Post by Curiosity on May 28, 2010 13:41:13 GMT -5
Characters Involved:
Larkspur, female wolf
Haze, male wolf
=== Isolated Oasis ===
"Haze?" Lark calls, as she's been doing periodically for the last little while. She's been searching for her mate all morning. Now that it's almost midday, she is starting to get very tired. The shewolf scents the air, trying to find clues. In her recent state, she hasn't liked to be apart from him - Haze is almost all she has left. In fact, she hasn't had the strength or will to travel far at all, not even to hunt. For her to spend so much time searching...she has something very important on her mind.
This is just the sort of body of water that Haze can tolerate. Not deep enough to drown in, not fast enough to carry loved ones away in rushing rapids. Just a still, calm, shallow, completely innocuous pond, nothing more. Resting by the pool's edge, idly watching his reflection and thinking absentminded thoughts as he's become accustomed to doing as of late, the brindle-furred male certainly hasn't intended to avoid his beloved mate, but perhaps he's been a bit distracted by his thoughts. When he finally does hear her plaintive call from not so far off, he lifts his head, ears perked, to reply to her. "Yes, Lark? I'm here," he answers reassuringly, rising slowly to all fours on legs that already feel stiffer and weaker than he remembers them being years ago in order to lessen the distance between them. When he's close enough, he affectionately rubs his muzzle under and against her own before inquiring: "Is something the matter?"
Larkspur energetically returns the gesture with more vigour than she's had in too long. This should indicate that nothing is the matter at all, but she feels the need to add, "No, Haze. Something /wonderful/ has happened." She's actually grinning. The female steals another nuzzle - she can't help it. She's practically giddy. "I was talking to Shag - the beta? And, well-" she decides to skip the part where the other male had a frightening fit, and spoke an alarming prophecy, and get right to the good part, "-he can...see things that others can't." That was the phrase he used, she thinks. At this, the shewolf pauses, trying to think about the right way to word the next part of the retelling, "Shag, he can- he said he would try to- try to reach our pups, Haze." Her eyes are brimming with a hope and livelihood that hasn't been seen in so many moons.
Haze is quite surprised to see Larkspur in such high spirits, particularly after her deep depression over the past year...he was beginning to get quite worried about her, afraid she'd just wither away to nothing, especially after their one recently discovered still-living pup had wandered off once again before even getting settled. Listening carefully to her explanation, the former alpha's head tilts only slightly at hearing Shag's name and the unique detail associated with him, vaguely familiar with his nephew's somewhat strange demeanor, though his hazel eyes widen at the final claim. "...what?" He's not upset or appalled by the idea, just bewildered. Considering this news for a brief moment of silence, Haze finally gathers his thoughts enough to speak further on the matter. "I...I don't know what to say, Lark. But if this is something you want, if it would make you happy...then that's all that matters to me." It's not that he doesn't care about his lost pups, or doesn't want to hear from them, he just doesn't know what to think about the prospect of communicating with his dead children after so long.
Larkspur's heart is in her throat as she waits for a reply. He doesn't call her crazy, he doesn't forbid it, he doesn't tell her Shag's a liar - all the scenarios her imagination have brewed dissolve in an instant. "I /am/ happy," she confesses, though it seems to be redundant - happiness is radiating from her every pore. Her tail is even swaying with excitement. The shewolf's mood dims momentarily as she adds, "Shag didn't promise anything, but....he said he'd try." And that's all she needs. A sliver of hope, of closure. Maybe a chance to say goodbye. Whatever it is, it's /something/, and Lark needs to believe in it. She hasn't had anything to hope for in a long while.
Unable to keep himself from smiling at seeing his loved one so vibrant, practically brimming with joy, Haze certainly isn't going to be the one to keep her from whatever it is that will make Larkspur happy once again. "I hope it works, Lark. I do. Is there anything we can do to help?" He isn't sure how this spirit medium thing really works, whether Shag needs medicinal herbs or strange ingredients or just concentrated support from those involved. Of course, he's not even sure if he himself wants to be there when it happens, or just hear about it afterwards from Lark...this is something he'll have to think about first before he commits.
Larkspur fidgets. "I'm not sure," she admits. She, uh, kind of ran off to find Haze before she could think to ask. "He did have a...vision...in front of me, though it wasn't of the pups. It just seemed to...come over him. Very suddenly," the shewolf tries to explain. It was quite strange, not to mention frightening. The uneasiness in her tone might be indicative of the experience. Almost instinctively, she finds herself pressing closer to Haze, craving comfort.
Haze's head tilts again, his expression one of focus and a mote of concern at Larkspur's sudden shift in behavior. "A vision? Of what?" He hasn't actually seen any of the beta's 'abilities' in action, only heard what's been gossiped among other members of the pack -- none of which was so specific as the first-hand knowledge Lark seems to have gained.
