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 Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 10:09 am
She could smell the water of a river not far away & thought she could almost hear the sound of its bubbling banks... but she did not trust her own ears. Nothing sounded the same without the feel of her mother's gentle touch in her head. The sounds heard by her own small ears seemed to echo unnaturally in the hallows of her mind that had never known such silence inside.
Or such lonliness outside. A silent whimper shook the cub though no sound came from her. She knew they were gone. Her sire & dam, their alpha & pack, her litter-mates. Still some hope clung to her heart like a possessed thing that maybe another of her siblings or cubs escaped, even as she knew that she -Masque- was the only one who had strayed far enough to be safe from the slaughter that fateful day.
It had been at least a month now. She had watched the trek of the moon at night and was old enough to be able to follow the cycle. But the cub had lost all sense of where she had come from & how to get back again. Not that she dared go back again.
There was nothing there for her now.
A bird, startled from its resting place gave a cry and flew with a rush of wings towards the fallen cub & then up into the sky. She gave a soft yip of surprise and fell onto her back, callosed & bruised paws reaching for the sky as startled eyes watched the bird fly away.
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 9:10 pm
 ((I'm kind of irked. I was all ready to finish up this post, just had to hit send, and I accidently made the page go back. >< So I lost it all. Sorry if this one is kind of crappy. 9_9; I hate rewriting posts. They never turn out as awesome as the original. *grins* ))
Amarii was in hot persuit. The little red and white pup had her nose stuck to the dirt and grass, the little black button wriggling back and forth as she tried to keep up with the trail. There was something weird out there, something she'd never discovered before, and Amarii wanted to find it. Whatever it was, it had one awful scent~! It wasn't a particularly nice smell, but perhaps that's what interested the little femme the most.
Whatever thing that left such a noxious trail absolutely had to be interesting!
Golden eyes stayed focused, her ears ever alert for the first signal of danger. After what had happened with Alina and the river-dogs, Amarii was just a touch more cautious. Still, even the sense of danger wouldn't keep Amarii from satiating her curiousity. She wouldn't leave this trail even if -
A squabbling bird suddenly appeared out of nowhere, flying fast away, starteled. Red ears pricked straight, and her currently obsession was forgotten. Something was out there. . . . wasn't it? The bird had sounded agitated, annoyed. So something must have caused it concern, yes?
Tassle wagging faster, Amarii now had a new adventure to persue. Her paws took her through the underbrush, ears swiveling every now and then to locate the sounds around her. Whatever was out there might be BIG and MEAN and SCARY! Still, her mother was in the area, even if completely out of sight. Ravii wouldn't leave her side, not after the dog attack.
Trotting forward, she pushed her way through the forests foliage. Nosing her way through nearby bushes, two gold eyes investigated the nearby area. The bird had come from this way, which meant that the monster had to be . . . .
It was then that she saw something. Wriggling green paws, stuck straight up in the air! And a white and gold striped tail, facing her. It took Amarii a moment to realize that what she was looking at was the backside of a puppy - and a wolf puppy at that!
Fear forgotten, the little femme gave a happy whine. Trotting boldly towards Masque, she gave the new pup a one over. She was pale, and iddn't have strange markings on her like Alina. She was also very dirty, and was laying in quite an awkward position. "What are you doing. . .?" She demanded, though there was no challange or dominance in her voice. Merely curiousity. Why would one be rolled on their back like that, dangling over a tree root? "Do you just like dangling your paws in the air?" A little giggle - first judgement said this masqued pup was weird.
But that was OK. Amarii had no problem with the odd, strange, and different.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:41 pm
((*hugs* gah!! I hate that! I think that's why I started using firefox... just go foreward again & the post's still there. Still in the habit of copying my post before submitting it from when my internet was being uber wonky too. I don't like redoing posts either.))
Masque froze. It was a defensive instinct she had integrated ever since hearing her mother's order. She did not even think of what a sight she must be, covered in mud, months of leaves and pine needles stuck to the mud on her fur, lying on her back, well-traveled paws up in the air. Masque had not been given a bath since her mother told her to dirty herself, and she was too frightened to take the dirt off.
Yellow eyes met the yellow eyes that had found her & she blinked. Another wolf-cub? Clean... and she did not seem afraid... perhaps it was safe here? Wait... she had been sked a question. Two. Her mind replayed them as Masque rolled onto her side to get her feet back under her. "The bird..." she started, then became embarrassed. "The bird startled me. I... fell. I've never had one fly at me... mostly away."
