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 Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 6:26 am
The darkness was home to many things, to the sneaking mice to the soft treaad of a red deer, it's proud antlers branching up to the moon above. Often the thickets were home to such creatures, offering protection when they might be in danger from the fangs of a predator.
However, this particular darkness hid a wolf whose body was shadow itself. She lay amongst the thorns that fringed her den; a cave that was littered with the bones of all sorts of animals. Above the den, fixed into the earth was a skull that was frightening enough to send a shiver down even the bravest of wolves. For their, pale white in the moonlight with eye sockets large and gaping was the skull of a wolf, it's elongated jaw missing teeth but fiersome none-the-less.
Here the twisted trees had given way to reveal long fingers of moonlight to extend down. Here it played along the grey and black body of the old wolfess and glittered in her eyes as they opened.
Dear, dear Cerridwen, my love. I can hear you, I can. She whispered as she stood, her greying muzzle lifting the the sky above. For a moment she stood silent and then she moved again, pausing to glance at the old wolf skull. It stared back at her.
Watch over the den whilst I am out, please, Darya. Darya was the name of the wolfess' great-great-great grandmother. She had made history and as a gesture of love to all her efforts towards the fallen pack, her skull had been placed here to ever watch over it.
Yet, even Darya's gaze had not been able to stop the pack from breaking apart and now there were only a few of them left.
Ola herself, of course, was the head of the remainding wolves. Her nephew Kalani had remained here too. Then there was the maiden, Lewana and her mother, the Holy Mother. Yet they were alpha-less and priest-less and their worship ha dall but dwindled.
With a long sigh that shuddered Ola's sunken sides, the old wolf headed off towards the sacred pool.
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 6:56 am
The nephew of the old wolfess wasn't far from her den. He had been wandering for a while finding the lack of company something to be annoyed about, after all how is a male in his prime suppose to show off when there is no females worthy enough to be shown off to?
He wasn't happy, not in the slightest in fact he would rather have left to find someone worthy of his company elsewhere but his heart belonged to his pack though the pack wasn't much of a pack anymore. He let a growl flicker through his throat as he caught the sound of another wolf.
"Ola?" He wasn't sure who else it would be as this was near her den, he wished to talk to her about the pack. He wouldn't leave, nothing would allow him to do such a thing every inch of his body loved his home. However he wanted more company the same old wolves wasn't the most interesting company and they had even less interesting conversations.
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 7:04 am
She may have been old but her hearing was as sharp as it had always been and she heard the sound of a wolf nearby. There was no need to fear, however, because no lones ever passed this way, other than on the rare occasion where they were soon chased off, mostly by Ola herself.
She could be a frightening wolf even if she was old.
Kalani? She turned her head in the direction of the voice and her eyes sparkled as she saw him. Her eyes, though dark, were full of expression. Cerridwen's blessing, dear boy. Her voice was thick with age and though it often took different tones, it was often imbued with affection when her packmates were concerned.
You have troubles? Or is this a polite visit? She moved towards him and pulled up to a halt a few strides away, her grey muzzle lifting in anticipation.
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 7:20 am
The sound of her voice sent a chill through the male, he loved and cared for his aunt dearly but she could scare him sometimes and for what he was about to ask, well who knows what she might say.
"I have troubles. Aunt our pack is near dead and I feel as if I am missing out on something." How was he suppose to say he was lonely?
"Our pack is dieing Ola, we have no one mated and no pups, no one to carry our pack on. What are we to do or are we to let it die?" It semed to be a reasonably good way of saying what he wanted to say though aftewards he realised it sounded a little insulting as well which wasn't as good.
"I'm sorry aunt, I am just confused as to how we will last." He didn't want to leave and he probably wouldn't either but at the same time he didn't want to be lonley for the rest of his life, there had to be some way to get both.
