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Post by Azoto on Mar 26, 2011 4:20:50 GMT -5
OOC NOTE: Since I've been trying to forever get ahold of people for RP in the Ute so Wachiwa could wander off for a winter abroad wandering without the pack, I decided to try and approach things from this direction. Thus, I'm hoping for members of the Ute to respond when they can, please. 
The snow has come; it is small in flurries still trying to lay claim to things, but it has come none the less. The ground is becoming covered, the trees heavy with pregnant loads of snow on their branches, which, now devoid of leaves, stretch like bony fingers skyward. In the hilly vista expanse to the east of the stream, known as the land of the Ute wolf pack, frost has killed the grass, and much of it has wound out flattened down, and starting to disappear under the snow. And pacing back and forth outside the great den downward, a place she normally seeks for warmth and comradery, and strength, is Wachiwa, her head down, ears low, tail half tucked and waving pensively back and forth as she lays down a ring of tracks back and forth. Her mind is troubled at the moment. She wants to know where the wind goes, she wants to know where the sun goes. She wants to know where other animals go, she wants to know what other animals are out there. She wants to know what there is, in this world, to be seen. And in no small part, she also feels... Uncomfortable.This place, where she was born, is ... Not so much home anymore, it sometimes seems. Her parents sleep all day. Her friends around her, her siblings, their siblings, are all finding what they want from life, and she just doesn't know what she wants. She's not sure. She thought she wanted Asku, because he had always been her idol, the wolf who protected her as they grew. Her hero. Her best friend. But now... Now, his words remained in her head. That he didn't want to have a mate, didn't want to have a pack. He wanted to remain alone. And though he had reconciled with her after their strange fight, after hearing those words nothing had ever felt the same. Maybe, maybe she didn't know what life was. And so here she paced, back and forth, in the falling slow, thinking. Should she stay, continue to be confused, end up the only one never knowing what she is meant to be? Should she go, should she explore, try to find her muse in the wind, and see what life can teach her? And if she leaves, where to? The lands of the Cerulean? Maybe they had young wolves her age she could talk to. Or toward where the prey animals sometimes go? Maybe an animal not a wolf could tell her, too. She sighed, and looked to the sky above, and the falling flakes. "Hey, you... Are you up there, wind? Are you up there, spirits? Maybe you can tell me. I'm looking for answers. Someone, anyone." |
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Post by Askuwheteau on Mar 26, 2011 17:14:57 GMT -5
The very wolf that had started all this was the one who answered though, he had been sleeping in the bushes, his coat covered in lingering snow as he made himself known, by stepping out into the open. He has rethought his stance since telling Wachiwa those things. But the damage had been done and words once spoken can never be taken back. Asku knew the damage he had caused and allowed a tinge of sadness to taint the smile he offered his best friend, "Wachiwa, I wish I could offer you answers. Like when we were younger. I don't like seeing you so i'll at ease, I know I've blown anything that might have been between us. But as sad as that makes me the fact that I've caused such emotional upheaval hurts me even more. I want to say again I am sorry for that."
He then padded over to her and nuzzled into her fur, "I shouldn't have been so rash in what I said. But I was frightened at the time. I have always been very much in control of myself, but when you and I talked about becomming mates I started to doubt myself, if I could be a good mate to you. That was why I said those things. I was trying to cover up my fears. I know i can't take them back now, but I want to ask you, is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"
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Post by Azoto on Mar 31, 2011 15:44:32 GMT -5
An ear twitches and blue eyes close, as, head cocked back, Wachiwa sighs, letting the long breath out, steam from inner warmth spiraling upwards. She considers Askuwheteau's words, and is quiet a moment, holding her lungs still.
The, drawing in a breath, she shakes her head. "No, Asku, you didn't ruin things.. I guess maybe I'm just so confused. I was hoping to hear from the Spirits. Maybe they could tell me what to say, what to do." the she-wolf opens her eyes, and looks at her friend, smiling weakly as he nuzzles into her fur, murmuring, "We all get afraid, Asku. I know that. I mean, I used to get afraid of the leaves when they fell till I realized I could bite them!" She grins, tail wiggling a little, before she closes her eyes.
"Better? I don't know. You couldn't make me feel worse, I don't think! Although I do gotta admit I'm glad we can at least still be friends even if you're a'scaret of the mate thing. Maybe I didn't know what I wanted then, either."
She lets out a long sigh. "I still don't know what I want. I feel out of place, like I.. I don't know." She looks to her friend, and nuzzles at his ears, murmuring, "But I know I don't want you to worry! I'm not angry at you. Being angry at people is stupid!" She grins goofily, then hmms softly, looking back to the sky and the snows.
"Where are you going, wind? Why do you leave, and come back again? Where do you go when it's warm, snow?"