Shuffling her paws Masque offered a tenuous wolfish grin. "But I used to like just dangling my paws in the air. We all did." Her eyes were bright & happy at the memory, surprisingly clear for a cub -not that Masque would notice. "lots of green socks wiggling in the air. We..." The light that had briefly lit her eyes was gone and the cub started to cry for the first time in over a month. The tears washed a trail of clean through the mud on her face clearing streaks on her butterfly mask. That simple joy was gone -she and her siblings would never play like that again. "We liked showing who our sire was."
Not that such that mattered now. They were all dead. She looked again at the cub -the first wolf she had seen in over a moon. She seemed nice enough. But then those meen with the boom-sticks seemed unarmed too.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:03 pm
((Yeah. . . I should get Firefox again. I.E. is evil. D: ))
Amarri's red tassle wagged back and forth hypnotically behind her. Sure, Masque was a mess, but Amarii knew that she liked to get good and dirty sometimes too! Given, the pale stranger before her was exceptionally coated with grit and grime, but Amarii was young and innocent. Maybe this new one just liked to be dirty?
A small giggle left the female's throat. It was lighthearted, gentle, and almost contagious. No, she wasn't laughing at Masque, merely the situation! Being starteled by a bird. . .? Well, the red and white female knew that she'd been starteled a time or two by various beasts. "You must have scared it too!" She giggled, friendly, lop-sided smile flitting across her features.
Birds didn't usually fly at wolves. . . . maybe the bird had been confused too.
But as quickly as the laughter had begun, a new darkness seemed to cloud Masque. Like a brewing storm, the shy, dirtied smile faded and the tears began. Confused, Amarii stared for a moment, not sure what to do.
Oh no~!! An anxious whine escaped from her throat, and she shifted from paw to paw, ears dipping back and tail falling. Was she mad that she'd laughed? No . . . . she was talking about dangling her paws in the air with siblings! Or at least how they used too. Amarii realized now that she wasn't talking about the present, the now, the future.
She was talking about the past, about what they used to do. So maybe, just maybe, something had caused the paw-wriggling to end.
Another whine, and a cautious step foward. "Oh no, don't cry!" So young, she only understood that tears were bad and sad. Therefor, if she could get the dirtied puppy to stop crying, maye she'd be happy again! Her heart hurt for the girl . . . why did she have to be so sad?
Feeling protective, like she did with Alina or her sister, Mayrii, and even her mother, Amarii inched closer to the stranger. Ears back, whimper in her throat, she pressed her nose against Masque's cheek and muzzle, offering a gentle lick. "What's wrong? Please don't cry. . . It'll be all right!"
. . . wouldn't it? I had to be! No one deserved to be so sad.
A thought struck the white and red princess. Maybe she could help fix this situation. Maybe she could help Masque, and take away the little puppies tears. That's what wolves did, didn't they? And if Amarii couldn't fix her, she knew for sure her mother, Ravii, could!
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Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 11:40 am
The other cub's laugh had been infectious and something within the orphaned female still felt brighter from having heard it even if she could not stop the tears from falling. They fell silently, then she was leaning tentatively into the white & red cub's nose to hers. A startled sniffle followed the gentle lick she was given. Yellow eyes widened in shock.
"I ... can't stop." Masque explained in surprize as the tears continued to fall. Over a moon-cycle worth of tears and the floodgates had been opened. Rivulets of tear-washed fur continued over each side of her muzzle & slightly underneath to her chin before the tears dripped off and fell to the forest floor. For some reason she trusted the honest pup, felt a whisper like a memory of her mother's gentle touch in her mind that had always meant a nod, an ascent, a signal that it was safe to go on. The she-pup calmed slightly though she continued to cry. "I...I... I miss them."
There. She had said it. To herself and to the happy cub. A trembling smile flickered uncertainly in her eyes. Beyond the grief, the cub wanted to be able to play with this funny, cheerful stranger.
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Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 1:17 pm
Another soft whine as she offered another, reassuring touch to the little one. The sight of seeing this stranger in tears made Amarii want to start to crying too. Even in her most radiant of natures, she absolutely couldn't stand to see someone cry!
So she couldn't stop crying, huh? "Then don't stop," Amarii changed her mind, deciding that if she couldn't quit then it was no use trying. Amarii didn't often cry, but the times she did weep she often felt better afterwards. Given, that was usually because her mother appeared to give her comfort and reassurance, but . . . sometimes letting the tears go turned out to be better then holding them in.
