Post by Tala on Dec 8, 2008 18:44:30 GMT -5
Evening has finally settled over the forest, not that Storm knows, or cares. She's settled near the back of the den curled up, any that would enter would think that she's asleep. Her head is settled on a forepaw, eyes half open as she stares out at the entrance of the den. A rabbit lays near her, someone from the pack having brought and left it hoping perhaps that she would eat, an even though she is hungry she hasn't touched it. Days have passed since everything happened but too her it’s still fresh in her mind.
The evening outside is warm and comforting, and a gentle breeze gusts at the den's entrance bringing with it the scent of new grass and leaves. It's quite outside, too, the boys of the pack having gone out on their team patrols.. everyone else leaving the alpha to her grief. There is a pawstep outside the den, subtle and almost nonexistant.. but it is there, somehow, somewhere. Another soft pawstep, and there is a ripple across the den's entrance, like that of a bird passing through the trees and disturbing the shadows down below. But there are no bird wings to be heard, no rustling of the leaves. The gentle pawsteps continue into the quiet den, and the form of a young wolf, strong and proud, his head held high, tail swaying behind him lightly drift across the entrance and into the quite of the den. But. Something.. isn't right. The wolf looks so young, like he did ages ago, but there is a sad, gentle downturn to his muzzle and face, and he looks at the wolfess before him.. silent. He is there.. but.. not.. his body vague, like waking from a dream.
The movement is caught but Storm doesn't react to it, save lifting her head slightly as she watches the entrance. She didn't expect one of the boys back, after the way Cyrus and Helios have been hovering over her she half expects them to come into the den. Her head lowers back down as no one seems to enter the den right away, a faint breath escapes her. It takes her a few moments to pick up on the fact that there is actually something in the den before her and she blinks a few times as if trying to figure out if she's seeing things. As the form stays before her she isn't sure what to do, or say as it slowly sinks in as too who it looks like is standing before her. A few soft whimpers escapes her while her, ears settle back against her head. She isn't sure if she is actually looking at a ghost or if she's finally lost her mind and actually thinks there is someone that looks a lot like Felstride.
The figure stays where he is, feeling Storm's reaction to his presence here, eye closing shut in what might be pain. He would be hard pressed to feel physical discomfort, but, surely, he can feel the anguish that his once-mate is feeling. After a time, those eyes open again, still holding on to a vague sense of that deep amber, and his maw parts subtly, a soft, almost unheard, "I am sorry, love," whispering Storm's direction. He gives her those four words, the same four she uttered to him, those last four words; maybe.. maybe he heard her, or maybe.. maybe he just knows. Time passes, and with it another warm breeze fills the underground den. "Please," again, that deeply soft whisper, "Do not grieve for me."
Storm grows quiet as the forms stays there, unmoving she watches him and can almost tell that he seems to be in pain from her reaction. The words catch her attention and she swallows slightly while slowly pushing herself upwards so she's sitting, her shoulder aches from the sudden movement after laying for so long but she ignores it. It’s him, it must be him. Still part of her has to wonder. She frowns slightly once the other speaks again, her eyes closing. "How can I not grieve for you?" The words finally escape her, she hasn't spoke too anyone since that night. She's both sad and mad at the same time, mad he didn't call for help, and sad that all this had to happen. "..Why didn't you call for help..?"
Ears gently tilt forward, and he watches silently as she rises and speaks. Felstride.. says and does nothing.. he doesn't grieve, he doesn't cry, he doesn't seem to breathe.. he doesn't need to, anymore. His eyes trail down to rest at Storm's paws, somehow managing to look berated, like a pup who has just done something wrong.. "I thought it best to protect you. Had you come, I fear they would have taken you, too." In life, his words would choke and catch in his throat, but here they flow freely, gently, and his subtle outline takes a delicate step forward. "I miss you greatly, but know that I am well.." As well as one can be. "I am with you, always.. you know that. You have always known that. I came to tell you that your sons need you. They are brave children, but they cannot see the pack through this by themselves. They need you, love, they need you as an alpha. Moreso, they need you as their mother."
Storm watches him quietly, ears perking forward a moment before they lower. She supposes that is a good enough answer, would have been her answer if their places were turned. Her shoulder slump slightly while her gaze turns to the ground. "I miss you so much.." Is said softly. It’s not that she didn't know they need her, it was just hard.. Hard to deal with the thought that he is truely gone when days before all this everything was fine. "I can't lead this pack anymore." She finally says. A sigh escapes her, for a moment her sadness gone. "Not on my own, I'm not young enough to do that anymore." Felstride might have been a few years older than Storm, and she knows that age is creeping up on her as well and she has no place being a leader anymore. "I'm going to ask Larkspur and Haze to lead the pack.." It takes her a few moments to say this. An once they take over then what? She isn't sure she hasn't thought it through that far yet.
