Post by Therdde on Mar 1, 2008 6:24:51 GMT -5
Characters:
Skelaghe – Female Wolf
Ixkin – Female Wolf
Pristine Lake
It is just passing midday, and Skelaghe has spent most of the morning and noontime walking, travelling here from the forest to the north. It has been over an hour since she left the forested, shaded area, and the sun feels good in the cool autumn weather, quite possibly more so for the shewolf who has spent her entire life following the traditions of the sun than for some others. It will be winter before too long, and she has spent the past several days alone to engage in a period of reflection. Any year previous, she would have begun a six-day period of fasting by now, but her slightly diminished bodyweight is already a concern with the coming winter, and that particular tradition was always optional. Still, she is certainly not going out of her way to hunt, as she might have other times when she's hungry. As she continues walking, she can just begin to make out the lake in the distance.
Never being one to talk much anyway, Ixkin has hardly spoken to a soul since she started wandering alone. Standing at the edge of the lake her eyes watch over the surface catching the rays of the sun causing it to sparkle with such delight. This should make her feel at peace, but still she mourns within her heart. For her brother, he mate, and her son. Not to mention the many others of her pack that were lost. Her form was always small, but she has lost weight over time and she hasn't felt the need to even try to hunt anymore. A deep sigh emits and she lightly gives her body a shake and a stretch.
Skelaghe has grown unfamiliar with the scents of her former packmates in the months since they came here, all save for Helaku, with whom she has spent time since arriving here, doing what she could to bring him back into good health. This fact might very well upset her if she were to recognize it. She would be hard-pressed to identify either Ixkin or Kerrum from any sort of distance, though she still refuses to accept the idea that they might not have survived in these lands, as Helaku insinuated. Though thirsty, she approaches the lake with caution, as she knows that she is near, if not wholly within, Viridian territory, and though she was granted welcome some time ago, before she got distracted from her purpose here by her meeting with the former pack's beta, she does not want to risk that tenuous welcome by accidentally startling one of the pack's members. As such, when she catches the scent of a female wolf near the water, she slows her pace slightly and left out a bark to announce her presence before venturing further, still far enough away that she could not possibly make out the marking on Ixkin that would show the other female to be her pack sister.
Ixkin hasn't seen any of her packmates in a long time. Many didn't see her so highly since she was the mate of the omega, even if her brother was the alpha. One or two still treated her well enough though. Hearing the bark which was vaguely familiar to her ears she turns blinking and squinting towards the arrival. Ears laying back she dips her head down in a usual submissive state she has always held to anyone and making her way a couple of steps towards the other. "Forgive my intrusion." she says lightly not aware of this being Skelaghe, since from here she can't see the pack marking.
As Skelaghe grows closer to Ixkin, she begins to recognize the other wolf, until finally it dawns on her. The playful side of her prevents her from being upset at Ixkin's thin look and submissive display. That will come later. For now, she's too excited at simply the sight of her former packmate. Her tail begins wagging and she walks more quickly, as she barks again in a more friendly, excited greeting. Skelaghe is very pack-oriented, and it doesn't matter to her in the slightest that the Ute pack no longer exists. Ixkin, Helaku, and Kerrum will always be as kin to her.
"Skelaghe?" she lifts her head up and begins to approach just as quickly to close the gap. Ixkin thought that she was the only one to make it out alive, and now hope presents itself anew. Dipping her head she nuzzles the top of her head into her neck, she begins to tremble as tears form quickly within her eyes. "Praise the sun." she whispers lightly.
Skelaghe is quick to return the nuzzling, licking at Ixkin's ears and the top of her head. In a response to the quiet whisper, she says, "Always. It brings me great joy to see you again, Ixkin." Skelaghe is long past her own mourning, but then, she did not bear witness to the same sorrows that Ixkin did. She lost many she considered to be brothers and sisters, but she did not lose a mate or son. Any of her previous thoughts have been completely lost by the sight of Ixkin.
Ixkin didn't have the words for what she was feeling right now. It gave hope, that if one was alive that maybe more were out there as well among the lands. Giving a couple of warm licks to her cheek, she then steps back a moment to get a good look at her for a moment. "Have you...." she was almost afraid to ask, "Are we the only ones left?"
"Of course not. Helaku is well, getting better every day. I am sure Kerrum is doing fine." As for the ones who remained in Ute territory? Skelaghe can't say, but she is ever the optimist about such things. She does not have it in her to lose her hopeful optimism, and for the most part, she has not been tested too greatly. Not so greatly that she has ever even begun to reconsider her outlook on life.
