Post by Pavane on Nov 24, 2011 3:11:05 GMT -5
This is actually two short RPs, combined in a single post. Both are on the Hilltop Vista, and feature Ikuna and Tala, adolescent wolves of Ute - in one, with their longtime friend Ahiga, and in the other, with the visiting Anoki of Cerulean.
---Old Friends---
It has been an exciting time for the pack! There is new life somewhere down in the den...somewhere, and that has made all the adults all happy and giddy and proud and whatnot. It's what adults do when there are puppies around. To Ahiga, it hasn't sunk in that he is no longer part of the youngest generation of the Ute anymore, and even if he did, there's another larger matter to deal with. Along with the birth of new pups, members of the pack have been celebrating a certain first big kill brought down by the former youngest members! Well ... two of the former youngest members. Ahiga has gotten wind that his new curious wanderings around the pack lands have made him miss out on sharing the moment with his best buds, and needless to say, he's feeling a bit left out. And so he's been slinking about, avoiding others, trying not to hear just how proud everyone is and how big of an accomplishment Ikuna and Tala have made. It's nearing dusk now and Ahiga is heading towards the den. Maybe looking at these new fluffy things will get his mind off of the missed opportunity!
Tala was rather sad that her best friend, save for Ikuna, was no where to be found! She missed Ahiga when his not around, and even more so when he wants around to help with the hunt. At the moment she can be found settled some distance from the den, a ear twitching now and then as she listens to the are as well the sounds from said den. It hasn't dawned on her about the pups either, since her parents died and everything with Ikuna she hasn't been as out going as she once was. An with everyone dealing with the pups and new parents she hasn't picked up on it, not like she craved there attention to start with wanting to be with Ikuna and Ahiga more then the adults.
Woah woah...there are sounds in there. Ahiga's ears prick up as he hears noises drifting from the den. Sounds like....well, he's not quite sure exactly, but there are probably adults in there who are still going on about the magnificent kill. He snorts a bit beneath his breath and begins to back away and turn, seeking somewhere else to be for now til...oh wait. Someone else is here! He lifts his head, spotting another wolf in the near distance. Female. Tala! He grumps a little, ears lowering back and head turning. But...on second thought, his aggravation wavers a little and he saunters towards her.
Tala hears movement and half figures its some adult that is coming back to look at the puppies, a ear twitches forward and she snuffles while looking out towards Ahiga. She blinks and lifts her head before grinning and hops up onto her paws. "Ahiga!" Is offered happily while she trots over towards him. "Where you been? Ikuna and I have missed you." Her tail wagging about while she moves to headbutt him upon the shoulder if he allows it.
"Eh. Around..." Ahiga says in an idle tone, glancing to the side and appearing aloof. He does not try to avoid her headbutt. She is one of his best friends after all, and he returns it just slightly before leaning back and giving her a look. "I bet you haven't missed me even a little. Haven't you been listening?" he asks, and he gestures around with his muzzle. "Everybody's been talkin' about you. You an' Ikuna," he adds, head slightly tipping to one side as he watches her, brows raising slightly.
Tala blinks slightly while she peers at Ahiga, looking rather confused it seems. A ear twitches and she glances one way and then another before looking back at her friend. "What you mean..? Of course we missed you." Her ears lower slightly, wondering if she did something wrong to get this sort of reaction from him. As for the pack talking about the hunt from the other night she has heard it, and is happy there all happy, but its nothing like missing one's best friend.
"Yeah right. How can ya miss me now that you're all...popular 'n junk?" Ahiga asks, smirking faintly and arching a brow. "Y'know," he continues as he lifts a paw up a little to swipe it over the tips of the blades of grass below, "because've the deer you 'n Ikuna got? I bet everyone's been tellin' you how great you are an' how like, you're gonna be the best hunters in the pack." He shrugs a shoulder. "Not that /I'd/ want that. It'd probably get annoying, after a while."
Tala looks well... utterly confused, and perhaps even a little hurt as Ahiga says this. A frown is seen and she takes a few steps back from Ahiga. "Ahiga.. Why would you think that, just because Ikuna and I caught a deer?" She's quiet for a moment and looks away, her tail swaying a few times. "Both Ikuna and myself wanted you to be with us.. But Asku took us out for the hunt." She shifts and pads back over to where she was laying and settles back down, a faint huff escaping her. "An we're only be good hunters with lots of practice and helping one another."
Just because they caught a deer? Well ... yes. Yes that's exactly why he feels that way! Well, not because they caught one but rather because they caught one without him. But he's not gonna outright say that. Ahiga's eyes have wandered down to the ground by now, but they glance back up at her as she speaks of having wanted him with them. "You did?" he says, sounding genuinely surprised. He watches her go back to claim her spot, and he turns an ear to one side. "Ya mean, you /don't/ care that I'm not like, a brother or something?"
Tala lets her head flop back down to a forepaw, a ear twitching towards him as her maw twitches. "Well.. No.. Why would I care about that?" She questions with a curious tone. An she still thinks Skahla doesn't like her, so being her brother isn't all its cracked up to be after all. "You're my friend Ahiga.. Always." This said while her tail sways a few times.
"Cuz," Ahiga replies, moving towards her now with his tail swaying slightly, "Ikuna's your brother, an' Asku's your brother, an' Skahla's your brother. Like, everybody's your brother 'cept me." He plops down onto his haunches near her. "And Asku's Ikuna's brother, and all of you are brothers and sister, and I thought maybe all've you don't wanna hunt with me cuz...I'm not." His brows furrow faintly, but it's a fleeting look that disappears quickly. "I'm the only one that ain't got a brother or sister here. Even Wachiwa's got a brother....sort've." A pause, and he eyes her curiously. "Does that make me weird?"
Tala tilts her head while she peers over at him, her tail swaying a few more times until it stops. "Naw.. I don't think it makes you weird at all." She offers while watching him curiously. "An of course I want to hunt with you.. Asku is going to train you in being the leader for the hunts even." She noses his shoulder. "An.. you got a family here Ahiga even if it isn't blood related."
Phew. It doesn't make him weird. Well that's a relief, since being labeled as weird is the most awful thing that can happen to a wolf you know. Ahiga smiles a little as she confirms his normalcy, but that look soon shifts to surprise at what she says next. "He what?" he says in disbelief, ears pricking up high. "He is? He said that, really?" Wow, what an honor! Hopefully he doesn't screw it up. He thinks about that for a while before his thoughts begin to turn to family again. "Yeah, I know that you all are, even if you aren't /really/ my family. S'just, sometimes I'm like...where'd they go?"
Tala nods slightly and smiles. "Ya.. He said you was gona be first to lead the hunts cause your older then Ikuna and I. So his gona train you himself an so forth." She tilts her head, ears lowering at that and she leans close to her friend, letting her shoulder press against his. "Well.. maybe we could try and find them or something?" She questions after a moment. "I'd help you."
Ah, that likely means that they're all going to be trained to lead...but his mind is only processing that he's going to be the first. The contact to his shoulder does have Ahiga smiling a little, though the more he dwells on this self brought up topic, the less cheerful he begins to feel. "Find'm?" He smirks at her and wrinkles his nose. "Yeah right. I've been here forever, and I can't hardly remember my ma at all. I /don't/ remember my dad, an' I dunno if I even had a pack before I got here. I don't even know who'd I'd be lookin' for." He shrugs a little. "If they wanted me back, they would've come'n got me by now, huh?"
All the chatter about the successful hunt was pretty awesome at first. But... it got old, somehow. Yeah, Ikuna and Tala got a deer - but that's just one deer, and it wasn't like they planned it out or did more than follow Asku's instructions and get lucky. It's not enough. So Ikuna's thoughts have gone, and so after a while... he slipped away, leaving the den and going through the woods to sniff at the scent-trails of deer and rabbits and try to figure out more about them. He's spent much of the day working on that, and now he returns to the hill, a tired wolf - though his ears still perk up as he notices Ahiga and Tala there, and he gives a low wuff of greeting as he approaches.
