself that the alpha was dead. Instead she opted to live in the hopes that Kara had simply abandoned them; that she had planned out her escape. The fall was simply it's enactment. She knew the currents, the river - it ran deep and strong where they had been. And who could survive it? Certainly not you.
Behind her the green and grey pup struggled vailantly to keep pace with his longer-legged mother. Pink tongue lolling, legs pumping, he uttered no more complaints and trotted gamely along. A swelling of pride left Jori almost breathless - and would have made her happy if it weren't for her lost daughter.
"Pavati?" She raised her nose and tested the air, catching the pup's scent on the wind. And something else...
"Kiros!" He must have found Pavati, and would be brining her back! With a joy that hadn't been felt for a long time, Jori lept forwards in a run to meet them.
Kealdrana Sasaiuni
Jori was almost correct. Yes, Kiros was coming back, and with Pavati, but the blue pup was more leading him than anything else. The pitter patter of their paws on the silent earth was comforting. He liked it when it was quiet, when red wolves weren't lurking for his flesh.
Pavati seemed to be in bright spirits. Kiros entitled to it her finally returning home. She'd told him it had been a night or two since she'd last seen mother. The thought of how worried Jori must be made Kiros' stomach sink. He'd wanted to scold Pavati, but somehow he couldn't bring himself to hold a harsh tone to her.
The shout that echoed across the thickly misted valley brought him to his senses. His head jerked up, ears perked towards the sound in alertness. "JORI!" he flat out screamed, though it was rather deep, him being a man and all. Pavati shook her head, for she had been right next to him at the time, and it had made her eardrums ring.
"Half of Me shouldn't shout so loud," she scolded him, but her tail was wagging profusely. She was glad to see the family together again.
However, when mother rounded the corner, she was the first to bring forth the sorrow. "Kara is dead, mama." It was the second time she'd actually used the alpha's name, but this time the red female wasn't around to hear it.
Kiros looked sorrowfully towards Pavati, not because Kara was in fact, joining the damn river, but that his daughter seemed a bit distraught even now. Still, it wasn't enough that it kept him from licking Jori on the nose as she came running, and giving Sade a slight push with his snout.
"Jori. . . " it was much calmer now, his eyes warming at the sight of her. Her coat was bright and obnoxious, just like he remembered, and he so loved. "The fates have turned."
Pavati seemed to be in bright spirits. Kiros entitled to it her finally returning home. She'd told him it had been a night or two since she'd last seen mother. The thought of how worried Jori must be made Kiros' stomach sink. He'd wanted to scold Pavati, but somehow he couldn't bring himself to hold a harsh tone to her.
The shout that echoed across the thickly misted valley brought him to his senses. His head jerked up, ears perked towards the sound in alertness. "JORI!" he flat out screamed, though it was rather deep, him being a man and all. Pavati shook her head, for she had been right next to him at the time, and it had made her eardrums ring.
"Half of Me shouldn't shout so loud," she scolded him, but her tail was wagging profusely. She was glad to see the family together again.
However, when mother rounded the corner, she was the first to bring forth the sorrow. "Kara is dead, mama." It was the second time she'd actually used the alpha's name, but this time the red female wasn't around to hear it.
Kiros looked sorrowfully towards Pavati, not because Kara was in fact, joining the damn river, but that his daughter seemed a bit distraught even now. Still, it wasn't enough that it kept him from licking Jori on the nose as she came running, and giving Sade a slight push with his snout.
"Jori. . . " it was much calmer now, his eyes warming at the sight of her. Her coat was bright and obnoxious, just like he remembered, and he so loved. "The fates have turned."
Ronove
Immediatly on the heels of joy, so close in fact that it was inseperable, came anger. Directed at her daughter, who stood there with her tail wagging, looking for all the world as though she had meant for this to happen. Gathering herself, Jori turned reluctantly from Kiros and glared sternly at her blue pup.
Sade took Kiros' nuzzle with a grin and a wag of his tail, but his buisness was with Pavati. He trotted up to her and gave her a put-upon look, making certain she knew that he was siding with mother this time. He'd seen Kara fall, and he knew he would have been dead if he'd fallen, so he wasn't suprise at the news. Jori bowled right over Pavati's statement, uncaring - or unwilling - to hear what her daughter said.
