Post by Cael on Nov 23, 2008 20:11:29 GMT -5
Time: Late afternoon
Place: Crooked Brook, Lazuli Territory
Involved: Miakoda, Lazuli Beta; Felstride, Lazuli Alpha
Another season. Another spring. Another cycle has completed itself. All around, the forest teems with new life. Kits, cubs, and fawns are being born. Eggs are hatching. Creatures are becoming parents for the first time, or perhaps for their multiple time. There's no denying the aroma of newness that comes with spring and the joy that accompanies it. Most times. Although the season of new life and growth is usually one that brings out the inner pup in her, Miakoda does not celebrate creation, for there has been no new life within the pack. Not for the Alphas, and so most definitely not for her. As she meanders along the brook, following the curvature of the water, her eyes grow distant, pondering this and other things. Considering the vague downward slope of the edges of the muzzle, it's likely that nothing that's currently on her mind is joyous. A slow breath is inhaled through her nose, and with the inhale her head is lowered down, eyes drifting to the surface of the water.
Patrols. His last few days have involved nothing but long, painful patrols. He hasn't eaten, either. Or, at least, he doesn't remember eating, if he did. Worn looking, Felstride lopes slowly up the riverbed, head held low and far from the prideful wolf he once was. His shoulders are slouched, tail held low enough to almost be between his legs, and his rear hind leg staying longer on the ground only to lift and limp heavily forward. Felstride's ears are low, too, helping to hinder his patrol further, being able to hear less. His nose, being so close to the ground, sniffs at the soil every so often, and it's a while before he picks up on Miakoda's strong scent, and it causes him to, greatfully, halt his progress. Attention snaps forward, eye falling on the she-wolf and remaining there, silently observing. His breath catches in his chest, and it's a while before it returns to normal.. Eventually, he takes a few small pawsteps forward, but.. is reluctant to disturb her, and does not announce himself.
Miakoda pauses as her nose shifts upon a tuft of grass picking up the familiar scent of a packmate who has passed by. A son. Silent young Echo. Her eyes close as she drinks in his youthful scent, ears flicking back blissfully as she's flooded with memories of her children seasons ago when they were small. A vague smile chases away that slight frown, and when she lifts her head up again her eyes glimmer with that playful light she's known for. But soon, another scent drifts to her nose and her ears prick again. Felstride. Her head twists, following the scent, and her eyes soon alight upon the much aged Alpha. His slouched stance. His slight limp. His lowered tail. She's noticed all of that, yet still, gazing upon him now she can only see the face of her first crush. Her lost love. Her Alpha male. Her tail wags slowly to the side as she acknowledges him. "Felstride," she greets as she heads his way, saving him the effort of approach.
He doesn't let her move all that way. When he notices her look at him, a faint and fleeting smile hints at the edges of his muzzle, the wolf helps to close the gap between the two. At one point, his jaw sets with a particularly heavy twinge in his leg, but aside from that there is no other show of pain. Not now. Not at the time when the pack needs him and needs his help. When they are together, Felstride parts his maw and takes in a deep, almost longing breath, scenting the younger female and remembering.. remembering all that has passed between them, silent and unspoken. He lifts his head a bit, inches forward, and cranes his neck to nuzzle heavy against her shoulder. Amber eyes, bright.. but with a little less luster to them, flutter closed. He knows she's aware of the cougar threat, and so, his conversational skills are lacking. Unsure what to do or say, Felstride remains this way at his beta's side.
Miakoda gently smiles as she returns the nuzzle, eyes closing as her muzzle grazes along the fur of his neck before traveling to his shoulder. His familiar scent in breathed in deeply, constant to stand there for an unspeakable amount of time. Seconds? Minutes? She gradually she wills herself to step back and gaze upon his aged face, her smile warm. What /is/ there to say? For a moment, she too is at a loss for words, and seconds tick by with nothing to fill the gap. "A wolf came through here a few days ago," she says, gently, "accompanied by two dogs. They claimed they were being followed by cougars, and they believed the cougars would not follow them here. Storm and I sent them away. Fools on our land would bring trouble to our family."
He, too, steps back and slowly eases himself to sit on his hindquarters, tail resting across his forepaws in that familiar way. Felstride cups his ears forward to listen, drinking in Miakoda's words and her soft voice, head bobbing once as she finishes. "Indeed," he murmurs in assent, lifting his tailtip and taping it thoughtfully on his forepaws. Mm. The wolf ponders this for a moment, eyes drifting off to follow the trickling brook south, before returning to his second in command. "It might be wise to follow them and make sure that they have avoided the rest of our borders, and to make sure that these cougars were not smart enough to follow them into the land." Though.. something tells him, deep down, that the cats are not that stupid. If they wanted to follow, for whatever their reasons, they would. He pauses a moment, wondering why a wolf would be traveling with two dogs but.. decides against asking. That's not what's important right now.
