Post by Azoto on Jul 4, 2011 17:48:47 GMT -5
Characters Involved:
Wachiwa, female wolf
Skahla, male wolf
=== Hilltop Vista ===
A light rain falls today as mid summer makes itself known; a rain welcome for the fact that it helps cool things down after several days of heat. In the rain, pacing back and forth outside the den with some manner of impatience, is Wachiwa; unwilling to leave the den at the moment because of things troubling her, even if she's getting moist from the haze of little drops of water.
Skahla has never been fond of water, although the sort that falls from the sky is not so bad as the sort that lies on the ground. Still, Skahla is in something of a mood as he approaches the den area, mostly due to the fact that he is bruised and tired. He actually intends to make for the large tree near the northern border of Ute territory, but as he travels and sees a wolf pacing near the den, he slows down slightly. He's not sure if he has any intention of approaching Wachiwa, but at least he's making himself approachable, right?
At distraction, Chewy is usually inattentive to most things. Always has been. But the smell of a fellow wolf on approach suddenly has her attention jerking toward the scent, frame bristling in an instant, letting a low growl come.. But upon seeing it is SKAH, and not the bothersome thing worrying her, she settles.. lightly. and then starts his way, head down, tail wagging weakly between her legs. "Skahla, oh, thank the Spirits it's you... We've got troubles, Skahla.."
Skahla stops walking soon after Wachiwa approaches him, and when she speaks, it is all he can do, at first, to hold back a sigh. That, after all, is decidedly not what he'd wanted to hear. Still, when he speaks, it is not with a growl. "What is is, Wachiwa?" As though he doesn't have troubles enough already... but then, this is his job now, isn't it?
Ears dance between flat and back, as the she-wolf tries to think of a way to say this diplomatically, then, as usual, in true Wachiwa fashion, she just spits it out: "There's a strange wolf been hanging around at the edge of the lands, Skah. He was saying bad things about the pack, like how the pack has bene plagued by death and it shouldn't still exist or be around. He was talking to this really rude fox, and he was telling the fox how he was the Alpha here with Skelagh a few summers ago. He said his name's Helaku... And he gave me this really really creepy feeling. I was /afraid/ for your little brother and Sister, so I came back as soon as I could after warning him about the bear.. And I told Ikuna to watch out for him. He has this thing around his neck that looks like another tail.."
There is probably no one in Ute who does not know Skelaghe's name. That she still has living children within the pack helps with that, sure, but even when her children are rarely about, the name Skelaghe is often mentioned. Her mate, less so, but even then, the name is vaguely familiar. Skelaghe's mate. Skelaghe, who died of old age and a harsh winter. Whose mate died of... something, Skahla isn't sure, but died all the same. No wonder the creature gives Wachiwa a creepy feeling, and fresh off of his defeat from Tyr, he can't say he's eager to deal with this particular problem. Not on his own, anyway, but maybe with his brother, or even Shawnee... "Which way, Chewy?" It's all he can think to ask, though thoughts are racing about his head.
"I saw him out by the Marsh when I was looking for frogs to talk to," she says, softly, "And the fox said he'd met Asku before and wanted to meet with you and Shawnee about staying around. I told the Helaku guy too, that if he stayed long in these lands, he should let you and Shawnee know he was here so he wouldn't get hurt... but I think it was more because he was giving me the total creeps. He said there was a sickness here once, Skah... And I've been hearing about a sickness in the horselands from little critters." She frowns, then, and, ears laying back, she adds, softly: "Makes me worried about the other wolves, the ones that Keaugh went to be with. I .. I had thought maybe I should travel to them, and see Keaugh.. She doesn't know about your mum yet either.. she deserves to know.."
Suddenly, Skahla stops doing anything but breathing and looking at Wachiwa. Keaughe doesn't know yet? How could she not... Oh. After a long pause and one deep breath, Skahla says, "She's my sister, Chewy. I should be the one to go. But... not yet. First, Askuwheteau and I will go see this wolf. But... don't bother your sister about it. Not yet. She's got... enough going on." And though Shawnee now is more likely to yell at him than anything else, Skahla cares for her deeply, and hopes he'll be able to do this thing in order to make life a little easier for her.
Ears flatten, and Chewy nods, murmuring, "Then I'll stay here and watch the pups for you. Besides, I like Ikuna, I may have to claim him for myself when he's old enough," .. it's a light, probably badly times attempt at humor, but it's followed by a weak laugh.. and then she leans in to try and nudge at Skah's shoulder. He may be her Alpha.. but he'll always be one of her childhood friends first. "... And I won't tell Shawnee.. Even if it's gonna make me feel bad about not telling her." .. Her ears fleck forward breifly at the thought of 'enough going on', before they dance back. "... She's.. not.. y'know.. ..? Is she? I mean.. I know it's something you two are supposed to do as the Alphas, but.."
"Chewy!" Though upset about the thought of his parents, and of what he must someday tell his sister, Skahla manages to be embarrassed by what Wachiwa asks, or, rather, doesn't ask. "Between Shawnee yelling at me every time I turn around and you asking about pups, it's almost like my mother is still here. But anyway... not yet. I don't even know, Chewy. She... well... Nevermind. I shouldn't trouble you with it." After all, his relationship problems are /his/ relationship problems, and it's not as if they're any big secret, anyway.
