Post by Pavane on May 10, 2012 13:04:35 GMT -5
Ahiga - male wolf
Tala - female adolescent wolf
Ikuna - male adolescent wolf
---Tranquil Pond---
Ahiga has been an absent presence at the pond, though there are signs that he's been around. Random dropoffs of hunted prey left for whoever to claim. His scent. But the wolf himself has kept his face out of the picture, prefering his lonesome prowling of nearby areas. There's a prairie, where he's found the same type of plantgrowth for Tala nearer than where he found it before. This is good, and though he's been leaving behind mouthfulls of the stuff along with his deposited prey, he hasn't talked to Tala or Ikuna for that matter since their last rocky conversation. This is also done on purpose, for what is there to say other than things that will further divide them? At least he's kept himself busy enough that he doesn't have much time to think about much other than hunting, gathering, and prowling the perimeter for signs of doggish enemies. For now, the coast has been clear. The day is a lovely one. Warm and bright. Ahiga is heading back to the pond, bringing with him a fat squirrel clutched in his jowls. Hunting in spring is pretty darn easy, especially with his injuries healing.
Tala has no idea where Ahiga may have wandered off to, of if he was even going tocome back for that matter. Her ears twitch eyes slowly resting on the water that she is settles next to. A soft sigh escapes her and she rubs at her face a few times with her forepaws. Ahiga has always been there, an now? Her ears slowly perk forward and she lifts her head while she takes in a faint breath at the scent that gets her attetnions. "Ahiga?" Is soon questioned while she shifts up onto her haunches, well she at least seems to be getting better.
With Ahiga gone, Ikuna has been limiting his own expeditions to brief ones. There's only so much time that can be spent away before he starts to worry about injured Wachiwa and sick Tala. Much of the time, he's keeping watch; ears perked, nose stuck into the breeze. On this particular day, at this particular moment, he's by the edge of the pond taking a drink.... until Tala's voice - and what she says - makes him look up and over.
Ahiga's ears perk up as he hears Tala's voice. So much for deposit and slipping of as usual. Though sauntering to the pond in the middle of the day, he was bound to run into one of them. Perhaps his choice of timing wasn't purely accidental. His eyes are drawn to her and he inhales a breath. She looks...better. That's encouraging, and his tail begins to sway though he soon stills it. Dropping his head a bit, he approaches her and lays the unchewed grass a few feet from where she sits. "..Hey," he answers, voice soft. "Brought some more. S'not chewed or nothin' yet...I can do it for you if y'want," he offers, though his eyes have strayed from her by then, peering in Ikuna's direction, though his expression is a mask. "I'll go after."
Tala watches Ahiga a few moments, ears lowering and she nods while looking at what he has brought and keeping her attention on it. "No.. I can do it now." This said softly. "Are, you not going to stay with us?" That is a very large question, could mean here at the moment, could mean even the pack, even what Ahiga and her have could be threatened with the answer he gives..
Ikuna turns, walking slowly back toward Tala and Ahiga... though he keeps some distance. His posture is a neutral one; crooked tail hanging loose behind him, ears perked with interest but head kept even. At Ahiga's words, his ears flick with brief concern, though he doesn't look away. He's quiet, just waiting for Ahiga's answer to Tala.
It /is/ a loaded question, and Ahiga isn't sure how to interpret it. He looks back at Tala and watches her for a long time, eyes roaming her features as if afraid he'll forget the details of her face, fur, and figure. Wanting to engrave the image o her in his mind. After a while, a low breath is exhaled through his nose and he lightly shakes his head. "I don't know what to do, Tala. How could you want me to, now? After what I said. After knowin' what I think about all this, how could you even want me to be around?" A look to Ikuna, and his expression becomes more measured. "Either of you."
Tala ears perk as she watches Ahiga and she slowly shifts to her paws and moves closer to him. Her head presses against his and her eyes close a moment. "Ahiga.." Is softly said and she swallows a moment. "I love you, how could I not want to be around you?" Her tone still soft as she questions him. "I wish you could understand how Ikuna an I feel.. But your allowed your own thoughts." If he was to act upon those thoughts THEN there would be a major problem!