Miakoda bobs her head in answer to his instruction. "I will instruct the boys to keep their nose open for their scent, assure that they've passed on. I will do the same," she promises with a small smile to the wolf. Silence lapses momentarily, and she settles down on her haunches as well, eyes roaming the Alpha's face and eyes. Though cougars are on her mind, that's not the topic that drifts from her mouth. Here expression softens as her head tips to one side. "You're working too much, Fel," she muses. "Your patrols are too long and far. Divide it between the boys. Shikoba and the girls can help..." She trailis off there, brows lowering faintly. "I don't know whether or not Halidari has continued to fill her head of ideas of leaving. I can only hope that she has matured enough in the past few days to change her mind about lugging away an impressionable young female like Shiko." She exhales a breath. "She has promised Shikoba that she will take her away to ... see the world. Shiko is intent on going, but with these whispers of cougars, I hope they both decide to wait."
"That would be.. wise," Felstride muses, tired eye flitting from Mia's face to the thick trees behind her, over her shoulder, and he looks deeply into that darkness for a long time. Her mention of his work ethic goes.. unnoticed, or unremembered.. whatever.. and a deep, rumbling sigh quivers from his chest. The corners of his eyes draw together, pinching in pain, before he murmurs, "I am worried for my sons and daughters.. for my family." Not for myself. The wolf inhails slowly, the sound rasping quietly like newly fallen autumn leaves before he continues. "I learned once that all a father can do is guide; he cannot demand. Once he demands he loses that which he was given, not power, or authority, but his child." Larkspur taught him that, though she did return, the memories of those days still linger. "If they go.. then they go. They will learn, by trial or.." No. Do not think so. "By trial they will learn what it was they sought, and know then whether it was to see the world.. or to find themselves.."
"Shikoba sought me for permission to travel. This swas before the talk of cougars," Miakoda says after silent reflection of his words. "I .. have never been a mother before, and I am afraid to learn by error," she sasys, speaking the word that eludes him. "I looked in her eyes and I could not deny her what she seemed so desperate for. I will let her go with whatever guide she wishes to take with her, and she knows she may, but I fear for her." She exhales a slow breath then reclaims a vague smile. "You've ignored my warning, but I won't forget. I'll make it a point that you don't work so hard. We are family. We have been through good times and bad, and still here we are. The work will be divided equally."
"To err is the only way to learn," Felstride offers quietly, dropping his head as he thrusts his shoulder skyward, standing slowly. With effort he picks up his head and holds it higher, ears erect and eyes more ablaze than they have been in recent weeks. "To know what to do.. sometimes is to admit that you do not know." Whatever. He's going crazy. Don't listen to him, just put him in a home somewhere and he'll be fine. An ear flicks at the beta female, and he takes another deep breath and shakes his head. "No. There is too much at stake now. I must make sure that all is well in our lands, if our family wishes to keep it their own." He bobs his head with a final nod, and glances westward into the deeper forest. He stays that way for a while before his attention gently flits back to the female. "I must admit I feel great guilt in sending your son into the forest with mine. I fear they are not ready. I fear.. they are too young."
To know what to do.... Miakoda tries to wrap her mind around that. Perhaps there's a lot of wisdom in those words, just oozing from the seams. Whether or not Miakoda understands that wisdom is anyone's guess, for she makes no comment other than a very slow exhale of a breath that has her eyes briefly closing. She frowns faintly though as thick-headed Felstride insists on bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders. She doesn't protest further though, and instead quirks a brow at his latter statements. "Echo? You needn't feel guilt. He's a strong wolf, and he's eager to do his part just like the rest of them. The boys are young, but youth does not assuredly mean that they are not ready. This will be good for all three of them. They will learn to trust one another, to act as one ... if they come across danger. It is how it was when we were young. You, Storm, and I."
He hadn't noticed until now, but.. he had been speaking of himself in the past.. as if.. he were already no longer here. It takes him a moment to grasp that, and in that moment there is only silence and the wind ruffling across his fur. He burrs quietly, thinking to himself, before he gives Miakoda another light nod. "It is.. as you say," he replies softly, thoughts drifting back to the time of the bear.. the time of the Sangre.. the time of Larkspur's disappearance. Through all that there were many comfortable, wonderful times.. why do they only dwell on the horrible? Felstride shakes his head, trying to rid himself of this, but the constant throb in his side constantly reminds him of that fated winter night and the bear that came upon them. "Mmmm," he murmurs to no one, eventually landing his attention back on Miakoda. His tail slowly sways behind him, a little happier, and he nods. "You are right."