Wachiwa winces, but grins a little. Because, well! It's fun to see him embarressed, and she does admit: "Well I /did/ learn from your mum, didn't I. She practically raised me, Shawnee, and Mori after our parents passed on.." She grins weakly.. then mms, thoughtfully, serious once more. "... Skah..? She's probably just scared. You both had this dumped on you out of the great blue, and it's really big. You know why I turned down the offer to be Beta, don't you? Because it's a big job.. A really big job, to take care of a pack. And I'm not ready for it. I'm lucky, I don't have to. You two though.. Sometimes, choices get made for us. Only the Great Spirits know why."
"I don't think she'll ever forgive me for being the one that chose this for us. I did, you know. But... it doesn't matter, CHewy. It will either be okay... or it won't." And since there is nothing he can do about it either way, at least not right now, he can try not to worry about it. No saying whether he'll succeed, but he can try. "But, if you see my brother, you'll let him know I'm looking for him, right?"
"Of course, Skah," Chewy agrees, bobbing her head, before taking a moment to shake her frame free of the misting droplets of water falling about them, "I'll let him know. And I'll try to talk to Shawnee, see if I can calm her down a little. You may have agreed to this, but, as your mate, she agreed to stand by you no matter what." She smiles a bit, then nuzzles at him once more. "Don't worry, Skah. I'll be there for everyone no matter what, I promise. It's my job to be there for my family." She grins goofily. Then adds: "Also, your little brother is a good mouse catcher."
Skahla returns the nuzzling from Wachiwa this time. After doing so, he backs up a step, and says, "You've done well with them. I've got nothing to say about whether he can replace my other brother for you, when you're older, but you're a very good surrogate mother for them. The best. So, thank you." The spirits only know that if that much had been forced on Skah and Shawnee, the pups would probably be very close to dead by now. "Now, I'm going to go try to find my brother." So his afternoon of lying under the tree and trying to groom his white fur has been cancelled, but at least when he turns to head away, he does not show too much reluctance.
"... I'm just doing what I learned from your mum, Skah... That's all I can do." Chewy says, sheepishly, but in a way, she feels proud about it. It's nice to be complimented! She snuffs a bit at the faint air of rain drizzling, before she watches Skah take off in search of Asku... And she in turn slips for the den, laying down in front of the opening to the earthen hole, and laying her head on her paws. As long as she's guarding the den, she'll do so above ground.. for fear of things that could come upon it, and corner those within.
Wachiwa, female wolf
Skahla, male wolf
=== Hilltop Vista ===
A light rain falls today as mid summer makes itself known; a rain welcome for the fact that it helps cool things down after several days of heat. In the rain, pacing back and forth outside the den with some manner of impatience, is Wachiwa; unwilling to leave the den at the moment because of things troubling her, even if she's getting moist from the haze of little drops of water.
Skahla has never been fond of water, although the sort that falls from the sky is not so bad as the sort that lies on the ground. Still, Skahla is in something of a mood as he approaches the den area, mostly due to the fact that he is bruised and tired. He actually intends to make for the large tree near the northern border of Ute territory, but as he travels and sees a wolf pacing near the den, he slows down slightly. He's not sure if he has any intention of approaching Wachiwa, but at least he's making himself approachable, right?
At distraction, Chewy is usually inattentive to most things. Always has been. But the smell of a fellow wolf on approach suddenly has her attention jerking toward the scent, frame bristling in an instant, letting a low growl come.. But upon seeing it is SKAH, and not the bothersome thing worrying her, she settles.. lightly. and then starts his way, head down, tail wagging weakly between her legs. "Skahla, oh, thank the Spirits it's you... We've got troubles, Skahla.."
Skahla stops walking soon after Wachiwa approaches him, and when she speaks, it is all he can do, at first, to hold back a sigh. That, after all, is decidedly not what he'd wanted to hear. Still, when he speaks, it is not with a growl. "What is is, Wachiwa?" As though he doesn't have troubles enough already... but then, this is his job now, isn't it?
Ears dance between flat and back, as the she-wolf tries to think of a way to say this diplomatically, then, as usual, in true Wachiwa fashion, she just spits it out: "There's a strange wolf been hanging around at the edge of the lands, Skah. He was saying bad things about the pack, like how the pack has bene plagued by death and it shouldn't still exist or be around. He was talking to this really rude fox, and he was telling the fox how he was the Alpha here with Skelagh a few summers ago. He said his name's Helaku... And he gave me this really really creepy feeling. I was /afraid/ for your little brother and Sister, so I came back as soon as I could after warning him about the bear.. And I told Ikuna to watch out for him. He has this thing around his neck that looks like another tail.."