Ikuna's ears splay, with an expression that can best be summarized as 'how dumb can you get?' He's at a loss for words, while his sister speaks the easier appeal from love. It takes Ikuna that time - and a few moments past - to come up with what he wants to say. "I know you don't agree with me," he says. "That... that's part of why I _do_ want you around. I... I know I'm dumb sometimes. I don't think I am, this time. But..." He frowns, and takes his quarry from a different angle. "Skahla told me about Skelaghe... how everyone loved her, and how she made mistakes. You're the one who said everyone loves me. Well... I'm the one saying I make mistakes. I gotta have someone to call me on it. Last time I was too trusting, Wachiwa lost her eye. So. I don't agree, but... I'm sort of glad."
Ahiga perks his ears as Tala stands, looking somwhat anxious. She shouldn't be up and walking about as she still seems as if disaster could strike her at any moment. But in the end he's glad that she did move, for he had no intention of drawing any closer than he was. The touch from her has an instant reaction, at least inwardly. As his eyes slide closed he feels a tight knot loosen in his chest. He's /missed/ her far more than he realized, and he leans into her touch, seeking more of it. But, oh those fateful words, they freeze him and his eyes reopen in suprise. Love? She loves him? Did she mean to say that? He pulls back a little, searching her face for signs of regret, but he sees none. "I...I wish I could understand too. Cuz ... because I love you too and I don't want to not be with you because've of this." He leans forward to touch his nose with hers, then looks to Ikuna. "You're...glad we don't agree?" He marinates those words and all the others that were spoken, finding the reason, seeking to understand. "..If we're too much've the same, I guess you're right, it wouldn't be good. It wouldn't help to jus'..follow along with everything all the time, never having separate thoughts. Separate feelings." He exhales a breath. "I think I understand."
Tala is up, and there is little he can do about it! She needed to be close to him, its been far to long and they have been apart. For a moment she stays there letting her head press against his neck, a soft murmur escaping her in the process. Her eyes close and she smiles hearing him, her heart most likely felt racing and her breathing just faintly rattles. She has no sign of regret with what is said, meaning ever word of it. A soft nip is offered to his neck. "We can't all think and be the same Ahiga." Is murmured out softly while she looks to Ikuna and nods slightly for him to come over..
This is, in a way, just another part of that same philosophy that makes Ikuna call Wachiwa's unborn pups Ute; the urge to listen, to forgive, to love instead of fight. Ikuna ducks his head a little in a nod. "Yeah. I want to hear why I'm wrong, 'cause maybe I am." Even if he doesn't think so, this time; but with that same acceptance that is the sticking point, he's okay with that. He slowly pads closer - cautious, almost. Giving Ahiga that chance to run away, if he so chooses... and hoping that he won't.
"I'm jus' afraid that...I'll think so differently, that you might see that I'm not the guy that you thought I was." Ahiga's eyes close again and he returns her nip, keeping his muzzle pressed against her neck. He listens to her. Listens to her breathing, the gentle rattle in her lungs. He can feel her inhale and exhale, and with his every inhale and exhale he breathes in her scent. "I'm still afraid of that," he admits gently. "I'm afraid that when they get here, an' you're so happy, an' Ikuna's so happy, an' everyone is glad and I'm not, things will fall apart. What you said, I can't shake. You said that they will be kin, an' as long as I'm in the pack, they're mine too. I felt that I should leave because I know I won't ever feel for them like I do for Althaea or Hadir, but leavin' meant leavin' you and Ikuna, and I couldn't." His ears turn to Ikuna, and though he knows he's approaching, he doesn't shy away.
Tala shifts and lets her side press against Ahiga's, her head settling against his as best she can in this position, which actually helps her breathing to some degree and her head is lifted and tilted to the side. She listens to him taking in what he says and closes her eyes. "Ahiga.. I don't think beeing fully happy is at the top of the list. I'm not happy for Wachiwa, I'm sorry for her.. But at the same time I will do everything in my power to help her." She pauses. "Its what I feel needs to be done." Her nose twitches while she takes in his scent a with a few rattling breaths, hot air felt against his fur as she does this. "They will be part of the pack Ahiga.." This said softly at first. "An.. if you stay with the pack.." Well won't he have to help take care of them then?