Red and white fur stayed close to Masque, nuzzling her in an almost affectionate manner. Amarii held no fear from strangers, and as far as she was concerned, this little lost puppy was like a new friend, and she treated such friends like family. So seeing the pale puppy so broken, Amarii couldn't help but fret and treat her like she would her sister.
"It's ok to be sad, to miss them. . ." her voice was soft, an attempt to be reassuring. Another nuzzle, "I don't have a papa, he never came back," she explained gently, hoping that Masque would realize they were similar kin. Though she did have her mother and sister, Amarii thought often of the big, red male that had turned his back and walked away. She kept such thoughts far away though, for she often grew angry within her own regrets. Something about Masque's attitude, though, seemed to say that this went much farther, and much deeper than abandonment.
It was something worse.
Amarii knew of dangers that lurked in the woods, if not what specifically had happened. Maybe, just maybe, one of those dangers had befallen her family. . . . thinking about it, though Amarii came to the conclusion that it had to be some big animal!
Ravii wasn't far from where the two girls sat. She sat, hidden, unheard, and downwind from them, violet ears partially glued back. She heard the sniffling, crying puppy and her heart all but broke. The poor darling. . . one look told the female that she'd been on quite a journey. Her fur was covered in dirt and grime, she was in dire need of a good grooming.
With each sniffle and sob, Ravii felt her heart break a little more. She knew what it was like to go on without a family, to be alone. Though she remembered very little about her puppyhood, about her family and the collapsed den, Ravii lived alone through her childhood and adolescent yearsa. Even most of her life as an adult, she'd been alone. . . .
Part of the female wondered if she should approach, if she dare interrupt her daughter and the small one.
No. Not yet.
She didn't want to scare the small one, to frighten her, especially by finding her so very heartbroken. She'd wait. Amarii knew she was but a call away.
((I'm thinking of dropping Ravii in to this RP too, unless you have any objections. ^^; She could probably give poor Masque a little bit more reassurance than Amarii. *grin* ))
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Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 10:10 pm
((be my guest!))
There had been few other times for tears in her young life. Falling onto a hard stone, tumbling into the briar patch. Those were the only ones Masque would likely be able to remember, if she stopped to think about it.
Which she was not.
She wept silently through the nuzzling and the words, internally grateful for the support though being a cub could hardly understand how it made her feel a fraction better much less explain so. The she-cub sniffled, bringing a dirty and trail damaged paw to wipe across her eyes. "N...never came back?"
The notion confused and perplexed Masque. Sometimes, in the pack of her birth, a wolf would decide to leave and never be seen again. But it was rare. And never, ever -not in her memory or her mother's- had a wolf with family been one to leave. They had been a large pack, but a close one. Like a large & loving family. Few ever wanted to leave. So the thought that a papa might never come back...
Golden eyes looked at her new 'friend'. Who could ever leave someone so kind? "A... 'ave you a mother then?"
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Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 10:42 pm
Amarii's heart hurt for the stranger before her. Though the little one continued to cry, to sniffle, to break, the friendly girl did her best to offer reassurance and affection. It was natural for her, to be so affectionate and loving, even to a stranger! Masque was hurting, and therefor Amarii did all in her puppy power to make her un-hurt.
Her cherry-red tail dropped a bit as she explained a bit, taking it upon herself to begin grooming her new friends cheek and neck. Her tongue was small, and the grim was thick. Still, she did her best. "Yeah," she explained softly between licks, "I remember him a little. I know what he looks like, I know his scent. . . " Another groom and a little nuzzle. "He was with us one day, and left the next."
Some could argue that perhaps he'd suffered an accident, been killed. But Ravii had searched far and lo for a body, had even asked a few sympathetic ravens to see. No word came back, and every now and then she thought she heard a familiar howl or cry. He wasn't dead. He just didn't feel like being obligated to a family.
Amarii hurt to think about her father, but he was fast becoming nothing but a bad memory. He left a bad taste in her mouth, and she never wanted to see him again. He was no father to her, even if she still called him papa. . . . Ravii was her savior, and the only wolf she needed.
