Post by crescendo on Nov 9, 2011 20:12:49 GMT -5
Clover Lawn
Crescendo, adult f. wolf
Ciqala, adult m. wolfdog
Ciqala is not a common sight around Ute lands. He is always quick to make himself scarce when he hears anyone else nearby, preferring solitude to the tenseness that is usually present when he has to interact with someone else. Currently, though, the half-wolf is dozing, enjoying the warmer weather and letting the sun soak into and warm his fur. After the winter, it is a pleasant feeling, and not one he is eager to give up, particularly since the sun always reminds him, firmly, of his mother. He has not felt comfortable here since she passed, and even less so since her successor died as well. But now, feeling strongly as though she must be watching over him, he is eager to enjoy the few moments of peacefulness he's feeling.
For four years, Crescendo has been with this new Ute pack. During that time, she's seen three different alpha pairs, several puppies and gained a lot of personal knowledge. The spirits that caused her to leave her birth pack have since more or less faded from her perception, even if she still hears whispers on the air every now and then. Last Spring, she was planning to wander again, but the harrowing events that took place over the summer caused her to stay, in support of the pack. Now, with Spring here again and the Ute pack seemingly stable once more, she's feeling the same urge to leave. This time, she's made sure that the new alphas are as comfortable as she can make them - even though she's not a mother herself, Crescendo still understands the worries that can plague parents-to-be. She would stay to make sure everything works out alright, but if she doesn't leave before the pups are born, she knows she won't for another round of seasons. This is why she's said goodbye to the pack - for the second time - and is now pacing slowly away from the den, taking her time to savour the surroundings she's grown so familiar with. She might finally be leaving, but she's in no hurry to escape. As she comes upon the clover lawn, the major scent is obvious, but beneath it lies another, familiar one and Crescendo lifts her head to look for the owner of it. Ciqala is not far and Crescendo walks towards him with light steps, not intending to scare the other. Still some way away, she calls out in greeting. "Ciqala, my friend. Enjoying Spring?"
His ears twitch a few times, but Ciqala does not move. Not until a familiar voice reaches his ears. Stretching on his side before sitting up, the wolfdog answers with a nod of his head. At least with Crescendo, he is more comfortable than with any other living member of the pack... his own sister included. "It's still hard to believe it's finally here sometimes, unless I force myself to focus on it. It still gets awfully cold at night." It would, for a pack animal who nevertheless spends every night alone, and usually in an area with nothing to guard from the spring winds and rains. In no way, though, does he seem upset. No, rather he stretches out his neck, as though to greet the wolf more intimately. Even as he does so, his back remains slightly arched, his tail curled around his body and his never-fully-upright ears relaxed.
Coming up closer, Crescendo presses her head gently against Ciqala's neck, nosing at his neckfur. "You always have an option," she reminds him in a friendly tone, as she tends to. She's aware of his feelings regarding the pack, but she hates to see anyone left out of she can help it. She's not in command, but Ciqala is a pack member. Deciding to pause for a moment, seeing how she came across a friend, Cres sits down in the grass next to him, letting her eyes moves over the surrounding area. "This really is a beautiful place to grow up in. I can only imagine the new puppies will be just as happy as the grown ones." She looks over at Ciqala. "Wouldn't you say?"
This rare, pleasant contact has the half-dog's tail wagging quite beyond his control. "I know why my mother chose it, and it wasn't for any of the practical reasons that her mate accepted her choice." In other words, yes. It is beautiful. Perhaps, though, only to those who see nothing more than what lies on the surface... or rather more accurately, perhaps only not to those who are capable of looking beyond that surface, but only so deep, to where it is ugly before it has a chance to get beautiful again. There is blood soaked into every bit of dirt, and all Ciqala can see is the animals once close to him from whom the blood came, not the way that sacrifice has made it possible for the future generations of Ute to thrive. "You're finally leaving, aren't you? I heard..." He can't finish whatever thought it was he was expressing, though, instead opting to nuzzle silently against Crescendo.
Crescendo returns the nuzzling with a few licks around the wolf-dog's ears, her nose pushing one of the tips up briefly. "I am, as I intended to last Spring. Life doesn't always pan out the way you planned it, but I'm not regretting staying. It feels much safer to leave now, too." She gives a sigh, but it's a content one. "What about you? Are you going to keep on your own?" She'll admit she doesn't quite like the idea of leaving Ciqala behind. Crescendo moves to place her head over his neck in a hug.
"I never had a place here, Cres. Not even when my mother lived." Again, there is no sorrow. It is a matter of fact. He does not belong, not with these wolves. "I lied, when I told you she would never want anyone to stay if it wasn't their home. She always wanted me to stay. I could feel it. But maybe now..." The bright sun is a far cry from the thunder and rain protecting him from strangers. He's old enough, physically and mentally, that he could protect himself... or more likely, keep himself out of positions where he'd need protected. "Maybe now she's ready to let me go." Or vice verse.