Tala shrugs slightly. "Well.. It was just a thought." She points out with a smirk, her tail flicking and she glances over to Ikuna. A wruff escaping her back and she smiles while hopping up to greet him. "Where did you go?" Seems like everyone left the area to wander but herself. Silly boys.
Ahiga watches Tala a while, looking as if he's trying to gather the right words to say in response to her, which apparently has become a challenge. His ear turns at the sound of a familiar wuffing, and he turns his head, spying Ikuna coming nearer. "Thanks," he says, the word spoken to Tala. It was nice of her to offer herself to help in such a hopeless task. He's glad the topic seems to be fading though. Somehow, the thoiught of Ikuna knowing his lament over his lost family makes him feel a bit loserish. "S'up Ikuna. Ya go bring down another deer? Maybe th'whole herd?" he asks, smirking in jest.
Boys Must Roam. It's a law or something. Ikuna smiles, and nuzzles his sister in greeting. "Just out practicing," he tells her, then turns his head to Ahiga and hehs. "Nah. Didn't catch anything." He shrugs, and steps forward to bump his cheek to Ahiga's. "So when're you going to come with us? It's different hunting with a pack. We gotta figure it out, and..." he lowers his voice a little. "I think we can do it better together than even Asku thinks. 'Cause... we know each other, right? We can kinda... predict each other."
Tala makes a face at Ikuna talking about being off practicing. "Ya I bet.." She offers with a soft tibbit escaping her before she settles back down next to Ahiga, a yawn escaping her. Hearing her brother she peers at him, a soft hum escapes her and she nods a moment. "Well.. Ya maybe so.."
Ahiga grins as he returns the greeting, playfully pushing the side of his face against Ikuna's. "Ha, I'm not gonna let you two hog all the deer huntin'. That's the /only/ time you're gonna be without me," he promises, nodding his head firmly after that, as if promising himself that very same thing. He's never hunted with others before, and he'll be darned if he misses out again. He nods in agreement with the other male, glancing at Tala as if to make sure they are all in agreement. "Yeah, we know each other better than anybody else knows us. An' /I/ predict...Tala's gonna fall asleep an' snore her head off pretty soon!"
Ikuna grins, and nods his agreement with Ahiga's promise. Good! Things just aren't the same without his best friend. Even if the idea of Ahiga being selected leader does make something in him raise up a hackle of competition, that doesn't mean he doesn't want the other by his side! Really, it's not even the idea of following Ahiga that gives him trouble, it's the idea that someone else decides it. If Ahiga has a plan, he'll suggest it, and if Ikuna has a plan, he'll suggest it, and if they both have plans... then they'll figure out how to make 'em work together. Still, the important part here is that he'll do it - whatever it is - with Ahiga and Tala. Ikuna laughs at Ahiga's prediction, and looks over at his sister before nodding. "Yeah, sure looks that way. She might scare the puppies," he teases playfully.
Tala blinkblinks at this and just smirks at the two. "Oh harhar.." She offers, a quick nip offered towards Ahiga and then Ikuna before he can pull away. "So funny." A huff escapes her and she leans away from Ahiga and flops down on her side.
"Yeah, we know," remarks Ahiga who lifts a paw to help Tala flop down by pushing her a little. All in play of course, and he's not going to let her get away with that nip either, even if she is trying to relax and possibly slep. He makes a nuisance of himself by scooting closer to her til he bumps into her again and none too discreetly leeeans his weight against her as he sits. Grinning, he gestures with his head to Ikuna, beckoning him to join him with the smooshing of Tala. Ah, this is much better. No worrying about family and where he may or may not belong. No more jealousy of his friends' accomplishment. Just back to how things should be with the three pupsketeers!
Ikuna doesn't even try to dodge the nip, because he totally deserves it. He grins, and leans over to lick between Tala's ears in a vague not-really-apology and expression of his affection. His sister falls - or was pushed, gasp! - and Ikuna steps closer and leaaaaaans in against.... Ahiga. Transitive smooshing!
Tala blinks at the two and wiggles about, kicking out at Ahiga while smirking. "Hey.. Stop it!" She states while trying to pull herself away. A huff escapes her once Ikuna joins in and she soon gives up letting them do that. Well.. She'll so them! How you ask? By tucking her head under a forepaw and starting to doze off that's how!
Smooshfest! Ahiga laughs as Ikuna's weight is pressed against him, and their combined weight is deposited on poor Tala. There's no way he can dodge her kicks, but he does try to keep her from getting away the best that he can! And...woot! Success! He flops right down on her with a triumphant, "Ha-HA!" and she...falls asleep? Blinkblink. Where's the struggle? Where's the 'oh noo! Ahiga, Ikuna, don't squish me with your combined awesomeness!'? Mrphing beneath the weight of his pal, he tries to look up. "She's not...sleepin', is she?"
Ikuna leans at Ahiga, and Ahiga leans at Tala, and some wrigglings later, she is totally squished! They are victorious! ... or something. The topmost wolf of the heap shifts, trying to peer down past Ahiga at his sister. Hmmm. Closed eyes, steady breathing... "She totally is," he says, and laughs. He reaches out his paw, stretching it over to bat at her ear. It flickers, but... nope. She keeps on sleeping. "So what was -she- doin' that got her that tired?" he wonders, without actually bothering to get up.
---and New---
The hillside is the densite; and for that, Anoki is wary about approaching it directly. Instead, the shaggy, clumpy-furred adolescent of the Cerulean is laying in the sun at the top of the hill, looking out over the vista, ears lazily drooping slightly. Really, it's nice here in the forested areas, but the only reason he's lingering around here is the fact that there are wolves his age.. and in the Cerulean? it's very lonely. On this day, though, he's sort of staring into the distance, perhaps not even really paying attention to anything around him.
Even Ikuna, who definitely belongs here, hasn't done more than peek inside the den since the new puppies arrived. More often than not, he's been out in those woods exploring and hunting - or at least, practicing the skills of hunting. He returns today with mud on his paws and empty jaws, padding up the hill to the place where he and his friends usually sprawl. Oh, look. There's somebody there already. "Hey."
Tala follows after Ikuna not to longer after his arrival, a rabbit grasped within her jaws from the looks of it. An like her brother she is rather muddy and dirt covered from her travels around the area looking for something to chomp on. Her ears perk forward, bright gaze drifting over the area and her tail sways while she pauses next to her brother and drops the rabbit. "Hey guys."
Ears twitch at the greeting; but Anoki doesn't seem to really 'wake up', if he is indeed even attentive. Not until Ikuna gets really close, and then he blinks, and looks over to Ikuna with a smile and a slight wag. He gives the same to Tala, with a slight smile, before his ears perk slightly at the rabbit in Tala's jaws. "Hey, congrats on the good hunt," he says, softly, as he watches her.. or perhaps watches just slightly aside her.
Ikuna leans over to shoulderbump his sister as she comes by him, nodding his agreement about the good hunt, then flops down on the ground. Thoomp.
Tala grins and bumps her head back into Ikuna's, a soft hum escapes her while she glances back to Anoki. She tilts her head and snuffles before looking around, ears perking forward slightly. "What cha looking at Anoki?"
"Hm?" Anoki's ears twitch, and he blinks a little, then shrugs. "Just looking around really. This place is full of voices," he says, softly, considering things, before he shifts to sit up, scratching at his side with a hindfoot, kicking out clumps of shedding first winter's fur with a grunt of noise. "No wonder Niyt liked this place," he grins a bit, before he frowns. "I like it better than home because you guys are here." he says, thoughtfully, before he stands, stretches, and then pounces at the flopped Ikuna, trying to paw at his shoulders playfully.