"The pack will always exist," he croons gently, taking another step forward as he sees her start to drift away slightly, "but it needs a reason to do so. We existed because we cared for each other, all of us." Felstride falls silent again, listening.. "Larkspur and Haze will do well. They care for one another a great deal, and that.. you know.. is what holds a pack together through.. anything. But the Lazuli still look to you as their alpha, and right now they need you more than ever." Quiet again, the wolf's figure takes a few small steps forward, neck craning ahead of him to brush against the female's shoulder, though there is no sensation on her skin and her fur does not move. The wolf seems to lose a little bit of his appearance, wavers, and that sad smile returns. "It is dangerous here. Lead the Lazuli away.. at least.. for now. Take them somewhere safe. Do this last task. Be brave, love."
Storm ears twitch forward slightly as she listens to him, she never thought she would hear his voice again. It’s always strange how the little things are missed the most when someone is gone. She swallows slightly, refusing the cry or sniffle or whatever had just crossed her mind at the time. "I know.." She murmurs softly. It’s just hard.. That part the keeps to herself while she lifts her gaze to watch him quietly a few moments as she listens to him. Out of anyone in the pack he was the only one to could actually reach her when something was troubling her, an even though his gone it still seems to work. Even if she can't fully feel the touch she closes her eyes as if remembering what it actually felt like. "I'll make sure there safe.. I promise love." No one else will die here; too much blood has already been spilled.
The wolf straightens then, lifting his head away from Storm's shoulder and he looks at her with a warm, affectionate gaze. Still, somewhere behind his eyes is a sad glimmer.. he can't help but wish things were different. But. Here, he's not in pain. Here, he's not tired. Here, he simply waits. Waits for others to join him, whenever their time. It is not his will, or anyone else's, to decide that. "I love you, Storm," he whispers, "I will always love you, no matter where we are. Keep our family safe. These woods are dangerous." The last is said gravely, as the figure before her again wavers in the gentle breeze that gusts across the den's entrance. He turns, steps silently.. slowly.. moving to where he had come from. Felstride manages to stop, to turn an increasing indistinguishable body back to his alpha, and he bows his head to her, nose tip almost touching the soil. "I will always be with you. Think of me, and I will be in your heart. I love you." His voice fades off, echoing back on itself, and the figure sadly turns.. though keeps his head held high.. silent steps crossing the den's threshold.. and he is gone.
Storm watches him quietly a moment, she wants to reach up and touch him, she just wants to be with him but she knows it can't be so.. Not now at least. "I will always love you too." She offers with a quiet tone. As he turns she stands up blinking as she moves forward a few paces before pausing and whimpers a moment. The wolf merely watches, feeling as if she's losing him all over again. Though she knew he couldn't stay, wouldn't that be a funny request to ask a ghost. If there is one she would ever think of it will be Felstride, he doesn't have to worry about once. "..Goodbye love.." She offers before his fully gone, sadness creeps back over her for a few moments as she slowly paces towards the den's entrance, gaze drifting over the area before she steps outside to wait for the others too return. There will be no more hiding in the den for her, things must be done and done quickly before anything else happens.
The evening outside is warm and comforting, and a gentle breeze gusts at the den's entrance bringing with it the scent of new grass and leaves. It's quite outside, too, the boys of the pack having gone out on their team patrols.. everyone else leaving the alpha to her grief. There is a pawstep outside the den, subtle and almost nonexistant.. but it is there, somehow, somewhere. Another soft pawstep, and there is a ripple across the den's entrance, like that of a bird passing through the trees and disturbing the shadows down below. But there are no bird wings to be heard, no rustling of the leaves. The gentle pawsteps continue into the quiet den, and the form of a young wolf, strong and proud, his head held high, tail swaying behind him lightly drift across the entrance and into the quite of the den. But. Something.. isn't right. The wolf looks so young, like he did ages ago, but there is a sad, gentle downturn to his muzzle and face, and he looks at the wolfess before him.. silent. He is there.. but.. not.. his body vague, like waking from a dream.
The movement is caught but Storm doesn't react to it, save lifting her head slightly as she watches the entrance. She didn't expect one of the boys back, after the way Cyrus and Helios have been hovering over her she half expects them to come into the den. Her head lowers back down as no one seems to enter the den right away, a faint breath escapes her. It takes her a few moments to pick up on the fact that there is actually something in the den before her and she blinks a few times as if trying to figure out if she's seeing things. As the form stays before her she isn't sure what to do, or say as it slowly sinks in as too who it looks like is standing before her. A few soft whimpers escapes her while her, ears settle back against her head. She isn't sure if she is actually looking at a ghost or if she's finally lost her mind and actually thinks there is someone that looks a lot like Felstride.
The figure stays where he is, feeling Storm's reaction to his presence here, eye closing shut in what might be pain. He would be hard pressed to feel physical discomfort, but, surely, he can feel the anguish that his once-mate is feeling. After a time, those eyes open again, still holding on to a vague sense of that deep amber, and his maw parts subtly, a soft, almost unheard, "I am sorry, love," whispering Storm's direction. He gives her those four words, the same four she uttered to him, those last four words; maybe.. maybe he heard her, or maybe.. maybe he just knows. Time passes, and with it another warm breeze fills the underground den. "Please," again, that deeply soft whisper, "Do not grieve for me."