Ahiga holds his tongue, for if there's one area he refuses to tread on it's anything regarding Wachiwa herself. No. Not going there. "You're a better wolf than me, Tala," he remarks as he moves the front paw closest to her to curl it gently around her foreleg. His eyes lift to the blue sky ahead as he considers her last phrase. "Nothing is gonna make me feel different about them, Tala. I feel it already. Hate for them. I can't love them, an' if Skahla, or Ikuna, or you want me gone because've that, then I'll leave. But you can't make me love 'em."
Tala is quiet now, her eyes closing tightly a few moments while she takes in a breath listening to him. So much has happened, they have no home now, Wachiwa is a mess and there isn't anything they can do about it, and the thought of losing Ahiga after all this mess? It makes her heart hurt at the thought. "If.. Skahla wants you to leave.. I'm going with you Ahiga." Seems she thought on this for some time, her shoulders lower, one pressing back against his.
Ikuna leans in, and touches his nose softly to Ahiga's shoulder. "'m not gonna ask you to love them. I dunno how I'm gonna feel, to be honest. I love Chewy. I want... I want this to not happen, but if it's gonna happen... it's not their fault. They didn' do anything. Bein' mad at someone for who their dad is... it's like that dumb wolf Tala told me about, that was mad at us 'cause of our mom. They're never gonna meet their dad, 'cause he's gonna be _dead_." A brief flash of fang. "So it doesn't matter. Or at least... it shouldn't matter. I'm gonna try and make it not matter, because... because I'm better than those dogs. I... I understand, though. All I'm gonna ask is... you give 'em a chance. Let 'em show if they can do the right thing. If they can't, if they grow up to be like their father... then they won't have a place in this pack anymore. But I'm gonna give 'em a chance." He noses Tala, and smiles a little. "If Skahla does, I'm gonna have a talk with him." There's a meaningful glance to Ahiga then, recallin
recalling a past conversation. "It won't come to that."
His ears lift up quickly at her proclamation. She'd go away with him? Leave behind what little they have left of their pack? After a moment, Ahiga begins to smirk and nuzzles against her neck. "If he lets you get away, than he's an idiot," he replies, head shaking a little. "That just means that I've got to do everything I can to stay here, cuz I know how much it means to you to be close to your family, Tala. I don't wanna take you away from that." The touch to his shoulder has his attention turning to Ikuna now. He does not fight his words this time, for the important thing was said first. He's not going to ask him to love them. Everything else will fall into place one way or another, and if giving them a chance means to tolerate them....well, he possibly can do that. He can probably do that. He gently returns the nudge to Ikuna before he uncurls his paw from around Tala's leg in order to lay. He's not going anywhere this time. He's missed his friends, and he'd better enjoy this time with them before the appearance of the half breed pups throws a wrench in their little family.
Tala lets her gaze turn to Ikuna watching and listening to him, a soft breath escaping her as she turns to tuck her head down under Ahiga's. Her eyes close while she snuggles against him once there both in a more comfortable laying position. "I'm glad too hear you say that Ahiga.. I don't want to leave them, but I don't want you to leave either." If it came down to it, yes she would leave with Ahiga. She is rather sure being without him would be somewhat just a little bit worse then not being with the pack. Yes the pack is her home, her family but so is Ahiga now and she doesn't want to lose that. As for loving the puppies?.. She wouldn't expect that from Ahiga either, she isn't sure if she'll be able to love them. Care for them yes, love them well. Who knows.
Ikuna smiles, especially as Ahiga settles himself down. It's okay. Ahiga's not running off again. They're going to stick together, and they'll deal with these pups however it turns out to be. Easy? No. But when have things ever been easy for this pack? Ikuna's entire life has been the bad times that Wachiwa laments; starting with the death of his parents when he was only a pup. It hasn't made him gloomy yet, and he's not about to let it start now. He's still got his friends and his pack, such as it is. He'll manage. "We'll deal with it. Together."
Ahiga has no further words to speak, and so he lets silence stretch. But it's a comfortable one now. Pressed up against Tala who is healing, close to Ikuna who he has made up with. It's a good feeling. Like nothing at all has gone wrong. He softly nods to Ikuna, softly as to not bump his head too much against Tala's, in silent agreement. They'll deal with it. He'll have to. Together, as they've dealt with all things in their turbulent young lives.