"Helaku... Kerrum..." Ixkin smiles at the thought that both have survived. "Then even though separate paths, the Ute lives on." Separate paths.... It was still a rather sad thought that they need to find new lives, "Where is Helaku?" she questions.
Skelaghe does not see it as so sad. She sees her migration to these lands as meaningful, full of purpose. Answering Ixkin's question, she says, "He has been staying in the forest north of here. He fell on some hard times when he first arrived. As you seem to have." Skelaghe is skinner than when Ute was around, enough to be noticeable, but that only occurred after she started caring for Helaku. She is not much of a huntress, though she did well enough when she was only finding food for herself. She, and she alone, apparently, has done well in these lands, at least generally.
Ixkin looks at herself a moment, "I've been in mourning so long. You won't like hearing this...." Settling to her haunches tail lightly tapping against the ground. "I about gave up on living... Guess just like my brother lost hope for himself. Fasting and praying, hoping for a reason to even try."
Skelaghe can't help but frown, an uncommon expression for Skelaghe. Her tone is soft when she responds. Understanding, caring, though not without that small hint of reprimand. "Mourning is not unhealthy. It is wise to remember what we have lost and to look to the day when we might be reunited with it. It is wiser still to honour those who have gone before us, and you cannot do that if you do not care for yourself, Ixkin." Skelaghe has spent her fair share of time fasting, but no Ute wolf should ever fast to the point that it threatens to become harmful. The very reason why she has not undertaken her annual autumn fast.
Ixkin ears flatten back a bit, her eyes gaze to the ground between her paws. "You're right.... I'm not honoring their memory by not taking care of myself. I promise that I will try and do better." She never thought of it being as dishonorable but that makes perfect sense, because she knows her mate would want her to press forward, so would her brother. Raising her gaze back to Skelaghe, "What will we all do now?"
That promise seems to be enough for Skelaghe. Her frown fades and again she seems to be herself, lighthearted and resilient. "There are new opportunities for us all in these lands, Ixkin. No one here will judge you as you might have been judged by some within Ute." Not Skelaghe, of course, but Skelaghe is incapable of being unpleasant to anyone, regardless of status. She is observant, though, and she knows how Ixkin suffered for her love. "It is only for us to take advantage of them as well as we can."
Skelaghe – Female Wolf
Ixkin – Female Wolf
Pristine Lake
It is just passing midday, and Skelaghe has spent most of the morning and noontime walking, travelling here from the forest to the north. It has been over an hour since she left the forested, shaded area, and the sun feels good in the cool autumn weather, quite possibly more so for the shewolf who has spent her entire life following the traditions of the sun than for some others. It will be winter before too long, and she has spent the past several days alone to engage in a period of reflection. Any year previous, she would have begun a six-day period of fasting by now, but her slightly diminished bodyweight is already a concern with the coming winter, and that particular tradition was always optional. Still, she is certainly not going out of her way to hunt, as she might have other times when she's hungry. As she continues walking, she can just begin to make out the lake in the distance.
Never being one to talk much anyway, Ixkin has hardly spoken to a soul since she started wandering alone. Standing at the edge of the lake her eyes watch over the surface catching the rays of the sun causing it to sparkle with such delight. This should make her feel at peace, but still she mourns within her heart. For her brother, he mate, and her son. Not to mention the many others of her pack that were lost. Her form was always small, but she has lost weight over time and she hasn't felt the need to even try to hunt anymore. A deep sigh emits and she lightly gives her body a shake and a stretch.
Skelaghe has grown unfamiliar with the scents of her former packmates in the months since they came here, all save for Helaku, with whom she has spent time since arriving here, doing what she could to bring him back into good health. This fact might very well upset her if she were to recognize it. She would be hard-pressed to identify either Ixkin or Kerrum from any sort of distance, though she still refuses to accept the idea that they might not have survived in these lands, as Helaku insinuated. Though thirsty, she approaches the lake with caution, as she knows that she is near, if not wholly within, Viridian territory, and though she was granted welcome some time ago, before she got distracted from her purpose here by her meeting with the former pack's beta, she does not want to risk that tenuous welcome by accidentally startling one of the pack's members. As such, when she catches the scent of a female wolf near the water, she slows her pace slightly and left out a bark to announce her presence before venturing further, still far enough away that she could not possibly make out the marking on Ixkin that would show the other female to be her pack sister.