"Of course I'm right," replies Miakoda with a playfully crooked grin. "Has there been a time when I've been eer accused of being wrong?" She winks a golden eye before she leans towars him to nuzzle beneath his chin fondly. "Don't worry felstride. This cougar ... situation will pass as the others have, and we will be fine. The Lazuli will move on and thrive as we have for seasons upon seasons, and your mind will be eased once again, dear Alpha." The words are softly spoken earnestly, sincerity heard in each utterance. When she pulls back, her gently aged eyes are warm and assuring.
His eyes close as his head lifts from the nuzzle, and the wolf churrs warmly and returns the favor in kind with a gentle nuzzle back to the back of her ear. At least.. at least he knows not to be /gooshy/ with Mia'. Felstride listens to her words and feels a bit of the warmth returning to his heart, though somewhere in the back of his mind there rests a cold worry, the idea that.. that maybe.. No. He pushes it away again, buries it, and nods gratefully at the beta, turning to take a few steps northward to continue the patrol. "I.. would welcome the company," he suggests, remembering that Storm said he should not go out so much on his own. OMGhe'snotaninvalidhecandoeethimself! He takes a few slow steps north, limp pronounced byt unmentioned by him, and glances at the female again.
Miakoda's smile remains painted on her muzzle, body warm where she was touched. She stands now at the invitation of going on patrols with him, and she smirks while quirking a brow. "Aye, I'll be happy to accompany you ... as long as you provide me with good company." A playful look touches her face as she follows along after her, nudging his flank very lightly before she moves to walk alongside of him, keeping her pace with his. At ease now, she inhales a deep breath of her forest home, holds it in deep within his chest, then exhales it through her mouth. Home.
Felstride laughs gently, a pleasant sound still, and nips at her shoulder with that last comment. Her smile is returned in kind, and as they set out north Felstride falls into the awkwardly steady rhythm he's managed to sustain even though his injury. His tail sways, and he stands a little straighter than he did before. Every so often his eyes tick sideways to glance at Miakoda, and after a few pawsteps he smiles, "I am glad.." he murmurs, turning his face to the north again, intent on scenting the breezes, and the earth around them. Truly, home.
Place: Crooked Brook, Lazuli Territory
Involved: Miakoda, Lazuli Beta; Felstride, Lazuli Alpha
Another season. Another spring. Another cycle has completed itself. All around, the forest teems with new life. Kits, cubs, and fawns are being born. Eggs are hatching. Creatures are becoming parents for the first time, or perhaps for their multiple time. There's no denying the aroma of newness that comes with spring and the joy that accompanies it. Most times. Although the season of new life and growth is usually one that brings out the inner pup in her, Miakoda does not celebrate creation, for there has been no new life within the pack. Not for the Alphas, and so most definitely not for her. As she meanders along the brook, following the curvature of the water, her eyes grow distant, pondering this and other things. Considering the vague downward slope of the edges of the muzzle, it's likely that nothing that's currently on her mind is joyous. A slow breath is inhaled through her nose, and with the inhale her head is lowered down, eyes drifting to the surface of the water.
Patrols. His last few days have involved nothing but long, painful patrols. He hasn't eaten, either. Or, at least, he doesn't remember eating, if he did. Worn looking, Felstride lopes slowly up the riverbed, head held low and far from the prideful wolf he once was. His shoulders are slouched, tail held low enough to almost be between his legs, and his rear hind leg staying longer on the ground only to lift and limp heavily forward. Felstride's ears are low, too, helping to hinder his patrol further, being able to hear less. His nose, being so close to the ground, sniffs at the soil every so often, and it's a while before he picks up on Miakoda's strong scent, and it causes him to, greatfully, halt his progress. Attention snaps forward, eye falling on the she-wolf and remaining there, silently observing. His breath catches in his chest, and it's a while before it returns to normal.. Eventually, he takes a few small pawsteps forward, but.. is reluctant to disturb her, and does not announce himself.
Miakoda pauses as her nose shifts upon a tuft of grass picking up the familiar scent of a packmate who has passed by. A son. Silent young Echo. Her eyes close as she drinks in his youthful scent, ears flicking back blissfully as she's flooded with memories of her children seasons ago when they were small. A vague smile chases away that slight frown, and when she lifts her head up again her eyes glimmer with that playful light she's known for. But soon, another scent drifts to her nose and her ears prick again. Felstride. Her head twists, following the scent, and her eyes soon alight upon the much aged Alpha. His slouched stance. His slight limp. His lowered tail. She's noticed all of that, yet still, gazing upon him now she can only see the face of her first crush. Her lost love. Her Alpha male. Her tail wags slowly to the side as she acknowledges him. "Felstride," she greets as she heads his way, saving him the effort of approach.