"Pavati, you can't keep running off! One day, no one is going to be there to rescue you. You'll end up -- " The lecture was cut short as Pavati's words sank in. Jori gaped at her daughter, eyes wide.
"Kara's... dead?" Shock pulled the gamma to a stop. Her ears flickered and she lifted her nose to the air, almost as though death were something she could hear or smell. "Pavati..." Grief choked the words from her throat. It was all she could do to keep herself together.
Deep breath. Pavati is smart, but she's still young. Maybe she didn't understand. "Pavati, honey, Kara fell. None of us saw her die, so there's still a chance... " She swallowed. "Still a chance she's alright." It would be so much easier to live this way, with Kiros together, but at such a cost! At the same time, it was the most difficult thing Jori had faced. Leaving unloved family behind was one thing... but watching a loved one die?
"She could still be out there." Jori buried her face in Kiros's neck.
Sade took Kiros' nuzzle with a grin and a wag of his tail, but his buisness was with Pavati. He trotted up to her and gave her a put-upon look, making certain she knew that he was siding with mother this time. He'd seen Kara fall, and he knew he would have been dead if he'd fallen, so he wasn't suprise at the news. Jori bowled right over Pavati's statement, uncaring - or unwilling - to hear what her daughter said.
"Pavati, you can't keep running off! One day, no one is going to be there to rescue you. You'll end up -- " The lecture was cut short as Pavati's words sank in. Jori gaped at her daughter, eyes wide.
"Kara's... dead?" Shock pulled the gamma to a stop. Her ears flickered and she lifted her nose to the air, almost as though death were something she could hear or smell. "Pavati..." Grief choked the words from her throat. It was all she could do to keep herself together.
Deep breath. Pavati is smart, but she's still young. Maybe she didn't understand. "Pavati, honey, Kara fell. None of us saw her die, so there's still a chance... " She swallowed. "Still a chance she's alright." It would be so much easier to live this way, with Kiros together, but at such a cost! At the same time, it was the most difficult thing Jori had faced. Leaving unloved family behind was one thing... but watching a loved one die?
"She could still be out there." Jori buried her face in Kiros's neck.
Kealdrana Sasaiuni
Kiros watched the events unfold before him, but he could do nothing to stop them. Everyone had turned on Pavati, it seemed. They both were strong enough to do what he could not. It made him choke on his own saliva, hacking and weezing while they snapped at her with words and those sharp looks.
Pavati, however, was having a much better time with it than him. In fact, she almost seemed to be gaining up an anger of her own. "SHE WAS GONE!" the pupped shouted over the yells of her mother. "I WENT TO FIND HER!" Kiros was stunning yet again. His daughter had never raised her voice, and he was about to scold her for it, when Jori went into a breakdown.
He looked from mate to offspring, both seemed to be holding the news in entirely different ways. "She was lying there," Pavati continued, her ears pinned, as if she was unsure. "Not moving, all alone." Kiros watched with quivering eyes, leaning against Jori as he felt her warm head against his fur.
"Shhh. . . " he told her. It was all he could say, there was nothing else he could do. So desperately he'd wanted her to celebrate the joy of finally getting rid of that alpha, but she clearly did not feel the same as he did. Then again, he wasn't the one who had lost a friend.
She was out there.
"Dead."
Pavati whimpered at the sight of her mother and scurried close to Sade. He'd know what to do, he always knew what to do. "B.E.," she whimpered, following mother's suit and also digging into her brother's fur with her head.
"Come," Kiros managed after a length of silence. "We all need some rest."
Pavati, however, was having a much better time with it than him. In fact, she almost seemed to be gaining up an anger of her own. "SHE WAS GONE!" the pupped shouted over the yells of her mother. "I WENT TO FIND HER!" Kiros was stunning yet again. His daughter had never raised her voice, and he was about to scold her for it, when Jori went into a breakdown.
He looked from mate to offspring, both seemed to be holding the news in entirely different ways. "She was lying there," Pavati continued, her ears pinned, as if she was unsure. "Not moving, all alone." Kiros watched with quivering eyes, leaning against Jori as he felt her warm head against his fur.
