Post by Pavane on May 10, 2012 13:01:56 GMT -5
Wachiwa - female wolf
Tala - female adolescent wolf
Althaea - female juvenile wolf
Hadir - male juvenile wolf
Kasa - female wolf
---Tranquil Pond---
Painful as it's become, Wachiwa has been reluctant to walk about on her broken foreleg; yet instinct and the knowledge of the dogs looming ever present on the horisen has also driven her to searching restlessly for something, anything in the form of a hole to hide in while waiting for the limb to heal, and waiting for her swollen, painful stomach to subside. Alas, no hole to find, and attempts to make one are thwarted by the foreleg; still, she does not stop trying, having begun weakly pawing at the roots of the willow tree overhanging the pond, scraping out earth with her good paw while laying on the side of the bad to give it rest as much as she can. At the moment, she's taking a rest from this, laying on her side, eyes closed, ears back, and slightly panting from effort, and thought. Her fault, she's sure it's all her fault. Why she even stays -- because she promised she would come back, didn't she? She did. But look what happened. No answers for Hadir, and now adding her own problems to things.
Tala has been away for some time, ears perking forward and a faint tired snuffle escapes her while she slowly lifts her head. Ears perking forward as her gaze settles against Wachiwa some distance off. For a few moments she watches the other before slowly hauling herself up onto her paws. Her breathing has at least improved, but she is still weak, an a cough escapes her at times. She slowly makes her way towards where the wolf she considers her mother is and a soft almost pup like whine escapes her. "Wachiwa.. Let me help you." Is offered in more of a statement then actual question. This is a sight, one sick wolf, and one injured wolf with the thought of digging a hole? Should work out great!
Hadir has been largely keeping out of sight and resting. It was a rather massive ordeal for the young wolf to have been pulled away from his home first to the marsh and then to this place. He had more or less slept for a few days to reclaim his energy after moving around so much. Now that he has had his time to rest he is awake and just sitting in silence. Dogs are definitely bad...and if there is something that he could do about it he most certainly would, but there really is nothing for it at the present time. At least all of his pack made it out alive. They still hadn't found mom of course and that weights on his mind, but she is bound to be out there somewhere. He hadn't heard that she had fought the dogs and surely she had escaped the den. At least that is what he tells himself.
Kasa walks into the area, panting. Seeing the wolves in such an injured state pains her. Although she has not known the pack long, she felt the need to care for them. Especially Hadir... She walks over to the young pup and lays down, hoping her company will offer some comfort.
"No, Tala." Wachiwa finally murmurs after some moments, craking open her good eye to roll it up at the young she-wolf, before closing it again and rolling over to prop herself up some, "This is something I have to do... Either this or find myself a hole somewhere. It's what we do... I don't know why. But that's what I keep thinking I need to do, so I must do it. You need to get better. For your brothers, if for anyone.. Your brothers and your nephew.." She opens her eyes to look for Hadir-- and find a strange she-wolf she hasn't met before laying down near him. Her ears lay back and she struggles to her feet with a low growl, for instinct may tell her she has to prepare for her own pups, but it still also tells her she has to defend those of the pack, too. "Tala... Do you know her..?"
Tala ears lower as she hears Wachiwa, her nose twitching and she leans close to nuzzle softly against Wachiwa's neck a moment. "I'll get better.. But you need to as well." Is said with a soft tone. "I wish you'd let one of us help though." She takes in a soft breath and glances towards the movement of another and just blinks at the she-wolf there. A low growl escapes her, fangs baring as she turns moving towards Hadir. "Get away from her Hadir." Her sides heave a few times as she does her best to not cough. "I met /her/ only once.." An that doesn't mean she gets to be all cozey with her pack, especially now!
Like her brother, Althaea hasn't been much for appearances; a rather odd change sense she's usually always found doing something away from all the rest. Close to Hadir, a silent gaze follows the movements of the area- a rather boring sight but also a painful one. She had watched the events roll out back home and only fear could explain how the young pup felt. That was then however, and she's managed to gather her thoughts into one big ball of mesh. Catching Kasa, a wolf she doen't know, wonder up to her brother Thaea immediately stands and if out of instinct growls at the she-wolf. "Get away." Hearing Tala in the distance, she goes quiet taking a step back but not enough so her brother was left there his lonesome.
Kasa looks up in surprise. She didn't mean to intrude. She instantly backs away from the pup, tail between her legs - instant submission. She growls at herself in frustration for forgetting the propper behavior when adressing a pack. "I...I'm sorry" she stammers. "I didn't mean to intrude. I just wanted to...help" She crawls toward the edge of the clearing, head hung low.