He doesn't let her move all that way. When he notices her look at him, a faint and fleeting smile hints at the edges of his muzzle, the wolf helps to close the gap between the two. At one point, his jaw sets with a particularly heavy twinge in his leg, but aside from that there is no other show of pain. Not now. Not at the time when the pack needs him and needs his help. When they are together, Felstride parts his maw and takes in a deep, almost longing breath, scenting the younger female and remembering.. remembering all that has passed between them, silent and unspoken. He lifts his head a bit, inches forward, and cranes his neck to nuzzle heavy against her shoulder. Amber eyes, bright.. but with a little less luster to them, flutter closed. He knows she's aware of the cougar threat, and so, his conversational skills are lacking. Unsure what to do or say, Felstride remains this way at his beta's side.
Miakoda gently smiles as she returns the nuzzle, eyes closing as her muzzle grazes along the fur of his neck before traveling to his shoulder. His familiar scent in breathed in deeply, constant to stand there for an unspeakable amount of time. Seconds? Minutes? She gradually she wills herself to step back and gaze upon his aged face, her smile warm. What /is/ there to say? For a moment, she too is at a loss for words, and seconds tick by with nothing to fill the gap. "A wolf came through here a few days ago," she says, gently, "accompanied by two dogs. They claimed they were being followed by cougars, and they believed the cougars would not follow them here. Storm and I sent them away. Fools on our land would bring trouble to our family."
He, too, steps back and slowly eases himself to sit on his hindquarters, tail resting across his forepaws in that familiar way. Felstride cups his ears forward to listen, drinking in Miakoda's words and her soft voice, head bobbing once as she finishes. "Indeed," he murmurs in assent, lifting his tailtip and taping it thoughtfully on his forepaws. Mm. The wolf ponders this for a moment, eyes drifting off to follow the trickling brook south, before returning to his second in command. "It might be wise to follow them and make sure that they have avoided the rest of our borders, and to make sure that these cougars were not smart enough to follow them into the land." Though.. something tells him, deep down, that the cats are not that stupid. If they wanted to follow, for whatever their reasons, they would. He pauses a moment, wondering why a wolf would be traveling with two dogs but.. decides against asking. That's not what's important right now.
Miakoda bobs her head in answer to his instruction. "I will instruct the boys to keep their nose open for their scent, assure that they've passed on. I will do the same," she promises with a small smile to the wolf. Silence lapses momentarily, and she settles down on her haunches as well, eyes roaming the Alpha's face and eyes. Though cougars are on her mind, that's not the topic that drifts from her mouth. Here expression softens as her head tips to one side. "You're working too much, Fel," she muses. "Your patrols are too long and far. Divide it between the boys. Shikoba and the girls can help..." She trailis off there, brows lowering faintly. "I don't know whether or not Halidari has continued to fill her head of ideas of leaving. I can only hope that she has matured enough in the past few days to change her mind about lugging away an impressionable young female like Shiko." She exhales a breath. "She has promised Shikoba that she will take her away to ... see the world. Shiko is intent on going, but with these whispers of cougars, I hope they both decide to wait."
"That would be.. wise," Felstride muses, tired eye flitting from Mia's face to the thick trees behind her, over her shoulder, and he looks deeply into that darkness for a long time. Her mention of his work ethic goes.. unnoticed, or unremembered.. whatever.. and a deep, rumbling sigh quivers from his chest. The corners of his eyes draw together, pinching in pain, before he murmurs, "I am worried for my sons and daughters.. for my family." Not for myself. The wolf inhails slowly, the sound rasping quietly like newly fallen autumn leaves before he continues. "I learned once that all a father can do is guide; he cannot demand. Once he demands he loses that which he was given, not power, or authority, but his child." Larkspur taught him that, though she did return, the memories of those days still linger. "If they go.. then they go. They will learn, by trial or.." No. Do not think so. "By trial they will learn what it was they sought, and know then whether it was to see the world.. or to find themselves.."
"Shikoba sought me for permission to travel. This swas before the talk of cougars," Miakoda says after silent reflection of his words. "I .. have never been a mother before, and I am afraid to learn by error," she sasys, speaking the word that eludes him. "I looked in her eyes and I could not deny her what she seemed so desperate for. I will let her go with whatever guide she wishes to take with her, and she knows she may, but I fear for her." She exhales a slow breath then reclaims a vague smile. "You've ignored my warning, but I won't forget. I'll make it a point that you don't work so hard. We are family. We have been through good times and bad, and still here we are. The work will be divided equally."