Gold met gold, a hint of regret shading her eyes. But the clouds didn't last long. Her drooped tail stood up again, and began wagging excitedly at the mention of her mother. "I do have a mother! Her name's Ravii and she looks like me 'cept different colours! I also have a sister too, named Mayrii, but she doesn't like to come out and play somtimes." Shaking out her fur, a little giggle as an idea struck her.
"You wanna meet my Mama?" A little dip of her body, as if she couldn't decide whether or not she should rise and stand, or flop down and sit. "She's awfully nice, and could clean you better than I'm doing!"
Without waiting for agreement (this had to be the best idea in the world of ideas) Amarii gave a little bark, turning over her shoulder as her nose wiggled in the air. Now . . . where would she come from this time. It wasn't a cry for help, but it was a call for her mother, one Ravii could recognize anywhere. "Mama's always around when I go."
Purple ears flicked and the cream and violet femme slowly slid to her feet. How would this poor pup take to her? Part of her wanted to wait to see how Masque reacted to the idea, but a second yip from her daughter caused her concern.
She didn't want Amarii to attract undue attention from any lurking predators. They might not mess with adult wolves, but yipping puppies were another thing entirely.
Well, she figured, Masque was bound to meet her at some point. At least now she had fair warning. Trotting quickly through the underbrush, cream and purple fur appeared. She slowed herself, ears pricked in curiousity as she cautiously approached the girls.
Her body was completely relaxed, her bushy cream tail wagging softly behind her. She made sure to push aside the shadows and loss of her mate as her cerulean eyes landed sympathetically upon Masque. Oh, how she knew what it was like to be lost and alone. . . . .
No puppy should ever go through such a state.
"Why hello there," she greeted amicably, her alto voice soft and gentle, greeting a hundred percent for Masque.
Of course, Amarii hardly let her mother speak. Half leaping in joy, she dodged around Masque and ran up to her mother, as if to prove to the other she was safe. Jumping up, she licked at her mothers jaw, before whirling around and trotting proudly back to the femme. "That's my Mom," she explained, gold eyes bright. "She's really, really nice," she whispered in the golden furred puppies ear, as if to convince her.
Her tail wagged and she sat down. "Mommy, this is . . . this is . . ." And then it struck her. She didn't know who it was she was talking too. "This is my new friend. . . . Hey, what is your name anyway? I'm Amarii, and that's Ravii!"
It wasn't that the white and red girl was being inconsiderate of Masque's feelings. She just hadn't learned the art of sympathy, tenderness and tact. To her, the best thing to do was to get Masque happy again, at whatever means possible. So maybe, if she talked to her and let her meet her mother, the little one just might smile again.
Ravii, on the other hand, inwardly winced. Masque was in dire need of a definite cleaning, and some tender loving care! A good meal was in order too. . . . . Thankfully, there was a kill not far from the den with some pieces buried. Ravii could forgo her dinner tonight, if the little one was hungry. She could hunt again in the evening.
Settling down behind her daughter, Ravii lay down so as not to appear imposing or threatening. Who knew what Masque had been through, what had happened to her family. . . It could have been anything, even another wolf. Her ears were splayed affectionately, and she tried to keep her poise at her most inviting and warm.
Thankfully, it wasn't hard for the female to pull off. Despite her current sorrows, she was a genuine sweetheart.
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 7:35 pm
The cub winced a little, picking up a pain from her new acquaintance that she should not know... should not feel. She whimpered softly that the cheerful cub's father would have actually left of his own volation. Masque did not mean to -but she picked up the scent from the other's memories, stored it away beyond her consciousness.
"Your mother? I don't know... I..." But the other cub was already calling her. Scared gold eyes looked up to where the adult wolf was coming from, trembling more from her own heart-pain & memories than fear of the moment. She hunkered down, hiding as her mother's parting words had told her to do. Her ears flicked all around to hear everything, catching the cherry marked cub's introduction before shifting forward to stay.
The purple and cream female seemed okay. Certainly not a threat. Her short socks reminded Masque of her brother, Suvoo, though they were the wrong color for his were short too. She did not realize hers were likely the same length.
"Masque." She piped up quietly at length, eyes wide and watching the mother & daughter with more longing than fear in her tear-filled eyes.
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Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 11:03 pm
Ravii's heart broke in two to see the tears that stained the puppies eyes. Blue eyes softened tenderly as the dirt encrusted pup hunkered down, her ears flicking wildly back and forth, as if she weren't sure what was to going to happen.
