Magnolia Glen steel magnolias

For @Ember -- set midday, distant rumbles of thunder.  Set 6/30.

   

Kyna was beginning to love thunderstorms.  She was not quite sure if it was the rush of rain or the cool wind, if it was the burst of light zigging across the sky or the mighty roar that followed, but the young lady found herself utterly invigorated every time one rolled around.  So she did not turn tail and head for Oak Tree Bend at the first sign of a storm, distant rumbling overhead, but pricked her ears and picked up her step.

If the rains became too hard, the girl would find shelter to wait them out – otherwise, she was content to continue her run, stretch out her body, seek nothing but her own satisfaction.

It came sooner than she realized, for not long after the distant rumbles had started, Kyna came upon a small glade of trees.  Trees lined with some of the brightest flowers the girl had ever seen, beautiful and bright and pink, more vibrant even than some of the fireweed meadows lingering outside the trees.  “Oh!” she exclaimed with delight, slowing to a halt.  At the trunk of one tree, she reared up, front paws landing on the bark as she stretched her neck, trying to snap a bud from its branch.  “Just a little higher!”

(This post was last modified: Jul 02, 2016, 01:49 PM by Kyna.)

A wild dissertation appears!

The glen was a place that Ember liked to visit often, given its beauty. Its location from her home, while not too far, was still an adventurous distance, adding as well to its charm. In her younger days, she would have always had a companion to drag along, usually her sister @Bracken or pseudo-brother @Arion. Now, she usually wandered alone, but that wasn't always bad. Growing into her graces, her spirit was beginning to calm both from maturity and the unsavory experiences Winter had ended with. While there was plenty she had wished not have happened, Ember felt balanced, and she reveled in the peace this walk brought her.

Even the grumblings of the approaching thunderstorm did not sway this mood. Electricity began to seep into the air, and the wind was fresh against her face. The sky to her back was darkening but none of the storm's attributes lessened the beauty of this day. Her paws picked their way briskly over the lush ground, each step poised and thoughtfully placed. The girl had never been known to stumble or slip, as surefooted as though the ends of her limbs were cloven with minimal effort. It would, in just moments, prove very useful.

Ahead of her was another wolf, as the shifting winds informed her. A girl, around her age perhaps? Ember's eyes brightened as she instinctively sought out the stranger's company. Despite the worst that had happened, she had yet to be taught that the unknown, especially within her own species, could be dangerous. She'd only ever met new friends, and why should this opportunity be passed up? When the other came into view, the Reinier daughter's tail picked up in an easy-going wag while buttercup eyes roamed Kyna's features.

What struck her more than any was how beautiful the girl was. Her eyes reminded her of the late Erebos and his missing (boys were always missing) son, but her coat was unlike anything she'd seen before and framed those molten pools in a way the dull pelts of the men had failed to. While her fur could be thought of as earth toned, there was a light within it that set it apart. She reminded Ember of honey and sunsets, and when the girl followed the other's intent gaze and outstretched reach to one of the many magnolia blossoms, the yearling immediately knew what she wanted to do for her.

Her pale eyes darted about, seeking a better opportunity than that which the strawberry blonde was pursuing. Luck was very much on her side as her sights locked upon a sockdolager branch felled by a previous Spring storm. Half of the tree had perished due to the injury, but a few sky-reaching limbs retained their flowers. The downed length of wood still hung from a few strained fibers of bark, angled against the trunk to make for the perfect ladder.

Without hesitation, Ember took advantage of this gift of nature. Her home of toppled redwoods had given her plenty of practice in scaling angled bark, and she ran up the fallen branch with confident footwork. Reaching the crux, she launched herself into the air, jaws catching a sprig full of the vivid blossoms and ripping it from the tree. She landed upon the ground a little harder than anticipated, but the soft mmph this pushed from her lungs was muffled by the prize upon her tongue and her recovery was smooth enough to completely hide this minor trouble.

Turning on her heels, she trotted over to the other girl with a wriggling tail and amiably lowered skull. The flowers hid her smile, but it was reflected brightly in her eyes as she held them out for Kyna to take.

Dear @Ember, thank you for bringing Kyna's muse back.  ;o;  You are the cutest thing ever.  Love, Ace.

Once more, thunder rolled in the distance, sending a crackle of excitement up the girl’s spine.  It sounded like it was getting closer, but – there were trees all around, a strange echo always came with the forest.  Nothing like life on a mountaintop.  Would she ever forget her childhood in the Riddle Heights?  Unlikely, even if she knew she could not spend all her time wishing for something that no longer was.  Nothing anchored her down to Oak Tree Bend, nothing but Aponi and Lila.