"To err is the only way to learn," Felstride offers quietly, dropping his head as he thrusts his shoulder skyward, standing slowly. With effort he picks up his head and holds it higher, ears erect and eyes more ablaze than they have been in recent weeks. "To know what to do.. sometimes is to admit that you do not know." Whatever. He's going crazy. Don't listen to him, just put him in a home somewhere and he'll be fine. An ear flicks at the beta female, and he takes another deep breath and shakes his head. "No. There is too much at stake now. I must make sure that all is well in our lands, if our family wishes to keep it their own." He bobs his head with a final nod, and glances westward into the deeper forest. He stays that way for a while before his attention gently flits back to the female. "I must admit I feel great guilt in sending your son into the forest with mine. I fear they are not ready. I fear.. they are too young."
To know what to do.... Miakoda tries to wrap her mind around that. Perhaps there's a lot of wisdom in those words, just oozing from the seams. Whether or not Miakoda understands that wisdom is anyone's guess, for she makes no comment other than a very slow exhale of a breath that has her eyes briefly closing. She frowns faintly though as thick-headed Felstride insists on bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders. She doesn't protest further though, and instead quirks a brow at his latter statements. "Echo? You needn't feel guilt. He's a strong wolf, and he's eager to do his part just like the rest of them. The boys are young, but youth does not assuredly mean that they are not ready. This will be good for all three of them. They will learn to trust one another, to act as one ... if they come across danger. It is how it was when we were young. You, Storm, and I."
He hadn't noticed until now, but.. he had been speaking of himself in the past.. as if.. he were already no longer here. It takes him a moment to grasp that, and in that moment there is only silence and the wind ruffling across his fur. He burrs quietly, thinking to himself, before he gives Miakoda another light nod. "It is.. as you say," he replies softly, thoughts drifting back to the time of the bear.. the time of the Sangre.. the time of Larkspur's disappearance. Through all that there were many comfortable, wonderful times.. why do they only dwell on the horrible? Felstride shakes his head, trying to rid himself of this, but the constant throb in his side constantly reminds him of that fated winter night and the bear that came upon them. "Mmmm," he murmurs to no one, eventually landing his attention back on Miakoda. His tail slowly sways behind him, a little happier, and he nods. "You are right."
"Of course I'm right," replies Miakoda with a playfully crooked grin. "Has there been a time when I've been eer accused of being wrong?" She winks a golden eye before she leans towars him to nuzzle beneath his chin fondly. "Don't worry felstride. This cougar ... situation will pass as the others have, and we will be fine. The Lazuli will move on and thrive as we have for seasons upon seasons, and your mind will be eased once again, dear Alpha." The words are softly spoken earnestly, sincerity heard in each utterance. When she pulls back, her gently aged eyes are warm and assuring.
His eyes close as his head lifts from the nuzzle, and the wolf churrs warmly and returns the favor in kind with a gentle nuzzle back to the back of her ear. At least.. at least he knows not to be /gooshy/ with Mia'. Felstride listens to her words and feels a bit of the warmth returning to his heart, though somewhere in the back of his mind there rests a cold worry, the idea that.. that maybe.. No. He pushes it away again, buries it, and nods gratefully at the beta, turning to take a few steps northward to continue the patrol. "I.. would welcome the company," he suggests, remembering that Storm said he should not go out so much on his own. OMGhe'snotaninvalidhecandoeethimself! He takes a few slow steps north, limp pronounced byt unmentioned by him, and glances at the female again.
Miakoda's smile remains painted on her muzzle, body warm where she was touched. She stands now at the invitation of going on patrols with him, and she smirks while quirking a brow. "Aye, I'll be happy to accompany you ... as long as you provide me with good company." A playful look touches her face as she follows along after her, nudging his flank very lightly before she moves to walk alongside of him, keeping her pace with his. At ease now, she inhales a deep breath of her forest home, holds it in deep within his chest, then exhales it through her mouth. Home.
Felstride laughs gently, a pleasant sound still, and nips at her shoulder with that last comment. Her smile is returned in kind, and as they set out north Felstride falls into the awkwardly steady rhythm he's managed to sustain even though his injury. His tail sways, and he stands a little straighter than he did before. Every so often his eyes tick sideways to glance at Miakoda, and after a few pawsteps he smiles, "I am glad.." he murmurs, turning his face to the north again, intent on scenting the breezes, and the earth around them. Truly, home.