Post by larkspur on Jul 16, 2007 12:27:24 GMT -5
-- Characters Involved --
- Viridian Pack -
Haze, male juvenile wolf
- Lazuli Pack -
Larkspur, female juvenile wolf
--Gradual Incline--
A little squirrel from the valley, bribed with a few acorns, had been sent to find Larkspur and tell her to meet Haze at the base of the mountain once her family was asleep. The brindle pup from the valley to the south had done the same, sneaking his way down the mountain long after darkness had fallen, too excited to sleep, until he sat at the border of the two packlands, awaiting Larkspur for their first clandestine meeting.
In the shadows, a pup cautiously stalks toward the specified meeting place. At first she was suspicious of the squirrel, thinking it was a trick to lure her away from home. After some insisting on the tiny creature's part, Lark was convinced that Haze had sent it. Her ears are pricked forward she keeps glancing around nervously, the unfamiliar sounds making her anxious. At last the girl picks up the Viridian male's scent and lopes towards it, tail wagging. "Haze!" she whispers excitedly as she nears, scared to make too much noise in case it draws attention from more dangerous creatures.
Haze's own ears prick forward at the sound of approach, his mouth opening in a happy, puppy-like grin, complete with lolling tongue, when he sights the Lazuli pup. "Lark!" he calls out in an equally strained whisper, bounding forward on his big puppy paws to meet her as she approaches. Unable to restrain himself - how long has it been? - the brindle pup licks Larkspur's cheek in an ecstatic greeting.
Lark's tail whips happily as he responds and she can't contain a giggle as he licks her face. Still laughing, the girl nuzzles and licks at the Virdian boy in return. "I missed you," she says, trying hard to keep her voice quiet. In the back on her mind, she wonders how long it will be until her father notices she's snuck off again. Until sunrise? In the next hour, maybe? "I asked my parents to let me come visit, but they kept putting it off." A note of irritation creeps into her voice at the mention of it.
"My parents don't want me leaving the valley unless they're with me, either," Haze commiserates, relishing the feeling of her lick on his fur. "But I wanted to see you again...thanks for coming." Why he didn't want his parents tagging along isn't really explainable by the young pup just yet, but adolescence will be sure to give him a reason for it soon enough. "Are you still grounded?" he asks, half out of amusement at the uncoolness of their parents, half out of concern.
"I was going to try to contact you in the next couple of days, anyway. It seems like you've been gone forever." Lark can't quite meet his eyes as he says this and after a pause she gives a huff of frustration. "Daddy keeps catching me when I try to sneak over here to see you. This is the first time I've managed to slip away." The girl has been trying almost daily since Haze's departure to see him again, something which the Lazuli alphas have been none too pleased with. "Have your parents given you any trouble?"
"Not too much. They just plopped me back in the den and left me there, pretty much." He sighs. "They're so /boring/. That's why I like you...you're not." Haze is still a little shy around Lark, even with his intense liking for her - perhaps /because/ of his intense liking for her - and something of a faint blush can be seen after his last words.
A bashful chuff of laughter escapes Lark at his words and her tail lightly thumps the ground. "At least your parents don't watch you like a hawk- I can't chase a butterfly without them peering at me and making sure I don't run off," she growls. Her tail flicks in annoyance, but she quickly banishes the feeling and smiles. "That's why I like being with you...with you, I'm free." For the moment, anyway.
The brindle pup beams at Larkspur's compliment. "Hey...why don't we go visit the river near your pack's den? We didn't really get to play much in it before your dad came and picked you up," Haze suggests, beginning to pad towards the east, the river's trickling barely audible in the near distance.
The Viridian boy's suggestion makes Lark nervous. Getting closer to the den means more chance of being discovered...however, when Haze starts to move, the girl quickly lopes forward to follow. "Ok, we just gotta be quiet. Daddy'll probably notice I'm gone soon." Besides, playing in the water sounds fun.
--Two-River Fork--
Fortunately, they're a good distance from the actual den, meeting the river a little further south from where it traces by the packlands. Reaching the creek where it begins to turn into a faster-running river, especially the southern branch as a result of being fueled by the powerful waterfall nearby, Haze gingerly steps into the cool water, testing it out before jumping in full-force. After a few seconds, though, he practically dives into the stream, the lower half of his body immediately soaked through. "Come on in! It feels great!" he calls back excitedly.
