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 Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 5:01 pm
 Things were going well for Iosef.
The slave had made his way near the border again; he had begun to make a habit of it, this early-morning stroll. Oftentimes he would pick up some bit of small game to bring back as a token for one of the sisters; usually, he just used this time as an opportunity to clear his head before beginning on his daily routine.
The calico-pelted wolf could not remember a time when he had been happier. His pack was growing, its numbers increased now by pups, and nothing pleased Iosef more than the introduction of new life to the family he had come to love. They were settling in well, thanks -- Iosef hoped -- in part to his own actions; whatever it took to make life a little easier for the others, that is what Iosef prided himself on.
All of which was not to say the wolf's thoughts were completely unburdened. There was, after all, the matter of that strange male he had stumbled across beyond the borders of the territory; also, the ever-confusing presence of that new white female. Both of these individuals plagued his thoughts, and he redoubled his efforts within the pack in an attempt to drive away these things that troubled him.
One other thing bothered him, however, and it was this which currently consumed most of his attentions on this day: his departed sisters. He wasn't sure what had brought the thought into the forefront of his mind; perhaps it had been the presence of the pups and the memories stirred by their arrival. Whatever the cause, today, for the first time in many moons, Iosef was thinking about his blood-kin, and wondering what had become of them....and, in a quiet place, hidden from the majority of his thoughts, he missed them deeply.
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Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 2:36 pm
 The last few months had been a whilrwind for Terreis. She had be separated from her brother forcefully after her old pack disbanded and then lost her other sister several weeks later when she went to look for her brother. It had pained her so greatly to be forced from her brothers side but Terreis had been unable to reason with her sister and thusly had left him behind. It hadn't taken very long for Terreis to leave her sister in the middle of the night to search for her brother - but it had been long enough for his trail to have gone dry.
For weeks she spent every waking moment searching for him but with no luck. No one had seen or heard of him in any of the packs she had come across. Though the chances were slim that he was still alive Terreis never gave up hope that one day she would find him again - or die trying. Even when she joined a new pack - well no she hadn't joined them yet, merely stayed a couple of nights - she couldn't ignore the nagging of her mind to tell her to return to her search.
And she had done so only a few days prior, but what happened that day she never could have imagined. As she left the YMCA lands she ran across Penthesilea the queen of her old pack. It was a great thing to see the queen so strong and alive but that only resurfaced the memories of her lost brother. That was until Penthesilea informed her that Iosef had indeed survived. Now Terreis was going to see her long lost brother after so long. She had forced Penthesilea to keep this secret from Iosef, which the queen reluctantly agreed to. Terreis wanted to be the one to break the news to her brother than she had indeed survived - to see the look on his face when he would see her again would be just the thing Terreis needed to bring joy back into her life.
So she traveled to her old pack a mixture of fear and happiness coursing through her. Terreis hoped that Iosef would understand why she left him behind, surely he would knowing how the pack ran. Though she knew even after seeing him she would forever be filled with the guilt of having ever left him behind.
When she reached the border it didn't take long for her to find her brother. Oddly it was a place they had went to when they were but pups to spend some quality time together. He seemed to be lost in his thoughts so Terreis approached cautiously not wanted to frighten him. "Iosef." She said in a soft voice. She wanted to badly just to run up to him but that may scare him and that was the last thing Terreis wanted to do right now.
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Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 5:51 pm
His ears flicked, and for a moment he believed that the voice had been from his own thoughts, it was so quiet. But no...there was a scent on the air, and as the familiar odor hit his nostrils, Iosef's violet eyes brightened and he lifted his head, casting a gaze over his shoulder. "Terreis?" He asked, tentatively, barely believing his eyes -- it had been too long, and, surely, he was seeing things..."Is that really you?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 6:01 pm
A smile crossed her maw as he spoke. After all these months of not knowing she was finally looking upon her brother, she wanted to cry but the warrior within her kept her from doing so. "Yes it's me brother." No longer able to stay away Terreis quickly closed the gap between them, bumping her head gently against his. "It has been far too long and I though - " She couldn't finish what she was going to say, at least not without breaking into tears. Pulling her head back she looked at him with loving eyes. "I'm so sorry." She was certain that even if she apologized to him every day for the rest of their lives it would never make up for her leaving him behind.
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Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 6:14 pm
There had always been a softness to Iosef, and perhaps in that way it was a blessing that he was born a male -- somehow, his weakness was redeemed that way. Tears welled in his violet eyes and he reached out a paw, reaching for her as to ascertain that she was real. "I hoped to look for you," he said, in a near-whisper. "....But I never dreamed you would find me."
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Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 6:48 pm
As he reached out with his paw to touch her she nearly broke into tears. It was like he still didn't believe she was there standing in front of him. Terreis the battle hardened warrior was quickly melting into an emotion wreck but so far she kept her composure. "I should have never left you to begin with." She told him apologetically. "And I would have never found you had it not be for me running into Penthesilea. She told me that she found you a few weeks ago and I just had to see for myself."