Hadir doesn't really know Kasa all that well. Sure he met her one time, but that was right before everything changed. She didn't seem so bad, even Ahiga had said so, but now probably isn't the best time to be all that trusting. Especially with an angry Tala on the way. He gets to his paws and ambles off toward where Tala is. He sorta feels bad at being unwelcoming but now isn't the time to disobey his elders. Once he settles himself down closer to Tala and Wachiwa he looks to Wachiwa. He hasn't really seen her since she came back. Something bad obviously happened to her, just like it happened to everyone else, "You ok?" he asks her.
Chewy's ears lessen off their backward cant since Tala looks to be about to handle things; and really, Wachiwa sighs to herself inwardly, she does have to start relying on last year's pups to start pulling their weight this year, doesn't she. When Hadir starts to come close, her ears cup forward; and Chewy limps closer to the little pup she'd left her pack to find answers for.. and she sighs, leaning in to nuzzle him. "Yeah, Hadir, I'm okay, really. I'm just worried something bad might happen to you or Althaea," She says, looking to the other pup with concern as well, before shooting Kasa a look, firm. She'll let Tala handle this. Her backside sinks into a flop as she grunts softly. Even having snapped up small meals of thoe brought by the hunting adolescents and Ahiga, she still wasn't seeing her best shape.
Tala has little problem dealing with Kasa, well she would if she didn't have to worry about coughing up a lung if she moved around to much. Her jaws snap after Kasa and she follows after the other she-wolf. Hackles raised, tail lifted. "Again.. you wander in on my family without so much as a warning. How am I suppose to take it?" She questions with a faint tone. Needless to say Tala is mad, most likely more mad at Kasa then she should, but with everything going on it shouldn't be a surprize! A slight hacking cough escapes her, causing her head to lower a moment, yet her steele blue gaze stays on Kasa, glaringly at the other.
Althaea just watches as her brother scampers off in the opposite direction of her after their aunts retaliation- it was like she wasn't even there. A bit of a frown displayed, she sighs watching him settle near the older wolves before turning to the retreating Kasa. Another sigh. Watching her crawl off, she stands there at a momentary lose before slowly moving over to the others and dropping to her haunches. Not a word spoken or a glance taken, she simply looks to the ground with ears splayed to the sides. Hearing Tala blow off steam on Kasa, she looks up to watch. The she-wolf really wasn't worth it.. besides being sick and fending off another aren't exactly the best of combinations. "Like what?" she wonders turning to Wachiwa. Nothings happened to them so far, why would anything now.
Hadir is willing to accept what Chewy says even though she really doesn't look ok. She looks like the dogs got at her too, "Did the dogs get you too?" he asks her. Probably they did. They seem to have gotten to everyone, except for his father and his sister. He glances back toward Tala and Kasa. Tala is more than able to take care of things, she always has been. Though she sounds bad too, "Tala...she's probably ok." Probably is about the best rating he can give anyone he doesn't know at the present moment. He finds himself thinking of home again. He misses the den, and he hopes that his rabbit friend stays far away. He didn't get to warn him when he was leaving and hadn't seen him in awhile. The rabbit is probably smart enough to know the difference between a dog and a wolf right?
Kasa backs away a bit further into the shadows. A small whine escapes her lips. She wants so much to be part of a family again... to help this one. At least then she could try to get rid of the greif that naws at her heart every moment. Thinking of her family and how she failed them makes Tala's threat seem like a wonderful reprieve.
Wachiwa sighs softly, and remarks, truthfully, "Yes, Hadir, the dogs hurt me, but that's okay. Because right now my job is to make sure you're okay." She pauses though, looking towards Kasa and Tala thoughtfully; Kasa's behaviour is like a whipped wolf backing away from a bear, and Tala.. Well. Wachiwa sighs thoughtfully; Tala sure got her mother's anger, didn't she. "Tala, that's enough," Wachiwa warns softly, "She backed away, and I don't think she realized the boundaries. Now she does." She looks to Kasa then thoughtfully. They can't afford to trust every wolf at the moment, but that doesn't mean they have to be rude, either. "If you're looking for company, you might try the Cerulean, they're south of here a little ways, closer to the river.. at the moment we can't promise safety in our company."