"Shhh. . . " he told her. It was all he could say, there was nothing else he could do. So desperately he'd wanted her to celebrate the joy of finally getting rid of that alpha, but she clearly did not feel the same as he did. Then again, he wasn't the one who had lost a friend.
She was out there.
"Dead."
Pavati whimpered at the sight of her mother and scurried close to Sade. He'd know what to do, he always knew what to do. "B.E.," she whimpered, following mother's suit and also digging into her brother's fur with her head.
"Come," Kiros managed after a length of silence. "We all need some rest."
Ronove
She wouldn't believe it. It couldn't be true. If she just shut her eyes and refused to listen then she could still live in a world where Kara wasn't dead. Where she herself hadn't allowed Kara to die...
The warmth of Pavati's body was an anchor to Sade, who felt lost in the sudden outbursts. What did it matter? Kara was nice, but she was also gone. She would come back, or she wouldn't. Family was what mattered. Blue was what mattered.
But he was curious... He nuzzled his sister and thumped his tail. "Pavati, did you really see her?" He'd never seen something dead before, other than the animals Momma brought home. Motion caught the corner of his eye and he jerked, but it was only his mother. He frowned, ears flicking uncertainly, as she padded up to her two pups.
"Pavati." Jori nudged her daugher gently with her nose. She glanced apologetically towards Kiros. She knew he wanted to forget the alpha. "Sweetie, can you show me where you found her?" She needed to see. Needed to say goodbye, and tell Kara what she should have said when she still had a chance.
Poor Pavati... so little, to have seen all this.
Sade could almost feel her confusion. So he stood steady, lending her his warmth and presence as comfort in this hard time. Both his mother and his sister were adrift, so he would have to hold them together. Orange eyes flicked towards his father; but he wouldn't ask for help.
The warmth of Pavati's body was an anchor to Sade, who felt lost in the sudden outbursts. What did it matter? Kara was nice, but she was also gone. She would come back, or she wouldn't. Family was what mattered. Blue was what mattered.
But he was curious... He nuzzled his sister and thumped his tail. "Pavati, did you really see her?" He'd never seen something dead before, other than the animals Momma brought home. Motion caught the corner of his eye and he jerked, but it was only his mother. He frowned, ears flicking uncertainly, as she padded up to her two pups.
"Pavati." Jori nudged her daugher gently with her nose. She glanced apologetically towards Kiros. She knew he wanted to forget the alpha. "Sweetie, can you show me where you found her?" She needed to see. Needed to say goodbye, and tell Kara what she should have said when she still had a chance.
Poor Pavati... so little, to have seen all this.
Sade could almost feel her confusion. So he stood steady, lending her his warmth and presence as comfort in this hard time. Both his mother and his sister were adrift, so he would have to hold them together. Orange eyes flicked towards his father; but he wouldn't ask for help.
Kealdrana Sasaiuni
Kiros looked away for a brief moment, trying to concetrate on something else. He didn't want to go anywhere near that dead body, unless it was to spit on it. Why did Jori have to go see it? It wasn't right!
Pavati looked at her brother and nodded. She had definately really seen her. All lifeless, with the sunken in side that just barely. . . rose and fell. She froze over and grew all tense. Didn't things breathe when they were alive? She gulped hard. Kara had still been living. She shook her head. They also couldn't continue living with their ribs crushed in. They just couldn't.
She hung her head, she hadn't lied to them. Thinks Like Fire was dead. "How can you be so careless!" she suddenly shouted, angry at herself, and angry at him. Mother's demeanor shone forth in the hour of pain. "She cared for us you ingrate!" Puppy sobs came from her throat as she took for the cave. She didn't care if mother wanted to see Kara's dead body.
The red had told her once. "Let a dead wolf stay dead!" she wailed, tearing the earth up with her frantic footsteps. In horror Kiros followed, but he was amazed at just how quickly the pup moved.
"Pavati!" he called as he ran, giving Jori an unsure glance.