Tala - female adolescent wolf
Ikuna - male adolescent wolf
---Tranquil Pond---
Ahiga has been an absent presence at the pond, though there are signs that he's been around. Random dropoffs of hunted prey left for whoever to claim. His scent. But the wolf himself has kept his face out of the picture, prefering his lonesome prowling of nearby areas. There's a prairie, where he's found the same type of plantgrowth for Tala nearer than where he found it before. This is good, and though he's been leaving behind mouthfulls of the stuff along with his deposited prey, he hasn't talked to Tala or Ikuna for that matter since their last rocky conversation. This is also done on purpose, for what is there to say other than things that will further divide them? At least he's kept himself busy enough that he doesn't have much time to think about much other than hunting, gathering, and prowling the perimeter for signs of doggish enemies. For now, the coast has been clear. The day is a lovely one. Warm and bright. Ahiga is heading back to the pond, bringing with him a fat squirrel clutched in his jowls. Hunting in spring is pretty darn easy, especially with his injuries healing.
Tala has no idea where Ahiga may have wandered off to, of if he was even going tocome back for that matter. Her ears twitch eyes slowly resting on the water that she is settles next to. A soft sigh escapes her and she rubs at her face a few times with her forepaws. Ahiga has always been there, an now? Her ears slowly perk forward and she lifts her head while she takes in a faint breath at the scent that gets her attetnions. "Ahiga?" Is soon questioned while she shifts up onto her haunches, well she at least seems to be getting better.
With Ahiga gone, Ikuna has been limiting his own expeditions to brief ones. There's only so much time that can be spent away before he starts to worry about injured Wachiwa and sick Tala. Much of the time, he's keeping watch; ears perked, nose stuck into the breeze. On this particular day, at this particular moment, he's by the edge of the pond taking a drink.... until Tala's voice - and what she says - makes him look up and over.
Ahiga's ears perk up as he hears Tala's voice. So much for deposit and slipping of as usual. Though sauntering to the pond in the middle of the day, he was bound to run into one of them. Perhaps his choice of timing wasn't purely accidental. His eyes are drawn to her and he inhales a breath. She looks...better. That's encouraging, and his tail begins to sway though he soon stills it. Dropping his head a bit, he approaches her and lays the unchewed grass a few feet from where she sits. "..Hey," he answers, voice soft. "Brought some more. S'not chewed or nothin' yet...I can do it for you if y'want," he offers, though his eyes have strayed from her by then, peering in Ikuna's direction, though his expression is a mask. "I'll go after."
Tala watches Ahiga a few moments, ears lowering and she nods while looking at what he has brought and keeping her attention on it. "No.. I can do it now." This said softly. "Are, you not going to stay with us?" That is a very large question, could mean here at the moment, could mean even the pack, even what Ahiga and her have could be threatened with the answer he gives..
Ikuna turns, walking slowly back toward Tala and Ahiga... though he keeps some distance. His posture is a neutral one; crooked tail hanging loose behind him, ears perked with interest but head kept even. At Ahiga's words, his ears flick with brief concern, though he doesn't look away. He's quiet, just waiting for Ahiga's answer to Tala.
It /is/ a loaded question, and Ahiga isn't sure how to interpret it. He looks back at Tala and watches her for a long time, eyes roaming her features as if afraid he'll forget the details of her face, fur, and figure. Wanting to engrave the image o her in his mind. After a while, a low breath is exhaled through his nose and he lightly shakes his head. "I don't know what to do, Tala. How could you want me to, now? After what I said. After knowin' what I think about all this, how could you even want me to be around?" A look to Ikuna, and his expression becomes more measured. "Either of you."
Tala ears perk as she watches Ahiga and she slowly shifts to her paws and moves closer to him. Her head presses against his and her eyes close a moment. "Ahiga.." Is softly said and she swallows a moment. "I love you, how could I not want to be around you?" Her tone still soft as she questions him. "I wish you could understand how Ikuna an I feel.. But your allowed your own thoughts." If he was to act upon those thoughts THEN there would be a major problem!
