Secluded Spring It Has Been Too Long

The breeze blew in near the springs, seemingly blowing the water across land. . .but it was just an illusion, just like so many other things in life. Trees and bushes rustled, whispering secrets that never seemed to reach one’s ear. And the soft <i>crow</i> of the birds nearby drop the silence that drove over the land. On this particular day the wind was blowing towards Copper Rock Creek territory, giving off the strong scent of the borders. Ever since the pups had been bored it seemed there had been more wolves watching the borders and it also seemed that ever since the pups had been born, that all the trouble had begun. Two lone wolves had wandered up to the border claiming they didn’t know that they had indeed, crossed the border. She had understood the young pups dilemma, but the older female she had encounter with her friends, had not been acceptable at all, but Nina, as kind as ever, still had decided to heal the young girl to the best of her abilities.

Most of her pack mates hadn’t known about her injuries though and it seemed that other hadn’t been too shocked by them either, which, overall, had pleased her. If no one made a big deal out of it, then it would have seemed like it wouldn’t have happened. Kashikoi, Sloane, and Pakuna were the only ones who had seen her so far. None of her leaders, or Volkan, had encountered the hardened image of the soft, kind she-wolf she had been when she had first arrived into the pack. Now she was a hardened shell of her once beauty, but it seemed her mate hadn’t cared about it. . .she was no longer Nina Hervok. . .she had stripped herself of the title, she was disgusted by it. Now. . .now she was Nina Reinier and she was proud of it. But she did worry that if her pack mates found out she would be thrown away like she had seen in packs in other lands.

She was currently looking at her reflection in the water though, it was hard, due to the wind disturbing the surfaces but otherwise, it was perfectly fine. All of her cuts were healed, the only thing that proved she had them were the scars running up and down her pelt. Her back leg was some what healed, but it was still hard to run on it and she couldn’t exert herself for too long, otherwise, her leg would start to throb and she would definitely need her own rest. Her eye seemed to be the worst of it all though. It had been shut and she had thought it might have been permanent but every once and awhile she would have the small twitch of her eye muscle, giving her the impression that it might be possible to open her eye again. . .it would just take time. But for the time being, her eye was shit, and an ugly pinkish scare ran down her eye horizontally.

She had gotten used to her appearance though but it seemed those she was close to were angry. . .not at her, but at who had done this to her. When they had discovered it had been her own blood. . .then well. . .they became enraged. Mainly, young Kashikoi. . .the poor young man had trusted Ash and had given up information about her. . .not that she was going to say anything about that, but the fact that he had trusted the male and then later found out he had been betrayed must have been angering. She knew, eventually, she would get over it. . .it had been old family ties that had caused this, and that was something Nina would get over now. She wasn’t a Hervok anymore. . .they couldn’t do anything to her. She was no longer one of <i>them.</i>

It seems when you're around, my life is complete.

<blockquote>Though there was plenty of daylight to be had, the summer sun slunk in the western sky, and the traces of shadow that fell upon the kingdom of the Creek wolves painted the land in hues of black, red, and orange. The Spring was thriving now, with summer full blown and after the ritualistic showers of the earlier months; the pack had even gained a healthy, promising new addition. The woman had never imagined things to be this way - so...nearly perfect, better than she'd envisioned. Ruiko was a wonderful father, and many instances she was quite thankful that he was also the children's preferred playmate. Volkan was doing well, and she would grow warm on the inside as she often reminisced about how their friendship had grown. It always was funny how it seemed they were worlds apart, so different in their own ways, yet so the same. Kashikoi's scent was reliably marked upon the borders, and though she didn't see much of him she assumed he was doing well and taking care of himself. Pakuna, bless her heart, had remained loyally, as well, and though she and Aeylen didn't know much of each other, it still felt like home when they talked and watched over the children. And then there was sweet Nina, who was never to busy or proud to give help where it was needed, and who had saved so many lives and without a second thought.

It had been on her mind that she'd seen less and less of the woman who very much a part of Copper Rock Creek's back bone. She hadn't run off, and her scent was scattered throughout the territory as would be expected typically. Even the brood had spent hours playing with the shewolf and under her watchful eye, and each of the pups always had good things to say, asking when they could see her again. The leadess was so <i>proud</i> of her, of them all - the Creek wolves - and admired the character of each more as time inevitably slipped by. And it did slip. Looking back, even her pregnancy and the long weeks she'd spent cooped up in the den where she'd delivered and nursed her babies. Guilt washed over her at once. She'd not been there with Kinis, or for Kanosak, and more and more she entertained a wish that she'd spent more time with the girls, or even young Kashi.

The grasses that grazed the creamy, plush fur of her underbelly ticked as she made her way. With dusk drawing near, it was time she return home to issue dinner to the princes and princess soon enough that she may have some extra time and energy to tell Ruiko about the day before retiring against his warmth and with his love.

She followed a worn path alongside the babbling, irridescent creek, one she'd taken many times before. It this fork of the creek flowed right to and past the densite, and luckily for her, there was a certain woman present, one who peered into the now sacred waters thoughtfully. Her tail waved with girlish excitement as she slowly approached, barking a content salutation to her companion.

<b>"Nina!"</b> she cheered, sauntering regally to the girl who was just who she'd been meaning to visit.</blockquote>

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/bluepups/NinaTable.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; padding-top: 312px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; text-align:justify;">Just as she was about to turn and go home, she had to stop. Aeylen’s voice sang clear above the air. This had been what she was dreading. . .her leadess finding her beat up. . .but there was no better time at the moment. She was in the best shape she could get herself into at the moment. The only thing that couldn’t get any better was her leg and eye, but what would Aeylen think of that? Was the female attached to her enough for her to want to keep her in the pack? This encounter was going to be the one thing that was going to finalize her position in the pack.

Turning around, she bowed her head to her leader, crouching down, and pinning her ears to her head in a sign of respect. She was sure Aeylen could see her features now and she wasn’t sure how her leadess would take her appearance. Fear had coursed through others when they had first met her, but now she was back to normal. Anyone who she encountered know had already seen her, so their hadn’t been any problems, but now. . .Nina had come form of her beauty back.

She then spoke, ”Aeylen, it’s wonderful to see you again.”

She hadn’t bonded with her leadess much, but she had stayed loyal for her. She would pop in every once in awhile and drop some herbs off for the former pregnant beauty. When the pups had been born, Nina had been pleased to see that they had all come out quite healthy. She had personally met Nios once, what a cute little boy he had been.

Nina’s one emerald eye trained itself on Aeylen’s face, gauging her reaction carefully. She was happy to see her leader again, she had missed her highly, along with Ruiko. She had refused trying to get in touch with Volkan, she hadn’t tried finding her. . .she had lost her respect when she had blown her own cool on the lone wolf, Koda, and she had not appreciated that. Koda was her mate. . .and what Volkan had done had not been respectable.