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 Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:48 am
 Indeygo wasn't sure just how long they had been wandering through the woods. It had been quite some time since they left the smoke and ash and flames behind - but had it been ..two days, three? maybe even four? Smoke had wrapped everything in a perpetual twilight for quite a while and though they had searched and called no signs of Pekko,Vittoria or the others could be found.
His paw's hurt, his stomach rumbled almost constantly, his fur was filthy and he was pretty sure he could still taste and smell that wretched smoke. Just thinking about it make his eyes smart and water all over again. Blearily he followed Evadne's steps in an almost mindless way, they hadn't spoken much - each lost in their own thoughts no doubt and if Evadne was like him her throat was probably still sore from all the yelling they'd done for the others. Tripping over a root Indeygo stumbled and nearly fell down. The near fall broke him out of his trance like state and he plopped down on his haunches.
"Evadne..we have to rest"
He finally spoke in a pleading voice, hopeing that she would agree to stopping - the fire was behind them now and all the woods looked the same for all their wandering they could just be walking in circles as far as Indeygo could tell.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:29 pm
 Evadne turned partially, legs splayed, and her face turned the rest of the way back to look at her brother. Her paws ached, her throat was dry and sore, and she was still periodically sneezing from the scent of smoke caught in her nose. She was the most worried over her sisters, Jethro and Otsvechna. The last she and Indeygo knew the other three had run off, but that tree had fallen so close between them...
As she thought she just stared at Indeygo, forgetting that he needed some kind of response. She finally sat down too, then collapsed to laying down position. She panted from the humidity around them, not really having a choice even though it hurt her throat further. The two of them had slept ocassionally, but not often and even Evadne felt like she was going to fall over and sleep for a year. Indeygo didn't look much better.
"I know," she replied finally, voice sounding oddly hoarse from the state her throat was in. She'd screamed for her sisters, but no one had come. They were so far away from the fire by the time they started looking, Evadne doubted any of their siblings could have heard them, even if they had crossed the river the way she and Indeygo had, which was unlikely. The trees had only stopped being smokey and turned back into normal, quiet forest two or three days after they had escaped the fire. How long had they been out there? Evadne could only think enough after a while to put one foot in front of the other and walk in as straight a line as she could manage. Somewhere there had to be other wolves, someone they could ask for help. She didn't even think that they might meet up with those who had hurt her pack first. She just needed an adult, someone who could clean her and take care of her help her find her family. If they could be found.
"I can't even smell to see if other wolves have come this way," she told Indeygo, then tried to sniff the ground. Dirt and the enhanced smell of smoke ran up through her nose and she sneezed a few times before it abated. Her eyelids drooped, about ready to fall asleep right there and who cares who found them.
"This might be a good place to rest. For a little while." Her panting slowed a bit now that they had stopped walking, but her feet hurt in a pattern with her heart beat that made her want to gnaw on them or lick them so they would stop. She took one look at the muddy, ashen foot and decided against it.
Her head flopped onto her paws and she stared at Indeygo with sleepy, gold-green eyes. "What do we do if we don't find anybody else?"((Tee hee, I decided I liked them being introduced in positions like their lineart, so I kept with the theme, for them at least.))
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:02 pm
Indeygo followed his sister's example letting himself slide down until he too wa laying on the ground - it wasn't nearly as warm and comfortable as their old den he thought morosely.
"I know..me either, I've been trying all day"
He responded in reference to smelling for other wolves, almost like background noise - Indeygo had become fairly used to the sound after all - his stomach rumbled again.
"I..I guess we try and find something to eat.."
Indeygo had never actually been successful in catching anything other then a mouse at this point and without being able to smell prey like his mother and father had told them to do over and over he wasn't even sure how to go about finding anything.
"..and maybe a warmer place to sleep, it gets cold at night wit.."
He trailed off and sighed - he didn't think he really needed to finished hs statement..without the others.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:36 pm
Evadne forced herself to her feet and walked over to plop down beside Indeygo, snuggling with him and ignoring that their combined body heat just made her feel even more hot than she was already. The comfort was more important for both of them, and Evadne really wanted to know that she wasn't alone out here.
"We just have to find adults. Nice ones. They'll help," Evadne replied, her mental exhaustion giving her trouble finding the words. She couldn't find her way back to the den, she was too lost for that, but if they found adults they would surely know the way back to Indeygo and Evadne's pack, or at least to where the fire was.
"I wish I didn't have to learn all of that fishing and swimming," Evadne complained. "It isn't useful now, and I wasn't that good to begin with." It would have been better to have been a hunter, like Chaz was learning to be. So much more useful now. Evadne didn't think she could catch as much as a mouse, for all of her play at it in the woods.