Larkspur's voice grows quiet, "He said something was coming. He was scared. Hysterical." She buries her face in Haze's neck, squeezing her eyes shut, trying not to think too hard about how the beta kept advancing as she attempted to retreat. How he was almost in a /frenzy/. How scared she was, how she was desperate to find Haze so he could make Shag stop. "I don't know what he was talking about," she murmurs, "He was seeing something I couldn't. He was so...frantic. It was hard to understand. He said we had to warn everyone. I don't know."
Haze's brow furrows as he listens to his mate's recounting of the experience, allowing her to nestle as closely against him as she likes while he considers her (and Shag's) words -- and what to do with them. It's all very strange, and he's not sure what to make of it. "Well...then I guess that's what we have to do. Does Alpha Tariro know?" The humble male won't admit it aloud, but part of him's a bit grateful he's not in that decision-making position anymore...he just hopes his nephew knows how to deal with his brother's unusual visions.
"I don't know," she repeats, her voice almost a whisper, "I came to find you as soon as I could. I just...left." It seems her happiness has retreated for the moment - or disappeared entirely. The light in her eyes has dwindled with the memory of Shag's frightening vision. She doesn't want to think about impending doom, or anything like that. Is it too much to ask for everything to just...settle down? No more unnecessary death, just some semblance of peace so she has something to smile about again. The shewolf continues to withdraw into herself, allowing her thoughts to pull her away like they've been doing for so many seasons.
Haze leans in to offer a consoling lick to Lark's cheekfur, already missing that vibrant version of her when it starts to hide away once more. "Come on, my beautiful flower. Let's head back to the den for now...have you met Shag and Alaqua's pups yet? They're quite adorable..." They may not be her own grandchildren, though Nakaiah may have some pups of his own somewhere, but perhaps they'll provide her with some sort of maternal comfort in the meantime -- at least until Shag can provide her with a happier memory of her own children, and thus some peace of mind. Hopefully.
Larkspur's heart twists painfully at the thought of pups, but she replies quietly, "I haven't met them..." Her steps in the direction of the den indicate she'd like to, though. She can at least try, right? And Haze will be there. That will help. "Let's go, my love," she says, managing a small smile. As long as he's close, she should be strong enough for just about anything.
Haze is not oblivious to his darling mate's pain, but he hopes that spending some time with real, live pups, even if they're not her own, might be a therapeutic addition to the promise of communicating with her own past ones. And he certainly doesn't leave her side, not even by an inch, the male practically pressed against her as they walk side-by-side back towards the cavern to the west.
Larkspur, female wolf
Haze, male wolf
=== Isolated Oasis ===
"Haze?" Lark calls, as she's been doing periodically for the last little while. She's been searching for her mate all morning. Now that it's almost midday, she is starting to get very tired. The shewolf scents the air, trying to find clues. In her recent state, she hasn't liked to be apart from him - Haze is almost all she has left. In fact, she hasn't had the strength or will to travel far at all, not even to hunt. For her to spend so much time searching...she has something very important on her mind.
This is just the sort of body of water that Haze can tolerate. Not deep enough to drown in, not fast enough to carry loved ones away in rushing rapids. Just a still, calm, shallow, completely innocuous pond, nothing more. Resting by the pool's edge, idly watching his reflection and thinking absentminded thoughts as he's become accustomed to doing as of late, the brindle-furred male certainly hasn't intended to avoid his beloved mate, but perhaps he's been a bit distracted by his thoughts. When he finally does hear her plaintive call from not so far off, he lifts his head, ears perked, to reply to her. "Yes, Lark? I'm here," he answers reassuringly, rising slowly to all fours on legs that already feel stiffer and weaker than he remembers them being years ago in order to lessen the distance between them. When he's close enough, he affectionately rubs his muzzle under and against her own before inquiring: "Is something the matter?"
Larkspur energetically returns the gesture with more vigour than she's had in too long. This should indicate that nothing is the matter at all, but she feels the need to add, "No, Haze. Something /wonderful/ has happened." She's actually grinning. The female steals another nuzzle - she can't help it. She's practically giddy. "I was talking to Shag - the beta? And, well-" she decides to skip the part where the other male had a frightening fit, and spoke an alarming prophecy, and get right to the good part, "-he can...see things that others can't." That was the phrase he used, she thinks. At this, the shewolf pauses, trying to think about the right way to word the next part of the retelling, "Shag, he can- he said he would try to- try to reach our pups, Haze." Her eyes are brimming with a hope and livelihood that hasn't been seen in so many moons.