A soft, high pitched whine broke the silence, and the mother lay her head on her paws, as if to appear as unintimidating as possible. The poor girl needed a gentle touch, soft spoke reassurances. The regret and apology in her azure gaze was obvious. . .
Why did things have to happen to such young ones?
No pup should be without family or friend, and it seemed the green legged femme had no one. Ravii remembered those days, though they were long ago. She had none as she grew, and even less while an adolescent. In fact, Ravii's early ears were filled with fear, regret, and loss. The sorrow had seemed overwhelming at times, so now, seeing the yellow furred girl just as scared and sad. . . .
It hurt. Those memories hurt, and perhaps the worst thing about it was there was very little the cream wolf could do to change it. If she could turn back time, if she could adjust the clocks of fate how she'd do it in a heartbeat.
"Oh darling," she spoke softly, the tenderness in her heart resounding through her words, "Please don't be afraid. I promise I won't hurt you," her ears flattened a bit, and she crept on her belly a few inches closer.
Amarii, on the other hand, trotted easily back over to her new friends side. Her eyes still looked sad and afraid. . . If Mommy couldn't help her, then what wolf could? Trotting in a half-circle around her hunkered friend, Amarii flopped down next to her, nuzzling her neck and shoulder. "Masque. . . " she draweled, tail tip wagging in delight. "That's a pretty name!" she exclaimed, enjoying the way the short, one-syllabled name danced upon her tongue. Ravii, Amarii, Mayrii. . .their names were all the same! But Masque . . . Amarii liked the way she could drawl out the words. Maaaaassssque.
"You'll be my friend, won't you?" No wasn't an answer - in fact, as far as Amarii was concerned, she didn't even need to ask! Of course they'd become friends, maybe even best friends! One could never be without too many, as far as the white furred female was concerned. Alina was a good friend, but (in reality) she was the only non-related wolf she knew. Masque would no make two.
Ravii kept her posture relaxed and submissive. It did her heart good to see her daughter warm up so quickly to the blonde pup. Watching them, she stayed quiet, not wanting to interrupt.
. . . hmm. The pup had to be exhausted if she'd done nothing but run. The tangles in her fur were in dire need of being fixed, and her paws looked absolutely worn! If she were in such a rush, if she were as scared as she looked now there was little chance she'd had a good meal.
Head still resting upon her paws, the mother decided to wait a bit. The puppy seemed so fragile, still so scared and that grief. . that sorrow upon her shoulders. . . . Did she ask her what was wrong? Did she press the issue, the matter? No. . . not yet, not right now.
A good cleaning and a good meal were in proper order first. Flopping to her side, she reached playfully out with one of her paws, lightly brushing up against the girl. "Whoever you're running from," she assured, "I won't let them hurt you."
It was true. No matter if the pup was a stranger or her own, Ravii would do all in her power to proect. It was a weakness in her, a soft spot she couldn't ignore. Masque was scared and scared bad. . . . If it were another wolf or a two-legger, the cream and violet one would do all in her power to make sure it didn't get anywhere close to the green-socked pup.
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 7:20 pm
((Sorry! Thought I already posted a response! *sheepish* started it in my head but I guess I never typed it.))
The pup let her new friend nuzzle her, yellow eyes wide watching the mother with a soft whimper that ached with missing & longing. She wanted her mother -her father & brothers & sisters and the rest of her large and very close-knit pack. Once large. One close knit. If any others had managed to survive the massacre they were certainly gone far, far away. Some thought that did not seem to be her own -that felt older & far wiser- knew that woodland creatures would not likely return quickly to that place, the scent of blood sunk deep into the earth with the dirty black powder from the strange humans' sticks.
Friends? Some yearning part inside Masque helped her tail to wag once, her head to lift the faintest bit, hope to flash like a shooting star across her eyes -there & then gone. But the smallest smile of thanks remained, touching like bright sadness in Masque's eyes. Amarii liked her name. That made her a bit happier, for it was a name she had always been proud of.
She was not afraid of the mother. Ravii? A tentative smile even tugged at her mud-caked muzzle beyond where her tears had left odd paint streaks of white and metals through the ground coloring of her camoflage when the large purple socked paw brushed against her and she leaned with aching need into the touch.