Tala is quiet for a few moments as she just watches Kasa. Her ears twitching forward and her sides heave a few times as she takes in slow short breaths to get the coughing under control. Yes she does take after her mother in the anger department. "If.. You promise not to get near the pups you can stay near the water. Understand?" But at the same time she can give in it seems. She hears Wachiwa and her head lowers a moment to eye the ground and nose twitches. "She is right. Many dogs are in the area, looking to take what they want and hurt any in there way. Don't go back to the Ute land if you value your life."
Kasa moves closer to the ponds edge. Taking a drink, she contemplates how her life has been since she left the north. "thank you for that information. If you need anything from me... food, scout, messenger, anything you just need to ask." She looks at the wolves "I'm sorry if I've been intrusive. It's been so long since I was with a family, I've forgotten how to act around strangers."
Shaking out her pelt Althaea looks to her brother and blinks saying nothing to him before turning back to Chewy. Her own question gone unanswered she shrugs turning away to peer out at Kasa then Tala then to the ground where she plops down to a lay. Seems all there is for her to do is give watch. This was an unfamilair place during an unkindly time.
Kasa curls up and goes to sleep. Wondering what tomorrow will bring.
Hadir isn't really sure that he would like to hear about the 'like what' that could happen. It seems that this whole adventure has been a very ample statement about what can happen if you aren't careful. He looks back to his sister for a moment, "Bad stuff Alth...bad stuff..." he says to her before looking back to Chewy. There is something totally not right about how she is acting and he means to find out, "Why do you want to dig a hole?"
Replying to Althaea, Wachiwa remarks, "When your aunts and uncles were your age, a strange wolf tricked Ikuna into going with her, and then he was kidnapped by a giant bird. The bird, a large cat, and a wolverine were going to kill Ikuna as a sacrifice to a dark spirit," Wachiwa says solumnly, "And I lost my eye to killing the bird when we rescued him." She says, calmly, looking to the she-pup with a solumn expression. "I don't like to speak ill of others. But at the moment, with the dog pack in the area, we have to watch our backs. I would not want something bad to happen to you, Althaea, you`re my favorite neice." ears twitch, and she looks to Hadir... and sighs softly. "Well, Hadir, I'm hurt. If I could find a hole, I could hide there, and maybe get rest and heal. Sometimes lone wolves or animals will do that. I am also going to have puppies very soon.. And I want to find a nice, quiet place for that." she trails off, thinking of it; it's almost an embaressment to her to even think of it.
Tala watches Kasa a few moments before she shifts and slowly moves back to where she was laying before. She shifts to lay herself down, head settling upon her forepaws. A ear twitching towards Chewy and the pups while her eyes close and she listens to the story told. Yes she remembers that, she remmebers it all too well actually..
A moments interaction with her brother leads to an answer she already knew. Bad things could happen at any time and any where but when you have a pack that will do anything to protect you, even if it means their life; Althaea didn't seen to worry much about what could happen. Listening to the story told to her she only nods thinking her uncle to careless during his youth just by experiencing how he is now. Little change it seems even though he comes off as more aware now. She takes her aunts words into mind though figuring its the least she could do. "I'm your only neice." she states when given the chance, then she turns to her brother for a moment as his own question is given an answer. "Your going to need a really big hole." She says with half a smirk. Wachiwa wasn't exactly a small wolf afterall. Last time Thaea was in a hole she got stuck, though it didn't help to of been made out of snow either.
Hadir obviously knows what puppies are, but doesn't really have any idea of how that whole thing works. He figures its just sort of a natural thing that moms do and Wachiwa certainly qualifies as a mother. She has been mothering as long as he can remember. Yes. A hole will definitely have to be fairly large if it will accomodate Chewy and puppies. The whole thing doesn't really seem all that real to him yet. Its one of those things that he will believe when he sees. He gives a short nod of his head and smiles, "Cool."
Giving Althaea a smirk, Wachiwa comments, "Oh yes, and you know how I got this big, don't you? By eating pups that were too smart for themselves," She teases, as she reaches her non-broken forepaw out at the shee pup for a playful swat, despite Althaea being far out of range. She chuckles, taking the ribbing in good nature, before she looks to Hadir. "... I'm not sure everyone thinks of it that way, Hadir. And I'm not sure I think of it that way, either. It's kind of scary, really. Plus I hurt a lot in my tummy right now." She looks to Althaea, and sighs. An aloof child is more likely to one day be a wanderer, she thinks thoughtfully; like her brother Mori. She holes that when Althaea is an adult, she will at least remember to return to her family once in a while. "I suppose you're old enough now to hear this. When you're adults, you'll usually find someone you like alot. Your Mom and Dad like each other alot, for example. Love, is more like it... And when you love that someone, you might decide, with your pack leader's permission, to have puppies. At least, that's how it's supposed to happen. If your leader says it is okay, then you will do something to put puppies either in you, or, Hadir, in your case, your mate, since you're the boy. The puppies will grow, and eventually they have to come out, like you two came out of your mum's tummy."