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 7:43 am
Ola herself had never had pups, she had been her mother's firstborn and the only one of her first litter. It was clear right from her birth that Ola would be a dedicated follower and as soon as she hit the right age she had worked alongside the now deceased crone to become what she was today.
Kalani had been born to Ola's younger sister, a pup from Ola's mother's second litter. He had shown more promise and more loyalty than all the other pack members, who had now long dispersed. He was the last of the warrior rank to remain. Yet even now she could see the sadness in his eyes and the loneliness too. She knew that feeling more than he would ever understand. For even if the trinity remained complete, being one of them meant being alone.
Your toubles are also my troubles, Kalani. She replied and her head drooped a little. You are right. Our pack failed long ago and all we do now is cling to threads of the past.
Have you thought of taking a mate yourself? She asked then. We have never been fond of outsiders but lone wolves joining is not unknown. My own father was an ex-lone, who craved the love of our Goddess. She inhaled then and held her head with more pride. Perhaps it is time you disbanded for a while, took the time to seek a mate, a mate who is right not just for you, but for the pack.
She gave a low muttering cough then and drew forwards, raising her head to whisper in his ear.
Keep faith dear nephew. Cerridwen sings here still
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 8:09 am
He looked down at the ground before looking back at his aunt, "I can not leave here, not even for a short time. There is not enough wolves here to protect the lands if danger took its chance to attack us." He stared at his aunt, yes his heart was longing for company but he wasn't about to leave his only family.
"I cannot leave for a female when my family is here, I am shocked at what you are telling me. We are too few for even one of us to leave no matter how long they are gone for or the reason. I shall watch the boundaries for wolves but I cannot leave." He was being stubborn. He wasn't going to leave the only family that he had left.
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 12:19 am
If Ola was dissapointed in his answer, she did not show it. Instead she gave a small nod and the silver disc around her neck glittered like white fire under the moonlight.
Steadily the moon above lost it's sheath of pale cloud and shone down with its full strength. It gave Ola's eyes a strange radiance as she turned her old face back to glance around her. Dear, dear child. I think you take after me in blood. She smiled and shifted her weight, moving forth across the ground. Here the grass was wild and untamed, it's blades reaching so high that it tickled the old wolfesses' stomach.
She paused again, a dark spirit, and turned back to Kalani.
I am at a loss Kalani. I feel unable to do my duty any longer. The rest of the Trinity are restless and they too are beginning to wane in faith. Yet I know, I know things will be okay soon enough. I feel it. The spring night was unusually warm and she enjoyed it.
I slept, just a moment ago, nephew. She whispered and as she arched her neck she looked young again, a beautiful black and grey wolf with stunning eyes. Then the illusion faded to reveal her withering body, tickled with moonbeams. I heard her call, I heard her sing...she told me of the future, or so I believe. She was no seer, she was something else though no one had ever been quite sure. Perhaps it was instinct, who knows, either way Ola's hunches were rarely wrong.
Two wolves, male and female, they travel the lands looking for their purpose. They will find us. They will become our alphas and the female will bare his pups...the first of many. She licked her dry lips and her face glistened with an almost manic desire. They will revive this worn out pack. I know it!
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 12:09 pm
Kalani listened but shook his head, even if there were two coming that wouldn't revive the pack not even a little.
"No Aunt. Even if two came and they had pups, we would still all die and then the pack would be inbred. Two wolves will not save us." He was being a little harsh and stubborn now. He didn't want to leave, this was as much his home as anyone else who lived here but there was something missing and two wolves could not make the pack alive again.
He sighed and stared at the floor a little.
"If you know where to start I will go and I will look for a mate and maybe other wolves I can bring back with me but I am not happy with this and I would much rather stay here." He was talking very quietly by the end of it, he didn't want to leave.
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 11:58 pm
She smiled, though this time there was no warmth to that smile. Instead it seemed as if she were trying to break through her concerns with that expression - to no avail. Dear child, with alphas in place, we can recruit again, without them we have no way of managing the lones. We need leaders to keep them in order, a strong pair to make sure that our worship isn't forgotten.