She sighed and put her head on her paws, letting her eyes close and her mind start to drift into a doze. They couldn't do anything right now, especially if they were tired. A nap wouldn't hurt them. Her back leg twitched slightly and jogged her from her dozing. Just a nap wouldn't hurt.
"We need to keep moving soon," she muttered to Indeygo, rubbing her face on her paws to ease away an itch. "We can rest now, though."
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:28 am
Indeygo yawned and pillowed his head over Evadne's back as she snuggled up against him awning slightly as he fought to keep his eyes open and continue their conversation.
"Yes..adult, there has to be some...somewhere"
He managed to falter out - and really there had to be right? I mean if they wandered far enough eventually they had to stumble onto a pack land and they would find a nice kind alpha who would take them home. It was a nice thought.
"maybe if we really tried we could catch a rabbit working together, we can search when we start off again?"
Indeygo stated a half question half statement as his eye's fluttered closed any answer Evadne gave would have to wait until he woke up.
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Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:01 pm
Evadne yawned and licked her maw. "Rabbit sounds good..." She murmured as she drifted off to sleep, content for the moment to get some rest with her brother. They could find adults once they had woken up.
Exhaustion-driven sleep claimed the two pups, deafening them to their surroundings. Not far off, however, a red-brown and white-marked female was walking by, not exactly in the pup's direction, but certainly past them.Calandra, returning from a trip to the Akkiki Chibale pack, wasn't really paying attention herself, the quiet woods around her denoting safety rather than cause for alarm. The scent of smoke entered her nose, just a whiff, but Calandra froze, turning her nose to the air in an attempt to catch it again. It wasn't strong, but she knew the smell of smoke and that hadn't just been her imagination. Another whiff crossed her path and Calandra cautiously approached the direction it seemed to come from.
The smell got stronger and Calandra curiously peeked around the tree. Bright colors caught her eye and she turned her head that way. It took a moment for the pile of color to take shape, but her eyes widened and she let out a startled howl before she loped over to the pups, the smoke scent strengthening the closer she got to them. Dirty, and probably exhausted, the little odd-colored bundles had clearly been through a fire and more. Panic in her eyes, Calandra nudged the purple pup with her nose, almost sneezing from the smoke smell. This close she could hear their heartbeats, an odd stacato like one bouncing off of the other, and sighed in relief. At least they were alive.
"You poor darlings," she murmured, lifting her head to look around the woods for signs of wolves, any other wolves. Nothing.
How far have they come? She wondered, lowering her head to nuzzle the blue bundle this time, worry in her eyes. And where did they come from?
The blue bundle squirmed, but didn't wake, put out like the sun at night. Calandra looked around again, not sure what to do. She couldn't leave them here alone, and Akkiki Chibale, though close, was still too far to be of use at the moment. Hunkering down to their level, Calandra watched them sleep for a few minutes, heart swelling with sympathy. Poor, poor little wolves.
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Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 6:01 am
Indey go whimpered slightly in his sleep burrowing closer to Evadne as someone tried to nudge him away. He kicked out with his back paw to shove them away - all soundly asleep. When your used to sleeping in a big old pile of siblings such things stop waking you up after all.
He wasn't sure exactly what did wake him eventually - but his sound sleep came to an end and upon waking the little pup yawned and blinked open his eyes. Where the heck was he!? Startled by the unusual surroundings he picked his head up to stare into the forest over Evadne's back for a second before he remember. The strange middle of the night hiding - the fire - Evadne and he separated from the others and finally dropping to sleep here in this strange cold place.
Sighing the purple pup sat up and lifted a hind paw to scratch an itch behind his ear...and froze. In turning his head he had finally caught sight of the strange female. The thought that she might be an unfriendly female never crossed his mind, He was just glad to have found an adult. Adult's took care of you...kept you safe..FED you. And boy was he hungry!
"Evadne!"
He yelped in his sisters ear
"We found one! we found one!"
The purple pup lept to his feet and rushed the strange female like an abandoned pup starved for comfort and attention, attempting to scramble his way as close as possible to her. Which made sense really...because that's exactly what they were.
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Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 7:20 am
Calandra was silent as she watched over them for a time, trying to tell herself that despite the pup's recent tragedies there was still hope their parents were alive-- even though there was no sign of them anywhere near here.
The purple pup stirring brought Calandra's eyes back into focus on him, her gaze softening as he scratched behind an ear, not even seeming to notice she was present. It was odd that he couldn't smell her, but if the scent was as strong to him as it was when Calandra first arrived then it was no real wonder. A bewildered smile crossed her face at Indeygo's initial cryptic yell, and at how his sister jumped and yelped in surprise as she was so rudely awakened. It slipped into surprise however, when the male rushed at her and immediately trying to bury himself in her fur. The surprise was there, but worry... worry quickly returned. That they were so quick to trust and so desperate for it was not a good sign for them knowing where their parents were.