Ikuna's ears splay, with an expression that can best be summarized as 'how dumb can you get?' He's at a loss for words, while his sister speaks the easier appeal from love. It takes Ikuna that time - and a few moments past - to come up with what he wants to say. "I know you don't agree with me," he says. "That... that's part of why I _do_ want you around. I... I know I'm dumb sometimes. I don't think I am, this time. But..." He frowns, and takes his quarry from a different angle. "Skahla told me about Skelaghe... how everyone loved her, and how she made mistakes. You're the one who said everyone loves me. Well... I'm the one saying I make mistakes. I gotta have someone to call me on it. Last time I was too trusting, Wachiwa lost her eye. So. I don't agree, but... I'm sort of glad."
Ahiga perks his ears as Tala stands, looking somwhat anxious. She shouldn't be up and walking about as she still seems as if disaster could strike her at any moment. But in the end he's glad that she did move, for he had no intention of drawing any closer than he was. The touch from her has an instant reaction, at least inwardly. As his eyes slide closed he feels a tight knot loosen in his chest. He's /missed/ her far more than he realized, and he leans into her touch, seeking more of it. But, oh those fateful words, they freeze him and his eyes reopen in suprise. Love? She loves him? Did she mean to say that? He pulls back a little, searching her face for signs of regret, but he sees none. "I...I wish I could understand too. Cuz ... because I love you too and I don't want to not be with you because've of this." He leans forward to touch his nose with hers, then looks to Ikuna. "You're...glad we don't agree?" He marinates those words and all the others that were spoken, finding the reason, seeking to understand. "..If we're too much've the same, I guess you're right, it wouldn't be good. It wouldn't help to jus'..follow along with everything all the time, never having separate thoughts. Separate feelings." He exhales a breath. "I think I understand."
Tala is up, and there is little he can do about it! She needed to be close to him, its been far to long and they have been apart. For a moment she stays there letting her head press against his neck, a soft murmur escaping her in the process. Her eyes close and she smiles hearing him, her heart most likely felt racing and her breathing just faintly rattles. She has no sign of regret with what is said, meaning ever word of it. A soft nip is offered to his neck. "We can't all think and be the same Ahiga." Is murmured out softly while she looks to Ikuna and nods slightly for him to come over..
This is, in a way, just another part of that same philosophy that makes Ikuna call Wachiwa's unborn pups Ute; the urge to listen, to forgive, to love instead of fight. Ikuna ducks his head a little in a nod. "Yeah. I want to hear why I'm wrong, 'cause maybe I am." Even if he doesn't think so, this time; but with that same acceptance that is the sticking point, he's okay with that. He slowly pads closer - cautious, almost. Giving Ahiga that chance to run away, if he so chooses... and hoping that he won't.
"I'm jus' afraid that...I'll think so differently, that you might see that I'm not the guy that you thought I was." Ahiga's eyes close again and he returns her nip, keeping his muzzle pressed against her neck. He listens to her. Listens to her breathing, the gentle rattle in her lungs. He can feel her inhale and exhale, and with his every inhale and exhale he breathes in her scent. "I'm still afraid of that," he admits gently. "I'm afraid that when they get here, an' you're so happy, an' Ikuna's so happy, an' everyone is glad and I'm not, things will fall apart. What you said, I can't shake. You said that they will be kin, an' as long as I'm in the pack, they're mine too. I felt that I should leave because I know I won't ever feel for them like I do for Althaea or Hadir, but leavin' meant leavin' you and Ikuna, and I couldn't." His ears turn to Ikuna, and though he knows he's approaching, he doesn't shy away.
Tala shifts and lets her side press against Ahiga's, her head settling against his as best she can in this position, which actually helps her breathing to some degree and her head is lifted and tilted to the side. She listens to him taking in what he says and closes her eyes. "Ahiga.. I don't think beeing fully happy is at the top of the list. I'm not happy for Wachiwa, I'm sorry for her.. But at the same time I will do everything in my power to help her." She pauses. "Its what I feel needs to be done." Her nose twitches while she takes in his scent a with a few rattling breaths, hot air felt against his fur as she does this. "They will be part of the pack Ahiga.." This said softly at first. "An.. if you stay with the pack.." Well won't he have to help take care of them then?