Crescendo isn't sure how to feel about what she's being told. It's sad, but the way Ciqala tells it... "Mothers always want their babies to stay," she says after a moment's thought. "They're the ones they lose the fastest, even if they stay around." She lifts her head again to look at her friend. "She'll always be with you, Ciqala. What matters is where you want to bring her. Where you want to go. You are bright, more than enough to know that." She gives him another smile. "Perhaps it's time for you to wander as well."
"Maybe I am bright," though Ciqala's tone portrays some doubt, "but I am not brave. It takes a brave wolf to face the world alone... and I'm not even all wolf." This time, there is a hint that Ciqala is not being as straightforward as he normally is. He will not ask to join Crescendo, because that would force her into the position of having to say no if she doesn't want him there. He hopes, though, that what he says is indication enough that, should she accept a companion still...
A slight frown comes to Crescendo's face as she once again listens. "Braveness doesn't depend on your species," she says, decidedly but not to scold. "Braveness lies in the heart and I believe yours is bigger than you give it credit." The smile comes back. "That said, there's nothing wrong in wanting company while being brave. Together, you can support one another at the times when the going gets tough. Company is a big motivator." She looks at Ciqala, ears perked. "Would you want to wander together, Ciqala?"
She asks, and that is good enough for the wolfdog. There is no second-guessing on his part. If she did not want him to accompany her, she would not ask. "I'd like that very much," Ciqala answers, his tail still wagging energetically. Then, his lack of bravery would not be an issue, because he could have someone there he could look at to remind him that the things that go bump in the night do not have to be as scary as they almost always have been, to him.
Her smile growing wider, Crescendo leans in to give Ciqala another nuzzle. "Is there anything you want to do before we leave? I'm ready to go whenever you are." There's no use lingering, regardless of whether she's in a hurry or not. Spring is a wonderful time to travel in and she has said her vocal goodbyes. The mental once will be done as they move.
Maybe, if he and his sister were closer... but they aren't, and Ciqala sees no sense in delaying this, either. Standing, the wolfdog says, "No. We can go. Before I lose any braveness I have." The self-deprecating joke he gives at the end is plenty light-hearted. No matter how big she may think his heart is, he knows he never would have worked up the courage to do this on his own.
Even though Crescendo wasn't planning on bringing anyone along, she can't deny that this new development is a bad one. Wandering with Ciqala will be a good thing, she's confident. "Then let's get going," she says as she stands up. "Spring is inviting us." And it certainly seems to be today, with the sun warming them and casting its glow all around.
Crescendo, adult f. wolf
Ciqala, adult m. wolfdog
Ciqala is not a common sight around Ute lands. He is always quick to make himself scarce when he hears anyone else nearby, preferring solitude to the tenseness that is usually present when he has to interact with someone else. Currently, though, the half-wolf is dozing, enjoying the warmer weather and letting the sun soak into and warm his fur. After the winter, it is a pleasant feeling, and not one he is eager to give up, particularly since the sun always reminds him, firmly, of his mother. He has not felt comfortable here since she passed, and even less so since her successor died as well. But now, feeling strongly as though she must be watching over him, he is eager to enjoy the few moments of peacefulness he's feeling.
For four years, Crescendo has been with this new Ute pack. During that time, she's seen three different alpha pairs, several puppies and gained a lot of personal knowledge. The spirits that caused her to leave her birth pack have since more or less faded from her perception, even if she still hears whispers on the air every now and then. Last Spring, she was planning to wander again, but the harrowing events that took place over the summer caused her to stay, in support of the pack. Now, with Spring here again and the Ute pack seemingly stable once more, she's feeling the same urge to leave. This time, she's made sure that the new alphas are as comfortable as she can make them - even though she's not a mother herself, Crescendo still understands the worries that can plague parents-to-be. She would stay to make sure everything works out alright, but if she doesn't leave before the pups are born, she knows she won't for another round of seasons. This is why she's said goodbye to the pack - for the second time - and is now pacing slowly away from the den, taking her time to savour the surroundings she's grown so familiar with. She might finally be leaving, but she's in no hurry to escape. As she comes upon the clover lawn, the major scent is obvious, but beneath it lies another, familiar one and Crescendo lifts her head to look for the owner of it. Ciqala is not far and Crescendo walks towards him with light steps, not intending to scare the other. Still some way away, she calls out in greeting. "Ciqala, my friend. Enjoying Spring?"
His ears twitch a few times, but Ciqala does not move. Not until a familiar voice reaches his ears. Stretching on his side before sitting up, the wolfdog answers with a nod of his head. At least with Crescendo, he is more comfortable than with any other living member of the pack... his own sister included. "It's still hard to believe it's finally here sometimes, unless I force myself to focus on it. It still gets awfully cold at night." It would, for a pack animal who nevertheless spends every night alone, and usually in an area with nothing to guard from the spring winds and rains. In no way, though, does he seem upset. No, rather he stretches out his neck, as though to greet the wolf more intimately. Even as he does so, his back remains slightly arched, his tail curled around his body and his never-fully-upright ears relaxed.