Ixkin hasn't seen any of her packmates in a long time. Many didn't see her so highly since she was the mate of the omega, even if her brother was the alpha. One or two still treated her well enough though. Hearing the bark which was vaguely familiar to her ears she turns blinking and squinting towards the arrival. Ears laying back she dips her head down in a usual submissive state she has always held to anyone and making her way a couple of steps towards the other. "Forgive my intrusion." she says lightly not aware of this being Skelaghe, since from here she can't see the pack marking.
As Skelaghe grows closer to Ixkin, she begins to recognize the other wolf, until finally it dawns on her. The playful side of her prevents her from being upset at Ixkin's thin look and submissive display. That will come later. For now, she's too excited at simply the sight of her former packmate. Her tail begins wagging and she walks more quickly, as she barks again in a more friendly, excited greeting. Skelaghe is very pack-oriented, and it doesn't matter to her in the slightest that the Ute pack no longer exists. Ixkin, Helaku, and Kerrum will always be as kin to her.
"Skelaghe?" she lifts her head up and begins to approach just as quickly to close the gap. Ixkin thought that she was the only one to make it out alive, and now hope presents itself anew. Dipping her head she nuzzles the top of her head into her neck, she begins to tremble as tears form quickly within her eyes. "Praise the sun." she whispers lightly.
Skelaghe is quick to return the nuzzling, licking at Ixkin's ears and the top of her head. In a response to the quiet whisper, she says, "Always. It brings me great joy to see you again, Ixkin." Skelaghe is long past her own mourning, but then, she did not bear witness to the same sorrows that Ixkin did. She lost many she considered to be brothers and sisters, but she did not lose a mate or son. Any of her previous thoughts have been completely lost by the sight of Ixkin.
Ixkin didn't have the words for what she was feeling right now. It gave hope, that if one was alive that maybe more were out there as well among the lands. Giving a couple of warm licks to her cheek, she then steps back a moment to get a good look at her for a moment. "Have you...." she was almost afraid to ask, "Are we the only ones left?"
"Of course not. Helaku is well, getting better every day. I am sure Kerrum is doing fine." As for the ones who remained in Ute territory? Skelaghe can't say, but she is ever the optimist about such things. She does not have it in her to lose her hopeful optimism, and for the most part, she has not been tested too greatly. Not so greatly that she has ever even begun to reconsider her outlook on life.
"Helaku... Kerrum..." Ixkin smiles at the thought that both have survived. "Then even though separate paths, the Ute lives on." Separate paths.... It was still a rather sad thought that they need to find new lives, "Where is Helaku?" she questions.
Skelaghe does not see it as so sad. She sees her migration to these lands as meaningful, full of purpose. Answering Ixkin's question, she says, "He has been staying in the forest north of here. He fell on some hard times when he first arrived. As you seem to have." Skelaghe is skinner than when Ute was around, enough to be noticeable, but that only occurred after she started caring for Helaku. She is not much of a huntress, though she did well enough when she was only finding food for herself. She, and she alone, apparently, has done well in these lands, at least generally.
Ixkin looks at herself a moment, "I've been in mourning so long. You won't like hearing this...." Settling to her haunches tail lightly tapping against the ground. "I about gave up on living... Guess just like my brother lost hope for himself. Fasting and praying, hoping for a reason to even try."
Skelaghe can't help but frown, an uncommon expression for Skelaghe. Her tone is soft when she responds. Understanding, caring, though not without that small hint of reprimand. "Mourning is not unhealthy. It is wise to remember what we have lost and to look to the day when we might be reunited with it. It is wiser still to honour those who have gone before us, and you cannot do that if you do not care for yourself, Ixkin." Skelaghe has spent her fair share of time fasting, but no Ute wolf should ever fast to the point that it threatens to become harmful. The very reason why she has not undertaken her annual autumn fast.
Ixkin ears flatten back a bit, her eyes gaze to the ground between her paws. "You're right.... I'm not honoring their memory by not taking care of myself. I promise that I will try and do better." She never thought of it being as dishonorable but that makes perfect sense, because she knows her mate would want her to press forward, so would her brother. Raising her gaze back to Skelaghe, "What will we all do now?"
That promise seems to be enough for Skelaghe. Her frown fades and again she seems to be herself, lighthearted and resilient. "There are new opportunities for us all in these lands, Ixkin. No one here will judge you as you might have been judged by some within Ute." Not Skelaghe, of course, but Skelaghe is incapable of being unpleasant to anyone, regardless of status. She is observant, though, and she knows how Ixkin suffered for her love. "It is only for us to take advantage of them as well as we can."