Tala stays rather quiet as she listens tot he conversation between Wachiwa and the pupes. Her eyes close a bit tighter at the thought of someone you love, an at the moment Ahiga is of course no where around. She shifts to nose her maw under a paw, her mind wandering if he'll ever come back. A soft breath escapes her and she ponders just falling asleep, though with the dreams she has had recently it isn't a idea she enjoys thinking on.
Was Althaea going to be a wonder when she grew up? It was a possiblity, but one she thought highly unlikely. She may act all high and mighty at times but she depended to much on her family and pack to actually find herself alone someplace with nothing but wit to back her. Tail givin a few wags behind her as Chewy tries to swat at her, she chuckles only to fall quiet when the tale of where puppies comes from is revealed. So, boys do stuff to girls so they can have puppies. Like that'll ever happen to her; there aren't even any boys around- well other than her brother and Ahiga but he's taken. Altha not even remembering anything about when she was born or where she came from just that she was there she hmms befor suddenly her sister popsg into mind. "Not all puppies make it, do they?" she says rather sadly.
Most of this explanation of things goes over Hadir's head. He hasn't really noticed girls yet, though that will inevitably happen, most likely not to far down the line. Of course no female in her right mind would want to fall in love with a pup that could in no meaningful way protect her or provide for the pups...provided he lived to adulthood at all. Hadir nods slowly, his eyes glazing over a bit, "Okay...sure." he responds. Whatever Wachiwa says must be true, still it sounds like a great deal of trouble. He gives a bit of a yawn after Alth asks her question, no they do not. Everyone dies. Everyone. He grows more comfortable with death by the day. He's given considerable thought to his own death, though the others don't seem to want to chat about it. He lowers his head to his paws and closes his eyes. Its time for sleep. Alth and Chewy can figure the rest of this stuff out.
Ears lay back, and Chewy's eyes fall on hadir out of simple thought. "No, Althaea, not all puppies make it. Just like with the animals we eat, sometimes wolfs die because of bigger, stronger animals, or because they're sick, or because they just weren't meant to make it. It is not up to us to decides who lives and who dies among us, unless it is punishment for breaking a law, or there is no alternative. For example, if, say, a wolf is attacked by a bear, and very badly wounded, then he may surely die; as long as there is a hope for him, we should try to help him live. However, if we can surely see there may be a long, painful death ahead of him, such as bleeding from the throat for a very long time, it may be kinder to kill him immediately." She frowns at this thought, turning away from the sleeping boy pup with a sigh.
Tala has started to drift off to sleep it seems. A ear twitching at times as she listens to the two but that is about all the movement seen from her. She murmurs out softly at times but it is unsure what she may have said an soon enough she is in a deep sleep.
Althaea knew of her brothers thoughts on death.. his own health a likely cause. Its crossed her mind several times on how things would go should he follow the same fate as Soyala in the near future. She's even thought about ending it for him herself but what sort of sister kills their brother out of spite. It was better to not think of such things. Though its pretty hard not to when its actually considered an option. Looking to her brother as he drifts off she sighs. "Its sad." She says. "When they don't make it."
"Life is full of trials," Wachiwa says, softly, "But it's how we react to them that decides how we grow and change." She smiles slightly, and then lays her head down on her forelaws, wincing slightly. "When I was your age, for example, we had a very hard winter; a lot of us can't really remember it now, but there were some wolves that chose to forgo eating so us puppies could eat. Our storyteller was one of them.. I remember her only faintly." She doesn't also admit her parents, too, may have gone the same way; she doesn't really remember when they just weren't there anymore; perhaps a blessing that. She sighs, then remarks, "You know, Tala, some day, I won't be here. I hope you'll have good things to remember me by."
Althaea nods to this as she yawns. Everyone seemed to have a story to tell and it usually had a sad ending. Weren't there any where things turned out alright and everyone was happy? So far her upbringing has been nothing but filled with tragic thoughts. She looks forward to the day that changes. Dropping her own head to her paws, she lets things fall quiet. Getting late, she might as well try to get some sleep like everyone else.