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Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:18 pm
He brushed his paw against her forelimb and smiled through the tears that were clouding his vision. He shook his head, to silence her. "You did what you had to do," he said, and believed it; he knew in his heart that abandoning him had been primarily the plan of his other sister. Terreis had always had that fondness of him, moreso perhaps than any other in his family. "I blame you for nothing, Sister." He tentatively touched his nose to her cheek, and then backed away, as though afraid to be reprimanded for the attention he spared his superior sibling. "But what about you? Are you well?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 5:52 pm
Good old Iosef always willing to forgive those who had wronged him. Perhaps it was for the best that he did or else Terreis would never be able to leave his side again - and that would prove quite difficult considering she didn't plan to be part of Antianeira for now. Leaning her head forward she gently licked his cheek. "I am doing much better now." She didn't care that he showed some affection towards her, they were siblings after all even if here he was but an underling.
Lowering herself onto her haunches Terreis gave her brother a good look over. He hadn't changed since the last time she had seen him - still the slender thing he had always been. "Have many of the others returned?" She asked curiously. When she had spoke to Penthesilea a few days ago the queen had said that the pack was slowly growing but didn't say how large or small it was, nor did she say how many of the sisters had returned. "Have they been treating you well?" All the concerns and questions of a sister were coming to surface but she didn't want to overwhelm him with them.
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 10:22 am
"There have been a few familiar faces," he said, thinking it over, "And some new members, also. We are far from the numbers we once had, but..." he shrugged, and smiled. "But we'll get there."
He reclined to his haunches as well, his ears flicking occasionally, senses always on the alert ever since he had been a pup. "They treat me well," he said, without hesitation, his soft eyes looking upon his sister with something akin to adoration. "And there is a male pup here, in training for service to the pack, whom I am helping to instruct."
Iosef was nearly beaming with pride for the achievements of his pack, and for a moment all of his troubles were forgotten. "Have you come to return to us, Terreis?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 10:48 am
"Penthesilea is a great queen, she will no doubt restore the pack to it's former glory." Terreis said confidently, though she knew deep down that she would not be a part of the new pack. It saddened her to think about it and surely Iosef would also be a bit disappointed but too many things in her life had changed for her to come back, at least right now.
"It is good to hear that brother." She smiled, Iosef always was a loyal and hard working slave of the pack so being given the responsibility to train another young slave was very important. "I'm sure you are making a great teacher for this pup."
Her smile faded at his question. It was one she had hoped to avoid for the time being but deep down Terreis knew that it could not be avoided forever. "I have not." She gave her head a shake almost feeling ashamed to say those words. "There has been so much happen in the last few months and as badly as I want to return I feel that now would be a bad time to do so. I already spoke to Penthesilea about it and while she was obviously disappointed she understood." Falling into a moment of silence she smiled once more looking upon her brother. "But I won't be far away Iosef. There is a pack to the south of here that I am staying with for now. They are very nice but quite different from Antianeira."
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:00 am
He tilted his head, looking at her in utter bafflement; in truth, it had never truly occurred to him that there could be life outside of Antianeira. "...Oh," he said, at a loss for words, for a moment searching for the appropriate reaction. He truly had not expected that answer, and his first inclination was concern that, perhaps, something ill had befallen her. His brow furrowed, and after a hesitation, "...but everything is all right?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:19 am
"Everything is alright Iosef, I promise." She said though Terreis knew that the news of her not returning to the pack would hit him hard. It was hard to explain why she was not returning for after all Antianeira had been her life - or at least it had up until the war torn it apart. "I love this pack with all my heart but there are some things I must see and do before I can return." She didn't mention that there was the possibility that she may never return as that would likely tear Iosef's heart right out of his chest. "You understand that don't you?" Perhaps she should explain her reason for staying with that other pack but it would seem weird coming from her since that reason was a male who was slowly becoming her good friend - something that didn't happen in Antianeira.
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:49 pm
He tilted his head, still clearly not understanding, but did not press; it was not his place to, and arguing with her choice would likely cause her pain -- which was the last thing Iosef ever wanted. "So long as you are treated well," he said, and then, with a naive smile, "...Is there someone there to tend to you, at least?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 5:02 pm
Terreis smiled at her brother. "I am treated well there." She assured him though sometimes she did wonder if the decision to live in that other pack was the right thing. She did enjoy her time with the pack members and Derecho as well but there were sometimes were they fought like they were complete and mortal enemies.
She let out a small laugh. "It's not that type of pact Iosef. There are those to help out but not those who serve us like you do for the sisters here." With a shake of her head she continued. "Besides I can take care of myself you know." Any sister trained within the pack could be self suffice but the slaves were jut an added bonus to relieve some minor stresses off of the females.
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 5:21 pm
His nose wrinkled, and he boldly pawed at her, a hint of the playful pup evident in him. "Admit it -- you're just a little lost without me." His eyes glittered, with a mixture of emotions, but he shrugged it off, taking a deep, steadying breath. He considered mentioning to her some of his own concerns, which were bubbling up beneath the surface of his thoughts, but he decided against it. "...But enough talk of all this gloomyness. Come, I have time yet before I am expected elsewhere...let's walk a bit, and catch up."
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