A gasp slips from Lark as Haze charges into the water and she hesitates before joining him. She hasn't had much experience with water, generally only with intense parental supervision (as per usual). After a moment or two, she lopes to the edge of the river and jumps in, creating a large splash. The girl is a little smaller than Haze and finds more of her body getting soaked because of it. The water is pleasant but surprising- the feeling of the water shifting around her is a disorienting one. The Lazuli pup starts to laugh, excited by this new game. With a devilish grin, she lifts one soggy paw from the water and bats water at Haze.
Haze giggles at her infectious laughter, retaliating the splashes with a few of his own before he leaps up into the air, onto his hind legs, as if to pounce onto her - but he knows better than to try something like that in water. Instead, he brings his paws down hard, sending a large crashing wave out from the sides of them. The water is heavy weight in his fur, but it feels good in the muggy humidity of the forest.
Larkspur sputters from the water dousing her muzzle, trying to defend herself by splashing back. She sees the boy's attack and ducks, still receiving the brunt of the waves, her entire body now sopping wet. Coughing a little, she tries to regain her bearings, pawing at Haze in attempt to buy some time. After a quick second, she formulates her retaliation. Unlike the Viridian pup, she doesn't think that a playful pounce could do any harm- so that's just what she does.
Seeing the pounce coming from a mile away, Haze wades back as fast as he can to avoid being pushed under the surface - but in doing so, provides Larkspur with a landing mat of nothing but running water.
Larkspur yelps as she hits the water, paws scrabbling to find purchase on the river floor. Her claws nick at a few smooth stones and her legs churn wildly, reaching for anything solid. The pup is in a panic now, lashing frantically and unknowingly heading into deeper water. "Haze!" she barks.
Oh no. Oh no no no. This can't be happening. Not again. No please no not to her. All these silent pleadings run through the pup's mind as he realizes Larkspur's splashing paws aren't out of fun and games. Flashing back to his brother struggling to swim in the creek near their own den, almost slipping under, Haze feeling so helpless then - and now - he almost freezes completely up. But Lark's sharp, desperate bark of his name snaps him back to reality, although perhaps a few seconds too late. "Lark!" he cries out, lunging towards the female in slow wading leaps that might be comical in another situation, trying to get close enough to help her out, /somehow/. Though he doesn't know how at this moment. A pup may be able to handle the current while on all fours, but caught floating on the surface? And the chances of another pup pulling the swimming one back to shore, his full weight or more with the water soaking her through, are even slimmer.
The water deepens and the girl fights more desperately to return to her friend. Her inexperience works against her, and her head barely stays above the surface. She chokes on mouthfuls of water, trying to call for Haze again and again. Lark's paws are not nearly long enough to touch the bottom now and she tries to angle for the bank. Most of her efforts are a waste- she's starting to get tired and the land seems so far away...
Fortunately, Haze's almost-tragic past works in his favor - he has experience, and thus advice, for the girl. "Just try to keep your head above water!" he calls out, realizing with a sinking feeling that he won't be able to help the girl back to shore just by himself. "Don't wear your muscles out trying to swim for the shore!" He can only hope that she'll be able to tread water until the current takes her close enough to the shallow bank - if fate decides otherwise, then, well...Haze may just jump into the river after her, but with no real struggle to keep his head from going under. He feels sick to his stomach as he watches Lark float away, tears welling up in his eyes and blurring his vision. He should go back for help, he knows this, but he knows all too well how Lark's father would react knowing that he was responsible for his daughter's possible drowning. Instead, he wades as far as he dares after the girl, calling after her with a voice choked with sorrow, repeating the first farewell he said to Larkspur: "I'll come back for you!"
The voice of Haze is her only lifeline, and Lark clings to it. She does as advised, but still manages to swallow several gulps of water, making her sputter. Just keep your head above water...just keep your head above water...the mantra starts in her head, becoming her objective. When the brindle boy repeats his first good-bye, she feels tears mingle with the water on her muzzle as the thought occurs suddenly to her that this farewell could be their last. A howl is her reply, cut short as her maw dips below the surface for a moment.
A wave of intense nausea washes over the brindle-furred pup as he realizes he's, once again, responsible for the potential death of someone close to him. With a water-logged coat that's not half as heavy as his heart, Haze sloshes towards the shore, only halfway trying to keep the current from doing the same to him as it did to Lark. It /should/ have been him. He should have let her jump on him - he's stronger than she is, he might not have been swept away. It should have been him. Not her. Collapsing on the ground with a mournful howl that echoes after Larkspur's, tears and river water running down his fur, he buries his muzzle between his forepaws, sobbing and repeating a single phrase over and over again: "I'm sorry..."