Perhaps when her sister was older, more capable, she would take her leave in search of something that suited her a bit better.  Until then—

The blossom rustled and Kyna gave a soft noise, brows furrowing as she studied her prey.  The girl coiled back on her hind legs before jumping again, but sharp teeth snapped only on air.  Gravity called her back to earth and all four paws hit the ground, the yearling about to take a moment to reevaluate her plans when she realizes there was someone else.  She really had to stop being so unaware – this sort of thing was liable to get her killed someday.

Turning about, opening her mouth to say something about sneaking up on others, she paused, jaw hung open – a wolf her age, with a pink flower in her mouth.  She must have seen!  Kyna’s eyes sparked like the heart of a flame as her mouth clicked shut and she trotted forward, friendly zoosemiotics luring her in.  “Hello!” she greeted the other girl, her own tail starting to wriggle behind her.  Any sense of danger was dismissed.  “I did not see you there!” Her smile grew.  “I can’t believe you were able to get the flowers – I was…trying.” Her grin grew sheepish as she glanced back up at the trees.  “They’re very high.”

A wild dissertation appears!

The way Kyna's eyes lit up when she saw Ember and her gift made the cinnamon-dusted girl feel as light as air. Her toasted ears perked as the young woman spoke, and she decided swiftly that she very much liked the sound of her voice. Were she a less audacious creature, she might have mirrored the shy smile. As things were, Ember could only beam back at the belle.

Those sunrise eyes lifted and Ember's followed before the girl swayed her muzzle to indicate a different tree: the one behind her from which she had retrieved the gift. Delicately, she laid the sprig of blossoms at Kyna's paws before speaking.

"I had a little help up," she admitted with a humble grin as her tail continued to beat the ground. "I'm Ember. I, want you to have them. You um, match them."

Finally her confidence began to falter slightly as she dug deeper into uncharted territory. Ember didn't even understand why she had butterflies in her stomach or why her face was subtly warmer at her cheeks. Whatever it was, she didn't want it to stop her from communicating, so she pushed through with a single-worded elaboration to her mesmerism about why she was so like the magnolias; "Pretty."

@Ember -- Sorry I've been so slow.  x __ x;;

The smile did wonders for Kyna’s demeanor – perhaps even more than the simple gift of a flower.  It was true that the simplest gifts were the best, and if she could blush, the honey-spun youth would be a bright pink to match the magnolia trees.  As it were, she could feel her skin prickle underneath her summer coat as she glanced down at her toes, unable to help the growing smile as she peeked at the flowers.

“Thank you,” she murmured, bright orange eyes finally peeking back upwards.  If nothing else, she could remember her manners.

“Oh!  My name is Kyna,” the youth introduced herself, her tail still wagging from the moment it started.  She might have continued the introduction, where she was from – perhaps asked Ember the same, but the compliment had stuck her mind in place once it had finally stuck in.  Pretty.  Pretty.

No one had really ever called her that before.

Oh, thank goodness she had fur!  The blush was raging in full force as she dipped her head down, evidently pleased with the other yearling’s choice in words.  Her tail wagged a little harder as her ears flexed forward – after several silent moments, she got to her feet to close the distance, leaning forward to lick under the other girl’s chin.  “You’re very sweet,” she murmured quietly, pulling away.  “Could you show me how?  To get the flowers, I mean.”

A wild dissertation appears!

There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the mud. Hunt Opportunity

Kyna. That was just... perfect. That slight slip in confidence was restored as her compliment had a very evident and positive affect on the beauty, lighting her up until she truly did look like a sunrise. Man, why couldn't she be the other pup around instead of Nalda? The difference between them was absolutely astounding, and Ember genuinely envied whoever got to live with Kyna around every day. Was that a little much? Something whispered that she should be self conscious about this incredible feeling alight within her, but she'd gotten started now and she wasn't about to falter in front of the lady.

In fact, her mind was already abuzz with what to say next, all very much having to do with seeing just how broad she could make that smile of hers go. Before her lips could even part, however, Kyna was on the move, and it all felt to be in slow motion, because she was coming closer. The smile on her own face fell away and her yellow eyes widened as the other girl planted a kiss upon her muzzle as though it were simple. It was, wasn't it? That was just how most anyone said thanks. More likely a pack mate than a stranger, b-but she was only being polite and why did it set Ember on fire?