Voices, huh? It seems pretty quiet to Ikuna, except for the three of them and the occasional squeaks from the puppyden. He perks one ear in a questioning position - and to get a better listen in case there's anything he's missing - but he doesn't hear anything more beyond a couple birdie chirps before Anoki is pouncing at him and more pressing matters take up his attention. The boy grrs playfully, and tries to wrap his paw up around Anoki's shoulders and tug at the other adolescent.
Tala ears perk slightly, maw twitching. "What sorta vices you talking bout?" She questions with a tilt of her head, looking somewhat confused to say the least. As Anoki pounces forward she giggles softly and bounces on her paws to bat out at them both.
A playful wuff at Ikuna is the response, and Anoki flops over on top of him with a chortle, trying to flop on his face like a great lump of floppy fur. As he's batted at, he laughs, too, but reploes to Tala: "The voices of the dead," he says, with a slight grin. "You can't hear them? I hear them everywhere, but mostly only on lazy days in places where they rest." he says, with a grin.
Ikuna wrassles with Anoki, biting up at him with playful mouthings that mostly just get fur and pawing at the other boy and back at his sister. All in good fun! At the mention of the dead, he pauses for a moment, and then opens his muzzle from the current mouthful of fluff. "No," he says. Makes a bit of sense now, though. Dead stuff is... well, everywhere, but there's been a lot of death here, even if you just count the wolves who seem like they'd be inclined to hang around. Like his parents, and that Skelaghe he heard about. "Chewy talks about the Great Spirits, and those are dead... but I never heard any dead stuff."
Tala looks confused to say the elast at the talk about voices, a faint snuffle escapes her. "I've never heard any voices.. I mean.. I don't think so.." She looks rather confused even. A grin is offered and she bounces forward once more and bumps her maw against Anoki's side softly..
Ears flick back slightly, and Anoki ohs, softly, sheepish. "I uh.." He goes a little quiet, laughing nervously at Tala's bumping against his side, before he rolls off Ikuna, and looks sheepishly at his paws. "... My .. Mom, and dad, could see spirits, too, could sometimes see what was going to happen before it did. But I never got to know them very well... Mom was.. dying.. when I got taken by the bad cat, and by the time I got back, she was dead, and Dad had taken my little sister and .. left. So I guess, Niyt's kinda been raisin' me. Niyt, an' uncle Tariro, and now the new beta, Coinin, he's kinda neat." he grins slightly, but then looks at the other two wolves. "... Is it bad to be able to hear and see these things? Like uhm. Like I caught a faint glimpse of a lady wolf last night hanging around the den. I don't think she was mean though."
Ikuna rolls around to lie on his belly once Anoki's no longer squishing him, and perks his ears to listen. He nods a little. "Our mom and dad are dead too," he says, his tone quiet but matter-of-fact. "They died when we were little, because a bear got them." He's quiet for a moment, thinking it through, then goes on. "I don't think seeing things can be bad. It's what you do about it that's good or bad."
Tala ohs softly while peering at Anoki, looking confused but at the same time curious as well. She glances to Ikuna and soon nods. "Ya.. Our parents are gone too.." This said with a soft tone. There is a pause and she peers at Anoki. "Wait.. What did the wolf look like?"
A blink, thoughtful at Ikuna, nodding. "Yeah, I remember hearing that. I'm sorry 'bout that. But... My dad isn't dead. He just.. went away. He could still be alive.. but he doesn't come back. I think that's what sucks the most." he makes a face. Anoki's ears perk, and he looks to Tala. "Well, she.. wasn't so much visible as I could feel and hear her. She felt very happy. Kind of sad, but really happy. She was singing something.. I don't remember the words very well, but I'm pretty sure it was probably something one would sing to puppies when they're small. And then she was gone. Maybe I dreamed it. Maybe I imagined it."
Ikuna nods to Anoki's sympathy, and then hmms at how his dad is... gone. Like how Asku wanders sometimes, or how he was taken away, or... how Ahiga doesn't have a family anymore because they're just... gone. He nods. He frowns, trying to put together words for that, but before he can the conversation moves on to that dead wolf, and he ponders on that instead. "Maybe it was our mom. Skahla's our brother, so they'd be her grandpuppies. Or maybe it was that other old wolf, Skelaghe. Skahla was named for her." Shawnee's parents don't get even a thought, because he never really heard anything about them ever.
Tala frowns slightly at this, her head lowering while she paws at the ground a few times with a forepaw. A faint snuffle escapes her in the process. "I wonder if it was mom.." She offers to Ikuna, a slight glance offered over to him wondering if he thinks the same thing or not. Well it is possible after all.
"... She didn't seem hostile if that's what you're worried about," Anoki says, softly, as he stands, and turns around in a vague circle trying to nuzzle both of his friends at once to reassure them. "... Niyt says that sometimes, the reason, they stay is to make sure things are alright. once they're happy, they move on to run with the wind. And some day they get born again as new people, but since they don't remember anything, you can never know who you're meeting." He frowns, then says, "I told her I hope if I have puppies some day my mom comes back as one."
Ikuna returns Tala's glance, and gives her a little shrug. He doesn't know. Sometimes, he can't even really remember what his mother looked like. She was just... his mother. When Anoki nuzzles him, he returns the gesture, and turns his head to nose at his sister as well. "I don't mind. If there are dead things around, I mean. They can't hurt anyone." He tilts his head to listen to what Anoki says about spirits and the wind, then nods. "Maybe she will... he says, then asks, "Do you think your mom is waiting around for something?"
Tala hums softly and nods, a soft snuffle escapes her and she takes in a breath. "Well true.." Is said with a soft tone. "I guess I just wish I knew or something." This said with a soft tone. "An.. I hope you do too Anoki." She offers and smiles while leaning over to nose at him as well.
Anoki... shakes his head. "I haven't seen her since the day she lead me here when I was lost and looking for help." He smiles weakly. "Maybe that was the last thing she needed to do before she just. ran off with the wind. Make sure I get home safe. Make sure you and Kachina get rescued." He says, looking to Ikuna, before he hms softly. Then looks upward towards the clouded sky thoughtfully, head taking a slight tilt as he asks, "Hey, do you guys ever wonder what makes the clouds?"
Ikuna nods consideringly. It's the sort of thing moms do, taking care of their children. "Maybe, yeah..." he says, then looks up at the sky. "Maybe it's bits of fluff from everyone shedding," he suggests with a grin. "Or maybe it's the same stuff as snow. It kinda looks like snow, right? White fluffy things."
Tala hums and looks upwards to the sky curiously a few moments, a soft snuffle escapes her in the process. Her tail swaying about and she grins. "Ya.. I bet there fluffy clouds.." She chuckkles at the thought before leaning over to nip at Ikuna's shoulder a few times.
"They might be made of everything," Anoki says, thoughtfully, "Fluff an' snow, an' rain.. Maybe they're even made of that stuff you see on the river when it's foamy in a storm." He considers. Then looks to the two other adolescents with a grin. "I wonder what they /taste/ like. They could be all sweet like fresh water, or kinda cold and crisp like snow.. maybe they taste like a spring rain, or the grass when it's just new." He gives a giggle of thought, then leaps to his feet, running around in a hyperactive circle a moment. "Man, it's so nice to just run here!" he exclaims, before pouncing for a clump of dandelions, and snapping at them.
"Maybe they're spirits," suggests Ikuna after a bit of further consideration. "Your sister says spirits go on the wind, right? So... maybe that's them. The wind's always pushin' clouds around, and sometimes it tugs them apart or smushes them together." He leans back, peering up at the sky, and laughs. "Well, there's a place where it looks like there's a cloud on the ground alla time, and it doesn't really taste like much. Like... how it smells after rain, or lickin' dew off the grass." He grins, and gets to his feet, stretching a bit and shaking out his fur before returning Tala's nips with a mouthing at her cheek and a wurf.