But that brief smile fled from her face, yellow eyes jolting wide as something snapped inside the young cub. "No. No." There was a strength and assurance beyond her age in the young she-cub's vocal response. Her head shot up, staring straight at the older wolf, an edge to her body language that had not been there before. Then it started to fade, Masque lowering her head in fright once more but not all the way to her paws. Her eyes flicked between the ground and the eyes of the other two wolves. "I ... don't want them to take the lives of anyone else..." A hint of the previous edge & determination lingered, mixing with her own scared and frightened cub voice in an odd blend. "it... they..."
She shivered, memory still fresh. It would always be fresh. The sendings of her mother, -the sights , the tastes, the smells- burned upon her memory forever. "Just run." Masque pleaded, eyes following suit. "Just run & hide."
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 10:21 pm
Ravii whined softly in her throat as she watched and listened to the small ones words. It was obvious that the fear of her experiences haunted her every step - the memory of the horrible deeds fresh within her heart and mind. The female wolf was bright enough to be able to piece two and two together- her family was (more than likely) slaughtered and the little one would never see them again.
The sole survivor of a family, a pack . . . .
And from a look at her condition, Ravii feared the little one wouldn't last long on her own.
Creeping a bit closer, the cream and violet female rested her head down on her paws, almost nose to nose with little Masque. The fear was present, dancing behind that gaze - her conviction of a need to run caused Ravii both anger and regret. . . why did life have to be so cruel? Could the fates not spare the heart of one so small and gentle? Did the evils that lurked the shadows have to be so heartless?
"Shhhh," she reassured, blue eyes sympathetic and caring, watching the little puppy shake. Reaching out, she nuzzeled the little puppy, allowing her tongue to lick gently at her face and muzzle, clearing the tear-stained streaks upon her cheek. "We'll run," she promised, scootching a bit closer, paws on either side of the yellow pup. "But I promise you'll run with us." Abandon the little one? Have her take off on her own, like a light?
Oh no. Ravii would get caught first before she allowed any of the small ones to suffer. "I'm sorry, darling," she whispered, a pain in her own throat, muffeling her words. Oh how she could only guess at the killers, the hunters behind her. There were nightmares and demons that lurked out there the cream wolf could only imagine. . . .
With any luck, this pup could face brighter days ahead. Though her hurt would never go away, with time, perhaps the sting wouldn't be so apparant.
Amarii tried to understand, but it was difficult. Her new friend was still miserably unhappy, despite her little smile and tail wags. Whatever had happened, whatever had hurt her, it made the white and red puppy sad. Her friends shouldn't be sad! No. Way.
Frowning, she cuddled closer to Masque, her mothers paw the only barrier between them. Turning her head, she nibbled softly on her new friends ear, hoping to be as reassuring as possible. This wasn't a game, and something told Amarii that digging up some crazy good fun was not appropriate. So she stayed quiet, offering support in the only way she knew how . . . . cuddles.
"If we have to hide," she promised, "You can come back to our den. It's a perfect hiding spot. . . . Besides that, I'm really good at hiding, promise!" To the white furred girl, it was true. When Ravii went away to hunt she often had to stay secret with Mayrii. The older she got, of course, the more bold she became but if something scared her friend this much, Amarii understood the fear was valid. She had run with Alina, dodging dogs and river beasts, and had done her best to keep the brown pup safe. The same she'd do with Masque, just as she would Mayrii.
Friends didn't let friends hide alone or get scared.
A little smile, a shining light attempting to break through the clouds. "You'll have to meet Mayrii next," she chattered, pawing playfully at the soiled one . "And then, you know what, we can have a great game of tag! It'll be much more fun with more than two puppies!"
If they could get Masque to come over and play, how wonderful would that be? Amarii could show her the log that they crawl over, and the ants that nest along the entrance. She could show her the little trickling stream that floods the ground after a rainshower, and the clearing of short grasses that filled with yellow and pink flowers!
Oh, Ravii just had to let them become friends. . . Amarii adored friendship.
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Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 12:50 pm
Masque closed her eyes and shivered faintly as the adult female consoled her with touch and licks. Like her dam or sire would have. Her small body fell onto itself, as if deflating slowly, sinking to the groud. It was all Masque could do to nod that perhaps it would be okay to run together.
Hide and live! Her mother's dying words echoed in her mind not having lost any of their once living clarity. Knowledge from somewhere she did not know informed her that to do so she would be best with others. And these others seemed friendly & kind. The feeling deep in the back of her subconsious trusted them And we all have socks... different colors, but maybe... maybe we could be mistaken as family? Even a play family...
A small timid, scared cub smile followed by a tiny giggle was her reaction to having her ear nibbled. Shyly she looked at Amarii. "I... I'd like that."