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Post by hahtalekin on Apr 4, 2011 17:52:17 GMT -5
"The wind crosses the world and passes among the spirits then comes back again, carrying with it words that cannot be heard." The voice comes from among the trees, the pitch at moments young but other times that of a mystic elder. "It doesn't care about the weather, it does not feel like we do."
From among the trees steps a cougar, a grown male but a small one, grey eyes warm despite the threat a cat such as he might prove - though against two wolves, albeit young ones, perhaps not so great. His fawn-colored coat is duller with winter's thicker growth, but his lean built is still apparent, though he doesn't seem ill for it.
"How do you think the spirits know what occurs here? The ones who cannot cross, at any rate. Hm... you're some of the youngsters of Ute, right? I'm sorry but I've forgotten your names. You were newly born when I left and since coming back I haven't dealt with the pack as much as I should. I'm Tantallon, an... adopted member of the pack, for lack of any other term."
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Post by Askuwheteau on Apr 13, 2011 3:07:48 GMT -5
Askuwheteau decides then and there to lay the question of him and his desires toward a mate to rest. He speaks plainly as his friend shows him affection by nosing at his ears. "Chewy, Let me be clear. I do want you as my mate just...just not right now. We are young, let us play and just be friends for awhile longer. Or we can even court one another, but let us have a long courtship. I just don't feel ready, not yet. But I want to ask you to wait for me. Don't go off being some other wolf's moon, and I'll be your sun but only when you feel ready also" He grins and nips her side just before the cougar announces himself, "I want to go on adventures, with you if you'll let me. I confess when I was a younger male I used to play pretend in my head, and make up stories about you and me facing danger, barely escaping, fighting battles of honor for one another, rescuing each other from near disaster. It was all very thrilling and had an epic feeling to it. Real life probably will never measure up to the thrilling things we did in my imagination but I would like to go out sniffing around with you at least. I may leave despite mother's statement about me not bothering to come back."
When the strange voice sounds Asku stops mid-sentence and his legs splay slightly, his head lowers and he steps between Wachiwa and the unknown creature, his hackles raised, he only calms when the stranger identifies himself, "Tantallon? I've heard of you. From my parents, I'm Askuwheteau, second son born to the Alphas of Ute. You honor us with your visit elder. This is--" at first Asku turns to start introducing Wachiwa then he pauses looking at her. Something flits through his eyes, some thought or emotion that suddenly stops him. Then he speaks again, "Well...I'll let her introduce herself to you. She has a voice of her own after all."
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Post by Azoto on Apr 26, 2011 16:28:19 GMT -5
"Mmm," Wachiwa considers thoughtfully, murmuring, "Well, I suppose that would be better, yeah. Take it slow. Woo, and be wooed. Something like that." She says, thoughtfully, "And you're right. Let's just be young for a while, be free and learn. We can go so much farther now than we could before."
She smiles, though she's still somewhat unsure what she wants. Being young is full of indecision, and this seems like one of those times of childhood, middle-adulthood, whatever you want to call it, where indecision is rampant as the leaves on the wind in the fall.
Ears twitch in lazy fashion, as the she-wolf listens to the sudden voice from the trees, head cocking, before she looks back to Asku. She looks back to the direction the tones come from, and backs up a step as a cougar makes itself known. She snuffs the air, tail lightly pressing to one inner thigh, before she hmms?
"... I remember hearing stories about a cat living with us," Wachiwa admits. Then looks at Asku in surprise, before she grins, and nips at his hip playfully. See? Boys CAN be taught! Tail wagging slightly she turns. "I'm Wachiwa. I dunno who was born first but I'm one of the pups of the Betas. Me and Asku were just.. talking. It's been very confusing since we started getting older, you know?"
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Post by hahtalekin on Apr 26, 2011 16:45:32 GMT -5
"Elder?!" Blurts out Tantallon, wrinkling up his nose ruefully as his whiskers splay, the motion crinkling the dark smudges at the corners of his muzzle. "I'm not that old, maybe only a cycle of seasons older than you, if I can recall. I was younger than you are now when I left the packlands. You had all just barely opened your eyes. Still, for all that I appreciate the respect, but really, it's unnecessary. I'm no different than you."
He turns his gaze from Askuwheteau onto Wachiwa, his bemusement fading to one of understanding sympathy at her words. "I know all too well how that feels - I still feel that way sometimes. No doubt, even those older than me feel that way at times. Some feelings never quite make themselves clear, but if you spend all your time waiting for the perfect moment, you might miss it all. There's a lot of adventure to be had in not knowing, if you're brave enough to walk blind sometimes. I don't suppose you ever heard why I left?"