Tala ers softly, a ear twitching while she glances back to Anoki. "I didn't talk to your sister much.. What did she mean about the spirits on the wind anyway?" She questions curiously before a soft oof escaping her at the nips and mouthing back. Her forepaw is sent batbatbating at him.
Ears perk, and looking up with pollin and petals all over his mouth, Anoki spits out a clump of dandelion heads. "Huh? Well.. Niyt says that the wind is where we go when we die. When the wind calls your name, it means you'll be leaving your body and moving on to the spirit world of the wind. She can hear the wind calling the names of those about to die, but I can't. I can just hear the world around me, or see them when they're not in their bodies anymore." He considers, then says, "The wind has to be mean sometimes, like when it took our mom away from us, or when it took your parents away from you. But most of the time, it's kind, like we are -- it takes the wounded, the old, or the sick away, so they can be in peace, no longer troubled by the pain or sickness in their bodies." He says thoughtfully.
Ikuna listens to Anoki's explanation, and nods. It makes sense with the parts of spirituality Wachiwa has tried to instill in the pups, and with the vague memories of how things were talked about when his parents died. "Bad things happen," he says. "And sometimes even good people do bad things, 'cause they hafta or because they made a mistake." He looks up at the sky again, and at the light wind ruffling through the branches, and then he gives himself a shake. "Come on. If you wanna run around..." He leans over and bumps his nose against Anoki's side, then turns and starts to run down the westward face of the hill.
Tala ohs softly and nods while she listens to Anoki. A soft hum escapes her and she tilts her head while glances up to the sky once more, her nose twitching and she licks across her maw a few times. A glance is offered over towards Ikuna and she smiles while shifting up to her paws and laughs out while she follows after him, running by Anoki. "Come on! We gotta catch Ikuna!" Is said with a happy tone.
A grin, and Anoki is on his feet again in a wag of a tail. "I betcha I can reach the bottom before you can," he calls after Ikuna, tongue flinging out in a loll as he attempts to race down the hill, half at Ikuna's side, half trying to get ahead of him, the look of a 'mad man' on his face; not the dangerous kind, more the happy go lucky kind, living for the moment. after all, racing games are fun. And running gives them excersize they'll need for hunting, so there. It's not stupid to run down a hill pel mel at all!
The wind in your fur, the ground under your feet, the sound of paws pummeling the dirt behind you as the others try to catch up... yeah, good times. Ikuna's not exactly built for speed; he takes somewhat after his father, with the solid bulk of a northern wolf that has to survive harsh winters and take on elk. Still, he's not terrible at it; he does have pretty long legs after this most recent growth spurt, and that broad chest means he's got plenty of air as he races downhill around rocks and trees with his ears perked to the pursuit.
Tala grins while she races on after the pair, soon starting to catch up to them, enough that she nips out at Anoki's tail a few times in the process. A soft laugh escapes her while she runs. At times jumping over and running around a bush or something else that may be in her way.
The nipping at his tail causes a yelp of shock and Anoki veers away from the two others, slipping a bit and tumbling head over side thw rest of the way, landing with a whuff of breath at the bottom of the hill in surprise, looking up dazed. This lasts only a moment, before he flops over, and tries to inspect his tail worredly, ears laying back. "T-Tala, don't do that, you might get bad on you," he says, after a moment, licking at the offending appendage after pinning it with a paw.
Ikuna is startled out of the racing mindset as Anoki tumbles past him with a yelp, and he turns aside to run after the other adolescent with a worried expression on his face. He peers over Anoki, trying to determine if the other male is hurt, and then nudges at his shoulder with his nose. "You okay?" he asks, inspecting him and then peering down at that offending tail. He can sort of see where the tip of it got hurt once, but...
Tala blinks as she watches Anoki, her ears lowering while she skids to a stop and hops forward a few paces to where he is. "Bad.. wait, what are you talking about?" This questioned while she peers at Anoki, looking utterly confused it would seem. "I'm sorry.. I.. I didn't mean to hurt you.." She offers while shifting back a few times.
Ears lay back, and Anoki looks from his tail, to tala, then Ikuna, and back. "... The bad things bit me there.. I'm still not sure it's safe for others to touch, my tail. I don't want Bad to get them, too. Please don't.. don't touch it again, Tala? It didn't hurt, but I don't want anything to happen to you." He frowns, releasing the tail and then smiling weakly, "Y.. Y'a understand, right? I don't want the bad to go from my tail to anyone else. But I'm sure it'll be not bad soon, I am. I'm going to have Niyt make it not bad. I know she can do it."
Ikuna frowns, then nods. "We won't." He lowers his head, sniffing at Anoki's tail without quite touching it with his muzzle, then lifts up his head again. "I can't smell any bad, so we're probably okay. It hasn't come out to the surface. Even if it's spirit stuff... you'd be able to smell that, right? So you'd know if any got out and could hurt us." The young male looks at Anoki expectantly, waiting for him to answer. Making sure his pack isn't threatened is immportant, and so he treats this unknown with some seriousness.
Tala frowns at this and shifts on her paws, moving backwards still until she settles to her haunches just peering. "Alright.. I won't.. I'm sorry.." She looks rather confused to say the least, her ears splayed forward as she watches the pair. "What.. What bad stuff was it that got you? the bird?"
Shaking his head, Anoki answers Tala first: "It was a big, hairy, snarly thing. It stank alot, and was mean. It had huge claws, and was grumpy." He says, ears laying back. "I think it was the one in charge. It bit my tail when I was running." He frowns. Then considers Ikuna's words, and nods. "Yeah.. Yeah, I think I'd smell if it was going to come out.. but.. I still want to be careful, you know? I mean.. My mom.. and then my dad left c'os I was gone.. and I don't want that happening to anyone else. So I'm going to have Niyt make it not bad anymore as soon as she's uhm. Done being all googlyeyed at Coinin."
Ikuna growls softly, deep in his chest, as Anoki describes the big hairy thing. He remembers that. "It was a bad thing," he tells Tala. "Skahla and one of the Cerulean wolves fought it, and it got crushed under a big tree." And it nearly killed him, but his sister doesn't need to know that. He'll keep that nightmare for himself. He nods to Anoki. "It's good to be careful about things like that, to make sure nobody gets hurt."
Tala frowns at this and nods slightly, a glance is offered to Ikuna before she glances to her paws. "I'm sorry Anoki.." She offers once more. Looking rather confused at how to help, the two went through a lot after all and she has no idea about any of it. She shifts on her paws and starts to make her way back up the hill. "I'm going back to the den.."
Ears lay back, and Anoki looks at Ikuna, nodding.. he hadn't heard what had become of the bad things besides 'they were stopped'. But hearing now that a tree fell on that one, he feels happier. He hopes it got skooshed FLAT! FLAT LIKE.. uh.. a .. dead.. uhm. Something. Yeah. He blinks as Tala moves away though. "... Didn't mean to scare you away, Tala," he says, softly.
Ikuna nods to his sister, and watches her pad up the hill for a few moments before looking back to Anoki. He says quietly, "It... was hard for her, too." No need to explain what. It's not Anoki's fault, really, he just... sort of ended up being the reminder. Ikuna doesn't hold it against him, and he's pretty sure his sister doesn't either. To prove it, he leans over to aim a nosebump for the other adol's shoulder. "I'll show you the clover some other time," he says, before padding back up the hill after Tala.
Tala doesn't hold it against either of them, only against the oens that caused the problem. Losting her parents, and then her brother when she was just starting to get back to normal was a lot for her to deal with. Even now she still has problems dealing with it. A ear twitches back towards them as she hears them moving after her and she glances towards them while pausing.