There is probably no one in Ute who does not know Skelaghe's name. That she still has living children within the pack helps with that, sure, but even when her children are rarely about, the name Skelaghe is often mentioned. Her mate, less so, but even then, the name is vaguely familiar. Skelaghe's mate. Skelaghe, who died of old age and a harsh winter. Whose mate died of... something, Skahla isn't sure, but died all the same. No wonder the creature gives Wachiwa a creepy feeling, and fresh off of his defeat from Tyr, he can't say he's eager to deal with this particular problem. Not on his own, anyway, but maybe with his brother, or even Shawnee... "Which way, Chewy?" It's all he can think to ask, though thoughts are racing about his head.
"I saw him out by the Marsh when I was looking for frogs to talk to," she says, softly, "And the fox said he'd met Asku before and wanted to meet with you and Shawnee about staying around. I told the Helaku guy too, that if he stayed long in these lands, he should let you and Shawnee know he was here so he wouldn't get hurt... but I think it was more because he was giving me the total creeps. He said there was a sickness here once, Skah... And I've been hearing about a sickness in the horselands from little critters." She frowns, then, and, ears laying back, she adds, softly: "Makes me worried about the other wolves, the ones that Keaugh went to be with. I .. I had thought maybe I should travel to them, and see Keaugh.. She doesn't know about your mum yet either.. she deserves to know.."
Suddenly, Skahla stops doing anything but breathing and looking at Wachiwa. Keaughe doesn't know yet? How could she not... Oh. After a long pause and one deep breath, Skahla says, "She's my sister, Chewy. I should be the one to go. But... not yet. First, Askuwheteau and I will go see this wolf. But... don't bother your sister about it. Not yet. She's got... enough going on." And though Shawnee now is more likely to yell at him than anything else, Skahla cares for her deeply, and hopes he'll be able to do this thing in order to make life a little easier for her.
Ears flatten, and Chewy nods, murmuring, "Then I'll stay here and watch the pups for you. Besides, I like Ikuna, I may have to claim him for myself when he's old enough," .. it's a light, probably badly times attempt at humor, but it's followed by a weak laugh.. and then she leans in to try and nudge at Skah's shoulder. He may be her Alpha.. but he'll always be one of her childhood friends first. "... And I won't tell Shawnee.. Even if it's gonna make me feel bad about not telling her." .. Her ears fleck forward breifly at the thought of 'enough going on', before they dance back. "... She's.. not.. y'know.. ..? Is she? I mean.. I know it's something you two are supposed to do as the Alphas, but.."
"Chewy!" Though upset about the thought of his parents, and of what he must someday tell his sister, Skahla manages to be embarrassed by what Wachiwa asks, or, rather, doesn't ask. "Between Shawnee yelling at me every time I turn around and you asking about pups, it's almost like my mother is still here. But anyway... not yet. I don't even know, Chewy. She... well... Nevermind. I shouldn't trouble you with it." After all, his relationship problems are /his/ relationship problems, and it's not as if they're any big secret, anyway.
Wachiwa winces, but grins a little. Because, well! It's fun to see him embarressed, and she does admit: "Well I /did/ learn from your mum, didn't I. She practically raised me, Shawnee, and Mori after our parents passed on.." She grins weakly.. then mms, thoughtfully, serious once more. "... Skah..? She's probably just scared. You both had this dumped on you out of the great blue, and it's really big. You know why I turned down the offer to be Beta, don't you? Because it's a big job.. A really big job, to take care of a pack. And I'm not ready for it. I'm lucky, I don't have to. You two though.. Sometimes, choices get made for us. Only the Great Spirits know why."
"I don't think she'll ever forgive me for being the one that chose this for us. I did, you know. But... it doesn't matter, CHewy. It will either be okay... or it won't." And since there is nothing he can do about it either way, at least not right now, he can try not to worry about it. No saying whether he'll succeed, but he can try. "But, if you see my brother, you'll let him know I'm looking for him, right?"
"Of course, Skah," Chewy agrees, bobbing her head, before taking a moment to shake her frame free of the misting droplets of water falling about them, "I'll let him know. And I'll try to talk to Shawnee, see if I can calm her down a little. You may have agreed to this, but, as your mate, she agreed to stand by you no matter what." She smiles a bit, then nuzzles at him once more. "Don't worry, Skah. I'll be there for everyone no matter what, I promise. It's my job to be there for my family." She grins goofily. Then adds: "Also, your little brother is a good mouse catcher."
Skahla returns the nuzzling from Wachiwa this time. After doing so, he backs up a step, and says, "You've done well with them. I've got nothing to say about whether he can replace my other brother for you, when you're older, but you're a very good surrogate mother for them. The best. So, thank you." The spirits only know that if that much had been forced on Skah and Shawnee, the pups would probably be very close to dead by now. "Now, I'm going to go try to find my brother." So his afternoon of lying under the tree and trying to groom his white fur has been cancelled, but at least when he turns to head away, he does not show too much reluctance.
"... I'm just doing what I learned from your mum, Skah... That's all I can do." Chewy says, sheepishly, but in a way, she feels proud about it. It's nice to be complimented! She snuffs a bit at the faint air of rain drizzling, before she watches Skah take off in search of Asku... And she in turn slips for the den, laying down in front of the opening to the earthen hole, and laying her head on her paws. As long as she's guarding the den, she'll do so above ground.. for fear of things that could come upon it, and corner those within.