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Post by Askuwheteau on May 20, 2011 11:15:57 GMT -5
Askuwheteau dips his head apologetically to the feline and his ears splay for a moment before going erect again, "I apologize Tantallion, I was just trying to show respect. It seems even when I am polite the wrong thing always falls out my mouth. But I am glad to see one of the missing members of the pack return. I think I remember you...vaguely. The last time I saw you my mind was mostly filled with thoughts about where the ants go when they crawl out of my sight and what they taste like. I did more poking around with my nose and trying to learn how to play with the other pups back then Then I did noticing when the adults came and left. Mostly I was concerned with where my mother went and when she would be back and when was I going to be fed."
As he is nipped at by Wachiwa he smirks and baps her with his tail lightly across the muzzle while still addressing the feline, "So I'm sorry to say No I am not sure why you left or what the circumstances were."
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Post by Azoto on May 20, 2011 16:49:47 GMT -5
"No.. I never heard why you left either," Wachiwa admits softly, as she considers the cougar for a moment or so. "I hope why you left isn't the same reason why I feel like I don't belong here either." She lets her features come to a slight frown, before she looks at Asku and his tail, attempting briefly to snap at it, but not trying too hard.
"Asku and I have had.. many talks on the subject of what we are and aren't. I feel much for Asku, and always have. He's taught me things and protected me.. Maybe it's um.. Kinda silly, but I like him alot." She grins at said wolf, then admits: "but it hasn't always been easy or fun... and I don't want to force him into something he's not ready for, and I'm not ready for either! That would be like, so wrong and stuff."
She pauses, then sits, considering. "Still, tell us, oh wise one, please.. what you can? It is always good to learn, even if you're not actually an elder and stuff!" He's still /oooooold/ to her, though.
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Post by hahtalekin on May 21, 2011 17:53:59 GMT -5
Tantallon settles down onto his stomach as the two wolves speak, his forepaws tucking up close to his chest as his tail flips around to rest against them with a steady tap-tap of the black tip.
"You're both young, there is no need to rush into anything." Says the cat, "When you're ready, you'll know it. It only does harm to force something just because you feel it's how it should be. As to how I came to leave and return..."
"It was the end of my first winter when I had gone for a walk with Skelaghe. I suppose you may be too young to remember her, but, no doubt you know of her. Up until then, I had been raised jointly by the pack and taught of being a cougar by Ashen, a blind male a few years older than me who likewise found himself adopted by the pack as a cub. Skelaghe always looked out for me, though. Well, she was old by then and tired, and we took a rest under the crabapple tree."
"When we woke, or we thought we woke, we found ourselves by the tree but the world was different. Even then I was aware of my ability to speak to spirits and I recognized the world as one of dreams. A spirit met us there, a powerful and old cougar. Her name was Paoro, once the matron and founder of the Amaranth. She came to us and told me I needed to travel there, that they had need of me and someone would be there waiting for me. She wished for Ashen to come with me, since he was born there, but I could never convince him to come. I... I don't know what ever happened to him. I've looked for him since coming back but he's gone."
Pausing there, the cat shakes his head with a melancholy sigh. "In any case, when I got to Amaranth, not only did I discover a nasty spirit that needed tending but I also discovered I had a half-brother, Thrash, who you may spy around. So... I suppose the moral is that... even if I had no idea what I was walking into, I still had the courage to go. I was confused and scared, but in my heart I knew going was the right thing and it was."
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Post by Askuwheteau on Jun 10, 2011 16:26:23 GMT -5
Askuwheteau listens silently, drinking it in, he only speaks out of turn when Tantallon remarks that they probably don't remember Skelaghe.
"I...think I may remember her, I was so young when she died, I don't think my eyes had even opened yet, I mostly remember the scent of an elder wolf who wasn't around me except for once or twice. Then she was gone. However mother and father speak of her in such a way as to make me wish I had been able to meet her when I was old enough to properly appreciate it. Mother speaks of Skelaghe with more reverence then father does, but I think they both respected her."
He then falls silent again listening to the story, "There is a lot of sense in what you say Tantallon. I am barely out of my adolescence Wachiwa and I have all the time in the world, but I have to confess I feel as she does, I want to see what is out there now. Perhaps I am running from the troubles I have had here with my older brother. Or maybe it's just my youth. My mother wishes me to stay though, and perhaps I will, to keep her happy."
He smirks at Chewy as she lightly snaps at his tail and he moves it away trying to keep it out of her jaws, "I care a lot for you too Chewy. And it's not silly. It's flattering that such a pretty she-wolf likes me. And nothing is set in stone, perhaps once our wanderlust abates I will feel more ready, and I will look for you to find out if you feel ready as well. But even if you don't I will wait for you."
He turns and glances at the cougar realizing suddenly he was getting a bit candid in talking about his feelings and he blushes, even showing a sheepish grin as his ears flatten. For the first time that even he could remember Asku had embarrassed himself.
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