Ikuna follows his sister up the hill. Anoki settles down at the base of it, because his fault or not.... well, Ikuna supposes sometimes you just have to take a little time away from things. Ikuna steps up beside his sister and nudges his shoulder to hers in a standing lean, then continues upward.
---Old Friends---
It has been an exciting time for the pack! There is new life somewhere down in the den...somewhere, and that has made all the adults all happy and giddy and proud and whatnot. It's what adults do when there are puppies around. To Ahiga, it hasn't sunk in that he is no longer part of the youngest generation of the Ute anymore, and even if he did, there's another larger matter to deal with. Along with the birth of new pups, members of the pack have been celebrating a certain first big kill brought down by the former youngest members! Well ... two of the former youngest members. Ahiga has gotten wind that his new curious wanderings around the pack lands have made him miss out on sharing the moment with his best buds, and needless to say, he's feeling a bit left out. And so he's been slinking about, avoiding others, trying not to hear just how proud everyone is and how big of an accomplishment Ikuna and Tala have made. It's nearing dusk now and Ahiga is heading towards the den. Maybe looking at these new fluffy things will get his mind off of the missed opportunity!
Tala was rather sad that her best friend, save for Ikuna, was no where to be found! She missed Ahiga when his not around, and even more so when he wants around to help with the hunt. At the moment she can be found settled some distance from the den, a ear twitching now and then as she listens to the are as well the sounds from said den. It hasn't dawned on her about the pups either, since her parents died and everything with Ikuna she hasn't been as out going as she once was. An with everyone dealing with the pups and new parents she hasn't picked up on it, not like she craved there attention to start with wanting to be with Ikuna and Ahiga more then the adults.
Woah woah...there are sounds in there. Ahiga's ears prick up as he hears noises drifting from the den. Sounds like....well, he's not quite sure exactly, but there are probably adults in there who are still going on about the magnificent kill. He snorts a bit beneath his breath and begins to back away and turn, seeking somewhere else to be for now til...oh wait. Someone else is here! He lifts his head, spotting another wolf in the near distance. Female. Tala! He grumps a little, ears lowering back and head turning. But...on second thought, his aggravation wavers a little and he saunters towards her.
Tala hears movement and half figures its some adult that is coming back to look at the puppies, a ear twitches forward and she snuffles while looking out towards Ahiga. She blinks and lifts her head before grinning and hops up onto her paws. "Ahiga!" Is offered happily while she trots over towards him. "Where you been? Ikuna and I have missed you." Her tail wagging about while she moves to headbutt him upon the shoulder if he allows it.
"Eh. Around..." Ahiga says in an idle tone, glancing to the side and appearing aloof. He does not try to avoid her headbutt. She is one of his best friends after all, and he returns it just slightly before leaning back and giving her a look. "I bet you haven't missed me even a little. Haven't you been listening?" he asks, and he gestures around with his muzzle. "Everybody's been talkin' about you. You an' Ikuna," he adds, head slightly tipping to one side as he watches her, brows raising slightly.
Tala blinks slightly while she peers at Ahiga, looking rather confused it seems. A ear twitches and she glances one way and then another before looking back at her friend. "What you mean..? Of course we missed you." Her ears lower slightly, wondering if she did something wrong to get this sort of reaction from him. As for the pack talking about the hunt from the other night she has heard it, and is happy there all happy, but its nothing like missing one's best friend.
"Yeah right. How can ya miss me now that you're all...popular 'n junk?" Ahiga asks, smirking faintly and arching a brow. "Y'know," he continues as he lifts a paw up a little to swipe it over the tips of the blades of grass below, "because've the deer you 'n Ikuna got? I bet everyone's been tellin' you how great you are an' how like, you're gonna be the best hunters in the pack." He shrugs a shoulder. "Not that /I'd/ want that. It'd probably get annoying, after a while."
Tala looks well... utterly confused, and perhaps even a little hurt as Ahiga says this. A frown is seen and she takes a few steps back from Ahiga. "Ahiga.. Why would you think that, just because Ikuna and I caught a deer?" She's quiet for a moment and looks away, her tail swaying a few times. "Both Ikuna and myself wanted you to be with us.. But Asku took us out for the hunt." She shifts and pads back over to where she was laying and settles back down, a faint huff escaping her. "An we're only be good hunters with lots of practice and helping one another."
Just because they caught a deer? Well ... yes. Yes that's exactly why he feels that way! Well, not because they caught one but rather because they caught one without him. But he's not gonna outright say that. Ahiga's eyes have wandered down to the ground by now, but they glance back up at her as she speaks of having wanted him with them. "You did?" he says, sounding genuinely surprised. He watches her go back to claim her spot, and he turns an ear to one side. "Ya mean, you /don't/ care that I'm not like, a brother or something?"
Tala lets her head flop back down to a forepaw, a ear twitching towards him as her maw twitches. "Well.. No.. Why would I care about that?" She questions with a curious tone. An she still thinks Skahla doesn't like her, so being her brother isn't all its cracked up to be after all. "You're my friend Ahiga.. Always." This said while her tail sways a few times.
"Cuz," Ahiga replies, moving towards her now with his tail swaying slightly, "Ikuna's your brother, an' Asku's your brother, an' Skahla's your brother. Like, everybody's your brother 'cept me." He plops down onto his haunches near her. "And Asku's Ikuna's brother, and all of you are brothers and sister, and I thought maybe all've you don't wanna hunt with me cuz...I'm not." His brows furrow faintly, but it's a fleeting look that disappears quickly. "I'm the only one that ain't got a brother or sister here. Even Wachiwa's got a brother....sort've." A pause, and he eyes her curiously. "Does that make me weird?"
Tala tilts her head while she peers over at him, her tail swaying a few more times until it stops. "Naw.. I don't think it makes you weird at all." She offers while watching him curiously. "An of course I want to hunt with you.. Asku is going to train you in being the leader for the hunts even." She noses his shoulder. "An.. you got a family here Ahiga even if it isn't blood related."
Phew. It doesn't make him weird. Well that's a relief, since being labeled as weird is the most awful thing that can happen to a wolf you know. Ahiga smiles a little as she confirms his normalcy, but that look soon shifts to surprise at what she says next. "He what?" he says in disbelief, ears pricking up high. "He is? He said that, really?" Wow, what an honor! Hopefully he doesn't screw it up. He thinks about that for a while before his thoughts begin to turn to family again. "Yeah, I know that you all are, even if you aren't /really/ my family. S'just, sometimes I'm like...where'd they go?"
Tala nods slightly and smiles. "Ya.. He said you was gona be first to lead the hunts cause your older then Ikuna and I. So his gona train you himself an so forth." She tilts her head, ears lowering at that and she leans close to her friend, letting her shoulder press against his. "Well.. maybe we could try and find them or something?" She questions after a moment. "I'd help you."
Ah, that likely means that they're all going to be trained to lead...but his mind is only processing that he's going to be the first. The contact to his shoulder does have Ahiga smiling a little, though the more he dwells on this self brought up topic, the less cheerful he begins to feel. "Find'm?" He smirks at her and wrinkles his nose. "Yeah right. I've been here forever, and I can't hardly remember my ma at all. I /don't/ remember my dad, an' I dunno if I even had a pack before I got here. I don't even know who'd I'd be lookin' for." He shrugs a little. "If they wanted me back, they would've come'n got me by now, huh?"
All the chatter about the successful hunt was pretty awesome at first. But... it got old, somehow. Yeah, Ikuna and Tala got a deer - but that's just one deer, and it wasn't like they planned it out or did more than follow Asku's instructions and get lucky. It's not enough. So Ikuna's thoughts have gone, and so after a while... he slipped away, leaving the den and going through the woods to sniff at the scent-trails of deer and rabbits and try to figure out more about them. He's spent much of the day working on that, and now he returns to the hill, a tired wolf - though his ears still perk up as he notices Ahiga and Tala there, and he gives a low wuff of greeting as he approaches.