Tala - female adolescent wolf
Althaea - female juvenile wolf
Hadir - male juvenile wolf
Kasa - female wolf
---Tranquil Pond---
Painful as it's become, Wachiwa has been reluctant to walk about on her broken foreleg; yet instinct and the knowledge of the dogs looming ever present on the horisen has also driven her to searching restlessly for something, anything in the form of a hole to hide in while waiting for the limb to heal, and waiting for her swollen, painful stomach to subside. Alas, no hole to find, and attempts to make one are thwarted by the foreleg; still, she does not stop trying, having begun weakly pawing at the roots of the willow tree overhanging the pond, scraping out earth with her good paw while laying on the side of the bad to give it rest as much as she can. At the moment, she's taking a rest from this, laying on her side, eyes closed, ears back, and slightly panting from effort, and thought. Her fault, she's sure it's all her fault. Why she even stays -- because she promised she would come back, didn't she? She did. But look what happened. No answers for Hadir, and now adding her own problems to things.
Tala has been away for some time, ears perking forward and a faint tired snuffle escapes her while she slowly lifts her head. Ears perking forward as her gaze settles against Wachiwa some distance off. For a few moments she watches the other before slowly hauling herself up onto her paws. Her breathing has at least improved, but she is still weak, an a cough escapes her at times. She slowly makes her way towards where the wolf she considers her mother is and a soft almost pup like whine escapes her. "Wachiwa.. Let me help you." Is offered in more of a statement then actual question. This is a sight, one sick wolf, and one injured wolf with the thought of digging a hole? Should work out great!
Hadir has been largely keeping out of sight and resting. It was a rather massive ordeal for the young wolf to have been pulled away from his home first to the marsh and then to this place. He had more or less slept for a few days to reclaim his energy after moving around so much. Now that he has had his time to rest he is awake and just sitting in silence. Dogs are definitely bad...and if there is something that he could do about it he most certainly would, but there really is nothing for it at the present time. At least all of his pack made it out alive. They still hadn't found mom of course and that weights on his mind, but she is bound to be out there somewhere. He hadn't heard that she had fought the dogs and surely she had escaped the den. At least that is what he tells himself.
Kasa walks into the area, panting. Seeing the wolves in such an injured state pains her. Although she has not known the pack long, she felt the need to care for them. Especially Hadir... She walks over to the young pup and lays down, hoping her company will offer some comfort.
"No, Tala." Wachiwa finally murmurs after some moments, craking open her good eye to roll it up at the young she-wolf, before closing it again and rolling over to prop herself up some, "This is something I have to do... Either this or find myself a hole somewhere. It's what we do... I don't know why. But that's what I keep thinking I need to do, so I must do it. You need to get better. For your brothers, if for anyone.. Your brothers and your nephew.." She opens her eyes to look for Hadir-- and find a strange she-wolf she hasn't met before laying down near him. Her ears lay back and she struggles to her feet with a low growl, for instinct may tell her she has to prepare for her own pups, but it still also tells her she has to defend those of the pack, too. "Tala... Do you know her..?"
Tala ears lower as she hears Wachiwa, her nose twitching and she leans close to nuzzle softly against Wachiwa's neck a moment. "I'll get better.. But you need to as well." Is said with a soft tone. "I wish you'd let one of us help though." She takes in a soft breath and glances towards the movement of another and just blinks at the she-wolf there. A low growl escapes her, fangs baring as she turns moving towards Hadir. "Get away from her Hadir." Her sides heave a few times as she does her best to not cough. "I met /her/ only once.." An that doesn't mean she gets to be all cozey with her pack, especially now!
Like her brother, Althaea hasn't been much for appearances; a rather odd change sense she's usually always found doing something away from all the rest. Close to Hadir, a silent gaze follows the movements of the area- a rather boring sight but also a painful one. She had watched the events roll out back home and only fear could explain how the young pup felt. That was then however, and she's managed to gather her thoughts into one big ball of mesh. Catching Kasa, a wolf she doen't know, wonder up to her brother Thaea immediately stands and if out of instinct growls at the she-wolf. "Get away." Hearing Tala in the distance, she goes quiet taking a step back but not enough so her brother was left there his lonesome.
Kasa looks up in surprise. She didn't mean to intrude. She instantly backs away from the pup, tail between her legs - instant submission. She growls at herself in frustration for forgetting the propper behavior when adressing a pack. "I...I'm sorry" she stammers. "I didn't mean to intrude. I just wanted to...help" She crawls toward the edge of the clearing, head hung low.