Haze is quite surprised to see Larkspur in such high spirits, particularly after her deep depression over the past year...he was beginning to get quite worried about her, afraid she'd just wither away to nothing, especially after their one recently discovered still-living pup had wandered off once again before even getting settled. Listening carefully to her explanation, the former alpha's head tilts only slightly at hearing Shag's name and the unique detail associated with him, vaguely familiar with his nephew's somewhat strange demeanor, though his hazel eyes widen at the final claim. "...what?" He's not upset or appalled by the idea, just bewildered. Considering this news for a brief moment of silence, Haze finally gathers his thoughts enough to speak further on the matter. "I...I don't know what to say, Lark. But if this is something you want, if it would make you happy...then that's all that matters to me." It's not that he doesn't care about his lost pups, or doesn't want to hear from them, he just doesn't know what to think about the prospect of communicating with his dead children after so long.
Larkspur's heart is in her throat as she waits for a reply. He doesn't call her crazy, he doesn't forbid it, he doesn't tell her Shag's a liar - all the scenarios her imagination have brewed dissolve in an instant. "I /am/ happy," she confesses, though it seems to be redundant - happiness is radiating from her every pore. Her tail is even swaying with excitement. The shewolf's mood dims momentarily as she adds, "Shag didn't promise anything, but....he said he'd try." And that's all she needs. A sliver of hope, of closure. Maybe a chance to say goodbye. Whatever it is, it's /something/, and Lark needs to believe in it. She hasn't had anything to hope for in a long while.
Unable to keep himself from smiling at seeing his loved one so vibrant, practically brimming with joy, Haze certainly isn't going to be the one to keep her from whatever it is that will make Larkspur happy once again. "I hope it works, Lark. I do. Is there anything we can do to help?" He isn't sure how this spirit medium thing really works, whether Shag needs medicinal herbs or strange ingredients or just concentrated support from those involved. Of course, he's not even sure if he himself wants to be there when it happens, or just hear about it afterwards from Lark...this is something he'll have to think about first before he commits.
Larkspur fidgets. "I'm not sure," she admits. She, uh, kind of ran off to find Haze before she could think to ask. "He did have a...vision...in front of me, though it wasn't of the pups. It just seemed to...come over him. Very suddenly," the shewolf tries to explain. It was quite strange, not to mention frightening. The uneasiness in her tone might be indicative of the experience. Almost instinctively, she finds herself pressing closer to Haze, craving comfort.
Haze's head tilts again, his expression one of focus and a mote of concern at Larkspur's sudden shift in behavior. "A vision? Of what?" He hasn't actually seen any of the beta's 'abilities' in action, only heard what's been gossiped among other members of the pack -- none of which was so specific as the first-hand knowledge Lark seems to have gained.
Larkspur's voice grows quiet, "He said something was coming. He was scared. Hysterical." She buries her face in Haze's neck, squeezing her eyes shut, trying not to think too hard about how the beta kept advancing as she attempted to retreat. How he was almost in a /frenzy/. How scared she was, how she was desperate to find Haze so he could make Shag stop. "I don't know what he was talking about," she murmurs, "He was seeing something I couldn't. He was so...frantic. It was hard to understand. He said we had to warn everyone. I don't know."
Haze's brow furrows as he listens to his mate's recounting of the experience, allowing her to nestle as closely against him as she likes while he considers her (and Shag's) words -- and what to do with them. It's all very strange, and he's not sure what to make of it. "Well...then I guess that's what we have to do. Does Alpha Tariro know?" The humble male won't admit it aloud, but part of him's a bit grateful he's not in that decision-making position anymore...he just hopes his nephew knows how to deal with his brother's unusual visions.
"I don't know," she repeats, her voice almost a whisper, "I came to find you as soon as I could. I just...left." It seems her happiness has retreated for the moment - or disappeared entirely. The light in her eyes has dwindled with the memory of Shag's frightening vision. She doesn't want to think about impending doom, or anything like that. Is it too much to ask for everything to just...settle down? No more unnecessary death, just some semblance of peace so she has something to smile about again. The shewolf continues to withdraw into herself, allowing her thoughts to pull her away like they've been doing for so many seasons.
Haze leans in to offer a consoling lick to Lark's cheekfur, already missing that vibrant version of her when it starts to hide away once more. "Come on, my beautiful flower. Let's head back to the den for now...have you met Shag and Alaqua's pups yet? They're quite adorable..." They may not be her own grandchildren, though Nakaiah may have some pups of his own somewhere, but perhaps they'll provide her with some sort of maternal comfort in the meantime -- at least until Shag can provide her with a happier memory of her own children, and thus some peace of mind. Hopefully.
Larkspur's heart twists painfully at the thought of pups, but she replies quietly, "I haven't met them..." Her steps in the direction of the den indicate she'd like to, though. She can at least try, right? And Haze will be there. That will help. "Let's go, my love," she says, managing a small smile. As long as he's close, she should be strong enough for just about anything.
Haze is not oblivious to his darling mate's pain, but he hopes that spending some time with real, live pups, even if they're not her own, might be a therapeutic addition to the promise of communicating with her own past ones. And he certainly doesn't leave her side, not even by an inch, the male practically pressed against her as they walk side-by-side back towards the cavern to the west.