Tala shrugs slightly. "Well.. It was just a thought." She points out with a smirk, her tail flicking and she glances over to Ikuna. A wruff escaping her back and she smiles while hopping up to greet him. "Where did you go?" Seems like everyone left the area to wander but herself. Silly boys.
Ahiga watches Tala a while, looking as if he's trying to gather the right words to say in response to her, which apparently has become a challenge. His ear turns at the sound of a familiar wuffing, and he turns his head, spying Ikuna coming nearer. "Thanks," he says, the word spoken to Tala. It was nice of her to offer herself to help in such a hopeless task. He's glad the topic seems to be fading though. Somehow, the thoiught of Ikuna knowing his lament over his lost family makes him feel a bit loserish. "S'up Ikuna. Ya go bring down another deer? Maybe th'whole herd?" he asks, smirking in jest.
Boys Must Roam. It's a law or something. Ikuna smiles, and nuzzles his sister in greeting. "Just out practicing," he tells her, then turns his head to Ahiga and hehs. "Nah. Didn't catch anything." He shrugs, and steps forward to bump his cheek to Ahiga's. "So when're you going to come with us? It's different hunting with a pack. We gotta figure it out, and..." he lowers his voice a little. "I think we can do it better together than even Asku thinks. 'Cause... we know each other, right? We can kinda... predict each other."
Tala makes a face at Ikuna talking about being off practicing. "Ya I bet.." She offers with a soft tibbit escaping her before she settles back down next to Ahiga, a yawn escaping her. Hearing her brother she peers at him, a soft hum escapes her and she nods a moment. "Well.. Ya maybe so.."
Ahiga grins as he returns the greeting, playfully pushing the side of his face against Ikuna's. "Ha, I'm not gonna let you two hog all the deer huntin'. That's the /only/ time you're gonna be without me," he promises, nodding his head firmly after that, as if promising himself that very same thing. He's never hunted with others before, and he'll be darned if he misses out again. He nods in agreement with the other male, glancing at Tala as if to make sure they are all in agreement. "Yeah, we know each other better than anybody else knows us. An' /I/ predict...Tala's gonna fall asleep an' snore her head off pretty soon!"
Ikuna grins, and nods his agreement with Ahiga's promise. Good! Things just aren't the same without his best friend. Even if the idea of Ahiga being selected leader does make something in him raise up a hackle of competition, that doesn't mean he doesn't want the other by his side! Really, it's not even the idea of following Ahiga that gives him trouble, it's the idea that someone else decides it. If Ahiga has a plan, he'll suggest it, and if Ikuna has a plan, he'll suggest it, and if they both have plans... then they'll figure out how to make 'em work together. Still, the important part here is that he'll do it - whatever it is - with Ahiga and Tala. Ikuna laughs at Ahiga's prediction, and looks over at his sister before nodding. "Yeah, sure looks that way. She might scare the puppies," he teases playfully.
Tala blinkblinks at this and just smirks at the two. "Oh harhar.." She offers, a quick nip offered towards Ahiga and then Ikuna before he can pull away. "So funny." A huff escapes her and she leans away from Ahiga and flops down on her side.
"Yeah, we know," remarks Ahiga who lifts a paw to help Tala flop down by pushing her a little. All in play of course, and he's not going to let her get away with that nip either, even if she is trying to relax and possibly slep. He makes a nuisance of himself by scooting closer to her til he bumps into her again and none too discreetly leeeans his weight against her as he sits. Grinning, he gestures with his head to Ikuna, beckoning him to join him with the smooshing of Tala. Ah, this is much better. No worrying about family and where he may or may not belong. No more jealousy of his friends' accomplishment. Just back to how things should be with the three pupsketeers!
Ikuna doesn't even try to dodge the nip, because he totally deserves it. He grins, and leans over to lick between Tala's ears in a vague not-really-apology and expression of his affection. His sister falls - or was pushed, gasp! - and Ikuna steps closer and leaaaaaans in against.... Ahiga. Transitive smooshing!
Tala blinks at the two and wiggles about, kicking out at Ahiga while smirking. "Hey.. Stop it!" She states while trying to pull herself away. A huff escapes her once Ikuna joins in and she soon gives up letting them do that. Well.. She'll so them! How you ask? By tucking her head under a forepaw and starting to doze off that's how!
Smooshfest! Ahiga laughs as Ikuna's weight is pressed against him, and their combined weight is deposited on poor Tala. There's no way he can dodge her kicks, but he does try to keep her from getting away the best that he can! And...woot! Success! He flops right down on her with a triumphant, "Ha-HA!" and she...falls asleep? Blinkblink. Where's the struggle? Where's the 'oh noo! Ahiga, Ikuna, don't squish me with your combined awesomeness!'? Mrphing beneath the weight of his pal, he tries to look up. "She's not...sleepin', is she?"
Ikuna leans at Ahiga, and Ahiga leans at Tala, and some wrigglings later, she is totally squished! They are victorious! ... or something. The topmost wolf of the heap shifts, trying to peer down past Ahiga at his sister. Hmmm. Closed eyes, steady breathing... "She totally is," he says, and laughs. He reaches out his paw, stretching it over to bat at her ear. It flickers, but... nope. She keeps on sleeping. "So what was -she- doin' that got her that tired?" he wonders, without actually bothering to get up.
---and New---
The hillside is the densite; and for that, Anoki is wary about approaching it directly. Instead, the shaggy, clumpy-furred adolescent of the Cerulean is laying in the sun at the top of the hill, looking out over the vista, ears lazily drooping slightly. Really, it's nice here in the forested areas, but the only reason he's lingering around here is the fact that there are wolves his age.. and in the Cerulean? it's very lonely. On this day, though, he's sort of staring into the distance, perhaps not even really paying attention to anything around him.
Even Ikuna, who definitely belongs here, hasn't done more than peek inside the den since the new puppies arrived. More often than not, he's been out in those woods exploring and hunting - or at least, practicing the skills of hunting. He returns today with mud on his paws and empty jaws, padding up the hill to the place where he and his friends usually sprawl. Oh, look. There's somebody there already. "Hey."
Tala follows after Ikuna not to longer after his arrival, a rabbit grasped within her jaws from the looks of it. An like her brother she is rather muddy and dirt covered from her travels around the area looking for something to chomp on. Her ears perk forward, bright gaze drifting over the area and her tail sways while she pauses next to her brother and drops the rabbit. "Hey guys."
Ears twitch at the greeting; but Anoki doesn't seem to really 'wake up', if he is indeed even attentive. Not until Ikuna gets really close, and then he blinks, and looks over to Ikuna with a smile and a slight wag. He gives the same to Tala, with a slight smile, before his ears perk slightly at the rabbit in Tala's jaws. "Hey, congrats on the good hunt," he says, softly, as he watches her.. or perhaps watches just slightly aside her.
Ikuna leans over to shoulderbump his sister as she comes by him, nodding his agreement about the good hunt, then flops down on the ground. Thoomp.
Tala grins and bumps her head back into Ikuna's, a soft hum escapes her while she glances back to Anoki. She tilts her head and snuffles before looking around, ears perking forward slightly. "What cha looking at Anoki?"
"Hm?" Anoki's ears twitch, and he blinks a little, then shrugs. "Just looking around really. This place is full of voices," he says, softly, considering things, before he shifts to sit up, scratching at his side with a hindfoot, kicking out clumps of shedding first winter's fur with a grunt of noise. "No wonder Niyt liked this place," he grins a bit, before he frowns. "I like it better than home because you guys are here." he says, thoughtfully, before he stands, stretches, and then pounces at the flopped Ikuna, trying to paw at his shoulders playfully.