Evadne stared blearily at her brother, eyes wide. For a moment she was paniced that something awful had happened. The fire monster had caught up to them, that the wolves who attacked her pack had found them, but eventually it penetrated her mind that Indeygo was rushing at and snuggling into an adult female. The surprise on the adult's face seemed to go unnoticed, however, as Evadne struggled to her feet as well, fighting off the claiming fog of sleep as she took a few uneven running steps to her brother. The blue pup whimpered and looked up into the female's teal eyes, then tried to snuggle in with her brother. She could help. Adults could help them find everyone.
Calandra looked down at the two pups, not sure she could stand another emotional explosion. She was usually calm, but this... this was more than she was expecting to find on her way home.
"Hello," she said, voice sounding more calm than she felt. She moved her legs and laid down fully, so that both would have space to snuggle into her. She leaned down and nudged the little male with her nose. "What are you doing out here all alone?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 7:35 am
Indeygo, turned himself about in several circles before snuggling down within the conform of the females downy fur, flipping a paw over Evadne as she joined him. They were still in dire straights he knew but for the moment he was just glad they were not alone anymore. when the female asked what they were doing out here Indeygo looked up at her.
"We're not supposed to be - we were supposed to stay hidden like mama and papa told us, but there were awful noises and then it was quiet but no one came back...and then there was strange sounds and Pekko went out to look he said there was a fire and we had to run. We were following them but the smoke and the fire and we crossed the river then we could't find them anywhere. Will you help us find them?"
Indeygo blinked big eye's at the female sniffling a little as he recounted their story in a vague and rather disjointed way.
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Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 7:56 am
"We tried to stay together, we really did," Evadne said, trying to prove they were good pups. "We had to run." The night was like a blur to her. She couldn't remember much, bits and pieces of running with Indeygo, the tree falling behind them, being alone, her father looking at her before he ran off. Daddy...
She buried her face into the fur of Calandra's stomach, trying to smell the female around the smoke in her nose. At least they were safe now. At least she would help them. Evadne let out a tiny whimper, too tired to say more. Now that she knew there was safety, sleep was hitting her harder now, demanding she go back to the rest that had been interrupted. Once Calandra made assurances, she would sleep.
Calandra was grateful that she had left Akiiki Chibale on time. She had regretted not being able to stop and see Possum before she left, but she had wanted to return home to her pack as quickly as possible. She wouldn't get back to her pack on time, but leaving when she had was the best choice she could have made. What would have happened to the pups if she hadn't found them? What if the Brotherhood, those wolves Possum had mentioned, had found them? No, they hadn't, Calandra had.
"I will help you find your family," Calandra promised, curling her head down and resting it briefly on his. "Get some rest for now. You're safe with me."
She lifted her head and looked out at the empty woods. Trying to make sense of the pup's story, it was clear that these weren't just Akiiki Chibale pups who had gone astray. Wherever they came from, it was far enough away that no one had seen the fire while Calandra was around, at least. But then how far had the little ones travelled to make it where they had? Going back to Akiiki Chibale's main den would be a day's or night's travel, but Calandra couldn't see any other way around it. It was a good two nights travel more to The Outriders and Calandra had to at least see if any of the pups' family had been found, or if Alas or the others knew about where a fire had come from. The pups family had to be found, and if they couldn't be...
Calandra tilted her head to look down at the pups, studying their little bodies. For now, she'd assume they could be found. If it proved to be otherwise, Calandra would figure it out then.
They'll certainly need a good long rinse in the river, Calandra thought, mind already planning out what would be needed for them. Clean off the smoke and mud. Food will come after that, and after they've rested. It's likely been a long day for them, if not longer.
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Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 2:47 pm
Indeygo blinked large sleepy eyes at the female while Evadne added her thoughts to their story. He was glad the female hadn't scolded them for running off - they really hadn't had a choice but Indeygo had still been a little worried about getting in trouble - indeed still thought perhaps his mother and father would fuss at them still when they all got back together. It was a hope the little pup clung too - even though in the back of his mind his sub-conscious was telling him it was highly unlikely. Sticking his nose up he nuzzled her jaw in thanks as she promised both to help and keep them safe.
'And then we can eat too?"
He asked hopefully while snuggling down with bleary eyes and a big yawn.
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 5:36 am
"Sleep," Calandra encouraged with a smile. "When you wake, we'll find something for you to eat."
She watched the two pups drift in to slumber and gazed out at the calm woods, ears on alert for anything but the distant birdsong and the faint sounds of the river. Had that been the river the children had crossed? Or had they crossed more than one? After they had woken up and she had gotten them food, she would see if there was a more coherent story there, and then go to see Alas. If they knew nothing of where the pups had come from, or if the family had been wiped out...
She looked down at the soft rise and fall of their dirty pelts and smiled. She had promised to keep them safe, and safe she would keep them.
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