When he stumbled into their safe haven after her, Pavati was curled, feining sleep on the ground. Kiros looked around him, a bit unsure, but finally decided to lay down next to her, inviting Jori to do the same. "Maybe tomorrow. . . " he told her. It was said softly, but there was a firmness in his voice that clearly begged her not to push the issue.
Pavati looked at her brother and nodded. She had definately really seen her. All lifeless, with the sunken in side that just barely. . . rose and fell. She froze over and grew all tense. Didn't things breathe when they were alive? She gulped hard. Kara had still been living. She shook her head. They also couldn't continue living with their ribs crushed in. They just couldn't.
She hung her head, she hadn't lied to them. Thinks Like Fire was dead. "How can you be so careless!" she suddenly shouted, angry at herself, and angry at him. Mother's demeanor shone forth in the hour of pain. "She cared for us you ingrate!" Puppy sobs came from her throat as she took for the cave. She didn't care if mother wanted to see Kara's dead body.
The red had told her once. "Let a dead wolf stay dead!" she wailed, tearing the earth up with her frantic footsteps. In horror Kiros followed, but he was amazed at just how quickly the pup moved.
"Pavati!" he called as he ran, giving Jori an unsure glance.
When he stumbled into their safe haven after her, Pavati was curled, feining sleep on the ground. Kiros looked around him, a bit unsure, but finally decided to lay down next to her, inviting Jori to do the same. "Maybe tomorrow. . . " he told her. It was said softly, but there was a firmness in his voice that clearly begged her not to push the issue.
Ronove
Sade jerked back as though stung. His ears were pressed flat again his skull, tail tucked low as he watched his sister flee towards their den. How... how could she say these things? Mother was sad, he could taste her sorrow in the air, smell it on her fur.
But he must have done something horribly wrong, for Pavati to hate him like this. Sade didn't know what it was but he supposed it didn't matter now. Determination stole over his features, but it was laced with more than a little sadness. He would guard her, and he wouldn't let her down again.
Solemnly he potitioned himself at the den entrance. He would guard them all, if that was what was required.
Jori stood silently, staring at the spot her daughter had vacated. Pavati's wails rang in her ears, as condemning as any of her own thoughts had been. She didn't notice Kiros' gaze, or her son's silent anguish.
She could only see Kara, falling backwards. There might have been a moment when she could have snatched a leg, a chunk of fur... enough to stop the alpha from slipping. There was a time when she could have warned Kara of the bank...
In a daze Jori slunk back to the den. Pavati was curled tightly on the ground, but her breathing was too quick, too loud; she wasn't asleep. Her heart ached at her daughter's pain. I was so determined to raise them without sorrow... Grief clogged her throat and choked her on her own words.
Pavati was so small. She would be cold, sleeping alone.
Silently Jori took Kiros' invitation and curled protectively around her pup. Sade's sillouette was still against the sky, solemn and tiny against such a large world. Jori wrapped her tail around her daughters small form and prayed that they would both find a happy life.
But he must have done something horribly wrong, for Pavati to hate him like this. Sade didn't know what it was but he supposed it didn't matter now. Determination stole over his features, but it was laced with more than a little sadness. He would guard her, and he wouldn't let her down again.
Solemnly he potitioned himself at the den entrance. He would guard them all, if that was what was required.
Jori stood silently, staring at the spot her daughter had vacated. Pavati's wails rang in her ears, as condemning as any of her own thoughts had been. She didn't notice Kiros' gaze, or her son's silent anguish.
She could only see Kara, falling backwards. There might have been a moment when she could have snatched a leg, a chunk of fur... enough to stop the alpha from slipping. There was a time when she could have warned Kara of the bank...
In a daze Jori slunk back to the den. Pavati was curled tightly on the ground, but her breathing was too quick, too loud; she wasn't asleep. Her heart ached at her daughter's pain. I was so determined to raise them without sorrow... Grief clogged her throat and choked her on her own words.
Pavati was so small. She would be cold, sleeping alone.
Silently Jori took Kiros' invitation and curled protectively around her pup. Sade's sillouette was still against the sky, solemn and tiny against such a large world. Jori wrapped her tail around her daughters small form and prayed that they would both find a happy life.