Hadir doesn't really know Kasa all that well. Sure he met her one time, but that was right before everything changed. She didn't seem so bad, even Ahiga had said so, but now probably isn't the best time to be all that trusting. Especially with an angry Tala on the way. He gets to his paws and ambles off toward where Tala is. He sorta feels bad at being unwelcoming but now isn't the time to disobey his elders. Once he settles himself down closer to Tala and Wachiwa he looks to Wachiwa. He hasn't really seen her since she came back. Something bad obviously happened to her, just like it happened to everyone else, "You ok?" he asks her.
Chewy's ears lessen off their backward cant since Tala looks to be about to handle things; and really, Wachiwa sighs to herself inwardly, she does have to start relying on last year's pups to start pulling their weight this year, doesn't she. When Hadir starts to come close, her ears cup forward; and Chewy limps closer to the little pup she'd left her pack to find answers for.. and she sighs, leaning in to nuzzle him. "Yeah, Hadir, I'm okay, really. I'm just worried something bad might happen to you or Althaea," She says, looking to the other pup with concern as well, before shooting Kasa a look, firm. She'll let Tala handle this. Her backside sinks into a flop as she grunts softly. Even having snapped up small meals of thoe brought by the hunting adolescents and Ahiga, she still wasn't seeing her best shape.
Tala has little problem dealing with Kasa, well she would if she didn't have to worry about coughing up a lung if she moved around to much. Her jaws snap after Kasa and she follows after the other she-wolf. Hackles raised, tail lifted. "Again.. you wander in on my family without so much as a warning. How am I suppose to take it?" She questions with a faint tone. Needless to say Tala is mad, most likely more mad at Kasa then she should, but with everything going on it shouldn't be a surprize! A slight hacking cough escapes her, causing her head to lower a moment, yet her steele blue gaze stays on Kasa, glaringly at the other.
Althaea just watches as her brother scampers off in the opposite direction of her after their aunts retaliation- it was like she wasn't even there. A bit of a frown displayed, she sighs watching him settle near the older wolves before turning to the retreating Kasa. Another sigh. Watching her crawl off, she stands there at a momentary lose before slowly moving over to the others and dropping to her haunches. Not a word spoken or a glance taken, she simply looks to the ground with ears splayed to the sides. Hearing Tala blow off steam on Kasa, she looks up to watch. The she-wolf really wasn't worth it.. besides being sick and fending off another aren't exactly the best of combinations. "Like what?" she wonders turning to Wachiwa. Nothings happened to them so far, why would anything now.
Hadir is willing to accept what Chewy says even though she really doesn't look ok. She looks like the dogs got at her too, "Did the dogs get you too?" he asks her. Probably they did. They seem to have gotten to everyone, except for his father and his sister. He glances back toward Tala and Kasa. Tala is more than able to take care of things, she always has been. Though she sounds bad too, "Tala...she's probably ok." Probably is about the best rating he can give anyone he doesn't know at the present moment. He finds himself thinking of home again. He misses the den, and he hopes that his rabbit friend stays far away. He didn't get to warn him when he was leaving and hadn't seen him in awhile. The rabbit is probably smart enough to know the difference between a dog and a wolf right?
Kasa backs away a bit further into the shadows. A small whine escapes her lips. She wants so much to be part of a family again... to help this one. At least then she could try to get rid of the greif that naws at her heart every moment. Thinking of her family and how she failed them makes Tala's threat seem like a wonderful reprieve.
Wachiwa sighs softly, and remarks, truthfully, "Yes, Hadir, the dogs hurt me, but that's okay. Because right now my job is to make sure you're okay." She pauses though, looking towards Kasa and Tala thoughtfully; Kasa's behaviour is like a whipped wolf backing away from a bear, and Tala.. Well. Wachiwa sighs thoughtfully; Tala sure got her mother's anger, didn't she. "Tala, that's enough," Wachiwa warns softly, "She backed away, and I don't think she realized the boundaries. Now she does." She looks to Kasa then thoughtfully. They can't afford to trust every wolf at the moment, but that doesn't mean they have to be rude, either. "If you're looking for company, you might try the Cerulean, they're south of here a little ways, closer to the river.. at the moment we can't promise safety in our company."