In Two-River Fork, Haze howls.
--To Be Continued---
- Viridian Pack -
Haze, male juvenile wolf
- Lazuli Pack -
Larkspur, female juvenile wolf
--Gradual Incline--
A little squirrel from the valley, bribed with a few acorns, had been sent to find Larkspur and tell her to meet Haze at the base of the mountain once her family was asleep. The brindle pup from the valley to the south had done the same, sneaking his way down the mountain long after darkness had fallen, too excited to sleep, until he sat at the border of the two packlands, awaiting Larkspur for their first clandestine meeting.
In the shadows, a pup cautiously stalks toward the specified meeting place. At first she was suspicious of the squirrel, thinking it was a trick to lure her away from home. After some insisting on the tiny creature's part, Lark was convinced that Haze had sent it. Her ears are pricked forward she keeps glancing around nervously, the unfamiliar sounds making her anxious. At last the girl picks up the Viridian male's scent and lopes towards it, tail wagging. "Haze!" she whispers excitedly as she nears, scared to make too much noise in case it draws attention from more dangerous creatures.
Haze's own ears prick forward at the sound of approach, his mouth opening in a happy, puppy-like grin, complete with lolling tongue, when he sights the Lazuli pup. "Lark!" he calls out in an equally strained whisper, bounding forward on his big puppy paws to meet her as she approaches. Unable to restrain himself - how long has it been? - the brindle pup licks Larkspur's cheek in an ecstatic greeting.
Lark's tail whips happily as he responds and she can't contain a giggle as he licks her face. Still laughing, the girl nuzzles and licks at the Virdian boy in return. "I missed you," she says, trying hard to keep her voice quiet. In the back on her mind, she wonders how long it will be until her father notices she's snuck off again. Until sunrise? In the next hour, maybe? "I asked my parents to let me come visit, but they kept putting it off." A note of irritation creeps into her voice at the mention of it.
"My parents don't want me leaving the valley unless they're with me, either," Haze commiserates, relishing the feeling of her lick on his fur. "But I wanted to see you again...thanks for coming." Why he didn't want his parents tagging along isn't really explainable by the young pup just yet, but adolescence will be sure to give him a reason for it soon enough. "Are you still grounded?" he asks, half out of amusement at the uncoolness of their parents, half out of concern.
"I was going to try to contact you in the next couple of days, anyway. It seems like you've been gone forever." Lark can't quite meet his eyes as he says this and after a pause she gives a huff of frustration. "Daddy keeps catching me when I try to sneak over here to see you. This is the first time I've managed to slip away." The girl has been trying almost daily since Haze's departure to see him again, something which the Lazuli alphas have been none too pleased with. "Have your parents given you any trouble?"
"Not too much. They just plopped me back in the den and left me there, pretty much." He sighs. "They're so /boring/. That's why I like you...you're not." Haze is still a little shy around Lark, even with his intense liking for her - perhaps /because/ of his intense liking for her - and something of a faint blush can be seen after his last words.
A bashful chuff of laughter escapes Lark at his words and her tail lightly thumps the ground. "At least your parents don't watch you like a hawk- I can't chase a butterfly without them peering at me and making sure I don't run off," she growls. Her tail flicks in annoyance, but she quickly banishes the feeling and smiles. "That's why I like being with you...with you, I'm free." For the moment, anyway.
The brindle pup beams at Larkspur's compliment. "Hey...why don't we go visit the river near your pack's den? We didn't really get to play much in it before your dad came and picked you up," Haze suggests, beginning to pad towards the east, the river's trickling barely audible in the near distance.
The Viridian boy's suggestion makes Lark nervous. Getting closer to the den means more chance of being discovered...however, when Haze starts to move, the girl quickly lopes forward to follow. "Ok, we just gotta be quiet. Daddy'll probably notice I'm gone soon." Besides, playing in the water sounds fun.
--Two-River Fork--
Fortunately, they're a good distance from the actual den, meeting the river a little further south from where it traces by the packlands. Reaching the creek where it begins to turn into a faster-running river, especially the southern branch as a result of being fueled by the powerful waterfall nearby, Haze gingerly steps into the cool water, testing it out before jumping in full-force. After a few seconds, though, he practically dives into the stream, the lower half of his body immediately soaked through. "Come on in! It feels great!" he calls back excitedly.
