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 Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 5:22 am
 To say that things had been difficult so far this year would be putting it mildly and the thought of what had happened to their old home, the place where she had first settled, raised her children, fell in love...was gut wrenching to think about. She had loved that old place, it had been a part of her soul...and now it was gone. Yes it was enough to make her sigh in sorrow, each padding footstep away from there had felt like leaving a part of herself behind.
And yet....
She was grateful , hows confusing to be so full of sorrow and loss and yet also so very thankful for the mere fact that they had made it. It had been hard and challenging but with the help of Pen, her sisters and the strong heart of her own wolves they had bought themselves a new chance. A new start and while the land was strange and different it was also familiar, deer roamed the woods the same way they had back home, birds chirped, fish swam..the sun rose, the wind sang the same rustling song through the leaves . Different..but the same and she was so very proud of her pack, they had pulled together in a way that pack leaders only dreamed about, encouraged and cared for one another and their reward...this new home.
A new home....Chivosi crossed her front paws one over the other and lay her head down, ears flicking in silent thought as she lay upon the dawn dappled floor.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 5:43 am
 It had been a trying time moving the pack, along with their allies Antianeira, to this new land. The two packs had essentially merged as one over the days and weeks of travel and even after they settled into their respective lands, they stay close at first, helping each other out in every way possible. But not enough time had passed that they were back to being separate but still there to help if and when needed. Galahad had been glad to have all those extra eyes, ears and paws along the journey. The move had been hard on all of them, but of course the hardest thing for most, if not all of them, was leaving the home they had known their whole lives and knowing that they could never return. It was not like going out on a trip and getting to come back when you were done. That old life was over..and yet it continued on here, the same and different.
Galahad had never seen his Alpha duties as difficult before the disaster struck, but in that time when chaos erupted in the land and they were forced to travel fast and hard he was glad that he was in the position that he was. It was times of crisis that truly brought out the leader in both himself and Chiv and they had worked so well together it was as though they had known each other their entire lives and had always been working side by side.
Now things had settled down, for the most part, and life was back to normal. Or as close to normal as they could managed. Every now and then the effects of the long travel and losing their old home would pop up, but that was to be expected. It would take time for them to fully heal but he would never forget about that old home and would always carry the memories with him.
Spotting his mate lying down Galahad could almost say without a doubt that she was thinking about the past. He padded up to her and ran his tongue along the length of her muzzle. "You are thinking of home aren't you?" He couldn't blame her for doing so, there were plenty of memories for her in those old land, some included him and others were well before they had ever met.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 6:34 am
Chivosi's tail wagged as Galahad joined her, her head lolling sideays to accept his show of affection with a warm look on her face before she answered his inquiry. "hmm, somewhat." She admit with a slight flick of her ears. "It is hard not to think about it...but I was also thinking of other things." She told him, lifting her head so that they might have a more comfortable conversation.
She was lucky that Galahad had come along when he had, he was like an answer to a prayer she didn't even know she had made, although she had done well running the pack on her own it had been difficult, she hadn't really realized just how difficult until he had come along and relieved some of the burden and she didn't think they would have made it out after the disaster in such good shape if he hadn't been with them. Of course there were still some missing but Chivosi tried not to think the worst in those cases, they were still out there somewhere she was sure of it and someday they would find their way back home again.
Flicking a fly away with her ear she turned her thoughts back to less depressing matters then their missing brethren. Back to her original thoughts. "I've been thinking that the pack needs a fresh start, this is a new land and a new home...the old should not be forgotten but it is important to move on and perhaps part of healing is changing, a new identity for a new land maybe."
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 8:35 am
Galahad lowered himself down to the ground near her. "As painful as it is, it's good to remember the old. Our memories will always be there to comfort us when we need them." He told her. He would not forget thing things they did when they lived in their old home, for there were plenty of good memories. There were bad memories as well, but he would remember those two, as they combined with the good made up their past and would influence their future.
He nodded his head, considering her words. His own words and thoughts had echoed her own. The past was important and should not be forgotten but the here and now and the future were what was truly important. A fresh start sounded like a good idea, after all these had endured getting there and the many unknowns they had and will tackle in the future in made perfect sense. "What kind of fresh start were you thinking of?" A new identity could mean any number of things but he didn't see Chiv wanting to change things too much, even after all the changes they had had to make on their journey here and after settling.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 8:55 am
Chivosi had spent a good deal of time thinking on this question, a change might help them to heal and yet too much change would likely do the opposite, would make the pack feel like they had lost more then they had gained with the move. Chivosi did not want her pack mates to think of it that way...and she herself was loathe to change the packs basic structure, it was unique and different..but it worked and with who knew how many wolves fleeing the old lands they might just be needed now more then they ever had before.