Tala is quiet for a few moments as she just watches Kasa. Her ears twitching forward and her sides heave a few times as she takes in slow short breaths to get the coughing under control. Yes she does take after her mother in the anger department. "If.. You promise not to get near the pups you can stay near the water. Understand?" But at the same time she can give in it seems. She hears Wachiwa and her head lowers a moment to eye the ground and nose twitches. "She is right. Many dogs are in the area, looking to take what they want and hurt any in there way. Don't go back to the Ute land if you value your life."
Kasa moves closer to the ponds edge. Taking a drink, she contemplates how her life has been since she left the north. "thank you for that information. If you need anything from me... food, scout, messenger, anything you just need to ask." She looks at the wolves "I'm sorry if I've been intrusive. It's been so long since I was with a family, I've forgotten how to act around strangers."
Shaking out her pelt Althaea looks to her brother and blinks saying nothing to him before turning back to Chewy. Her own question gone unanswered she shrugs turning away to peer out at Kasa then Tala then to the ground where she plops down to a lay. Seems all there is for her to do is give watch. This was an unfamilair place during an unkindly time.
Kasa curls up and goes to sleep. Wondering what tomorrow will bring.
Hadir isn't really sure that he would like to hear about the 'like what' that could happen. It seems that this whole adventure has been a very ample statement about what can happen if you aren't careful. He looks back to his sister for a moment, "Bad stuff Alth...bad stuff..." he says to her before looking back to Chewy. There is something totally not right about how she is acting and he means to find out, "Why do you want to dig a hole?"
Replying to Althaea, Wachiwa remarks, "When your aunts and uncles were your age, a strange wolf tricked Ikuna into going with her, and then he was kidnapped by a giant bird. The bird, a large cat, and a wolverine were going to kill Ikuna as a sacrifice to a dark spirit," Wachiwa says solumnly, "And I lost my eye to killing the bird when we rescued him." She says, calmly, looking to the she-pup with a solumn expression. "I don't like to speak ill of others. But at the moment, with the dog pack in the area, we have to watch our backs. I would not want something bad to happen to you, Althaea, you`re my favorite neice." ears twitch, and she looks to Hadir... and sighs softly. "Well, Hadir, I'm hurt. If I could find a hole, I could hide there, and maybe get rest and heal. Sometimes lone wolves or animals will do that. I am also going to have puppies very soon.. And I want to find a nice, quiet place for that." she trails off, thinking of it; it's almost an embaressment to her to even think of it.
Tala watches Kasa a few moments before she shifts and slowly moves back to where she was laying before. She shifts to lay herself down, head settling upon her forepaws. A ear twitching towards Chewy and the pups while her eyes close and she listens to the story told. Yes she remembers that, she remmebers it all too well actually..
A moments interaction with her brother leads to an answer she already knew. Bad things could happen at any time and any where but when you have a pack that will do anything to protect you, even if it means their life; Althaea didn't seen to worry much about what could happen. Listening to the story told to her she only nods thinking her uncle to careless during his youth just by experiencing how he is now. Little change it seems even though he comes off as more aware now. She takes her aunts words into mind though figuring its the least she could do. "I'm your only neice." she states when given the chance, then she turns to her brother for a moment as his own question is given an answer. "Your going to need a really big hole." She says with half a smirk. Wachiwa wasn't exactly a small wolf afterall. Last time Thaea was in a hole she got stuck, though it didn't help to of been made out of snow either.
Hadir obviously knows what puppies are, but doesn't really have any idea of how that whole thing works. He figures its just sort of a natural thing that moms do and Wachiwa certainly qualifies as a mother. She has been mothering as long as he can remember. Yes. A hole will definitely have to be fairly large if it will accomodate Chewy and puppies. The whole thing doesn't really seem all that real to him yet. Its one of those things that he will believe when he sees. He gives a short nod of his head and smiles, "Cool."
Giving Althaea a smirk, Wachiwa comments, "Oh yes, and you know how I got this big, don't you? By eating pups that were too smart for themselves," She teases, as she reaches her non-broken forepaw out at the shee pup for a playful swat, despite Althaea being far out of range. She chuckles, taking the ribbing in good nature, before she looks to Hadir. "... I'm not sure everyone thinks of it that way, Hadir. And I'm not sure I think of it that way, either. It's kind of scary, really. Plus I hurt a lot in my tummy right now." She looks to Althaea, and sighs. An aloof child is more likely to one day be a wanderer, she thinks thoughtfully; like her brother Mori. She holes that when Althaea is an adult, she will at least remember to return to her family once in a while. "I suppose you're old enough now to hear this. When you're adults, you'll usually find someone you like alot. Your Mom and Dad like each other alot, for example. Love, is more like it... And when you love that someone, you might decide, with your pack leader's permission, to have puppies. At least, that's how it's supposed to happen. If your leader says it is okay, then you will do something to put puppies either in you, or, Hadir, in your case, your mate, since you're the boy. The puppies will grow, and eventually they have to come out, like you two came out of your mum's tummy."