Storm grows quiet as the forms stays there, unmoving she watches him and can almost tell that he seems to be in pain from her reaction. The words catch her attention and she swallows slightly while slowly pushing herself upwards so she's sitting, her shoulder aches from the sudden movement after laying for so long but she ignores it. It’s him, it must be him. Still part of her has to wonder. She frowns slightly once the other speaks again, her eyes closing. "How can I not grieve for you?" The words finally escape her, she hasn't spoke too anyone since that night. She's both sad and mad at the same time, mad he didn't call for help, and sad that all this had to happen. "..Why didn't you call for help..?"
Ears gently tilt forward, and he watches silently as she rises and speaks. Felstride.. says and does nothing.. he doesn't grieve, he doesn't cry, he doesn't seem to breathe.. he doesn't need to, anymore. His eyes trail down to rest at Storm's paws, somehow managing to look berated, like a pup who has just done something wrong.. "I thought it best to protect you. Had you come, I fear they would have taken you, too." In life, his words would choke and catch in his throat, but here they flow freely, gently, and his subtle outline takes a delicate step forward. "I miss you greatly, but know that I am well.." As well as one can be. "I am with you, always.. you know that. You have always known that. I came to tell you that your sons need you. They are brave children, but they cannot see the pack through this by themselves. They need you, love, they need you as an alpha. Moreso, they need you as their mother."
Storm watches him quietly, ears perking forward a moment before they lower. She supposes that is a good enough answer, would have been her answer if their places were turned. Her shoulder slump slightly while her gaze turns to the ground. "I miss you so much.." Is said softly. It’s not that she didn't know they need her, it was just hard.. Hard to deal with the thought that he is truely gone when days before all this everything was fine. "I can't lead this pack anymore." She finally says. A sigh escapes her, for a moment her sadness gone. "Not on my own, I'm not young enough to do that anymore." Felstride might have been a few years older than Storm, and she knows that age is creeping up on her as well and she has no place being a leader anymore. "I'm going to ask Larkspur and Haze to lead the pack.." It takes her a few moments to say this. An once they take over then what? She isn't sure she hasn't thought it through that far yet.
"The pack will always exist," he croons gently, taking another step forward as he sees her start to drift away slightly, "but it needs a reason to do so. We existed because we cared for each other, all of us." Felstride falls silent again, listening.. "Larkspur and Haze will do well. They care for one another a great deal, and that.. you know.. is what holds a pack together through.. anything. But the Lazuli still look to you as their alpha, and right now they need you more than ever." Quiet again, the wolf's figure takes a few small steps forward, neck craning ahead of him to brush against the female's shoulder, though there is no sensation on her skin and her fur does not move. The wolf seems to lose a little bit of his appearance, wavers, and that sad smile returns. "It is dangerous here. Lead the Lazuli away.. at least.. for now. Take them somewhere safe. Do this last task. Be brave, love."
Storm ears twitch forward slightly as she listens to him, she never thought she would hear his voice again. It’s always strange how the little things are missed the most when someone is gone. She swallows slightly, refusing the cry or sniffle or whatever had just crossed her mind at the time. "I know.." She murmurs softly. It’s just hard.. That part the keeps to herself while she lifts her gaze to watch him quietly a few moments as she listens to him. Out of anyone in the pack he was the only one to could actually reach her when something was troubling her, an even though his gone it still seems to work. Even if she can't fully feel the touch she closes her eyes as if remembering what it actually felt like. "I'll make sure there safe.. I promise love." No one else will die here; too much blood has already been spilled.
The wolf straightens then, lifting his head away from Storm's shoulder and he looks at her with a warm, affectionate gaze. Still, somewhere behind his eyes is a sad glimmer.. he can't help but wish things were different. But. Here, he's not in pain. Here, he's not tired. Here, he simply waits. Waits for others to join him, whenever their time. It is not his will, or anyone else's, to decide that. "I love you, Storm," he whispers, "I will always love you, no matter where we are. Keep our family safe. These woods are dangerous." The last is said gravely, as the figure before her again wavers in the gentle breeze that gusts across the den's entrance. He turns, steps silently.. slowly.. moving to where he had come from. Felstride manages to stop, to turn an increasing indistinguishable body back to his alpha, and he bows his head to her, nose tip almost touching the soil. "I will always be with you. Think of me, and I will be in your heart. I love you." His voice fades off, echoing back on itself, and the figure sadly turns.. though keeps his head held high.. silent steps crossing the den's threshold.. and he is gone.
Storm watches him quietly a moment, she wants to reach up and touch him, she just wants to be with him but she knows it can't be so.. Not now at least. "I will always love you too." She offers with a quiet tone. As he turns she stands up blinking as she moves forward a few paces before pausing and whimpers a moment. The wolf merely watches, feeling as if she's losing him all over again. Though she knew he couldn't stay, wouldn't that be a funny request to ask a ghost. If there is one she would ever think of it will be Felstride, he doesn't have to worry about once. "..Goodbye love.." She offers before his fully gone, sadness creeps back over her for a few moments as she slowly paces towards the den's entrance, gaze drifting over the area before she steps outside to wait for the others too return. There will be no more hiding in the den for her, things must be done and done quickly before anything else happens.