The tiniest speck of light brightened her golden eyes and Masque dared the comforting feeling of cuddling back. She leaned shyly away from the cherry paw as it came at her, eyes uncertain. The look on her face shifted to add indecision as she twisted to free one of her own dirty green paws from beneath her to very lightly and tentatively bat back in shy play.
"um... who'd Mayrii?" Masque wondered softly, question going to her eyes. Before she could get a reply mud caked ears flattened shamefully to her head. She was dirty. She should not be meeting anyone like this, should she?
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Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 3:08 pm
It did Ravii's heart good to see the flicker of life light up the small pup's eyes. Despite her exhaustion, her sadness, her fatigue and fear, the little one had yet to give up completely. Whoever was after her wouldn't so easily get to her if Ravii had her way about things. Blue eyes soft, she watched as Masque ever so shyly responded to her daughters games.
An adorable little deary, really. She would have felt the same way even if she'd not had a litter of pups on her own. Though she had no protection of a pack, that didn't mean Ravii couldn't defend her own. She hunted and brought food back, her daughters never went hungry. Another mouth to feed would do little to break Ravii's back. . .
Besides which, she should have had three puppies to take care of to begin with. Purple ears twitched as she thought of her nameless son. . . Ravii couldn't allow herself to forget about him, even if it hadn't been in the stars for him to live. She'd given him no name, but that didn't mean she had to forget his existance. He had been one of her puppies. . . . even if she'd never had a chance to know him.
Allowing her quiet thoughts to dissipate, she cautiously reached her own paw forward. Ever so gently she wrapped it around Masque and carefully pulled her closer. It wasn't a dramatic enough pull to upset her games, but her touch was loose enough so the pup could run if she felt threatened. Leaning forward, without a word, she began grooming Masque's dirty fur.
"It can't be very comfortable," she murmured in between licks, pausing now and then to give the small, green-socked pup an affectionate nuzzle. A good cleaning would (perhaps) make her feel a little better. If Masque was willing, Ravii would take her back to their den before (quite literally) digging up some dinner.
There was something to be said about hidden cache's of food. Especially in times where digging up a lone rabbit wasn't guarenteed.
Ravii's movements were gentle but thorough. . . it wasn't going to be easy getting her clean. She may very well have to take a trip to the river.
Amarii's gold eyes grew brighter as her new dear friend swatted gently back. Tail thumping on the ground, her socked paw reached up to return the swat with a soft one of her own. A little giggle, and she shimmied closer. "Who's Mayrii?" Eyes dancing, she leaned forward rested her head on top of her mothers arm, staring happily up at the yellow girl.
"She's my sister! She doesn't look much like me. . . she's pink and spotted, and doesn't leave the den much." Sometimes Amarii wished she could get her sister to escape with her, to play all sorts of adventures in the surrounding woods. . . .
. . . but . . .
It wasn't easy to do. A shame, really. Amarii didn't like to play on her own.
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Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 10:36 pm
Stiffening was her innitial reaction to being pulled into a bath, and Masque momentarily forgot about her halfhearted attempts to play. At first. Then the calming motions of the nearly familiar action started to relax the lonely and needy cub. A long shaky sigh tumbled from her, causing her small form to shudder with the force of it but afterwards she was as limp in relaxation as she could get, moving very slightly at the needed times to offer better access to Ravii to the difficult to reach areas. Ravii was not her sire or dam and the lone cub knew that... but she also understood on some level that this was as close to reliving a bath from her beloved parents as she was likely to get. Masque knew never again would they be there to care for her and she could not go through life waiting for them to be their. Her mother had told her to live. She had to remember that and do so.
Opening one golden eye that had shut when she relaxed, Masque batted lightly at the nose of the other pup where her head rested on her mother's arm in an arc that was far from target. Of course the point was not to make contact but to show that Masque was trying. A lump formed in the cub's throat at the mention of a sister, remembering her own -Denea, Tria, & Vimm. Masque swallowed heavily to work around it. "Doesn't leave the den? Why?"
Why indeed? Masque knew there were wonders to be found outside one's den. Butterflies and flowers and streams and fields and creatures. Besides, a den did not always promise safety as the little survivor well knew. Most of her pack and littermates had been at their den or around it that day... and it had not saved them. Of course that was because they gave the location away in their grief, but it showed the failings a den could have in giving protection.
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