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 Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:27 pm
Everyday was a struggle for the snowy bloodsplattered female, opening her eyes to face the world was hard. Moving to her feet with the knowledge that the precious offspring she had so foolishly abandoned in her youth were alive out in the world was harder. Keeping herself alive without any hope of them ever loving her was the hardest. Crimson eyes would search the land every morning while she drank deep from a river or a stream. She often avoided other wolves, her voice was a hushed memory and she kept it active by murmuring her children's names to herself at night. It helped her to sleep, to dream of what life might be like if only her sons and daughter would forgive her. Hindsight is perfection of course, and everyday she longed for the ability to go back in time and correct her stupid choices.
Today was no different, she had crawled out of her tiny hastily dug den and washed herself in the river until her coat gleamed like newfallen snow. She wondered if things had been different, if her choices had been wise might she even now be laying beside her mate and watching their sons? Such thoughts plagued her at every hour, everytime she ate or drank she wondered how much harder the tasks had been for her tiny boys until their muscles strengthened and their fur grew thicker. Some days she did not eat and when the hunger pangs came she welcomed them as a reminder that her children no doubt suffered them as well. Everyday felt like a well deserved punishment, what other fate should await a mother who had neglected her most basic duty?
Slowly she weaved through the trees her head hung low as she walked aimlessly, perhaps she would scent a herd or a warren and eat today but no real ambition moved her. She wasn't sure what moved her anymore, except perhaps the desire to live to see her children again and beg them to forgive her again. The idea of death without forgiveness was the one punishment she did not think she could bear. Her heart tore remembering Moirai's face twisted in a visage of hatred, the skinny frame of her son Phobos, the way Deimos looked at her with his head held high and his tail a great banner. A deep sigh escaped her muzzle and she slowed and finally stopped to sit.
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:55 pm
  The words of his niece danced in his mind, plaguing him night and day, through sleep and wakefulness. Danger edged closer to those he loved every day, and he needed to make a choice. But before he could, something equally as important needed to be done first. And so, he walked beside a brother he barely knew, but who he grew closer to every day. A brother that had battled the world by himself, and still remained strong through his hardships. A brother that was even now willing to walk through hellfire at his side, and forgive a mother they both had once hated.
Maybe, just maybe, they could be . . . family . . . The vagabond walked boldly beside his powerful brother, his own body no longer starved but growing lean and fit instead. It was amazing what steady meals could do, and he felt a little less scrub when standing beside Deimos.
He cast a sidelong glance at his brother, and saw the same thing he'd seen since the little femme had spoken her ominous words. Deimos' ice blue eyes were stormy, filled with turmoil. The vagabond knew his brother had a hefty weight on his shoulders, made all the more heavy by the fact that he carried much of the weight by himself. Phobos was beginning to discover that that was a fault of his new alpha and new brother.
The wind shifted and Deimos stopped, nose twitching. Phobos looked around, his sense of smell failing him as usual. But by the change in his brother's eyes, he knew Bia was close by.
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:03 pm
Bia moved slowly her paws stretching before her to lay down and rest her head slowly on her legs. Her ears fell back dispassionate, nothing really roused her attention anymore. Things like food, danger, and company were passing trifles to one who had locked her mind long ago. Her breathing slowed and became steady as she drifted towards sleep.
She had grasped only a few moments peace before her nose twitched and her heart gave a painful twist. The scent pierced through her cloud of self loathing as only one thing could. Her children were near and a part of her was terrified. Should she flee before they could come and chase her off? Or should she stay to beg their forgiveness again despite the consequences? She bolted to her feet her heart thrumming uncertainly in her chest. Her nose twitched again and she couldnt help but smile, Deimos and Phobos...her smile faltered slightly, no Moirai...What did that mean? She shuddered and forced herself to move slowly into the open.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:04 am
Phobos saw her white pelt first, his eyes a bit keener to make up for his lack of scent. She seemed haggard and downtrodden, even though her fur shone and she wasn't starved. Taking care of herself it seemed, but barely having the will to do so.