A gasp slips from Lark as Haze charges into the water and she hesitates before joining him. She hasn't had much experience with water, generally only with intense parental supervision (as per usual). After a moment or two, she lopes to the edge of the river and jumps in, creating a large splash. The girl is a little smaller than Haze and finds more of her body getting soaked because of it. The water is pleasant but surprising- the feeling of the water shifting around her is a disorienting one. The Lazuli pup starts to laugh, excited by this new game. With a devilish grin, she lifts one soggy paw from the water and bats water at Haze.
Haze giggles at her infectious laughter, retaliating the splashes with a few of his own before he leaps up into the air, onto his hind legs, as if to pounce onto her - but he knows better than to try something like that in water. Instead, he brings his paws down hard, sending a large crashing wave out from the sides of them. The water is heavy weight in his fur, but it feels good in the muggy humidity of the forest.
Larkspur sputters from the water dousing her muzzle, trying to defend herself by splashing back. She sees the boy's attack and ducks, still receiving the brunt of the waves, her entire body now sopping wet. Coughing a little, she tries to regain her bearings, pawing at Haze in attempt to buy some time. After a quick second, she formulates her retaliation. Unlike the Viridian pup, she doesn't think that a playful pounce could do any harm- so that's just what she does.
Seeing the pounce coming from a mile away, Haze wades back as fast as he can to avoid being pushed under the surface - but in doing so, provides Larkspur with a landing mat of nothing but running water.
Larkspur yelps as she hits the water, paws scrabbling to find purchase on the river floor. Her claws nick at a few smooth stones and her legs churn wildly, reaching for anything solid. The pup is in a panic now, lashing frantically and unknowingly heading into deeper water. "Haze!" she barks.
Oh no. Oh no no no. This can't be happening. Not again. No please no not to her. All these silent pleadings run through the pup's mind as he realizes Larkspur's splashing paws aren't out of fun and games. Flashing back to his brother struggling to swim in the creek near their own den, almost slipping under, Haze feeling so helpless then - and now - he almost freezes completely up. But Lark's sharp, desperate bark of his name snaps him back to reality, although perhaps a few seconds too late. "Lark!" he cries out, lunging towards the female in slow wading leaps that might be comical in another situation, trying to get close enough to help her out, /somehow/. Though he doesn't know how at this moment. A pup may be able to handle the current while on all fours, but caught floating on the surface? And the chances of another pup pulling the swimming one back to shore, his full weight or more with the water soaking her through, are even slimmer.
The water deepens and the girl fights more desperately to return to her friend. Her inexperience works against her, and her head barely stays above the surface. She chokes on mouthfuls of water, trying to call for Haze again and again. Lark's paws are not nearly long enough to touch the bottom now and she tries to angle for the bank. Most of her efforts are a waste- she's starting to get tired and the land seems so far away...
Fortunately, Haze's almost-tragic past works in his favor - he has experience, and thus advice, for the girl. "Just try to keep your head above water!" he calls out, realizing with a sinking feeling that he won't be able to help the girl back to shore just by himself. "Don't wear your muscles out trying to swim for the shore!" He can only hope that she'll be able to tread water until the current takes her close enough to the shallow bank - if fate decides otherwise, then, well...Haze may just jump into the river after her, but with no real struggle to keep his head from going under. He feels sick to his stomach as he watches Lark float away, tears welling up in his eyes and blurring his vision. He should go back for help, he knows this, but he knows all too well how Lark's father would react knowing that he was responsible for his daughter's possible drowning. Instead, he wades as far as he dares after the girl, calling after her with a voice choked with sorrow, repeating the first farewell he said to Larkspur: "I'll come back for you!"
The voice of Haze is her only lifeline, and Lark clings to it. She does as advised, but still manages to swallow several gulps of water, making her sputter. Just keep your head above water...just keep your head above water...the mantra starts in her head, becoming her objective. When the brindle boy repeats his first good-bye, she feels tears mingle with the water on her muzzle as the thought occurs suddenly to her that this farewell could be their last. A howl is her reply, cut short as her maw dips below the surface for a moment.
A wave of intense nausea washes over the brindle-furred pup as he realizes he's, once again, responsible for the potential death of someone close to him. With a water-logged coat that's not half as heavy as his heart, Haze sloshes towards the shore, only halfway trying to keep the current from doing the same to him as it did to Lark. It /should/ have been him. He should have let her jump on him - he's stronger than she is, he might not have been swept away. It should have been him. Not her. Collapsing on the ground with a mournful howl that echoes after Larkspur's, tears and river water running down his fur, he buries his muzzle between his forepaws, sobbing and repeating a single phrase over and over again: "I'm sorry..."
In Two-River Fork, Haze howls.
--To Be Continued---