Tala stays rather quiet as she listens tot he conversation between Wachiwa and the pupes. Her eyes close a bit tighter at the thought of someone you love, an at the moment Ahiga is of course no where around. She shifts to nose her maw under a paw, her mind wandering if he'll ever come back. A soft breath escapes her and she ponders just falling asleep, though with the dreams she has had recently it isn't a idea she enjoys thinking on.
Was Althaea going to be a wonder when she grew up? It was a possiblity, but one she thought highly unlikely. She may act all high and mighty at times but she depended to much on her family and pack to actually find herself alone someplace with nothing but wit to back her. Tail givin a few wags behind her as Chewy tries to swat at her, she chuckles only to fall quiet when the tale of where puppies comes from is revealed. So, boys do stuff to girls so they can have puppies. Like that'll ever happen to her; there aren't even any boys around- well other than her brother and Ahiga but he's taken. Altha not even remembering anything about when she was born or where she came from just that she was there she hmms befor suddenly her sister popsg into mind. "Not all puppies make it, do they?" she says rather sadly.
Most of this explanation of things goes over Hadir's head. He hasn't really noticed girls yet, though that will inevitably happen, most likely not to far down the line. Of course no female in her right mind would want to fall in love with a pup that could in no meaningful way protect her or provide for the pups...provided he lived to adulthood at all. Hadir nods slowly, his eyes glazing over a bit, "Okay...sure." he responds. Whatever Wachiwa says must be true, still it sounds like a great deal of trouble. He gives a bit of a yawn after Alth asks her question, no they do not. Everyone dies. Everyone. He grows more comfortable with death by the day. He's given considerable thought to his own death, though the others don't seem to want to chat about it. He lowers his head to his paws and closes his eyes. Its time for sleep. Alth and Chewy can figure the rest of this stuff out.
Ears lay back, and Chewy's eyes fall on hadir out of simple thought. "No, Althaea, not all puppies make it. Just like with the animals we eat, sometimes wolfs die because of bigger, stronger animals, or because they're sick, or because they just weren't meant to make it. It is not up to us to decides who lives and who dies among us, unless it is punishment for breaking a law, or there is no alternative. For example, if, say, a wolf is attacked by a bear, and very badly wounded, then he may surely die; as long as there is a hope for him, we should try to help him live. However, if we can surely see there may be a long, painful death ahead of him, such as bleeding from the throat for a very long time, it may be kinder to kill him immediately." She frowns at this thought, turning away from the sleeping boy pup with a sigh.
Tala has started to drift off to sleep it seems. A ear twitching at times as she listens to the two but that is about all the movement seen from her. She murmurs out softly at times but it is unsure what she may have said an soon enough she is in a deep sleep.
Althaea knew of her brothers thoughts on death.. his own health a likely cause. Its crossed her mind several times on how things would go should he follow the same fate as Soyala in the near future. She's even thought about ending it for him herself but what sort of sister kills their brother out of spite. It was better to not think of such things. Though its pretty hard not to when its actually considered an option. Looking to her brother as he drifts off she sighs. "Its sad." She says. "When they don't make it."
"Life is full of trials," Wachiwa says, softly, "But it's how we react to them that decides how we grow and change." She smiles slightly, and then lays her head down on her forelaws, wincing slightly. "When I was your age, for example, we had a very hard winter; a lot of us can't really remember it now, but there were some wolves that chose to forgo eating so us puppies could eat. Our storyteller was one of them.. I remember her only faintly." She doesn't also admit her parents, too, may have gone the same way; she doesn't really remember when they just weren't there anymore; perhaps a blessing that. She sighs, then remarks, "You know, Tala, some day, I won't be here. I hope you'll have good things to remember me by."
Althaea nods to this as she yawns. Everyone seemed to have a story to tell and it usually had a sad ending. Weren't there any where things turned out alright and everyone was happy? So far her upbringing has been nothing but filled with tragic thoughts. She looks forward to the day that changes. Dropping her own head to her paws, she lets things fall quiet. Getting late, she might as well try to get some sleep like everyone else.