His ears flicked backwards as his unpleasant memories hit him, and the red tear marks flowing from her eyes reminded him unpleasantly of Moirai. The thought of that crazed femme made him growl.
Setting aside his thoughts for now, Deimos stopped and watched Bia as she moved into sight. He could see the terror in her eyes and felt a pang, wondering how life could be so cruel as to make a mother fear a situation involving her children. Sighing, his tail drooped a bit, and he sat on his haunches, Phobos mirroring him.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:12 am
Her eyes pinpointed her children the moment they could and her crimson gaze raked over them. Phobos seemed to be doing better his frame stronger and his fur richer as if he had been able to attain a steady flow of food and sleep. Deimos looked well of form but her eyes met his and she frowned slightly her son was troubled. Trouble it seemed found their family at every corner and every moment.
She moved a bit closer the growl from Phobos made her freeze a moment her ears pricking. She felt her heart sink slightly before moving closer after a long moment, they weren't leaving so maybe they would let her speak to them. Her tongue moved a bit in her mouth as if readying itself for the task ahead.
Slowly she sank her hind down to sit with her sons a small tremor wracked its way through her frame. How often had she imagined them together? All she needed was her daughter here...happy. Still she knew better now her precious Moirai was plagued by an illness that all the love in the world couldn't heal.
"I've missed you...both...so much..." She finally managed to gasp out her voice tight with emotion.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:23 pm
Deimos watched her silently, his ears twitching a bit at her words. They had been a bit cruel to her last time the three had spoken, but her delusions about her daughter were ones that needed to be shattered. Moirai was a monster, and now Bia knew it. Had seen what her daughter was capable of. Maybe she had opened her eyes.
"B- . . . Mother," he stumbled a bit on the word, the sound of it awkward on his tongue. He felt Phobos' gaze on him, and shifted on his paws. "Change is on the wind, mother. One of your . . . grandchildren . . . has spoken words that speak of danger to my pack, and family that were unknown to me. The words were troubling," he added, and they were. He had been thinking about them enough to give himself a headache. Not only that, but such words spoken from one so young, one who had never spoken a word to anyone before.
Phobos flicked an ear back, his gaze moving back to his mother. They had already discussed what was going to happen, the brothers. And so he picked up where Deimos had left off as if the two had always been by each others' sides.
"And we are leaving, to find this Hephaestus that Clotho spoke of. We both agree that you should travel with us . . . and that you should have a place in the pack."
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 4:36 pm
Her babies were actually speaking to her...hearing their voices made her shiver slightly. She forced herself to focus on the words and she leaned in close amazed by what they were saying.
"Grandchildren? Clotho? ...the pack..." She looked at them stunned speechless for a long moment her chest suddenly rising and falling. Bia tried to grasp everything before slowly calming herself. "The pups are Moirai's?" Her voice was softer now, tinted by sadness and pain. She had wanted so badly to be there for her daughter, to cure her and help her bring new life into the world. Now it seemed she had missed all the happiest parts of her children's lives and witnessed only pain and suffering.
"If you would have me I would come..." She wondered if these family members they spoke of where their fathers relations. The memory of her dead mate made her heart throb again...oh Ares. The guilt of knowing he had died so soon after her departure...never knowing how much she loved him, it was a burden she would carry for all time.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:54 pm
The alpha gave her a slight nod of his head, his eyes darkening at the thought of his crazed sister. "The pup's -were- hers. They are the pack's now. Ehrek and I rescued them from her, because no pup should be subjected to that kind of madness. Their father is gone. He fled while Ehrek and I fought Moirai."
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:08 pm
The pups had no mother...her throat tightened and she felt her chest ache, but at least they had the love of the pack and maybe they would let her love them. Perhaps this was a chance to redeem herself, she would grasp it if it was. Her crimson eyes moved down the question fled her lips before she could stop it.
"Is she...did Moirai..." Her voice lowered to a desperate whisper "survive?"