Voices, huh? It seems pretty quiet to Ikuna, except for the three of them and the occasional squeaks from the puppyden. He perks one ear in a questioning position - and to get a better listen in case there's anything he's missing - but he doesn't hear anything more beyond a couple birdie chirps before Anoki is pouncing at him and more pressing matters take up his attention. The boy grrs playfully, and tries to wrap his paw up around Anoki's shoulders and tug at the other adolescent.
Tala ears perk slightly, maw twitching. "What sorta vices you talking bout?" She questions with a tilt of her head, looking somewhat confused to say the least. As Anoki pounces forward she giggles softly and bounces on her paws to bat out at them both.
A playful wuff at Ikuna is the response, and Anoki flops over on top of him with a chortle, trying to flop on his face like a great lump of floppy fur. As he's batted at, he laughs, too, but reploes to Tala: "The voices of the dead," he says, with a slight grin. "You can't hear them? I hear them everywhere, but mostly only on lazy days in places where they rest." he says, with a grin.
Ikuna wrassles with Anoki, biting up at him with playful mouthings that mostly just get fur and pawing at the other boy and back at his sister. All in good fun! At the mention of the dead, he pauses for a moment, and then opens his muzzle from the current mouthful of fluff. "No," he says. Makes a bit of sense now, though. Dead stuff is... well, everywhere, but there's been a lot of death here, even if you just count the wolves who seem like they'd be inclined to hang around. Like his parents, and that Skelaghe he heard about. "Chewy talks about the Great Spirits, and those are dead... but I never heard any dead stuff."
Tala looks confused to say the elast at the talk about voices, a faint snuffle escapes her. "I've never heard any voices.. I mean.. I don't think so.." She looks rather confused even. A grin is offered and she bounces forward once more and bumps her maw against Anoki's side softly..
Ears flick back slightly, and Anoki ohs, softly, sheepish. "I uh.." He goes a little quiet, laughing nervously at Tala's bumping against his side, before he rolls off Ikuna, and looks sheepishly at his paws. "... My .. Mom, and dad, could see spirits, too, could sometimes see what was going to happen before it did. But I never got to know them very well... Mom was.. dying.. when I got taken by the bad cat, and by the time I got back, she was dead, and Dad had taken my little sister and .. left. So I guess, Niyt's kinda been raisin' me. Niyt, an' uncle Tariro, and now the new beta, Coinin, he's kinda neat." he grins slightly, but then looks at the other two wolves. "... Is it bad to be able to hear and see these things? Like uhm. Like I caught a faint glimpse of a lady wolf last night hanging around the den. I don't think she was mean though."
Ikuna rolls around to lie on his belly once Anoki's no longer squishing him, and perks his ears to listen. He nods a little. "Our mom and dad are dead too," he says, his tone quiet but matter-of-fact. "They died when we were little, because a bear got them." He's quiet for a moment, thinking it through, then goes on. "I don't think seeing things can be bad. It's what you do about it that's good or bad."
Tala ohs softly while peering at Anoki, looking confused but at the same time curious as well. She glances to Ikuna and soon nods. "Ya.. Our parents are gone too.." This said with a soft tone. There is a pause and she peers at Anoki. "Wait.. What did the wolf look like?"
A blink, thoughtful at Ikuna, nodding. "Yeah, I remember hearing that. I'm sorry 'bout that. But... My dad isn't dead. He just.. went away. He could still be alive.. but he doesn't come back. I think that's what sucks the most." he makes a face. Anoki's ears perk, and he looks to Tala. "Well, she.. wasn't so much visible as I could feel and hear her. She felt very happy. Kind of sad, but really happy. She was singing something.. I don't remember the words very well, but I'm pretty sure it was probably something one would sing to puppies when they're small. And then she was gone. Maybe I dreamed it. Maybe I imagined it."
Ikuna nods to Anoki's sympathy, and then hmms at how his dad is... gone. Like how Asku wanders sometimes, or how he was taken away, or... how Ahiga doesn't have a family anymore because they're just... gone. He nods. He frowns, trying to put together words for that, but before he can the conversation moves on to that dead wolf, and he ponders on that instead. "Maybe it was our mom. Skahla's our brother, so they'd be her grandpuppies. Or maybe it was that other old wolf, Skelaghe. Skahla was named for her." Shawnee's parents don't get even a thought, because he never really heard anything about them ever.
Tala frowns slightly at this, her head lowering while she paws at the ground a few times with a forepaw. A faint snuffle escapes her in the process. "I wonder if it was mom.." She offers to Ikuna, a slight glance offered over to him wondering if he thinks the same thing or not. Well it is possible after all.
"... She didn't seem hostile if that's what you're worried about," Anoki says, softly, as he stands, and turns around in a vague circle trying to nuzzle both of his friends at once to reassure them. "... Niyt says that sometimes, the reason, they stay is to make sure things are alright. once they're happy, they move on to run with the wind. And some day they get born again as new people, but since they don't remember anything, you can never know who you're meeting." He frowns, then says, "I told her I hope if I have puppies some day my mom comes back as one."
Ikuna returns Tala's glance, and gives her a little shrug. He doesn't know. Sometimes, he can't even really remember what his mother looked like. She was just... his mother. When Anoki nuzzles him, he returns the gesture, and turns his head to nose at his sister as well. "I don't mind. If there are dead things around, I mean. They can't hurt anyone." He tilts his head to listen to what Anoki says about spirits and the wind, then nods. "Maybe she will... he says, then asks, "Do you think your mom is waiting around for something?"
Tala hums softly and nods, a soft snuffle escapes her and she takes in a breath. "Well true.." Is said with a soft tone. "I guess I just wish I knew or something." This said with a soft tone. "An.. I hope you do too Anoki." She offers and smiles while leaning over to nose at him as well.
Anoki... shakes his head. "I haven't seen her since the day she lead me here when I was lost and looking for help." He smiles weakly. "Maybe that was the last thing she needed to do before she just. ran off with the wind. Make sure I get home safe. Make sure you and Kachina get rescued." He says, looking to Ikuna, before he hms softly. Then looks upward towards the clouded sky thoughtfully, head taking a slight tilt as he asks, "Hey, do you guys ever wonder what makes the clouds?"
Ikuna nods consideringly. It's the sort of thing moms do, taking care of their children. "Maybe, yeah..." he says, then looks up at the sky. "Maybe it's bits of fluff from everyone shedding," he suggests with a grin. "Or maybe it's the same stuff as snow. It kinda looks like snow, right? White fluffy things."
Tala hums and looks upwards to the sky curiously a few moments, a soft snuffle escapes her in the process. Her tail swaying about and she grins. "Ya.. I bet there fluffy clouds.." She chuckkles at the thought before leaning over to nip at Ikuna's shoulder a few times.
"They might be made of everything," Anoki says, thoughtfully, "Fluff an' snow, an' rain.. Maybe they're even made of that stuff you see on the river when it's foamy in a storm." He considers. Then looks to the two other adolescents with a grin. "I wonder what they /taste/ like. They could be all sweet like fresh water, or kinda cold and crisp like snow.. maybe they taste like a spring rain, or the grass when it's just new." He gives a giggle of thought, then leaps to his feet, running around in a hyperactive circle a moment. "Man, it's so nice to just run here!" he exclaims, before pouncing for a clump of dandelions, and snapping at them.
"Maybe they're spirits," suggests Ikuna after a bit of further consideration. "Your sister says spirits go on the wind, right? So... maybe that's them. The wind's always pushin' clouds around, and sometimes it tugs them apart or smushes them together." He leans back, peering up at the sky, and laughs. "Well, there's a place where it looks like there's a cloud on the ground alla time, and it doesn't really taste like much. Like... how it smells after rain, or lickin' dew off the grass." He grins, and gets to his feet, stretching a bit and shaking out his fur before returning Tala's nips with a mouthing at her cheek and a wurf.