She shook her head and moved onwards, she was not sure where she was going, she just needed to walk.
Look around you Kalani. She swept her nose outwards. This land is ours and will always be ours. It will be yours forever too. Cerridwen punishes sinners not wanderers. Finding a mate will bring good upon this pack and she will never hate you for it.
Her ears twitched. But let me say this Kalani, do not make your journey until the alphas are in place. For without you we may be lost.
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 8:54 am
Kalani listened though to say he was pleased with what his aunt was saying wasn't really true though. She wanted him to leave when two strangers took the pack over? He didn't like the idea but his aunt was normally right.
"If you say so... but I am not convinced." He kept his eyes on the ground as they walked. She was right, at least with Alphas in place then the others could leave to find new blood for the pack but yet it still didn't seem right.
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Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 11:59 pm
She smiled and moved towards him, pressing her nose against his shoulder. She had never been fond of her family members but there was a soft spot for Kalani, possibly because they looked so alike. It was more likely because of his loyalty.
If you do not trust me, trust in Cerridwen. The pair of wolves she chooses to lead will be of her choosing alone. She nodded and moved onwards.
That time will be soon so I must be on my way. I will meet them at Amen and bless them in the pool. She knew it would be anytime now. Anytime and she was excited about this; the rebirth of the pack.
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Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 10:11 am
He looked at his aunt and sighed, "I trust you, I just won't be able to trust them." Not at first at least but then how could you? He had lived in the pack all his life and now two strangers will come and lead the pack that is his family, of course he wouldn't trust them! They would be intruding! He knew though that his aunt was right and he was sure in time he would trust them.
"Good luck Ola. Please be careful, I am sure Cerridwen has chosen well but you do not know the tempers of these strangers." He smiled at her and nodded his head, understanding that she must go though he still didn't like the idea of two strangers coming in and taking over the pack but he would live with it.
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 10:27 am
She smiled and there was affection in her eyes now. She understood why he was wary, she was too. She did not know the wolves and she would not know them until they appeared. She just had to trust in Cerridwen's judgement like she always had.
In a rare gesture the grizzled female reached up and nuzzled her nephew/ If I had been gifted with a son of my own, I would have hoped that he would have been like you, Kalani. And she meant it.
It is natural to be wary, it is that nervousness that has kept us alive this long. Follow your instincts and you can never go wrong. She shook her head and the silver disc around her neck caught the light with a brilliant essence.
Kalani before I go, can I ask you a favour? She did not wait before continuing, ...keep an eye on Lewana will you? She has been wandering too far from Amen recently.
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Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 9:30 am
If he had been able to he would have blushed at his words but he wasn't a wolf that would do much blushing anyway. He held himself proud. He just nodded as she spoke, at least she understood but then she nearly always did that was why he loved her so. She had always been there for him and he thought her more of a mother then an aunt.
"Lewana?" He wasn't too keen on this idea. Yes he had just been going on about girls but he didn't really want to watch the maiden, she was pretty and things but... well he didn't like responsibilities. At least that was his excuse.
"Ok." He agreed to do it, why wouldn't he? Though the idea of watching the teen didn't seem to appealing to a wolf who was very much a loner who felt lonley. She was just young. That was it, she was young and that put him off keeping an eye on her or maybe it was just that he felt awkward around females that wasn't his aunt. Either way something inside him didn't like the idea of keeping an eye on Lewana.
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Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 10:38 am
She gave him a weary smile and nodded. Thank you child. She nudged him with the top of her head and then moved away into the shadow, pausing to glance back at him with her strange grey eyes.
Just make sure she keeps out of trouble. I fear her wandering paws may bring sin and ruin upon her if she is not kept from the danger of outsiders.
And with that she was off, slinking through the trees and out of sight, a phantom in the gloom.
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