The idea of her son and daughter in a battle to the bitter end was not one she wished to contemplate. Did Moirai die thinking herself completely unloved? Would Deimos suffer guilt knowing he had killed his own sister? But Moirai had to be put down, she was a danger to herself and others...incapable of happiness.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:36 pm
At Bia's question, Phobos felt his disgust creep up on him. She still believed that she could save a daughter that didn't want to be saved. That somehow her misplaced love would be enough to drag Moirai out of her madness.
The vagabond tried not to let his distaste show on his face, but his lip curled over one fang anyway.
"She's alive," the alpha growled, his fur bristling. "Believe me, mother. You'd do best to forget her. She's forgotten you."
The black male watched his mother's eyes when the harsh words were spoken, wondering how she would react. Growling softly, he met his brother's once again troubled gaze. "We should head back."
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:52 pm
Bia tensed as she saw the hint of fang from Phobos and she leaned back, when Deimos bristled she knew her question would have been better left unasked. She frowned and stood looking at her sons pleadingly.
"I know she can't be helped Deimos, but she is as much my daughter as you and Phobos are my sons, I cannot help but love you all..." She looked down and sighed.
"Moirai cannot help the way she is, and if she is alive she will return for revenge, and for her daughters if you have them. I cannot help but wish that she were dead, that she might have peace..." Bia sighed and looked between her two sons her heart ached at the looks they both gave her.
She wanted to follow them, to learn about them, and love them...but neither looked all that ready to welcome her attentions. Still...the lure of grandchildren was a heavy one and she would follow if only to see them though she ached to nuzzle them and feed them to love them the way she had failed to for her own pups.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:11 pm
Already on his feet and turned towards the packlands, Phobos glanced over his shoulder at his mother. "Moirai would have had peace, but Deimos' wouldn't have. Unfair trade in my opinion." Flicking his tail, the black wolf started walking away, his ears picking up the sounds of Deimos' paws in the dirt behind him.
"Come home with us, mother," the alpha murmured, following his brother. Even in turmoil, he held his tail high, and an air of power and dominance swirled around him, something he would never lose. Something that his father had carried . . .
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:30 pm
Slowly she rose to her paws and nodded softly moving to follow her two sons, grown as they were it was blaringly obvious to her where she had failed them. For the millionth time she wished deep down that she had been smarter as a young mother, that she hadn't allowed fear to ruin her family. As much as she was afraid now she couldn't turn away, even if they didn't want her she wanted to at least be there incase.
Incase what? They were grown and they didn't need her...but she desperately needed them...her babies...no matter their age or form they were her babies.
"Home...it's been a long time..." She murmured softly and her paws sank into unison with those of her children.
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:31 pm
The brothers picked a swift pace, their paws pounding the ground in tandem as they ate the short distance back to home. Through the trees, Deimos could see the pack den, and the three sisters romping around the entrance. None of the rest of the pack could be seen, and he assumed a hunt was under way. All the better, since Bia meeting her grandchildren was going to be an interesting spectacle.
Grinning at the sight of his nieces, Phobos leapt forward, dashing to little quiet Clotho. Ever since he'd first seen her, he'd taken a liking to her the most out of the three sisters. And she seemed to return the favoritism, dashing towards him when she saw him running.
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:38 pm
Bia had followed along just fine, but as they got closer and she caught sight of her granddaughters she slowed. They weren't pups at all! Why they were half grown, and each one a beauty. Her heart tightened as she picked out features of Moirai's and her own. She longed to run to them the way Phobos had, but she was a strange to these girls.
Her pace slowed until she stopped and hung back uncertain about moving forward. She could sense the rejection from her son, Phobos looked at her as if he would rather see her dead at the bottom of a cliff. It hurt, the way no physical wound ever could or would. Deimos seemed more forgiving but just the sight of him reminded her of his father and made her ache to tell him how much he and his brother had meant to the lone couple in love. She doubted either of her sons would appreciate such tales, when they came to such bitter ends.
Finally she forced herself to inch forward her crimson eyes eagerly tracing over the three young females with a soft smile.
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