Coming up closer, Crescendo presses her head gently against Ciqala's neck, nosing at his neckfur. "You always have an option," she reminds him in a friendly tone, as she tends to. She's aware of his feelings regarding the pack, but she hates to see anyone left out of she can help it. She's not in command, but Ciqala is a pack member. Deciding to pause for a moment, seeing how she came across a friend, Cres sits down in the grass next to him, letting her eyes moves over the surrounding area. "This really is a beautiful place to grow up in. I can only imagine the new puppies will be just as happy as the grown ones." She looks over at Ciqala. "Wouldn't you say?"
This rare, pleasant contact has the half-dog's tail wagging quite beyond his control. "I know why my mother chose it, and it wasn't for any of the practical reasons that her mate accepted her choice." In other words, yes. It is beautiful. Perhaps, though, only to those who see nothing more than what lies on the surface... or rather more accurately, perhaps only not to those who are capable of looking beyond that surface, but only so deep, to where it is ugly before it has a chance to get beautiful again. There is blood soaked into every bit of dirt, and all Ciqala can see is the animals once close to him from whom the blood came, not the way that sacrifice has made it possible for the future generations of Ute to thrive. "You're finally leaving, aren't you? I heard..." He can't finish whatever thought it was he was expressing, though, instead opting to nuzzle silently against Crescendo.
Crescendo returns the nuzzling with a few licks around the wolf-dog's ears, her nose pushing one of the tips up briefly. "I am, as I intended to last Spring. Life doesn't always pan out the way you planned it, but I'm not regretting staying. It feels much safer to leave now, too." She gives a sigh, but it's a content one. "What about you? Are you going to keep on your own?" She'll admit she doesn't quite like the idea of leaving Ciqala behind. Crescendo moves to place her head over his neck in a hug.
"I never had a place here, Cres. Not even when my mother lived." Again, there is no sorrow. It is a matter of fact. He does not belong, not with these wolves. "I lied, when I told you she would never want anyone to stay if it wasn't their home. She always wanted me to stay. I could feel it. But maybe now..." The bright sun is a far cry from the thunder and rain protecting him from strangers. He's old enough, physically and mentally, that he could protect himself... or more likely, keep himself out of positions where he'd need protected. "Maybe now she's ready to let me go." Or vice verse.
Crescendo isn't sure how to feel about what she's being told. It's sad, but the way Ciqala tells it... "Mothers always want their babies to stay," she says after a moment's thought. "They're the ones they lose the fastest, even if they stay around." She lifts her head again to look at her friend. "She'll always be with you, Ciqala. What matters is where you want to bring her. Where you want to go. You are bright, more than enough to know that." She gives him another smile. "Perhaps it's time for you to wander as well."
"Maybe I am bright," though Ciqala's tone portrays some doubt, "but I am not brave. It takes a brave wolf to face the world alone... and I'm not even all wolf." This time, there is a hint that Ciqala is not being as straightforward as he normally is. He will not ask to join Crescendo, because that would force her into the position of having to say no if she doesn't want him there. He hopes, though, that what he says is indication enough that, should she accept a companion still...
A slight frown comes to Crescendo's face as she once again listens. "Braveness doesn't depend on your species," she says, decidedly but not to scold. "Braveness lies in the heart and I believe yours is bigger than you give it credit." The smile comes back. "That said, there's nothing wrong in wanting company while being brave. Together, you can support one another at the times when the going gets tough. Company is a big motivator." She looks at Ciqala, ears perked. "Would you want to wander together, Ciqala?"
She asks, and that is good enough for the wolfdog. There is no second-guessing on his part. If she did not want him to accompany her, she would not ask. "I'd like that very much," Ciqala answers, his tail still wagging energetically. Then, his lack of bravery would not be an issue, because he could have someone there he could look at to remind him that the things that go bump in the night do not have to be as scary as they almost always have been, to him.
Her smile growing wider, Crescendo leans in to give Ciqala another nuzzle. "Is there anything you want to do before we leave? I'm ready to go whenever you are." There's no use lingering, regardless of whether she's in a hurry or not. Spring is a wonderful time to travel in and she has said her vocal goodbyes. The mental once will be done as they move.
Maybe, if he and his sister were closer... but they aren't, and Ciqala sees no sense in delaying this, either. Standing, the wolfdog says, "No. We can go. Before I lose any braveness I have." The self-deprecating joke he gives at the end is plenty light-hearted. No matter how big she may think his heart is, he knows he never would have worked up the courage to do this on his own.
Even though Crescendo wasn't planning on bringing anyone along, she can't deny that this new development is a bad one. Wandering with Ciqala will be a good thing, she's confident. "Then let's get going," she says as she stands up. "Spring is inviting us." And it certainly seems to be today, with the sun warming them and casting its glow all around.