"Nothing to drastic." She assured Galahad with a wolfy smile "The pack works well and it fills a niche that was lacking before it - perhaps one that might be needed even more, there are sure to be many lost and frightened wolves passing through the lands in the coming weeks and months." She stated, pausing slightly before she continued "I ..was thinking, just..a new name, a new name for a new land." She finally told the wolf beside her, eyeing him to see how he might receive the news.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 9:02 am
"I wouldn't expect that you'd ever want to change the basic ideals of the pack. As you say we fill a need and though our numbers grow and fall as new wolves come and go it is good for them and any others our there to know there is a place where all is welcome." Admittedly he had originally thought such an open and welcoming pack was a bad idea, but that was before he got to truly know Chiv and her pack, and when he saw how well it worked, even with the mish mash of wolves that made up the bulk of it's numbers he fell in love with the idea. And now here he was mate and co-alpha with Chiv and he wouldn't change a thing...well beyond whatever small change Chiv was thinking about making just now.
He considered her words. A new name for a new land. It was a damn fine idea. They would still be the same pack as before but simply be going by a different name to reflect their new home. "I think that is a good idea." He told her with a smile. "We have gone through much in these past few weeks and a new name would help to allow us to fully settle into this new home. Have you given thought as to what that new name would be?" She likely would have, for he couldn't see her bringing it up without having at least thought about it a little bit.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 10:25 am
Chivosi gave Galahad a knowing look , the male must know that he had come up with something, it was unlikely that she would have brought it up if she hadn't, no she would have kept it to herself, silently mulling it over until she had all her ducks in a row so to speak.
"I was thinking it should be something that relates to the pack, to the second chances we provide, the fresh starts and new beginnings - which works because it not only relates to our own new home and second chance but also to those we help...there is only one thing I could think of that was suitable. New Dawn....because no matter how dark the night and how terrible or wonderful the day before was a New Dawn comes back every morning so that you can start fresh." Well it had sounded better in her mind, maybe it sounded a bit silly now that she said it out loud like that..but she stuck by her choice as a good one. "Though if you have any other ideas feel free to share them." She encourage, not wanting Galahad to feel like this was a done deal with none of his input.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 10:39 am
Galahad listened to his mate. He agreed that the name should reflect their pack, both past and present and what it represented. Their old name, or at least what it stood for, has been good at the time, but it was certainly time to give the pack name a bit of a facelift. When she got to the new name Galahad's ears perked forward. New Dawn. He couldn't help but smile at the meaning behind it. "New Dawn." He said trying it out for himself. It had a nice ring to it, but more importantly was the meaning behind it as Chiv had put it perfectly. No matter what stood before them there would always be a new dawn to see them into a fresh start each and every day.
His smile grew mischievous. "It's a fairly decent name...but how about something like Galahad's Pack of Plenty." He couldn't help but chuckle then. It was the most ridiculous name he could think of at that very moment. "New Dawn sounds like a wonderful name Chiv, and more so the meaning behind it is perfect for our pack." He leaned forward and gave her a loving nuzzle.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 11:13 am
Chiv rolled her eyes at Galahad's ridiculous suggestion. "Well if we are going to do that we might as well rename your role as 'King' while we are at it." She remarked. "All hail King Galahad - You will probably want to find new allies though, I doubt that Pen would go along with that change." She joked in reference to their female dominant allies.
Ah it was nice to joke around a little bit, it had been a long time since either of them could relax enough to do so - but now that life was settling down again Chiv rather hoped that moments like this would begin to happen more often and she nuzzled her mate back lovingly.
"New Dawn then, We can tell the pack at the next meaning, explain it to them, I doubt any will mind." Well maybe Derecho - he tended to be the most stubborn when it came to change but her surly son would get over it and come to like it eventually.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 11:22 am
"King Galahad." He repeated proudly. "It does have a very nice ring to it." At mention of their allies he gave Chiv a lopsided grin. "Oh I'm sure Pen wouldn't mind so much, especially since you, in turn, would be known as Queen Chivosi" Now that did have a truly nice ring to it. But now that their allies were brought up he turned more serious. "I haven't seen much of our allies lately, I can only assume that they are settling in much like us and getting back into the rhythm of things. I know neither of us fully understand or like their way, but I admit I am glad that they were there for us during the travels here." He was sure that they could have done so without their allies, but it might not have gone as smoothly as it had and they may have lost more members. One day he hoped to find out what happened to those who were lost, perhaps they had found a new pack to live with.
"I'm sure they will find the new name fitting." It would likely take time to adjust to it, like it was taking them to adjust to life here in the new lands but the name was good and had a great meaning behind it and as such the pack was likely not to mind the change - after all it was the only change they were making. Why change things when they worked so well the way that they were.
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