Ahiga holds his tongue, for if there's one area he refuses to tread on it's anything regarding Wachiwa herself. No. Not going there. "You're a better wolf than me, Tala," he remarks as he moves the front paw closest to her to curl it gently around her foreleg. His eyes lift to the blue sky ahead as he considers her last phrase. "Nothing is gonna make me feel different about them, Tala. I feel it already. Hate for them. I can't love them, an' if Skahla, or Ikuna, or you want me gone because've that, then I'll leave. But you can't make me love 'em."
Tala is quiet now, her eyes closing tightly a few moments while she takes in a breath listening to him. So much has happened, they have no home now, Wachiwa is a mess and there isn't anything they can do about it, and the thought of losing Ahiga after all this mess? It makes her heart hurt at the thought. "If.. Skahla wants you to leave.. I'm going with you Ahiga." Seems she thought on this for some time, her shoulders lower, one pressing back against his.
Ikuna leans in, and touches his nose softly to Ahiga's shoulder. "'m not gonna ask you to love them. I dunno how I'm gonna feel, to be honest. I love Chewy. I want... I want this to not happen, but if it's gonna happen... it's not their fault. They didn' do anything. Bein' mad at someone for who their dad is... it's like that dumb wolf Tala told me about, that was mad at us 'cause of our mom. They're never gonna meet their dad, 'cause he's gonna be _dead_." A brief flash of fang. "So it doesn't matter. Or at least... it shouldn't matter. I'm gonna try and make it not matter, because... because I'm better than those dogs. I... I understand, though. All I'm gonna ask is... you give 'em a chance. Let 'em show if they can do the right thing. If they can't, if they grow up to be like their father... then they won't have a place in this pack anymore. But I'm gonna give 'em a chance." He noses Tala, and smiles a little. "If Skahla does, I'm gonna have a talk with him." There's a meaningful glance to Ahiga then, recallin
recalling a past conversation. "It won't come to that."
His ears lift up quickly at her proclamation. She'd go away with him? Leave behind what little they have left of their pack? After a moment, Ahiga begins to smirk and nuzzles against her neck. "If he lets you get away, than he's an idiot," he replies, head shaking a little. "That just means that I've got to do everything I can to stay here, cuz I know how much it means to you to be close to your family, Tala. I don't wanna take you away from that." The touch to his shoulder has his attention turning to Ikuna now. He does not fight his words this time, for the important thing was said first. He's not going to ask him to love them. Everything else will fall into place one way or another, and if giving them a chance means to tolerate them....well, he possibly can do that. He can probably do that. He gently returns the nudge to Ikuna before he uncurls his paw from around Tala's leg in order to lay. He's not going anywhere this time. He's missed his friends, and he'd better enjoy this time with them before the appearance of the half breed pups throws a wrench in their little family.
Tala lets her gaze turn to Ikuna watching and listening to him, a soft breath escaping her as she turns to tuck her head down under Ahiga's. Her eyes close while she snuggles against him once there both in a more comfortable laying position. "I'm glad too hear you say that Ahiga.. I don't want to leave them, but I don't want you to leave either." If it came down to it, yes she would leave with Ahiga. She is rather sure being without him would be somewhat just a little bit worse then not being with the pack. Yes the pack is her home, her family but so is Ahiga now and she doesn't want to lose that. As for loving the puppies?.. She wouldn't expect that from Ahiga either, she isn't sure if she'll be able to love them. Care for them yes, love them well. Who knows.
Ikuna smiles, especially as Ahiga settles himself down. It's okay. Ahiga's not running off again. They're going to stick together, and they'll deal with these pups however it turns out to be. Easy? No. But when have things ever been easy for this pack? Ikuna's entire life has been the bad times that Wachiwa laments; starting with the death of his parents when he was only a pup. It hasn't made him gloomy yet, and he's not about to let it start now. He's still got his friends and his pack, such as it is. He'll manage. "We'll deal with it. Together."
Ahiga has no further words to speak, and so he lets silence stretch. But it's a comfortable one now. Pressed up against Tala who is healing, close to Ikuna who he has made up with. It's a good feeling. Like nothing at all has gone wrong. He softly nods to Ikuna, softly as to not bump his head too much against Tala's, in silent agreement. They'll deal with it. He'll have to. Together, as they've dealt with all things in their turbulent young lives.