'C'mon Emby, you got this. Whatever it is.'

Kyna wanted to see how. Something like a cough allowed her an excuse to turn her head away for a moment, and then she was all grins again.

"Definitely," Ember agreed, motioning with her muzzle once more before turning round and heading for the makeshift ladder and tree. This was definitely her forte, and she wasn't about to let butterflies make a fool of her now. Nimbly, she hopped onto the downed tree trunk, scaling halfway before using her hard-earned sense of balance to pivot round in place. She really wanted to impress this girl. Her ears pressed forward as she took a few confident steps backwards up the leaning wood, eyes pinned on Kyna.

"Just takes a little bit of grace," she offered, before her smile turned wry and she added, "which you clearly have in spades. Here, come on up."

For just a moment, Kyna felt her chest freeze – had she ruined the moment?  Was it rude to ask how?  Perhaps her new companion had meant the gift to remain a mystery, and if that was the face, that was fine.  The young redhead would respect that, of course!  She was just was about to open her mouth and explain as much when Ember turned back around, agreeing heartily to explain her process.  A sigh of relief fell from her lips and the bright-eyed girl gave an enthusiastic nod, following after the pale wolf eagerly.

Ears pricked forward, she watched as Ember put her grace on display, easily hopping from the forest floor to the fallen log, scaling up the ramp with far more dignity than most adults.  It was all Kyna could do to keep her mouth from falling open, her fire eyes wide was she watched the other yearling scamper towards the flowers as if it were the easiest thing in all the world.  “You’re amazing!” she gasped, mouth splitting in a wide grin.

She wandered closer to the makeshift ladder and gave it a suspicious look.  Clearly, her new friend was quite excellent at this, but Kyna had been known to fall, and--  “Are you sure?  I wouldn’t--  I wouldn’t want to ruin it, or something.”

A wild dissertation appears!

The compliment, so genuine and bright off the beauty's tongue, momentarily turned the yearling bashful once more. Her ears leaned back and her smile showed her teeth as warmth washed briefly over her face. Amazing? Well, that was quite nice to hear... Ember's confidence had never been hungry, the girl far from starved of positive attention in her youth. Still, her ego wasn't so large as to shrug off accolades as givens.

And there was something extra special about a pretty girl saying it.

Thankfully, that all passed rather quickly, though. Ember had more or less expected the other girl to leap at the chance, much as Bracken would have. Instead, Kyna's hesitation drew the cinnamon-dusted teen's ears forward once more, and when she voiced her concern, the Reinier was quick to act.

"Aw, there's nothing you can ruin," she assured her. Even if she did manage to dislodge the makeshift ladder, all it meant was they'd have to figure out another way. It certainly wouldn't be the end of the world.

"Here," Ember then offered, before leaping back down onto the ground. She padded her way behind Kyna, and motioned with her muzzle for the girl to go ahead and try.

"I'll spot ya. Just take it slow, and trust your body. If you fall, I'll be right here to catch you."

That was a promise.

(This post was last modified: Feb 13, 2017, 02:00 AM by Ember.)

“Hmm…”

For a moment, Kyna took a step back, surveying the entire setup before her.  The other wolf looked pleased as punch atop her perch, as if climbing (fallen) trees was something she did every damn day.  Idly, the redhead had to wonder where her new friend had come from, that this was such an ordinary task for her.  Perhaps, if she managed to complete the quest without making a total ass out of herself, she’d ask.

Watching Ember leap back to earth with all the grace of an elegant cat, the youth couldn’t help but feel…slightly heartened by the offer.  Finally, she smiled, and took a step towards the makeshift ladder. “Okay,” she decided, licking her lips once, twice, and then she steeled herself.  Ember probably didn’t have all day, after all.  Picturing Ember’s display earlier in her mind, Kyna coiled and sprung, making the same steps – perhaps it was not as effortless or graceful, but she didn’t fall!  And nothing broke!

“I did it!” she gasped breathlessly, temporarily forgetting her quest for flowers completely.  “Oh, you were right!  Ember…you’re so wonderful.  Where did you learn this?  Is your pack in the trees?”

Oh.  Wait.  That made absolutely no sense.  If she could blush, she’d be a violent shade of red.  “I mean – I mean, is your pack in a forest.  Among the trees.  Not actually in the trees.”  Goodness, she sounded like a damn fool.

A wild dissertation appears!