Tala ers softly, a ear twitching while she glances back to Anoki. "I didn't talk to your sister much.. What did she mean about the spirits on the wind anyway?" She questions curiously before a soft oof escaping her at the nips and mouthing back. Her forepaw is sent batbatbating at him.
Ears perk, and looking up with pollin and petals all over his mouth, Anoki spits out a clump of dandelion heads. "Huh? Well.. Niyt says that the wind is where we go when we die. When the wind calls your name, it means you'll be leaving your body and moving on to the spirit world of the wind. She can hear the wind calling the names of those about to die, but I can't. I can just hear the world around me, or see them when they're not in their bodies anymore." He considers, then says, "The wind has to be mean sometimes, like when it took our mom away from us, or when it took your parents away from you. But most of the time, it's kind, like we are -- it takes the wounded, the old, or the sick away, so they can be in peace, no longer troubled by the pain or sickness in their bodies." He says thoughtfully.
Ikuna listens to Anoki's explanation, and nods. It makes sense with the parts of spirituality Wachiwa has tried to instill in the pups, and with the vague memories of how things were talked about when his parents died. "Bad things happen," he says. "And sometimes even good people do bad things, 'cause they hafta or because they made a mistake." He looks up at the sky again, and at the light wind ruffling through the branches, and then he gives himself a shake. "Come on. If you wanna run around..." He leans over and bumps his nose against Anoki's side, then turns and starts to run down the westward face of the hill.
Tala ohs softly and nods while she listens to Anoki. A soft hum escapes her and she tilts her head while glances up to the sky once more, her nose twitching and she licks across her maw a few times. A glance is offered over towards Ikuna and she smiles while shifting up to her paws and laughs out while she follows after him, running by Anoki. "Come on! We gotta catch Ikuna!" Is said with a happy tone.
A grin, and Anoki is on his feet again in a wag of a tail. "I betcha I can reach the bottom before you can," he calls after Ikuna, tongue flinging out in a loll as he attempts to race down the hill, half at Ikuna's side, half trying to get ahead of him, the look of a 'mad man' on his face; not the dangerous kind, more the happy go lucky kind, living for the moment. after all, racing games are fun. And running gives them excersize they'll need for hunting, so there. It's not stupid to run down a hill pel mel at all!
The wind in your fur, the ground under your feet, the sound of paws pummeling the dirt behind you as the others try to catch up... yeah, good times. Ikuna's not exactly built for speed; he takes somewhat after his father, with the solid bulk of a northern wolf that has to survive harsh winters and take on elk. Still, he's not terrible at it; he does have pretty long legs after this most recent growth spurt, and that broad chest means he's got plenty of air as he races downhill around rocks and trees with his ears perked to the pursuit.
Tala grins while she races on after the pair, soon starting to catch up to them, enough that she nips out at Anoki's tail a few times in the process. A soft laugh escapes her while she runs. At times jumping over and running around a bush or something else that may be in her way.
The nipping at his tail causes a yelp of shock and Anoki veers away from the two others, slipping a bit and tumbling head over side thw rest of the way, landing with a whuff of breath at the bottom of the hill in surprise, looking up dazed. This lasts only a moment, before he flops over, and tries to inspect his tail worredly, ears laying back. "T-Tala, don't do that, you might get bad on you," he says, after a moment, licking at the offending appendage after pinning it with a paw.
Ikuna is startled out of the racing mindset as Anoki tumbles past him with a yelp, and he turns aside to run after the other adolescent with a worried expression on his face. He peers over Anoki, trying to determine if the other male is hurt, and then nudges at his shoulder with his nose. "You okay?" he asks, inspecting him and then peering down at that offending tail. He can sort of see where the tip of it got hurt once, but...
Tala blinks as she watches Anoki, her ears lowering while she skids to a stop and hops forward a few paces to where he is. "Bad.. wait, what are you talking about?" This questioned while she peers at Anoki, looking utterly confused it would seem. "I'm sorry.. I.. I didn't mean to hurt you.." She offers while shifting back a few times.
Ears lay back, and Anoki looks from his tail, to tala, then Ikuna, and back. "... The bad things bit me there.. I'm still not sure it's safe for others to touch, my tail. I don't want Bad to get them, too. Please don't.. don't touch it again, Tala? It didn't hurt, but I don't want anything to happen to you." He frowns, releasing the tail and then smiling weakly, "Y.. Y'a understand, right? I don't want the bad to go from my tail to anyone else. But I'm sure it'll be not bad soon, I am. I'm going to have Niyt make it not bad. I know she can do it."
Ikuna frowns, then nods. "We won't." He lowers his head, sniffing at Anoki's tail without quite touching it with his muzzle, then lifts up his head again. "I can't smell any bad, so we're probably okay. It hasn't come out to the surface. Even if it's spirit stuff... you'd be able to smell that, right? So you'd know if any got out and could hurt us." The young male looks at Anoki expectantly, waiting for him to answer. Making sure his pack isn't threatened is immportant, and so he treats this unknown with some seriousness.
Tala frowns at this and shifts on her paws, moving backwards still until she settles to her haunches just peering. "Alright.. I won't.. I'm sorry.." She looks rather confused to say the least, her ears splayed forward as she watches the pair. "What.. What bad stuff was it that got you? the bird?"
Shaking his head, Anoki answers Tala first: "It was a big, hairy, snarly thing. It stank alot, and was mean. It had huge claws, and was grumpy." He says, ears laying back. "I think it was the one in charge. It bit my tail when I was running." He frowns. Then considers Ikuna's words, and nods. "Yeah.. Yeah, I think I'd smell if it was going to come out.. but.. I still want to be careful, you know? I mean.. My mom.. and then my dad left c'os I was gone.. and I don't want that happening to anyone else. So I'm going to have Niyt make it not bad anymore as soon as she's uhm. Done being all googlyeyed at Coinin."
Ikuna growls softly, deep in his chest, as Anoki describes the big hairy thing. He remembers that. "It was a bad thing," he tells Tala. "Skahla and one of the Cerulean wolves fought it, and it got crushed under a big tree." And it nearly killed him, but his sister doesn't need to know that. He'll keep that nightmare for himself. He nods to Anoki. "It's good to be careful about things like that, to make sure nobody gets hurt."
Tala frowns at this and nods slightly, a glance is offered to Ikuna before she glances to her paws. "I'm sorry Anoki.." She offers once more. Looking rather confused at how to help, the two went through a lot after all and she has no idea about any of it. She shifts on her paws and starts to make her way back up the hill. "I'm going back to the den.."
Ears lay back, and Anoki looks at Ikuna, nodding.. he hadn't heard what had become of the bad things besides 'they were stopped'. But hearing now that a tree fell on that one, he feels happier. He hopes it got skooshed FLAT! FLAT LIKE.. uh.. a .. dead.. uhm. Something. Yeah. He blinks as Tala moves away though. "... Didn't mean to scare you away, Tala," he says, softly.
Ikuna nods to his sister, and watches her pad up the hill for a few moments before looking back to Anoki. He says quietly, "It... was hard for her, too." No need to explain what. It's not Anoki's fault, really, he just... sort of ended up being the reminder. Ikuna doesn't hold it against him, and he's pretty sure his sister doesn't either. To prove it, he leans over to aim a nosebump for the other adol's shoulder. "I'll show you the clover some other time," he says, before padding back up the hill after Tala.
Tala doesn't hold it against either of them, only against the oens that caused the problem. Losting her parents, and then her brother when she was just starting to get back to normal was a lot for her to deal with. Even now she still has problems dealing with it. A ear twitches back towards them as she hears them moving after her and she glances towards them while pausing.
Ikuna follows his sister up the hill. Anoki settles down at the base of it, because his fault or not.... well, Ikuna supposes sometimes you just have to take a little time away from things. Ikuna steps up beside his sister and nudges his shoulder to hers in a standing lean, then continues upward.